Tales of the Dispute – Week 8

The Forest Glittering

Some areas of the Dispute seem to have their own unique crystalline-based ecosystems. They feature vast forests of tree-like crystalline growths, interrupted my the occasional mysterious crystal monolith.

The forests themselves are no more or less dangerous than any other part of the Dispute, but they do contain one unique danger – hunger. The biology of the Forest Glittering is so alien, that it is impossible to forage for food here. Travelers lost in the forest, without supplies of their own, can easily succumb to malnutrition.

Scholars have debated for years about the nature of the Forest Glittering. Some hold they are a natural evolutionary response to the conditions in the Dispute, while others believe they were artificially constructed, perhaps as an experiment, or to generate some resource.

Another popular theory posits that the Forests are a slowly expanding ecological threat that will eventually overwhelm the Dispute and threaten the Empire itself. Others see the Forests Glittering as a threatened environment that needs the protection of humans. Neither side, to date, has produced much evidence for their claims.

Fauna of The Forest Glittering

Travelers in the Forest Glittering will mostly encounter the giant crystal plants and trees. However, crystalline animals, presumably sharing the same strange biology as the rest of the forest, are increasingly being spotted.

Many appear as centipedes, or spider-like creatures, made of glittering crystal of various colors. It's currently unknown how dangerous any of these creatures might be.

There are persistent rumors, but no proof, of humanoid crystal beings.

Scholars of the Imperial Ulama have a bounty on recovering any of these creatures alive.

Monoliths of The Forest Glittering

Amongst the crystalline trees of the Forest Glittering, there are occasionally found towering monoliths, composed of various colors of partially transparent crystal. They vary in size from 20 to 300 feet high. The crystal substance of each monolith is harder and more resilient than the crystal of the trees, and it's currently not known if they can be broken or damaged.

Approaching the monoliths, a dull humming noise is often noticeable. Explorers who have camped near the monoliths often report disturbing nightmares.

In some larger monoliths, vague shapes can be discerned imbedded in the crystal.

Theories of the Monoliths

Scholars of the Forest Glittering have come up with various theories of the monoliths and their nature. There's no reliable evidence for any of these.