Downwoods
At the southernmost edge of Incontinence lies an ancient forest glowing with power. It is rumored that these woods are home to portals of all kinds, including the Maw of Hellvein. Just to the north are the plains identified as The Hunting Lands, terrorized by that maw that resides on the edge of this forest. The eastern-most tip of the Downwoods where the Twin Rivers converge is called the Ashvale Swamps, named for the burnt husks of the trees that remain after an attack from a troop of Bielziari before humans even walked the land. Like a half-eaten corpse, death and decay has recently spread throughout a portion of these woods, only held at bay by Light Elzari magic.
Ecosystem:
The most notable feature of this heavenly temperate deciduous forest is the Lumenleaf trees that tower into the sky. Their canopies of semi-translucent leaves filter the sunlight, creating a mosaic of dappled colors on the forest floor. These leaves vary in shades from golden to youthful green, and glow softly at nighttime to attract nocturnal creatures. Their roots are interwoven below the ground, allowing the trees to share nutrients and water. Suntrails are slightly luminescent vines that grow quickly towards the sun, with leaves that have tiny sensors that detect and adjust to light levels. These vines regenerate rapidly from cuttings, and attract glidewings with brightly colored flowers that release nutrient-rich spores resembling clouds of mist when shaken. Along the forest floor grow the whisperbark shrubs, low-growing shrubs with soft, ribbed bark that produces a gentle, melodic tune when they sway. The sound is used for communication between plants and creatures. Having adapted to growing in clumps, they can form dense thickets that offer protection and microhabitats for smaller creatures.
Squatchkins make their nests in these thickets or in the canopies far above and help disperse whisperbark seeds. Glidewings pollinate the cloudblooms while feeding, diving from tree to tree. Flickerbugs are just as crucial in pollinating the flora. Rustlers keep the population of small animals tame, but are themselves prey to Gorgonines.
The most notable feature of this heavenly temperate deciduous forest is the Lumenleaf trees that tower into the sky. Their canopies of semi-translucent leaves filter the sunlight, creating a mosaic of dappled colors on the forest floor. These leaves vary in shades from golden to youthful green, and glow softly at nighttime to attract nocturnal creatures. Their roots are interwoven below the ground, allowing the trees to share nutrients and water. Suntrails are slightly luminescent vines that grow quickly towards the sun, with leaves that have tiny sensors that detect and adjust to light levels. These vines regenerate rapidly from cuttings, and attract glidewings with brightly colored flowers that release nutrient-rich spores resembling clouds of mist when shaken. Along the forest floor grow the whisperbark shrubs, low-growing shrubs with soft, ribbed bark that produces a gentle, melodic tune when they sway. The sound is used for communication between plants and creatures. Having adapted to growing in clumps, they can form dense thickets that offer protection and microhabitats for smaller creatures.
Squatchkins make their nests in these thickets or in the canopies far above and help disperse whisperbark seeds. Glidewings pollinate the cloudblooms while feeding, diving from tree to tree. Flickerbugs are just as crucial in pollinating the flora. Rustlers keep the population of small animals tame, but are themselves prey to Gorgonines.
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