The Land of Towns and Serpents

Land Name:The Land of Towns and Serpents

Terrain: The Land of Towns and Serpents is a huge black sprawling tangled forest full of mist and dying trees. A deep gloom lies over all the land, a darkness without source that seems to cling to every shadow and suck away the color and warmth of everything it touches. The sky is permanently shrouded in dense clouds. Here and there mossy cliffs protrude from the treeline. Small overgrown paths cut through the woods, but they are tangled, twisting and untrustworthy, choked by the woods around them and frequently barricaded by the Underlings who lurk there.

The land is occasionally pelted by an icy rain. Thick mud is common.

Landmarks: The forest is punctuated by small hamlets fenced in by palisades made of split logs. The Consort Salamanders huddle together inside terrified of the creatures without. Here and there through the land are ash filled braziers from which thin wisps of black smoke continually rise, filling the air around them with gloom.

Apart from the Underlings the whole land is infested with Serpents, some small, some the size of the largest anacondas, some few that could wrap themselves around a dragon and choke it to death. While many are malicious some are indifferent or even helpful on occasion. They are sentient and capable of speech, but rarely do so. They do not drop grist.

Here and there are larger towns. Seemingly abandoned their walls are broken in places and they are in a grave state of disrepair with moss and trees growing inside the walls. They swarm with Serpents and Underlings, being some of the densest clusters of enemies in the game.

The palace of the Denizen lies deep in the forest in a cave which lies at the foot of the tallest tree in the wood, an immense oak, larger than any tree on earth whose branches stretch hundreds and hundreds of feet in all directions. It is infested with Serpents.

The Quest Bed lies at the top of a knoll crowned with standing stones upon which the bed rests. Lower than most bed spires it barely pokes out above the gnarled canopy around it.

Player Handler: Nick Chambers
Main Quest: To hunt the Serpents and inspire the Consorts to rekindle the braziers to banish the gloom and oppressive clouds. To resettle the abandoned Towns.

Upon completion warmth and light are returned to the forest. The clouds peel back, the Serpents and underlings retreat deep into the woods, which bloom into a beautiful spring. At this point the Denizens begin to venture outside the walls to clear away section of the forest of their own volition, making travel across the realm much easier.

Consorts: Salamanders
Denizen: Cernunnos The Horned One, a huge antlered giant clad from head to toe in flowing crimson robes. He unleashed all the Serpents onto the world and smothered all the Braziers giving the land over to them. He despises fire and all those who make use of it, as do his followers. The Choice which he offers usually involves long and grueling tasks. While not the strongest of Denizens, he is surrounded by an aura of dread which makes approaching him difficult.

Cernunnos has a minion named Herne, who takes the shape of a tall black shadow with a deer skull, luminous eyes and antlers like twisting roots. He speaks in a booming voice, and usually speaks for Cernunnos concerning The Choice. He haunts the woods snuffing out flames and trying to sabotage the players efforts, and or offering limited advice and sending the player on quests. If killed, he will be reborn in time. He alone of Cernunnos's ilk does not seem to mind fire.
Gate Color: Dark Brown
Other: This Land is unusually bent towards the inclusion of others besides the player, with the main quest impossible to complete without the involvement of the Consorts. It is they, not the player who must light the braziers. A difficult task as the Salamanders fear the Serpents with a much greater intensity than most humans.

Approved.