Rooting Rings

When exploring the Gloamwood, it is advised to watch where you step. Even the outwardly safest places can conceal things that can change one's life irreparably. 'Rooting rings', also known as 'fae graves', are one such thing.

Rooting rings are characterised by circular root formations circling a cluster of crystals - usually null stones. The roots will often have a faint glow to their surface, indicating the ring is still active. Dark roots with minimal crystals within them are considered 'dormant'.

Stepping into a rooting ring risks turning a person into a rootbound or gloamtouched. Especially active roots may spring to life to grab the interloper and pull them down into the ring, merging them with the crystals as they are transformed into a living extension of the Gloamwood. Extreme caution is advised, one is much more likely to turn into a rootbound than a gloamtouched.

No one is entirely sure how these circles are formed, but one theory is that they're the gravesites of fae who died of crystallosis. The roots encircle their bodies and prevent the crystals from their bones from spreading.