Murkendraw

The confluence of dozens of streams and runoff flows have pooled within the lowlands of the Summer Court, creating a vast wetland. The water here gradually filters out. Before it does, the still, muddy freshwater reservoirs allow the Murkendraw to support a surprising array of life.
The largest swamp on the Plane of Faerie is the Murkendraw by far. As large as any sea, it stretches out for miles, filled with weeping willows and gnarled roots of the dead or dying plants. Night holds permanent sway over the entire swamp, where unprepared travelers can easily get lost or swallowed by patches of broad quicksand. Numerous beasts prowl the Murkendraw as well, including slimes, swarms of bloodthirsty insects and alligators the size of dragons.
The Murkendraw is the home of the hags, and many dwell in the dank sodden swamp, living in magically enchanted huts and hovels. The most feared hags are the Crones, who dwell in the darkest heart of the Murkendraw. The Crones do a good enough job of keeping tabs on creatures coming and going into the vast swamp, so travelers that wish to remain unseen by the powerful hags had best take extra precautions against their potent Divination abilities.
The Murkendraw is not a popular travel destination. Still, some venture here seeking the area’s unique resources. Plants and creatures found only in the swamp are useful for potion brewing or magical reagents.

Description

The fringes of the Murkendraw are wreathed with reeds, water lilies, and pleasant greenery. Farther into the heart of the swamp, travelers find themselves inundated by stagnant, foul-smelling waters and muddy lowlands with poor footholds. Patches of dry stable ground are scarce.

Mokkden Caverns

One of the more unlikely landforms of the Murkendraw is the intricate, vast cavern system that runs beneath the swamps. Years ago, what was thought to be sinkholes were revealed to in fact be tunnel entrances to a series of caves. Scouts from Summer Court have probed the depths to learn more about these caverns. The few who have returned reported access to the feydark, with a significant number of slimes. The damp, lightless caverns make a perfect home for the amorphous creatures that dwell here.

History

Isolated in the Murkendraw swamps, the crones are old creatures, older than humans, older than academies and mages, older even than elves and dwarves. The crones are such creatures. No one knows their true names, nor what breed of monstrosity they, in fact, are. People believe them to be primal hags. Folk say they were four at first. The Mother, She-Who-Knows, the Lady of the Wood, came here from a faraway land and, since she suffered terribly from loneliness, she made daughters out of dirt and water.
A long, long Time ago the Mother was sole ruler of all of land. Her daughters brought her the people's requests and served as her voice. Each spring, sacrifices of grain, animals, and men were made to the Lady of the Wood on her special night. Yet as the years passed, the Lady of the Wood slipped deeper and deeper into madness. Her madness eventually spread over the land—elves took to abandoning their homes and setting out into the bog, where they became food for beasts. Before long, the land was drowning in blood. The daughters saw their home nearing destruction and took it upon themselves to save it. When spring came once more, and with it the night sacrifices, they killed their mother and buried her into a bog. Her blood transformed the land forever, spawning the murkendaw.

Type

Wetland / Swamp