Green Maw

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1X5Jlx_a-0GeqW7eMqNVEmC0XTc06QpBskz0OFuiJ3fo/edit

Dense forest that seems to change more than usual over time. Mapping efforts have met with change.

The Great Pollen Wars continue to this day. The wars are caused by trees, now sentient, to carry out grudges from when they were mere plants. The tomb meteor caused an arcane storm, which inspired the forest halflings to create rituals to make the trees sentient. These sentient trees are now known as Dreamers of the Maw.

The trees of the Maw are extremely tall, and there are various sub layers within it. In the forest there are also giant bugs, including 10 foot long centipedes, and dragonflies with 6 foot wingspans.

The forest is intentionally cultivated by the forest halflings, who foster mushrooms, fruits, and insect hives, and live in settlements around these food rich areas.

+ Forest halfling ethnic groups were historically defined by their alliances in the war. Outriders, Oaks, AntiOaks, etc. Forest Halflings evolved large eyes to see in the murky forest. Their hands and feet are equally dexterous.

Biomes

The Abyssal Layer

Terrible luring monsters live in the sunless depths. Largely uninhabited except for expeditions.

Twilight Layer

In some areas the trees are so thick that rivers flow through the middle layers among the branches some 40 feet above the ground.

Canopy

Most inhabited zone, filled with sunlight. Tree houses.

The Crown

Very high up yo! Direct light, birds.

Flora

Trees

• Balefire Tree
• Fir, Parasitic
• Oilseed Tree
• Steelwood Greattree

Shrubs & Vines

• Neta Plant - A small bushy plant that grows in the Twilight and Canopy layers. People often harvest the leaf due to the stimulant properties of the Neta Leaf.
• Vine, Choke - A colloquial term for any of several varieties of vines and runners that seem to have no other purpose than to clog up the Twilight layer and above, and interfere with commerce. They are just large enough to be a nuisance while too small to be useful for travel. In the Canopy, chokevines form massive, suspended, mats that collect leaves, branches, dead creatures, etc. These mats create suspended island ecosystems sometimes referred to as cloud islands.
• Vine, Glass-Seed - This plant grows throughout the Maw and is identified by it's hanging seed pods of iridescent teardrop shapes. The pods dry seasonally and become very brittle. If disturbed they fall and shatter open releasing springing super-hard shrapnel-like seeds. The heavy "glass" seeds explode from their pods with such force that they can puncture the trunks of trees, which allows new vines can take parasitic root. Woe to the traveler that finds themselves the host of a glass seed.

Flowers

• Orchid, Dream - A common but difficult to find and harvest orchid that lives high in the Crown. The flower is small, white, and broad resembling a small phalaenopsis. The Dream Orchid is a prolific producer of nectar. While it doesn't appear that any known nectivores in the Green Maw are effected by the nectar, to halflings it has a strong narcotic and entheogenic effect and is called Dream Nectar. The nectar is sometimes harvested for recreational and spiritual use but it's primary use is as an important ingredient in healing potions.
• Orchid, Radiant- An uncommon flower that lives mostly in The Twilight layer in colonies. As it's name suggests, it provides a natural light as part of it's natural growth process. Often times, prey creatures will hide among these orchids as the light can discourage some predators. Little nutritional value.

