Green-Thumb River
"The Scholar's Guild, the Arcane Coalition, and all the King's Wizards to this day still cannot unravel the secrets of the river, why the waters softly glow and plants grow heartily along it's length, but they have assured us it is safe." -Herbert, Ian. 208 C.A. Tour of the Grandgleam. Woodsend, Scholar's Guild.
The Green-Thumb River, a vibrant teal waterway glowing with magickal energy, is both a source of wonder and terror in Everwealth. Its life-giving properties fuel extraordinary plant and animal growth, but the dangers lurking along its banks, deadly beasts, unpredictable weather, and magickal phenomena, make it nearly impossible to exploit. Born in the chaos of the Fall, the river remains shrouded in mystery, with theories ranging from enchanted origins in the Grandgleam Forest to ancient artifacts buried beneath its depths. Though its beauty and bounty tempt adventurers and naturalists alike, most who approach it find only peril and death.
Geography
The Green-Thumb River snakes its way through the heart of Everwealth, carving a vivid teal streak through the land like an unhealed wound. Born of the post-Fall reshaping of the continent, it spills forth from the ocean’s soft blue-gray waters, only to transform into a glowing, vibrant channel of life-or, as many would argue, death. The river courses through fertile plains and the dense heart of the Grandgleam Forest, its banks overgrown with lush, almost oppressive vegetation. It is bordered by steep, eroded cliffs in places and sprawling wetlands in others, with the surrounding terrain a tapestry of hills, bogs, and perilous lowland woods.
Ecosystem
The river’s magickal properties encourage an explosion of plant growth along its banks, creating an almost alien abundance of life. Mighty oaks seem to sprout overnight, their roots clutching the riverbank in an eternal thirst. Aquatic plants with luminous fronds sway in the teal current, providing shelter for fish of impossible size and variety. The fauna is no less remarkable, or terrifying. Enormous herbivores drawn by the bountiful vegetation graze in the area, blissfully unaware they are buffet tables for packs of dire wolves, great serpents, and even rumored drakes. Predators themselves are often hunted by larger apex creatures, creating a brutal food chain where the strong survive and the foolish die.
Ecosystem Cycles
The Green-Thumb River seems impervious to seasonal changes. While surrounding areas ebb and flow with the seasons, the river and its ecosystem maintain an unnatural constancy. Migratory birds flock to its banks year-round, taking advantage of the endless food supply, while predators seem to multiply in its unyielding bounty. However, the river’s overflowing life is not without consequence; frequent battles for dominance between beasts leave its banks littered with carcasses, feeding yet more scavengers in an unending cycle of carnage.
Localized Phenomena
The river’s glow is not merely a trick of the light. Observers report floating orbs of green and teal light hovering above the water at night, accompanied by a faint hum that sets teeth on edge. Lightning occasionally dances along its surface, a quiet crackle that hints at the magicks saturating its waters. The river also warps weather patterns in the Grandgleam, creating sudden, localized mists thick enough to blind a traveler who strays too close.
Climate
The areas surrounding the Green-Thumb River are humid and warm, with frequent rainfall nourishing its bountiful greenery. The air is thick with moisture and the sharp, tangy scent of life, overripe fruit, damp earth, and something faintly acrid, likely the residue of the magicks that keep the river alive. The river’s microclimate can be as unforgiving as its predators; sudden storms and heatwaves are as common as the beasts lurking in its shadows.
Fauna & Flora
Vegetation here grows to staggering proportions, much of it unsuitable for harvest. Trees as wide as houses line the banks, their roots gnarled and gleaming with magick. Vines hang like nooses, dripping with glowing berries that may heal you, or kill you. The river teems with fish whose scales shimmer like gemstones, though few dare to catch them due to the hulking carnivores prowling the shallows. Dire jaguars, enormous serpents, and even rumored river drakes guard this ecosystem with merciless efficiency.
Natural Resources
The river’s life-giving properties make it a treasure trove of untapped potential. Rich timber, rare herbs, and fish the size of boats could feed and fortify the people of Everwealth for generations. But its proximity to the Grandgleam Forest’s depths and its teeming predators have left much of this bounty untouched. Middleglade, the lone city on its banks, serves as a tenuous example of what could be achieved—if one were willing to gamble lives and coin in equal measure.
History
The Green-Thumb River came into existence in the chaos following the Fall. The earthquakes that reshaped Everwealth cracked the earth open, allowing this strange and deadly wonder to flow forth. Its magickal nature remains a subject of speculation: some say the river draws its power from the Grandgleam Forest, while others whisper of ancient artifacts buried beneath its surface. Whatever the truth, its origins are shrouded in mystery, lost to time and overshadowed by the death toll it has wrought.
Tourism
Few travelers venture to the Green-Thumb River for leisure, and those who do rarely return. Adventurers hoping to loot the ruins scattered along its length are the most common visitors, followed closely by naturalists driven by an almost suicidal curiosity. Pilgrims come to Middleglade to marvel at the river’s beauty but are sternly warned not to stray beyond the city’s watchful walls. Its deadly reputation ensures that most who see the river are content to view it from afar, alive to tell the tale.
Alternative Name(s)
The Verdant Vein, The Bane of Middleglade, The Drowned Forest.
Inhabiting Species
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