Phalan Forest
The Phalan Forest is a tropical forest region of Norrab, under threat from rapidly expanding bloodthirsty corals. Something out of a science fiction horror movie, a hivemind of carnivorous coral have exploded deep within the forest, infecting local wildlife, terrorising surrounding regions.
Geography, Location & Climate
The Phalan Forest is located directly north of the Looming Desert, beyond a small stretch of land, the Siltlands. Divided by the Siltlands on three sides, the outskirts of the Phalan Forest is covered in silky sands. Thick deciduous trees rip their way out of the ground between uneven ditches and valleys, just a step away from death.
The Phalan Forest exceeds forty degrees Celsius year round; the muggy atmosphere seemingly doubling the temperature. During the hottest parts of the year thick pollen clouds the air. Despite pollen storms successfully killing thousands of animals every storm, they are one of the least dangerous aspects of the forest. If you don't trip over the barbed roots of massive trees, scrambling your legs into bloody stumps, you will fall victim to boulders falling spontaneously, thanks to conveniently placed geysers shooting up balls of soil and stone.
Surely the worst part of the Phalan Forest is the infestation of Celeripora ruina, a fast-growing coral commonly known as destructor's reign. An ominous name for a malicious species.
Honestly, this place is just really fuckin weird. Best to steer clear of it, if I were you. Not worth the trouble, or your life.
Ecology
The Phalan Forest is bustling with complex and unique lifeforms, all fighting to survive. Where the coral doesn't gnaw through the lands, carnivorous plants and carnivorous critters rummage through the foliage.
They fight each other to defend sprawling territories, through the rocky lands and twisting caverns below. Larger species such as silkback sterrers roam through the forest, chewing on as many leaves as they can consume, forever running from vicious predators.
Subterranean life is just as vibrant as the surface. Blind creatures navigate tight tunnels using a mix of echolocation and electrosensory organs, detecting the faintest movements from other animals. Very rarely a pipehead sandworm finds its way into the caves below the Phalan Forest, wreaking havoc on the region. They tear up any existing tunnels, forming new ones in their wake.
Coral Infestations
Invading and engulfing the minds of any organism that it comes into contact with, destructor's reign rules the Phalan Forest. Birthing from a writhing mass of coral in the heart of the forest, deep down in a vast cavernous structure, this coral species is incredibly rapidly reproductive and very hostile.
The moment it touches another organism, its polyps detach and begin working its way into the brain, slowly taking over and consuming it. Infested organisms have heightened senses, inducing severe levels of rage and anger. Infested animals will seek to kill anything in their path, before collapsing and becoming one with the coral. Many seek to destroy the hivemind, but it proves invincible.
Woah! What a scary place! Choking to death on pollen sounds horrible. Very cool ideas!
Thank you so much! <3