The Verdant Rainforest

Overview

The Verdant Rainforest is the given name to the expanse of jungle that covers most of the The Couvalon Kingdom of northern Suriima. Many dangers lies within the jungle but its vibrance and vivacity is unrivalled in the natural world, perhaps only challenged the jungles of Hantou. It is also the natural home of the tree-like people, the Zurkali, whose sacred groves are scattered across the area.

Geography

The dense, humid expanse of vibrant flora stretches across much of northern Suriima. It lies all across the Couvalon Kingdom. Cities like Ellaluna and towns like Pavorel press against the edges, or are built within it. The jungle serves as a source of many natural resources, but also danger. Within the rainforest are vast expanses of jungle, but also ravines, swamplands and many rivers, most of which tributaries of the Great River.

Culture

The Verdant Rainforest is the presumed birthplace of the Zurkali, a sapient humanoid species with bark-like skin and other plant-like features. They have many sacred groves within the range of the rainforest, but most important is Kamoh'Talak'arn (The Cradle of Verdant Beginning), their capital city in a manner of speaking. In Zurkali culture, this is viewed as the origin of their kind and the heart of the jungle itself.

The early expansion of what would become modern day Couvalon Kingdom started skirmishes with Zurkali people, due to encroachment on such groves. Eventually, the Grove Accords were added as an amendment to The Prism Mandate, sanctifying the groves as sovereign soil for the Zurkali, independent of the kingdom's rule.

Flora & Fauna

The rainforest is home to an astonishing range of biodiversity, from lethal predators like the Widowmaker and Shadestalker to helpful insects like the Glowbinder and everything in-between. The fauna is just as varied, from Swamp's Kiss moss to carnivorous plants, one has to keep their wits in the rainforest.

Myths

Beyond the origin story of the Zurkali, between The Verdant Rainforest, The Phantasma Jungle and Yunango Jungle, the landscape of Suriima is supposedly home to some of the Elemental Guardians, entities left behind at the end of the Primordial Uprising. Benevolent creatures, such as Polilluma, that were charged with maintaining the order, whilst the rest of the elementals were sealed away in their respective planes.