forest.the details of the forest that gareth lives in, along with the forest that grows upon his back.
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home“the forest is endless, and lightning bugs make our stars.”
the trees do not yearn for the sky, they do not reach their arms for the world above. they’re grounded, with thick bases and large roots that keep them anchored to the earth. their leaves grow large, so that the summer’s beating sun hits the forest floor in thin rays. the trees stand strong to protect the flora and fauna. the trees are silent guardians - silent not because they can’t talk, but because they choose not to. only during windy nights are the voices of the trees heard, when they whistle their tune and tell the story of the forest. the flowers welcome the shade they’re provided by the trees. the flowers are diverse and welcoming, with lovely colors that attract gazes from all around. they want you to believe that they are innocent, but they can be invasive - they want to know your secrets. their vines crawl up tree trunks, and tangle between the bones of ancient creatures. everywhere is their territory, save for the rocks along the riverbanks - those belong to the moss. the mushrooms argue for room against the flowers, but they’ve never won the fight. the water is pure. it’s been through hard times, when it couldn’t see because of how muggy it’d grown, when it was lonely because no creature wanted anything to do with its polluted self. but these days, the water sparkles and magnifies all that is underneath. it’s forgiven the events of time passed, and now lies serene, its flow gentle and its burbling a happy sound. now, the waterfalls, they are different, they are brash and thunderous, perhaps for the water to release the tension it’s built after so many years. the animals, the squirrels and rodents and foxes and bears, they’re little more than accessories to the forest, only guests in a world that belongs to plants. the animals have come to understand that this is not their land, that they may be home but their home was not made for them. they take what they need, what they must, and they are then quiet. the forest accepts them, but does not welcome them. the animals are glad that they’ve been permitted stay in the forest. the sky belongs to no one, or perhaps it belongs to everyone. but what the sky shows to the forest is something that the sky doesn’t show elsewhere. it paints a picture every dawn and every dusk, and proudly shows its work to the world below - and the world is always impressed. but more importantly is the nights, when the sky sets down its brush and erases its colors, and thus shows its true self. the sparkling gold flecks amongst the void, but no colorless void is it - rather, its made with maroons and ocean blues and ribbons of colors that capture the eyes. the forest looks up to the sky, and the forest wishes to be that beautiful. the sky looks down to the forest, and wishes to be so gorgeous. |
carrotthe forest is strong, and independent, and an ever-growing entity. but it has a secret: it relies on a person - just one single kalon, but the forest cannot be ashamed for it. the forest breathed life into gareth as it was instructed by the witch so long ago, and in return, gareth is a lasting source of power and growth.
from his fur sprouts a small ecosystem, filled with miniature plants that play a role larger than what can be expected from any such small things. even this small forest doesn’t realize its own worth, nor does it take its job seriously - apparent by its nonsensical seasonal changes, opposite of the world around it. when it’s spring, this forest looks like the sunset, with bright leaves that flow off into the wind with every breeze. and then summer comes along, and those tiny trees have been left barren, but because there’s no snow, it resembles a sort of wasteland. fall rolls around, and gar’s back is bright greens and pinks as everything begins to bloom. finally, it’s winter, and the forest deepens in color and looks to be in its prime. this rebellious forest, according to any scientific research, should not exist. but it isn’t science - it’s magic. gar in and of himself is an enchanted creature that biologically does not make sense. this forest has a name, not one that he gave but one received by a child long, long ago who mispronounced his own name. and so the forest - or even more specifically, the centerpiece of it, the tree - came to be known as “carrot.” carrot has two very large roles to play. it’s first job is to produce the spores that are used to put a creature to sleep, as well the spores that will hypnotize an animal. these are each powers, abilities that gar uses to rid the forest of destructive trespassers. the second role that carrot plays is a more constructive one. it creates seeds that are released year round (though mostly in winter, so they’ll sprout in spring), thus bringing new plants to life and helping the forest’s growth. the seeds produced greatly vary, from flower to tree to fruit seeds. carrot can and will produce anything, so long as gareth has had contact with that plant at least once in his life. this means that if a plant were to go extinct, carrot would still be able to create that plant’s seeds and potentially revive the species. and so, although often inconvenient as it is, sitting atop gareth’s back, this little forest is greatly important. and if gareth were to ever die, carrot holds a secret; it has a seed similar to the one that the witch originally planted, the one that created gareth in the first place. |
the forest on his back changes often, and sometimes looks more appealing than other times. this is because the only permanent plant is carrot, the tree in the center. the rest of the plants are temporary, and when they die off, new plants will take their place. carrot randomly drops seeds, so guessing what plant will grow next is near impossible. fairies and butterflies like to rest in this small forest, especially because it's their size.
