Everlasting Jungle
The Ever-Jungle is a dangerous place, filled to the brim with dangerous flora, fauna, and civilizations both old and new that would kill trespassers on sight, not to mention the Fae influence felt in the Jungle Depths. A treacherous land, the jungle shifts without warning, rendering many who venture into its depths trapped and never heard from again. Civilizations uncounted have risen, thrived and fell in the jungle, with the most notable being the Coatl, mostly as subjects of the Empire of Laran.
Geography
The Ever-Jungle is a large jungle that extends far beyond the reaches known to the civilizations in Diyu. Even the Coatl, some of the Jungle's natives, don't know how far south it goes. The jungle borders the Desert of the Saviour and the Dead Ones Mesa to the North. The entire region is covered in dense jungle and forests, with at least three tree canopies at the thinnest. The Sotteran underneath is largely uninhabitable, purely due to how thick the wildlife is, as well as impervious to burning. Any plants that are cut or burned away regrow within days, rendering colonization of the underground inhabitable. It is completely possible that even deeper the flora thins and entire civilizations live and thrive, separate from Diyu.
The Jungle is split into two types, with no clear line dividing them. The first is, to put it simply, a normal jungle. It is choked with flora and fauna, but it is consistent. The second is what is colloquially known as the Jungle Depths. These areas are Faetouched, shifting seemingly at the whim of the landscape. One day there might be a large clearing centered on a small knoll, the next it is completely gone, chocked by trees, vines, and bushes.
The Jungle is split into two types, with no clear line dividing them. The first is, to put it simply, a normal jungle. It is choked with flora and fauna, but it is consistent. The second is what is colloquially known as the Jungle Depths. These areas are Faetouched, shifting seemingly at the whim of the landscape. One day there might be a large clearing centered on a small knoll, the next it is completely gone, chocked by trees, vines, and bushes.
Ecosystem
The Jungle is in many ways a vicious, neverending, scramble for survival. The many predators more often fight each other than hunt their prey, in a desperate bid for territory. The prey has to scramble for food, always wary of the Jaguar perched on a branch above it, or a Maneater Vine snaked along the ground. The Flora is not excepted from this either, as only the plants that grow fastest can reach the sunlight, blocking all the others and starving them to death.
Ecosystem Cycles
There are very few changes to the jungle, as it is largely impervious to the changes of the seasons, and the longitudes it sits on see little if no seasonal change. The Jungle Depths follow whims of their own, with no cycle to their shifting whatsoever.
Fauna & Flora
The flora and fauna of the Ever-Jungle is largely what would be expected in a jungle, with special mention going to a select few species only found here, rather than having just a local variant.
The Kuauitl Paketsi are unique to the Ever-Jungle, largely found along the coasts and riverside areas. Their hides are not especially desired, so they remain unmolested by humanoids. They are often sued as symbolism or heraldry by the various civilizations in the jungle, most notably by the cities of Gork and Mork.
The Lygid is a staple in the diets of the tribes and cities by the river, being easy to hunt and, while not domesticated, herded.
While the Qosc Pol is a herbivorous plant, it won't hesitate to clamp down on bare feet and other flesh, often consuming small rodents and occasionally leaving humanoids amputated. It quickly convinced the many inhabitants of the jungle not to walk barefoot.
The Ryd Lw are an oddity. They drastically change the ecosystem, removing the usual winner's in the flora's race to sunlight, allowing different plant varieties to thirve. Introducing one to a new part of the jungle would drastically alter its ecosystem.
The Kuauitl Paketsi are unique to the Ever-Jungle, largely found along the coasts and riverside areas. Their hides are not especially desired, so they remain unmolested by humanoids. They are often sued as symbolism or heraldry by the various civilizations in the jungle, most notably by the cities of Gork and Mork.
The Lygid is a staple in the diets of the tribes and cities by the river, being easy to hunt and, while not domesticated, herded.
While the Qosc Pol is a herbivorous plant, it won't hesitate to clamp down on bare feet and other flesh, often consuming small rodents and occasionally leaving humanoids amputated. It quickly convinced the many inhabitants of the jungle not to walk barefoot.
The Ryd Lw are an oddity. They drastically change the ecosystem, removing the usual winner's in the flora's race to sunlight, allowing different plant varieties to thirve. Introducing one to a new part of the jungle would drastically alter its ecosystem.
Natural Resources
The fire-resistant lumber of the Jungle trees are hot commodities without its bounds, however, the known residents tend to prefer using stone for structures. The wrath of the forest spirits, especially in the years after Laran started clearing trees en masse made this an unprofitable venture, and trees tend only to be cut down when there's a desperate need, the jungle has begun encroaching on a city or other building, or someone with deep pockets is funding the project.
In addition, animal pelts and skins have become necessary parts of high fashion in the Dead Ones Mesa, prized by Lati. Most cities in the jungle have some sort of hunting industry, less for food and more for the profit of selling the skin, scales, or fur.
Many alchemists, mutationists, and assassins have found a great use for the many diseases that make life in the Jungle difficult. Humans and Drow are especially susceptible, while the Coatl are near immune due to their nativity. The immune systems of the Makassi and Dawasi render poisons distilled form diseases largely ineffective. Some Makassi groups even use these poisons rather than alcohol, for both recreational and ritual purposes. Concoctions created from the specific jungle flora will kill any however, and notable poisons include Skanekiss, the Gift of Varus, and Kyloxil.
In addition, animal pelts and skins have become necessary parts of high fashion in the Dead Ones Mesa, prized by Lati. Most cities in the jungle have some sort of hunting industry, less for food and more for the profit of selling the skin, scales, or fur.
Many alchemists, mutationists, and assassins have found a great use for the many diseases that make life in the Jungle difficult. Humans and Drow are especially susceptible, while the Coatl are near immune due to their nativity. The immune systems of the Makassi and Dawasi render poisons distilled form diseases largely ineffective. Some Makassi groups even use these poisons rather than alcohol, for both recreational and ritual purposes. Concoctions created from the specific jungle flora will kill any however, and notable poisons include Skanekiss, the Gift of Varus, and Kyloxil.
History
The Ever-Jungle has always been somewhat isolated. Despite being a part of the Empire of Laran's "core territory" it tends to be regarded as a backwater or frontier, with affairs there taking a backseat to those on the warline or in the Desert in terms of national politics or attention. This isolation has also allowed the jungle to foster and house many more obscure cults, with neither the Senpadida Siobkun nor the Imperial Cult having much sway. Worship of the Coatl's native gods persists both within and without the groups loyal to the Imperator, though not as strong as Cults like that of the Blood Mother, a native cult that grew to be honored across the empire.
Empires have risen and died within the jungle, no one in Diyu all the wiser. The only major turning point in the Jungle's history was the Larani expansion into it, founding new Temple-cities, and conquering old ones. Their attempted destruction of the jungle angered many of the spirits, especially when the Larani trespassed into the Jungle depths. This marked increased activity by the forest spirits and other groups native to the jungle, including appearances by @Centaur s and @Olmurko .
Empires have risen and died within the jungle, no one in Diyu all the wiser. The only major turning point in the Jungle's history was the Larani expansion into it, founding new Temple-cities, and conquering old ones. Their attempted destruction of the jungle angered many of the spirits, especially when the Larani trespassed into the Jungle depths. This marked increased activity by the forest spirits and other groups native to the jungle, including appearances by @Centaur s and @Olmurko .
Alternative Name(s)
Ever-Jungle ; Endless Depths ; Land of the Coatl
Type
Forest, Jungle (Tropical)
Related Ethnicities
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