MARPE WATERS (mar-pe)

Written by Jdebro

"When I asked an Zetham elder about why so many people are bathing in the river, he informed me that these waters in the river are the Marpe Waters. Waters of Healing. At first, I was quite skeptical about it until I saw a man with a grave disfigurement submerged himself in the water. He reemerged completely healed! I was so stunned that I stared at the man to make sure I wasn't seeing an illusion. Once I saw that he was truly healed, I resolved to visit these "marpe" waters much more often. Needless to say, I believe that I shall have to rearrange my schedule."
---Hardous, scholar & ambassador from the nation of Sardenia upon witnessing the power of the Marpe Waters

The Marpe Waters (or Waters of Healing) are three rivers that flows directly from the mountains forming the center of the land, reaching down to the coasts near the Freshwater Seas. The Marpe Waters are renowned for their healing properties, and carefully watched over by the River clans of the Zethamites.

Geography

The Marpe Waters are located in the lands controlled by the Zetham Tribe their land that lies within the lands of the Gurgon Tribes. The Marpe Waters flow directly from the central mountains into three large rivers, which reach into the borders of two lands of the Gershonites.
The first river flows down into the hills & valleys of the Kharaz lands, forming the southwest border of those lands. The second river flows straight down the middle lush plains of the lands of the Gurgon, reaching into the border of the Freshwater Seas. The third river flows southeast into the tropical coasts of the lands of Shiran, forming their borders.

Ecosystem

The Marpe Waters are warm during the Warm seasons, and cool during the Cold seasons of each year. Unlike normal waters, the Marpe waters never becomes freezing cold at all in the Cold seasons. They also never freeze into ice, maintaining their temperature despite the freezing conditions of the Cold seasons.

Localized Phenomena

The Marpe Waters were formed when the Hand of Yavah molded the central mountains, giving these waters supernatural properties that would change the lands. This imbued the waters with healing capacity, understood to be the Grace Of Yavah to the people.
These waters are able to heal people of all diseases, abnormalities, disfigurements, viruses, magically-based aliments, disorders, life-altering injuries, etc. The afflicted person(s) simply needs to enter into the Marpe Waters at one of the three rivers. They have to be fully submerged in order for the healing power to activate. However, they will be able to breathe normally as if they were above water. This is due to the unique properties of the Marpe Waters creating surface-like breathing within them.
The Marpe Waters release their healing powers about seven times each season. Each healing release lasts about one week per month. Outside of these special times, the Marpe Waters function mostly like normal waters with a few constant passive effects. These effects including removal of any blights inflicted on the land by any form of magic, adding spiritual purities into the land (making all flora more lush & productive), which in turn helps give an overabundant harvest for farmers each cycle year.
One notable quirk to the Marpe Waters is that the healing powers within them do not flow into the Freshwater Seas, despite the waters connecting with them. This is theorized to be a safety measure placed to ensure that mages from the other lands do not gain access to the Marpe Waters' unique powers.

Fauna & Flora

The flora near the Marpe waters receive some benefits from receiving their nourishment from these waters. They remain healthy year-round, never withering away unlike other trees outside of the Marpe rivers. The trees grow to great heights up to 250 cubits. The fruit & leaves of these trees inherit the healing power within the Marpe Waters, which has led them to be named the “Trees of Yavah.” These fruit are highly prized by the residents of the Gershon lands, and are harvested with great care each season.
The animals also benefit from the Marpe Waters as they are much healthier than other animals, and have much more energy to move around. Rison, a type of large horned cloven beast, are fairly common around the Marpe Rivers. Another cloven beast are known as Longhorns, who are found in herds throughout Lavantia. They are referred to by Lavantians as "longhorns" due to their curved long horns typically found in males, with females having half the length.
Other fauna that are known to travel to the Marpe Waters are Behenaths, a kind of large beast that can be quite dangerous when roused. While they are normally hard to approach, they are quite peaceful when near the Marpe Waters. This is seen by members of the Zetham Tribe as a sign of the blessing. The only known bird in Gershon that visits the Marpe Waters currently are the Sharpbeaks, aptly named due to their curved beaks been quite sharp when needed.

Alternative Name(s)

Waters of Healing

Type

River

Location under

LAND OF GERSHON

The River Cities

The River Cities are border cities that run along the Marpe Rivers, which are occupied by the Zetham tribe. These cities also act are massive fort cities that serve to guard the Marpe Waters from any misuse, especially from mages. All mages are banned from accessing the Marpe Waters in the lands of Gershon, with the penalty of death to those who try.
The villages within the River cities provide the food that feed them. Small ships that travel along the Marpe Rivers are protected by the River Clans of Zethamites, who also act as the guardians of the River Cities. They do allow people to drink from the Marpe Waters, but only while in the River City. They do not charge all visitors anything for access to the Marpe Waters, deeming such an act as both unethical and a form of wickedness.