Info
Written by knafflad
Images 1, 2, and 5 sourced from public domain desktop wallpapers — given color correction.
Images 3 and 4 use public domain assets combined with photo manipulation.
All images modified
I <3 You
LEVEL
9.11
SURVIVAL DIFFICULTY
CLASS 0
Exit: 0/5
Guaranteed Exit
Environment: 0/5
No Environmental Risks
Entities: 0/5
No Hostile Entities
The Crimson Forest is Safe, if not chilly.
Settlers here call the views majestic and humbling.
Geography here folds in on itself in strange ways.
The enigmatic Lanterns obliterate hostile Entities.
Description:
The Crimson Forest is a beguiling thicket blanketed in a chilly fog. It is serene and idyllic under the ever watchful eye of the Lanterns which ward off harmful entities. Much of the soil and flora is tinted shades of crimson and red, giving the Level its moniker. Although there is a higher-than -average amount of ultisols and ferric oxides in the soil, the cause of the wondrous shades of red which the plants all sprout in is still unknown.
The Forest is vast and expansive. Beyond the reaches of society, the woods are largely unexplored and its geography unmapped. Within civilized lands lie familiar things; wide valleys, dense woods, large rolling mountains, and snaking streams are common. Beyond our current reach, well… anything might be waiting for us. What we know is strange about the Forest, however, is the nature of its geographic folding.
The tectonic plates of the Forest do not lay flat — nor wrap around a massive globe like land on Earth. They instead crumple and fold into one another like crinkled paper. In some regions, looking into the sky reveals more of the Forest above you; accessible if you simply keep walking forward long enough to find where the fold is. In these places the concept of “down” is subjective, as reaching a high enough altitude will reverse gravity and have you fall upwards onto the fold above you. The thinnest of these converging plates are mere meters away — while others are miles and miles overhead, lost to the mists. The properties of gravity and up and down are strange but stable — settlers have become quite accustomed to the phenomena.
Weather within the Forest is peaceful and serene. The hanging fog never dissipates, keeping the Level near a chilly 8°C at all times. This fog, produced by the Lanterns, is considered a “holy mist”… an extension of the Lanterns themselves. Should an Entity borne of malice or evil enter the fog, the Lanterns would feel it; like a spiders web twitching from the touch of a fly.
Entities:
As for sustenance? The Forest provides. Wild game is plentiful and nutritious flora can be easily cultivated. Much of the running water in the Forest is potable, yet acrid - however water taken from lakes should still be boiled for peace of mind. It is common practice to allow your water to settle in large containers, then removing the silt at the bottom to combat the natural taste.
The Crimson Forest is home to a rich ecosystem of fauna ranging from insects to large mammals and everything in between. Many of these creatures resemble animals reminiscent of those in The Frontrooms, but nothing living here was previously known to mankind. Eight-eyed deer, rust-colored moose, squirrels with prehensile tails, colonies of mice which group together in the dozens, and even haunting, silent owls with four wings have been documented among hundreds of other animals. Despite this unique biology, these creatures do not seem unnatural or anomalous. And despite the lack of dangerous entities, be aware of the natural predators which call the Crimson Forest their home. Hulking creatures resembling bears, lithe wild cats and packs of six legged canines are known to live here in harmony with the ecosystem. The Lanterns leave them be, just as they don't seem to mind the presence of humans within the Forest.
Settlers here travel along natural and manmade trails.
Bases, Outposts and Communities:
The latest transmission from the Crimson Forest has marked Rosewood's population to 83 permanent residents, including a newborn: “Kiev”. Congratulations!
The Forest is dotted with dozens of small communities and groupings of cabins - but there are three primary towns of note which make up the Crimson Commonwealth. They are listed below, and represent the large majority of the population within the Level.
Bleakshore
Named after the "bleak" white stones on the shores of Lotus Lake, Bleakshore has cultivated a tradition of boating and fishing. This bustling collection of homes is deep within the Forest indeed - drawing the interest of would-be explorers and intrepid travelers.
A peaceful hamlet, which minds its own business.
Rosewood
Rosewood is large community of cabins grouped along the coils of Bigrock River, and is the nearest settlement to the Crimson Fields. As such, wanderers often find sanctuary here.
For the most part, this community has settled here for regular day-to-day living, yet are benefactors to the M.E.G. in a number of ways. They perform seed cultivation, soil sampling, mineral panning, and the manufacturing of preserved foods and natural medicines. Shipments of goods from the Crimson Forest are highly celebrated in receiving communities — their traditional pickled eggs are treated as an especially precious delicacy.
Silkreach
Nestled comfortably at the base of the Withered Bluff and the Merlot Peaks, Silkreach is renowned for their masonry and rich resources pulled from the soil.
A dozen generations of terracing have allowed for astounding yields of farming around the community, which are bartered across the Commonwealth.
However, not every citizen of the Forest lives in The Commonweatlh. Many members have travelled deeper into the thicket in order to stake out their own quiet life in a cabin of their own. Some of these dwellers live solo or in small groups on the fringes of The Commonealth within hiking distance of the villages. Many of these individuals live a more reclusive life, and exact populations of fringe dwellers are unknown. There are approximately 40 individuals living near enough to The Commonwealth to not be considered “Lost”.
Cabins of the Lost
Some M.E.G. operatives who travel to the Crimson Forest disappear deep into the woods to get lost entirely — hoping to forget the troublesome nature of the other Levels altogether. Under the watchful care of the Lanterns, this level has grown a reputation of being a utopia: a wild land with promises of a peaceful life. Since the Levels discovery, it is expected no fewer than two hundred individuals once aligned with the M.E.G. have disappeared into the beguiling world of the Crimson Forest, never to return.
Explorers who venture deeper into the Forest have claimed encounters with humans bearing crimson-tinted skin and pale milky eyes. These strange sightings — not backed by reliable evidence — have been largely reduced to nothing more than rumors or stories. Settlers of Rosewood, however, believe those who become lost to the woods may become changed by the Forest… that wandering souls seeking a life among the trees become “Clay Men”… empty husks of their former selves who wander the woods silently. Whether true or not, many consider these nothing more than scary stories to tell to children. Frightful ideas to stop the little ones from wandering off alone.
Entrances And Exits:
The Crimson Forest is so large that many people grow up, live, and die within this level without ever leaving the woods. Those who do, typically travel to other levels in search of resources or as part of a soul-searching pilgrimage.
The only known entrance and exit from the Crimson Forest is through the dangerous expanse of the Crimson Field. Locating the barrier between the Levels can be hit-or-miss, but generally if you travel away from the Gloom you will reach patches of fog that glow on the horizon. This glow is the iridescence of the Lanterns of the Forest, and is a sign that you are nearing the safety of their watchful presence. Citizens of the Commonwealth have marked a well-used trail for wanderers through a small section of the Crimson Field with large posts flagged with cloth. If you happen across one of these markings, consider yourself both lucky and on the right track.