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. Great Mangrove Project, United Pollen Oak Tide, Successionist Acorn League, Bristlecone Alliance, etc. Forest Halflings evolved large eyes to see in the murky forest. Their hands and feet are equally dexterous.
Biomes
The Abyssal Layer
At the very base of the forest biome, these sunless depths are the final frontier for halflings.
From lack of light, the abyss can at first appear barren. Stark pillars of tree trunks ascending anywhere from a few stories to hundreds of meters into the gloom. Canyons, valleys, and caves of gnarled roots.
In the darkness, a bioluminescent symphony of mushrooms blanket the fallen corpse of a collapsed tree. In the rare dot of sunlight, a riot of competing plants seek to monopolize it.
More detailed information on Abyssal flora and fauna can be found here.
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.
Some groves contain species-specific seasonal butterfly mating grounds that are inhabited at very specific times by millions of butterflies (essentially all members of the species), think Monarch butterflies
Contains:
- Scads of Epiphites (air ferns and bromeliads). Often seeking to retain extra water for later use.
- Big thick tree branches you can travel along.
- Primary biome for parasitic trees/plants (i.e. Mistletoe)
- Vines are key for switching levels and branches
- Tom's bonus: Pocket biomes?
The Crown
Very high up yo! Direct light, birds.
The Emergent Zone
Formed by cloudscraper trees, these trees rise above the ambient level of the jungle crown. They are uncommon but not rare, and, when you climb to the crown of one, you're likely to be able to see several others. Individual cloudscrapers form "island" ecosystems which main contain unique flora and fauna species.
An example of a settlement on a cloudscraper tree is Cloud City.
Flora
Trees
Different trees in the maw utilize different germination methods. Some drop their seed to the abyss layer, and when a tree collapses there is a murderous plant competition for the one spot in the light. For this reason some plants germinate based on loud noises and seismic activity. Some species shoot their seed in the twilight layer, with their initial root system in the plant layer, and send suckers downward to become roots in the motherlode of actual soil nutrients. Others also establish in the twilight layer growing heavier and heavier until they crash through to the lower layer. Those trees tend to enjoy dappled sunlight, and dropping lower prolongs their time in their preferred light zone while also getting them access to soil nutrients. There are also parasite trees that take over an existing tree and assassin plants that kill an existing tree.
- Balefire Tree
- Fir, Parasitic
- Oilseed Tree
- Propeller Tree
- Steelwood Greattree
- Cistern Tree
- Lenha Tree
Shrubs & Vines
Flowers
- Golden Tangler
- Moonflower
- Blue Creeping Vulture
- Orchid, Dream
- Orchid, Radiant
- Orchid, Foaming Fit
- Fastflower
- Fairy Flowers
Fungi
Fauna
Animals
- Abyssal Render
- Blind Abyss Gecko
- Demimorph
- False Render
- Scaled Stalker, Greater
- Scaled Stalker
- Sludgewhip
- Swarmother
- White Tent Bats
- i want this little fucker in the maw
- The Bald Spider
- Thoba Lizard
Invertebrates
- Beetle, Firborer
- Beetle, Hive
- Beetle, Sparkthrower
- Beetle, Threadwing
- Beetle, Cistern
- Beetle, Warrior
- Cud Worms
- Death Lantern
- Decipede
- Dragonfly, Greenwood
- Canal Building Termites
- Maggot Moth
- Oînops Butterfly
Birds
Folklore
Fairy Tales
Lore
Factions
- Bristlecone Alliance
- Great Mangrove Project
- Successionist Acorn League
- United Pollen Oak Tide
- Spinevine Assimilation Committee
Concepts
- Tree Elisi
- "If you put your feet in enough halfling guts surely the rich soil will accept you"
- War Metaphors
- Young vs Old
- Alien Motives and Timescale
- Lovecraftian
- Nature is Violence and Struggle
- Deciduous vs Coniferous. Waiting versus not Waiting. Seasonality
- These trees can change the climate. They actually claim territory and change it
- Tree pheromones, competing for pollinators
- Trees release pollen to claim territory
- War is bad, no good factions
Dreamers
- Sentient slow moving trees are Dreamers
- Active
- Indirect. Mystical and Strange
- Lovecraftian
- Almost geological timescale
- There are major and minor Dreamers. In terms of movement, sentience, power, etc
Halflings
- Halflings pollenate and prepare territory
- Halfings are themselves a valuable commodity. They produce fun stuff etc
- Halflings do a lot for Dreamers. They extend their reach across the forest, not just stuck in one spot
- Halfling factions match up to tree factions
Halfing Behaviors that are the Dreamers in Action
- Paladin powers
- Religion
- War making and alliances
- Farming and agriculture
Arcane Magic, Clerical Magic, Druid Magic
- It might all come from the trees
- But then again, Maybe not!
- After all, different trees have different spells to offer
Carapace Curing
- Bug shells of various kinds can be tanned, cured, or treated to half decomposition and become more resilient.
- Some examples are: water proofing, fire-proofing, puncture resistance.
- Typical curing involves drying, nut alcohols, and solvents to imbue the carapice with properties
- Then you shellac it (bug juice): acid, tannin blocker, and waxes
Are there unexplored areas?
- People know their local area, but not more than a few trees or layers over. Old timers might know their migration routes. But point to point or layer to layer exploring is crazy adventurer behavior.
- Also the Maw changes so much that it's hard to follow a path from even a year ago. People don't make maps as they're out of date quickly.
- There are plenty of place with no permanent settlements nearby. Perhaps a migration path through at most. Or a hazard like a swarming insect would ward people away.
