Glimmerwood
South of Ios and Llael and west of Scarleforth Lake and
Mount Shyleth Breen, the trackless forests of Ios gradually
give way to the still-untamed Glimmerwood, which gets its
name from a unique lichen that clings to its trees and glows
with an eerie foxfire at night. It is an ancient and ominous
place, although its trees are still but saplings compared to
those that grow in the Iosan wilderness.
Within the forests of Ios, the trees are like sentinels, their trunks like the pillars of some great arcade, the forest bed carpeted with moss. Although the underbrush in the Glimmerwood grows thicker and the trees are not so tall, it too has a sense of uncanny sylvan stillness. Those who have ventured into it say the trees of the Glimmerwood, like their larger cousins beyond, seem to be waiting for something. Several Trollkin kriels make their homes in the Glimmerwood, including some pushed from the shores of the sulfurous Scarleforth Lake. The mineral-rich water of the lake contributes to the vivid coloration for which these Trollkin are known. Their clashes with skorne, Cygnaran, and others have left them disinclined to entreat with outsiders, although they engage in sporadic trade with the Llaelese.
If one travels as far as the shores of Scarleforth Lake, one can find the ruins of Trollkin villages, some of which are still home to great krielstones that tell of those who once dwelled there. Even though the northwestern edges of the Glimmerwood run all the way to the outskirts of Merywyn, the Llaelese have never sought to obtain timber or game from the forest, which has a reputation as being accursed or haunted. This reputation has grown in recent years as the region’s Trollkin inhabitants have been joined by vicious Tharn and stranger things from the depths of Ios.
The Glimmerwood is a damned forest in the eyes of the beings in surrounding regions. Its name stems from the blue glowing algae and lichen that grow on the trunks of its trees. This ghostly radiance has fueled the Glimmerwood’s reputation as a cursed and ominous place. The foxfire light of the forest is constant but noticeable mostly at night; even on a starless evening everything within the Glimmerwood gleams dimly. The luminescent growths that give the forest its name are actually a collection of several species with differing properties. Some of those are detailed below. All these growths shed dim light in a 10-foot radius. Attempts to transplant them outside the Glimmerwood have been unsuccessful; it seems none of these species can survive beyond their native forest.
Death Slime. This algae grows on the ground and branches in very moist areas. Death slime is difficult terrain. When a creature moves onto it for the first time on a turn, it must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check or fall prone. Any creature that touches death slime without protection must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1d4+1 rounds.
Devil’s Ear. A large, clamshell-shaped fungus that grows out of the sides of trees, this is edible in spite of the shimmering light it produces. Many say it tastes like chicken. A single sheet of devil’s ear yields 1d4 pounds of food.
Eye of the Night. This small blue toadstool is covered with black-and-white spots that resemble eyes. Eating it causes a creature’s pupils to dilate, giving it darkvision for 1 hour. While the creature is in bright light during that hour it has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Grumblemoss. This plant grows low to the ground and reproduces through spores. When a creature walks on grumblemoss it releases its spores while making a repetitive low rumbling noise as if muttering some complaint. Any creature making a Dexterity (Stealth) check in the area does so with disadvantage.
Lustercappe. A broad mushroom that grows low to the ground, lustercappe glows somewhat less than the other surrounding fungus but when struck sharply explodes in a burst of light.
Within the forests of Ios, the trees are like sentinels, their trunks like the pillars of some great arcade, the forest bed carpeted with moss. Although the underbrush in the Glimmerwood grows thicker and the trees are not so tall, it too has a sense of uncanny sylvan stillness. Those who have ventured into it say the trees of the Glimmerwood, like their larger cousins beyond, seem to be waiting for something. Several Trollkin kriels make their homes in the Glimmerwood, including some pushed from the shores of the sulfurous Scarleforth Lake. The mineral-rich water of the lake contributes to the vivid coloration for which these Trollkin are known. Their clashes with skorne, Cygnaran, and others have left them disinclined to entreat with outsiders, although they engage in sporadic trade with the Llaelese.
If one travels as far as the shores of Scarleforth Lake, one can find the ruins of Trollkin villages, some of which are still home to great krielstones that tell of those who once dwelled there. Even though the northwestern edges of the Glimmerwood run all the way to the outskirts of Merywyn, the Llaelese have never sought to obtain timber or game from the forest, which has a reputation as being accursed or haunted. This reputation has grown in recent years as the region’s Trollkin inhabitants have been joined by vicious Tharn and stranger things from the depths of Ios.
The Glimmerwood is a damned forest in the eyes of the beings in surrounding regions. Its name stems from the blue glowing algae and lichen that grow on the trunks of its trees. This ghostly radiance has fueled the Glimmerwood’s reputation as a cursed and ominous place. The foxfire light of the forest is constant but noticeable mostly at night; even on a starless evening everything within the Glimmerwood gleams dimly. The luminescent growths that give the forest its name are actually a collection of several species with differing properties. Some of those are detailed below. All these growths shed dim light in a 10-foot radius. Attempts to transplant them outside the Glimmerwood have been unsuccessful; it seems none of these species can survive beyond their native forest.
Death Slime. This algae grows on the ground and branches in very moist areas. Death slime is difficult terrain. When a creature moves onto it for the first time on a turn, it must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check or fall prone. Any creature that touches death slime without protection must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1d4+1 rounds.
Devil’s Ear. A large, clamshell-shaped fungus that grows out of the sides of trees, this is edible in spite of the shimmering light it produces. Many say it tastes like chicken. A single sheet of devil’s ear yields 1d4 pounds of food.
Eye of the Night. This small blue toadstool is covered with black-and-white spots that resemble eyes. Eating it causes a creature’s pupils to dilate, giving it darkvision for 1 hour. While the creature is in bright light during that hour it has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Grumblemoss. This plant grows low to the ground and reproduces through spores. When a creature walks on grumblemoss it releases its spores while making a repetitive low rumbling noise as if muttering some complaint. Any creature making a Dexterity (Stealth) check in the area does so with disadvantage.
Lustercappe. A broad mushroom that grows low to the ground, lustercappe glows somewhat less than the other surrounding fungus but when struck sharply explodes in a burst of light.
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