The Fairy-Garden of Gnarlwood

To the east of Beldam, is an ancient forest called "Gnarlwood." It is a deep forest, with many large and old trees, their limbs and roots entangled. Thick brush covers the ground, rising up to 5 ft or more in some places. Many bushes, briar patches, and thickets are found there, covered in sharp and menacing thorns. A moldy stench rises from the moist and moss covered earth and large stone boulders pepper the landscape. The terrain is nearly impassable for all but the most stout and hearty adventurer.
Pliney the Scientist, in his treatise "The Fairy-Garden of Gnarlwood," describes his exploration into Gnarlwood. He told of his six day journey into the wood and of the discovery of a lush and magnificent garden, approximately 500 feet in diameter, seemingly carved into the forest. He observed that the garden seemed to be covered by an "enchanted canopy, which mirrored the clear night sky itself, even though it was the height of noon!"
Pliney was exhausted, starving, and covered in numerous cuts and gashes. Pliney collapsed into the soft, comforting grass of the garden and fell unconcious. Pliney awoke, covered in a cool, green gel that soothed his bruises and healed his cuts, "removing any trace of infection or scar." His lips tasted of something sugary, with traces of mint. "A most extraordinary and delicious liquor," Pliney noted. His belly felt full and satisfied and his mouth was no longer barren and dry from thirst.
He watched as hundreds of fairies fluttered around him with a "calmness and elegance like that of talented dancer." Each was no more than 4 or 5 inches tall at the most and glowed with colorful auras that varied from creature to creature. In fact, no creature was any taller than 10 inches. One of the fairies, Illuma, called to him and said "Fair traveller, allow us the kindness to make you our size that you might dine with us and recover from your wounds." Pliney agreed and was magically shrunk to the size of the fairies.
The creatures lived in what Pliney called "luxurious mansions, lovely and well-appointed, carved into the very Gnarlwood trees that lined the garden perimeter. He stayed, as a guest, in the mansion of a fairy named Kennon. He lived among the fairies for several weeks, during which he took note of the myriad of amazing flora and fauna that resided in the garden. For example, he described "flowers and roses, translucent and glowing like that of stained glass, plants that moved rhythmically or released fanciful colored sparks into the sky... birds, covered in multicoloured fur that made wonderful music, each representing a different instrument, in an astounding symphony of chirps, bellows, caws, and hoots... and a peculiar breed of tiny horses that flew and swam in tiny ponds of crystal clear water, fed from rich and bubbling springs."
Pliney noted, in his autobiography, "The World as I See It," that never had he "encountered such a wonderful world, miniaturized and brimming with plants perfect in pedal and stem, useful for all kinds of purpose." Nor had he witnessed "creatures so mild in temperament, but overflowing with enchanted beauty and grace. Even the insects appear lovely, as if manufactured by the gentle hand of a loving toymaker."
Pliney agreed with the fairies that he would never reveal how or where he managed to find the garden, and would keep it safe from future intrusion, in gratitude for their hospitality and healing. With the fairy tribes blessing, he published his amended notes, as part of his extensive work on Beldam.* Pliney maintained a secret friendship with fairies until the end of his life, travelling by means of a one-way potion that brought him to the garden, bypassing the agonizing and treacherous journey through Gnarlwood. It is rumored that his missing body was actually recovered on his death by his "loving fairy family" and is buried near his favorite creek in the fairy garden.
*Rumors persist that Pliney's annotated and original handwritten texts are either in the possession of the Prohibited Collection of the Most Illuminated Church or perhaps even among the 'Ghoul's Tools' of the Ghemmingtown Ghoulies.