Mournwood
The Hollow King
Mournwood, known as the Hollow King, is a creature of haunting legend among those who live in or near Bloom-infested lands. Standing over ten feet tall, this Bloom Shambler exudes a malevolent and twisted majesty. Its form is composed of decayed, splintered wood, encased in a skin of moss and adorned with sickly fungi. The Hollow King’s most striking feature is its hollow, gaping torso, where an eerie green light pulses and shifts like a spectral heart, casting an unnatural glow across its surroundings. Its face is a jagged mask of roots and branches twisted into a grim and ancient visage, almost suggesting memories of a once-kind spirit that has long since given way to malice.
Mournwood is both feared and revered, a cautionary tale and a dreadful reality. Those who encounter it seldom escape without scars—if they escape at all—forever haunted by the hollow, green-lit eyes of the Hollow King.
Physical Description
Special abilities
Necrotic Aura: Mournwood’s very presence saps the vitality of those near it. Its necrotic aura drains the life energy of all living things within a radius, from flora to fauna. This stolen energy rejuvenates the Hollow King, allowing it to heal and even mend damaged wood and fungi on its form, making it a fearsome foe in prolonged encounters.
Spawn Minions: Mournwood can command the Bloom-infested environment to serve it, calling forth lesser Bloom Shamblers from nearby plant matter. These minions obey its commands without question, acting as both foot soldiers and fodder to overwhelm intruders. In battle, it uses these minions to surround and weaken foes, reducing their ability to counterattack effectively.
Terrifying Presence: Those who gaze upon the Hollow King find themselves gripped by an unnatural dread. This aura induces terror in even the most seasoned warriors, reducing their resolve and combat effectiveness. Many have faltered in the Hollow King’s presence, their courage wilting like leaves under its withering gaze.
The Curse of Rebirth
One of Mournwood’s most terrifying traits is its apparent immortality. Even when slain, the Hollow King does not remain defeated. After a time, it rises again, taking over the body of another Bloom Shambler and warping it into its own form. This grim cycle has led many to despair of ever truly defeating it, for even the bravest efforts seem only to delay its inevitable return.Mental characteristics
Personal history
Mournwood, the Hollow King, is rumored to be the corrupted remnant of an ancient forest spirit that once guarded one of Largitas's most verdant groves. According to myth, it was a benevolent being, a silent protector of life and balance. But when the Bloom took root, it seeped into the heart of this ancient spirit, transforming its essence into a vessel of decay and rot. Now, the Hollow King roams the land like a cursed revenant, seeking to spread the corruption of the Bloom and extinguish all life in its path.
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