Fauna

Beasts

• Abyssal Render - This titanic creature is a deadly predator in the Abyssal layer which hunts through vibrations generated in the Twilight layer and above. Its devastating attack is to send tentacles from its massive body in the Abyss up into the upper layers. The tentacles are sent up quickly but stealthily and, once in position, flash patterns and lights that confuse and terrify it’s prey sending them into either panic or paralysis. The Render then proceeds to destroy everything in the vicinity causing its prey to fall through into the Abyss where it can be devoured, thus earning its name. In this way, the Render destroys trees, Dreamers of the Maw, and Halflings alike. Fortunately, Renders are very rare.
• Decipede - A large and frightening centipede. Has more than 10 legs. Occupies a niche similar to a boar or peccary. Herbivore. Has a loud screeching cry they used to communicate with others or to scare potential predators away. Very destructive, as they will cause much collateral damage while digging for the sweet and tender part of various plants of the maw. Smells like mint.
• Scaled Stalker - A six-legged creature that looks like a 3 eyed large cat with smooth snake-like scales instead of fur. Hunts either solo or in small groups of 3 to 7 individuals. Feeds almost entirely on the insects of the maw as it has been observed that they leave Halflings that would have been easy prey alone. The 3rd "eye" in the middle of the head provides the stalker with some sort of dark vision, though it is unclear if it is heat-based, sound-based, or simply more sensitive light-based.
• Swarmother - A large floating omnivore that slowly travels The Crown grazing on anything edible foods it can fine. In order to feed, it spawns small flying drones specialized for various purposes (leaf cutting, cargo transport, hunting, etc). These drones have limited to no intelligence and cannot survive without the mother unit. The mother unit, however, displays near higher order intelligence as it will spawn drones with tools that indicate creativity. While this creature could be a terrifying and deadly predator, it is mostly content to eat things that are easy to catch, like plants.

Beetles

• Beetle, Firborer - This family of medium sized beetles range in size from about that of a Halfling to about twice that. Once believed to be found only on Parasitic Fir, varieties of this beetle have been found an nearly all tree species indigenous to the Green Maw. They prey upon the larvae of other beetles by partially burrowing their abdomen into the bole of their preferred tree and generating a series of strong vibrations that drive larvae in the tree out to the surface for the Firborer to harvest. There are unconfirmed reports of Firborers preceding an attack from an Abyssal Render. If true, it's unknown if the connection is accidental or intentional.
• Beetle, Threadwing - The Crimson Threadwing is the rarest and most valuable member of the Threadwing family of beetles. Threadwings are small beetles, about the size of a sheep, whose underwings can be pounded into fine, but strong, fibers. These fibers are then spun into ironthread which is, in turn, used to weave ironcloth. The underwings are occasionally shed and grow back. The Crimson Threadwing is unique in that the fiber not only provides the finest ironthread but it serves as a natural dye for a highly prized and vibrant crimson hue.
• Beetle, Warrior - This family of dark green beetles live in colonies of a couple dozen members to a couple hundred. Each beetle is about the size and weight of a human fist and can be identified by it's large halberd-like horn they use for fighting, digging, hanging etc. There social structure appears to be one where the strongest beetle will lead the colony, most often determined by fights. Different colonies may come in conflict with one another but rarely are entire colonies wiped out by another.
• Cud worms - Worms with cow teeth that live in the leaf layer between the Abyssal and Twilight layers. Eats in an a-typical method more like a thrusting spear, rather than a consistent, consumption down a hole, like most worms. Has a tough hide (for a burrowing creature) and can grow to surprising lengths. It is theorized that without these worms, the Abyssal and part of the twilight layers would be an impassible tangle of vines, branches, and other plants.

Birds

• Gardener Owl - A plant-eating owl that nests in the abyssal layer, but goes out to find fruits and nuts from the other layers. This large eyed creature plays an important role in transferring tree seeds to soil where they can grow. Because of their large eyes, ubiquity in all layers of the forest, and special relationship with trees, forest halflings feel an emotional and sometimes spiritual kindred with this species.
• Haku - A large eagle that lives in the Crown. Its sharp talons and cutting beak mean it primarily predates on mammals, birds, and reptiles. It is a particular bane of the Forest Halflings. Wayward halfling children are told that they could be carried off by these birds if they are naughty, but the truth is these large birds care neither about the morality of their prey, nor whether they are a child or adult.
• Skewerbird - Skewerbirds are heron-like birds that live in the Crown and Canopy layers. Their beaks are specialized for puncturing the carapaces of the enormous insects of the maw, and slurping out their insides. These birds are often raised and kept by Forest Halflings to help hunt insects, especially for armor, as their puncturing attacks can bring down prey with minimal damage to chitin intended for armor.