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E'kraun
The forest of E'kraun is a vast woodland shrouded in mysticism. Located in the mid-western region of Isélyr, it is bordered to the east by the grassy plains of Le'Chery and to the west by the Bay of Chemosh. The lush canopy provides a peaceful tranquility throughout most of E'kraun, though the darkness of Xaroc's grasp has penetrated the northernmost reaches of the forests. Several rivers and streams wind their way through the forest, the most noted of these is the Soothsigh River, which seems to stay the advancement of Xaroc's Demonkind from penetrating the southern reaches of the forest.
Indigenous peoples include tribal humans, apemen, wood elves, sprites, feyfolk, dryads, nymphs, and the like.
Regional Fauna:
Indigenous creatures to the forest of E'kraun include common species of bats, possums, monkeys, various species of birds, squirrels, deer, elk, bears, various species of large wild cats. The rivers and streams provide a habitat for various forms of fresh-water fish, turtles, snakes, beavers, otters, and other aquatic wildlife, as well as these animals' giant sized cousins. Other, more dangerous and rare creatures inhabit this region as well.
Celestial Larvae:
The larval form of Necrotic Wasps, Celestial Larvae are roughly three to four inches in length and are usually found in clusters of about ten to fifteen. These creatures produce a sweet, honey-like nectar that is highly sought after by Tavern owners which use the nectar to make Celestial Brew, a dark and sweet sort of mead.
Necrotic Wasps
These flying, predatory insects are usually one to two feet long with a wingspan twice its size. They feed on nectar provided by Celestial Larvae. However, they do hunt by injecting their prey with venom. Tissue around the injection site becomes necrotic. They then may inject their eggs into the victim. Sometimes the host may remain alive until the eggs hatch. When Celestial Larvae pupate, they begin to feed on the hosts internal organs, eventually killing their host when they emerge.
Nerve Children:
Usually found in pairs or groups of three. Child-like in size and appearance, this deception is commonly the demise of most adventurers who have the misfortune of stumbling across these humanoids. Usually around three to four feet tall, these creatures have the mental ability to inflict hallucinations upon weary travelers which sometimes cause the travelers to turn against each other or even take their own life. Nerve Children carry no weapons and are immune to magic.
Web Bears:
Web Bears vary in size, ranging from a mere two feet to an overwhelming height of fifteen feet, these creatures possess the upper body of a Grizzly Bear fused to the lower half of a Spider. Coloration includes deep greens to dark shades of brown and black.
Web Bears are solitary creatures, and as such, they tend to be extremely territorial. They have even been known to devour their own cubs when food becomes scarce. Their giant, clawed forearms and massive, poison-dripping maws make them fierce and deadly. Creating web pits in the loamy soil beneath the forest's canopy, these monsters can hibernate for weeks at a time, waiting for hapless prey to fall into their trap.
Regional Flora:
The canopy of the E'kraun forest is composed of common trees such as maples, birch, oaks, and hickory. Several species of common fungus and lichen as well as smaller trees such as fruit trees and dogwood can be found. A variety of climbing plants, ferns and shrubs grow in abundance. Rare, dangerous exotic species exist here, as well.
Frillbloom:
These beautiful blooms have frilled blossoms that vary in color, encompassing the entire spectrum of the rainbow. The plant, itself, stands at roughly three feet tall, while the blooms can be twelve to sixteen inches in diameter. These colorful blooms use their sweet, fragrant aroma to attract prey. As animals land near the center, a jaw-like structure, with what appears to be jagged teeth, extends from the center to snap at the creature, before retreating into the bud of the flower to digest its fleshy meal.
Fog Sulker:
Found growing on the eastern sides of hardwood trees, this lichen is normally a grayish or blue hue. As evening falls, this lichen releases clouds of spores which resemble a blanket of fog. The spores are relatively harmless, quite beneficial, in fact. Used by alchemists in regenerative potions, they are extremely sensitive to light and are highly sought after. The lichen itself is rather hardy, its texture comparable to that of cement, however if removed from its host tree, the Fog Sulker will wither and die within minutes.
Screaming Whip:
These nocturnal vine type plants can be found entwined around saplings and underbrush. The foliage colors can range from light greens to striated browns, but their bell-shaped blooms are almost always white, with the very rare occurrence of pink. As a creature brushes against the vine, the plant emits a high-pitched shriek, stunning the creature to near paralysis. During the day, the vines are dormant, making it rather easy for a cautious adventurer to move the vines around their camp as a natural alarm system.
Death Shroud:
These fungal growths are approximately twenty inches in diameter and two inches thick. At the base of the growth is a strand, several feet long which connects to an anchor type appendage that burrows into a lower tree branch. Colors are almost always a mottled gray, though very rare species are diaphanous.
Death Shrouds can detect the presence of warm-blooded creatures by the shifting change in atmospheric temperature, and can pinpoint with deadly accuracy the exact location of the warm-blooded creature.
As the creature passes beneath the Death Shroud, the anchor will release the strand, essentially allowing the Death Shroud to float towards its prey, usually attaching itself to the face. Once attached, the fungal growth will asphyxiate the creature and then begin to feed on its decomposing material.