The Garden of Thorns

Perhaps it was once a beautiful place. But like the Lord that resides over it, the Whispering Wood has been twisted and torn up into a horrific, solemn maze of bark and water. It is advised to not venture there for any prolonged period of time, as even within the dream state or through a vision, the very environment tends to bend and tarnish the soul. One can only imagine what actual extra-planar travel would do to a mortal.

— Professor Adaar Humarak, Introduction to Conjuration

Mythology

by Marko Drazic

At the beginning of Eana, Jakirosz took up home in the sixth root as a source of his solitude. Around him, thorn and living wood grew, surrounding the Lone Lord - enclosing him within a maze of whispers and darkness. The Lone Lord would lay claim on spirits who have died violently, through pain and torture and neglect. Souls of men women and children mad, malformed and hurt. Jakirosz would spend years traversing his own realm, until he found himself at the edge and ventured beyond. The Garden of Thorns grew darker and more hostile with it's master gone. But when he returned with a bride, The Whispering Wood quieted, and flowers bloomed within. The pain of its denizens soothed by her song and presence, even as the mortal plane wept for the loss of The Prophetess. It would seem that even after her departure and return to her rightful seat, Hareth had a lasting effect on the Garden, making it one of the calmer, safer lower planes.

Geography

The Garden of Thorns is just what it says. A large labyrinth of twisting roots, sharp thorns and blackened, whispering trees. Oracles and Priests of Jakirosz claim that there is a path within this maze; beneath the dead earth, are remnants of a cobblestone road, which can be followed. No mortal soul has ever reached where this road may lead, but scholars theorise that it is supposed to lead to The Grey Seat. That is the name mortals have given to the home of the Crying Prince, where he supposedly sits amongst the ruins and awaits his wife. Scholars of extra-planar travel and religious experts have said that despite looking akin to a Farene forest, the Graden of Thorns is full of small pockets of murky, sometimes bloody water. Ruined buildings and battlefields have been overgrown or hidden beneath the tides.

It is believed that this is not the only visage of the Garden, however. There is a small handful of evidence to suggest however that during the warmer months of the year, the plane shifts into a much more serene, peaceful place. The thorns and roots become smaller, pools of water clear and seem to become a source of quiet singing, a small pathway can be felt beneath bare feet. During this time, the horizon seems to house a large, stone structure, which one again is presumed to be the Grey Seat, rebuilt and recovered like the rest of the plane.

Sister Zuzanna was in a trance for almost three full days. Despite High Priest Gregory forbidding it, some spoke about the possibility that she would not wake up. On the morning of the fourth day, the High Priest called me to her chamber. We were to conduct a waking ritual: if her body was still living, she would return. I have never seen anything like it. She awoke just as the sun was beginning to set. She didn't wake up screaming. Nor did she look glad when she saw brother Gregory and I. In fact, when she saw us, she wept. All she said was... "Why did you wake me? I never wished to leave."

— Brother Thomas, Hidden gems of Garatha, Chapter 6, the Torn

Fauna & Flora

by Jorge Jacinto

Due to its location and limited accessibility, studying the ecosystem of the Garden of Thorns is a challenging task, often reliant on the ramblings and descriptions of mad clergy and village witches. One thing consistent in the descriptions of the Sixth Root, is that unlike other lower planes, it is a seemingly docile place. Unlike The Birthing Pit which is said to be crawling with masses of flesh, home of the Lone Lord has been described as largely quiet, almost abandoned. Souls which seem to reside largely within and nearby to the water pools are sorrowful and often weeping, but not hostile to outsiders. Some are even said to be relieved at the sight of others, and are willing to talk, share stories and puzzles or even promise wealth and pleasure to any who would stay at their side.

It would in fact seem that the most dangerous parts of this plane are the trees. Often whispering secrets, desires and fears of those who wonder past, driving living souls mad with longing for some unknown state of being. These same trees have been known to take walk on spindly legs, calling and wailing in pain and sadness, grabbing onto and devouring corpses that stand in their way.

Whisps seem to be the most curious inhabitants of the gardens, often flying into and over any soul appearing on the plane. Scholars theorise that they gather information for Jakirosz of any intruders and visitors to his plane. With the most fascinating and devout, being led to his home by those same whisps.

Alternative Name(s)

The Sixth Root, The Black Maze, The Whispering Wood

Type

Dimensional plane

Owner/Ruler

Jakirosz, the Chained One