Lake Mirror

Cartography

Lake Mirror is very large, covering around 1/6th of the south-central part of the country, Fogwald. It’s fed by a river from Sarova to the northeast and from empties at its southern end into a broad river floating towards Dotrego, where the foothills flatten, and a natural trade route between a handful of countries of Midgard.

Goods flow along its borders, criss-crossing its neighbouring countries like Dotrego, Oatyla, Sarova, Molpolda, and Udring. The vastness of the lake provides opportunities for smuggling operations. Disgruntled merchants at times try to avoid the tolls of the fourty chiefs and smuggle goods, magical artefacts, or contraband across the lake or through hidden coves.

Skjald Vinotis

Deep within the inky embrace of Lake Mirror, veiled by the distorting magic of the water, lies a forgotten fragment of Kistal. Here, where sunlight surrenders to oppressive darkness, the remnants of the Moss’ari tribe slumber in an eerie tranquility. Giant, moss-covered stones, once forming the tribe’s dwellings, now stand half-buried in the lakebed, their smooth surfaces etched with intricate symbols that glow with an otherworldly bioluminescence. Vornir’s tears drift through the water, their ethereal luminescence casting an unsettling glow on the scene.

The Moss’ari ruins still have unexplored chambers within the Hall of Whispers, and a hidden passage within the Moss’ari chest leads to a network of underwater tunnels, connecting to forgotten ruins beneath the lakebed.

Towering above the sunken village is the Moss’ari’s central structure, the Hall of Whispers. Clad in a thick mantle of algae and barnacles, its once-proud wooden beams are now gnarled and twisted by the relentless grip of the water. Fish with eyes like glowing embers dart through the skeletal remains of a great wyvern skull that served as the hall’s entrance gate. Within the hall itself, an unnatural stillness reigns. Moss cushions the floor, and the water is thick with decaying material and damp earth. Spectral wisps of emerald green light dance amongst the ruins, remnants of the Moss’ari’s powerful shamanistic magic. Perhaps these are echoes of the tribe’s spirits, forever bound to their watery tomb.

Here and there, amongst the wreckage, lie the skeletal remains of the Moss’ari, their bones bleached white by the ever-present water. Some clutch ceremonial staffs or wooden amulets, silent testaments to their past lives. Scattered offerings of seashells and polished stones lie reverently beside them, a sign of respect from those who dared to venture into this forgotten place.

In the deepest corner of the hall, a single structure remains curiously untouched by the ravages of time. A large, ornately carved stone chest sits upon a pedestal, its surface glowing faintly with an emerald light. This is the Moss’ari’s final resting place, a repository of their most sacred knowledge and artifacts. Legends speak of ancient scrolls detailing forgotten rituals, enchanted tools imbued with powerful magic, and a hidden passage leading to a secret chamber deep within the earth—a place where the true power of the Vornir’s tears is said to reside.

The sunken village of Moss’ari is a place of mystery and forgotten lore. It beckons to brave adventurers and scholars alike, offering a glimpse into a lost civilisation and the secrets they held dear. But beware, for the lake’s magic is potent, and the spirits of the Moss’ari may not welcome all visitors with open arms.

Skjald Sejrik

Organisation

Fogwald is mainly governed by forty chiefs of various human origins. Despite their internal struggle, and because the lands are also inhabited by several N-Erectus, the chiefs failed to gain control over the lake. As the forty chiefs feared Deepminded’s powers, she managed to gain control of Kistal and the lake.

Since Lake Mirror’s shores connect several trade routes, weary travellers at times use Kistal as a vital rest stop or get passage across the lake. Deep-minded charge tolls for rest and passage, causing friction with the forty chiefs.

Skjald Vinotis

The lake itself offers unique resources for trade, especially the Mirrorghast fish, a delicacy with hallucinogenic properties. These sleek, silvery fish are about the size of a human forearm. Their most striking feature is their reflective scales, which seem to shimmer and distort, almost mimicking the ever-changing reflections on the lake’s surface.

They are highly intelligent, solitary predators, using their reflective scales to blend in with their surroundings, creating a mesmerising illusion that disorients their prey. While not inherently aggressive, Mirrorghast can inflict a nasty bite. Their venom causes hallucinations that mirror the distorted reflections seen in the lake. These hallucinations can be debilitating and even deadly if left untreated.

Local folklore says Mirrorghast is the embodiment of the lake’s ever-changing reflections. To some, they are seen as omens, a reminder of the hidden dangers and distorted truths that lurk beneath the lake’s surface.

Vornir’s Tears are small, translucent jellyfish-like creatures that pulsate with an ethereal, otherworldly glow. They have no visible eyes or mouth and seem to navigate by a faint bioluminescent trail they leave behind. They are most commonly found in the deepest parts of Lake Mirror, where sunlight barely penetrates. They are rarely seen near the surface, but on calm nights, their faint glow can sometimes be glimpsed from the shore.

Legends say these creatures are living manifestations of Vornir’s tears. They are believed to be harmless but possess a strange connection to emotions. When agitated, they are said to glow brighter, and their trails become erratic. Scholars are baffled by Vornir’s tears. They seem to possess a rudimentary nervous system yet lack the need to eat. Some believe they may be a key to understanding the unique properties of the lake.

Skjald Sigurd

Special

The most peculiar thing about Lake Mirror, are the Vornir’s Tears.

Skjald Ulrich