Acid Rainforests

Written by orphidor

Arguably one of the harshest environments in the Lower Realm despite seeming less assuming in appearance, the acid rainforests are vast areas of jungle where the water (and, by extension, everything else) is highly acidic. Despite the fact that this ecosystem has the most shade out of any in the Lower Realm, it's still excessively hot and extremely inhospitable for life to thrive.

Geography

The acid jungles are a vast area within the Lower Realm where land and water become indistinguishable in areas, blending together to form a mess of mud, uncontrolled plant life, and warped roots rising above the water to support gnarled trees. The areas of solid land that do exist are cut through by winding, muddy rivers.

Ecosystem

The air here is sweltering at all times. The shade cast by the area's towering trees and the billowing clouds of moisture that regularly shower down rain do little to make it any more hospitable.

Localized Phenomena

The water here regularly evaporates, forms clouds, then pours down again in the form of intense rainstorms. On occasion, the clouds migrate over the other ecosystems found in the Lower Realm, granting them a bit of moisture.

Fauna & Flora

As with all other habitats in the Lower Realm, the creatures that make their home in the acid rainforests are tough and vicious. They tend to fit into two main categories: the ones that live in the trees and the ones that dwell in the water, though there are also a few species that switch between the two or walk on the limited areas of solid ground. The Nalkarn are the only intelligent race to make their home in this environment. The warm, moist environment is perfect for a vast array of reptiles and amphibians. At the smaller end of the scale, tiny lizards, frogs, and snakes look harmless, but can possess powerful venom capable of killing with a bite or a touch. Larger snakes and lizards, including pythons and caiman, can grow large enough to kill and consume an adult Nalkarn with few issues. Though the other creatures are numerous and varied, insects and arachnids outnumber all of them combined. Huge water scorpions and giant spiders are obvious threats, but Nalkarn know that the most dangerous insects are the smaller ones that feed on living creatures' blood. These insects have the potential to carry and pass on a variety of possibly-fatal diseases.