this picture is sort of crowded, so here are two alternate versions ! || without antlers || without forest ||
tethered
gareth is a forest guardian. that is, to say, he was born to protect this forest, that is his purpose and so shall it be for as long as he and the forest stands. he is bound to the forest, obligated to stay put. however, he is not trapped, nor has he ever been, though he might not have ever left the forest. his own life force is closely tethered to a single tree, one that started as the flower that bore him before it took on the form of a looming tree. if this tree were to die, gar would be severely weakened, and in some years he would be likely die - although it might take centuries, as some part of gar’s life is attached to every other bit of the forest, every seed he’s planted.
now, to leave the forest would be an easy task. there are no immediate effects suffered, but time will take it’s toll, as will distance. first comes the drowsiness, the inability to think straight. his body will then fight against him, choosing to lay when it’s not time for rest. finally he’ll fall unconscious, but he will not die, not unless he is further kept from his home for a very long time. so gareth may leave the forest if he so chooses, as long as it’s no permanent parting.
but although gar wishes to experience much of the world, he hesitates. the forest is all he’s ever known, and he’s come to care for it deeply. he doesn’t know what he’ll find outside it. so he stays within the forest grounds, and for now he’ll only imagine what oceans are like, and mountains and cities and the culture of each individual kalon country. for now, imagination is all he needs.
now, to leave the forest would be an easy task. there are no immediate effects suffered, but time will take it’s toll, as will distance. first comes the drowsiness, the inability to think straight. his body will then fight against him, choosing to lay when it’s not time for rest. finally he’ll fall unconscious, but he will not die, not unless he is further kept from his home for a very long time. so gareth may leave the forest if he so chooses, as long as it’s no permanent parting.
but although gar wishes to experience much of the world, he hesitates. the forest is all he’s ever known, and he’s come to care for it deeply. he doesn’t know what he’ll find outside it. so he stays within the forest grounds, and for now he’ll only imagine what oceans are like, and mountains and cities and the culture of each individual kalon country. for now, imagination is all he needs.
yanthe flower that gar was born from took a new shape as a tree. this tree now (nicknamed Yan, i.e. the second half of Banyan), it’s a central hub for the forest, where animals congregate, where plants run wild to the point of vines tripping you with every step and flowers sprouting from the trunks of every nearby tree. lost travelers often end up here, and they’ll find guidance by gareth’s hand - but first they’ll have to wake him.
the tree, scaling a hundred feet tall and having a trunk too large to see around. that trunk is big enough that there is a large portion hollowed out; although appearing somewhat manmade, this structure was naturally formed, maybe to serve the exact purpose of housing the forest’s guardian. and in that case, it does its job, with gar frequently hibernating within the tree when he’s near it (often he’s a bit too far off to get there). the tree has accumulated many legends over the years, about how it was once a person, or it’s inhabited by lost souls, how it once housed a whole community of fairies - but most importantly, the tale about the guardian who lives there. though this story is told like a fable, more than a couple kalons have found it to be true. |
structuresman-made structures within the forest
hinorachi village ;; (explained further on “basic info” page) an age old village that once held aggressive kalons that started wars with those around them and caused much damage to the forest because of it. they’re since long gone, but their village is one of few from that era that still remain mostly intact. the witch’s room ;; the original protector of the forest, before even gareth, was a witch, whom lived in a solitary house hidden away deep in the forest. her house might have survived the test of time, if it weren’t for its close proximity to Yan. many travelers have come across it, and as such, it barely remains, and the pieces that do are full of pictures drawn on the walls. but the witch’s bedroom stands tall, and refuses to go down, though it’s relatively empty these days. |