Laysan Bog

The coming of Gluthome - 2043/03/14

The signs were faint at first. The falling of leaves grew more regular. The lifespan of creatures was slowly declining. After some time they grew more dire, however. The fish stopped spawning and moved further down river than they ever had. The creatures of the forest kept entirely to the mountain streams and never drank at the main river that ran through the forest.
The elves of Laysan forest were fervent devotees to Solmey and therefore picked up on all these signs and recognised them for what they were. Somewhere foul magic was corrupting their forest. Their sages pleaded to Solmey for guidance and she answered, showing them a cave up river.
The elves assembled a small party to investigate. As they moved further upstream the signs of corruption became more and more apparent. Dead fish washing up on the riverbank, trees rotting along the waters edge and no fresh tracks of animals coming to drink in the river.
When the party reached the cave they smelled the being before they ever saw it. Clutching rags to their faces, they fearlessly entered. The cave was not deep and they did not need to venture far when they saw it. Sitting in a bubbling pool of it's own filth was a monstrosity like none of them had ever seen. It was immediately clear that this was the source of the corruption.
One of the elves, the youngest and most bold of them all, draw his blade and charged the beast. The creature started to laugh and did not stop laughing until each elf that ran at him was utterly destroyed. With his companions broken bodies drifting in the polluted water around him the last of the elves decided that he had a duty to report what had happened here. He turned and ran out of the cave. He bolted down the side of the river as fast as he could. As he went he could still hear the horrid laughter of the beast as it slew his kin.
The elves had sent multiple war parties after the beast since that day, but each expedition returned the same results. The elves discussed leaving the forest but swore that it was their sacred duty to their god to protect it as much as they could.
The forest continued decay and corrode as the years went on. Trees died, the animals mostly left and the water became foul throughout the forest. You could not call it a forest any more, however. It was now truly just a repugnant swamp. In their village the elves cursed at the creature. And yet, some of them started to wonder why the land was not completely dying out. Why is it that there was more life now. Even if it was a cursed life. Was this new enemy truly so bad?

The coming of Gluthome - 2612/06/28

The signs were faint at first. The sacrifice of leaves grew more regular. The decay of creatures was slowly speeding up. After some time they grew more sublime, however. The fish stopped invading the area's waters and moved further down river where they belonged. The creatures of the forest tried to outrun the glorious corruption with feeble attempts.
The elves of Laysan Bog were foolish worshipers to Solmey and therefore noticed the holy signs and recognised them for what they were. A blessed power had come to their land. Their sages pleaded to Solmey uselessly for guidance and she foolishly directed them to salvation.
The elves assembled a small party to investigate. As they moved further upstream they could not contain their excitement for the wondrous changes that were happening to their land.
When the party reached the cave they sensed his divinity before they ever saw him. Hiding their face so as not to affront him, they humbly entered. The cave was not deep and they did not need to venture far when to reach his grace. Sitting in a joyous pool of it's own power was a divine being like none of them had ever seen. It was immediately clear that this was the source of their salvation.
One by one the great one cleansed their souls and devoted their lives to the nature around them. He told the last of them to go back to the tribe and tell them about his wondrous gifts.
The elves were hard to understand his wonder at first, but after seeing his majesty with their own eyes they realised that his was the true power that controlled their forest.
Long live Gluthome!

Geography

The bog's landscape is fairly without any large hills or deep valleys. A large river runs through it's center with multiple smaller streams feeding into it throughout the forest. These stream get their water from the melting snowfall in the nearby mountains.

Ecosystem

The ecosystem thrives on the cycle of decay and rebirth. The festering waters of the central river feed much of the surrounding area and therefore constantly corrupts any new life that tries to take hold. Once this life has been destroyed, millions of organisms will feed on it for nourishment. They will then spread, feeding other organisms and keeping the cycle active.

Climate

The area is blanketed by constant cloud cover. The rain that pours from these clouds contain the same corruption as the main river of the area. As such all of the ground of the swamp is constantly being fed with new infections to continue the spread of devastation.

Fauna & Flora

The plants that grow in the bog have adapted after years of corruption.

History

The Laysan Bog was created during the Third Age when a gigantic demon of plagues, called Gluthome, made it's home in the Laysan Forest. After decades of corruption it had completely turned the once lush forest into a foul bog. At the start the local tribe of elves that lived in the forst despised Gluthome, but after living in the newly created bog for over a century the tribe have slowly begun to worship the monstrosity.
Along with the bog, the area has had a permanent cloud-filled sky since Gluthome made his home in the forest. As such the tribe believes a rainbow to be an omen of ill times as it means Gluthome's power is waning.

Type

Wetland / Swamp