Noroi Plains

The Noroi Plains stretch into the northwestern most reaches of Varenval, starting at the feet of the Noian Range and extending up to the Broken Sea in the north.    The Noroi Plains are largely inhospitable to humanoids, though some small settlements have been formed through persistent dedication and the deaths of thousands of slaves who could not escape. The Plains themselves are cracked and rough: anyone visiting the Plains for the first time would see a flat plain in upheaval that is full of jutting earth and fallen trees. Walking on the solid parts of the Plains reveals that the ground has a dry yet nearly-spongy density that can cause visitors to trip unintentionally while walking.   In between the cracks in the Noroi Plains is a sluggish, mud-like semi-liquid that, in some places, bubbles and spills upward in occasional jets. This liquid, which has a rust-like smell and an acrid taste, is considered by the preots to be the blood of the fallen godling, and consuming the liquid is fairly regular among those of the preots' faith. For those outside of the faith, the liquid is considered useless at best and largely avoided due to its ability to stain clothing, skin, and all else without providing significant nutrition to allow for the flourishing of plants in the area. Not all cracks between the earth are filled with the liquid, and those that are not can be dangerous to accidentally step near as earthen patches are known to collapse into these cracks with very little pressure. These cracks can span downards up to fifty feet and anyone who falls into one without a plan of assistance will almost certainly die within it.   The fallen trees within the Noroi Plains are not live plants, nor are they truly dead. The trees (so called because the resemble trees elsewhere, though no live specimens have ever been found) are virtually immune to all types of damage (including fire), though they do absorb liquids and some have been observed falling into widening cracks within the plains. Efforts to harvest these trees have been fruitful, but cutting or otherwise changing the trees into a new form after harvest has thus far been impossible without magical means. For those with magical inclinations, the trees are a perfect building material since they resist general damage. However, because they seem to be porous, additional materials (or spells) must be used to keep the inside of any structures dry. It is these materials that have allowed some settlements to be formed, especially as the trees make sturdy ground cover for preventing any cracks from critically compromising the base of any structure.   On many of these trees, one plant grows plentiful within the Noroi Plains: the adabea mushroom. This mushroom resembles a toadstool and grows out of the sides of the trees, with each stool typically features a concave top that traps rain water and that catches any other material that may fall onto it. Though the mushrooms root themselves in the trees, the mushrooms are very susceptible to damage and many of the people who lives in the Plains harvest adabea mushrooms as one of their main sources of key nutrients. The mushroom is usually eaten grilled or baked, though the mushroom can be liquefied if exposed to a low heat source for several hours. Once it is a liquid, the mushroom paste is considered to be far better tasting and it can be used as an ingredient in other recipes more readily.   Some areas of the plains feature large groves of towering ferns, which themselves root into the centre of solid areas and spread their fronds over the cracks around them. These ferns collect moisture and nutrients from the liquid, and the shade of these ferns is often the home for some of the few creatures that call the Plains home. But these homes are not completely devoid of danger: many of the ferns "roll up" their leaves during the night, creating an exposed area that is dangerous and visible. Of all the creatures who live within this fern bioscape, the galcal shrew (or "yellow capped" shrew) is the most common.