Melancholic Heathland
Melancholic Heathland is a type of terrain in the Island of Woad that is characterized by woody outcrops, petrified plants and slow-growing but sustaining ecosystems with stable weather. It is seen as influenced by deities such as Maudra and Opis. The "cold" Maudra is seen as an opposing force to the "hot" Mihr, and Opis is the goddess of timelines standing in opposition to the ephemeral Koidios.
Principles of Melancholic Heathland Terrain
- Law of Mountain Sickness - dictates in higher altitudes, a chill though the atmosphere slows all growth processes. The Law of Mountain Sickness states that after a certain altitude, living things transition to a state of Deathlessness. This is simply extremely slow-growing, primitive life forms, that are alive for generations to the point they are thought to be immortal.
- Law of the Architect - dictates that after a certain period of longevity, the core of the life form's function becomes unbreakable, and retains a permanent root in all timelines. Many of the plants that are made with the same genetic code undergo drastic superficial changes but ultimately are the same chemically, which can be difficult to track.
Manifestation
Melancholic Heathland is dominated by dark, cold features. Gnarled trees and petrified stumps, mosses and lichens. The rock is weathered, either smooth or freshly cracked open by lightning. The soil is thin, shallow, and rocky. It feels like everything takes a long time to die and decay here, showcased by moss-ridden trees and patches of peat. In some places there may be small springs, typically of cold water isolated from sunlight.
Localization
Melancholic Heathlands occur naturally in places with high humidity and mild, stable temperatures, typically in the upper lands surrounding a Sanguine Bromeliade or Phelgmatic Bogland.
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