Galati Forest

Few are foolish not to prepare to go into the Galati Forest.

— Urukin proverb

The forests in Narzuvim are not diffrant from many of the other forests on Nimenra. There is however one known forest that is more dangerous than one might think. Few have explored it and returned, many have not. While there are plenty of dangerous places in Nekuram, few have not been so aggravating as Galati Forest.

Geography

The forest itself has never been fully explored, but some who have returned have spoken of hilly terrain and problematic movement. If that was not enough, much of the forest is dense, dense flora with large trees, bushes that can kill, berries that makes even the hardiest demon sick and vines that are alive. While clearings do exist, they are home to animals that are not too friendly with visitors, many are carnivorous and hunt. Some are even larger than the mighty Dragonfenix according to tales.
The hilly parts make travelling harder compared to other forests in Nekuram. It is infested with knee-high flora, many that can hurt with small needles and rash-leaves. The southern parts seem like they are easier to travel and explore with the edge to the ocean makes navigation easier.

Fauna & Flora

Ask what is not hostile in there, even the flowers are there to kill you if you don't know what you are doing!

— Explorer of the Galati Ruins

Both the flora and the fauna is seemingly made to kill each other and everything that is not naturally found in the forest. Flora range from harmless trees that are harbouring vines that can trap and chook another being and mushrooms that sends clouds of poisonous powder at creatures that pass by. What is interesting though is that the herbivores are not all immune to poison, but instead has effective countermeasures within, like the salvia of Argundeer that neutralises poisons even when breathing in substances. Some flowers, like Bumbelblue, has only partial poison that paralyzes muscles in arms and legs to make it easier for hunters to get their prey, but it also has some healing properties that help with lung conditions.
The fauna is dangerous and what probably kills most people that walks inside. Argundeers, while looking like harmless deer, has antlers that are not only incredibly dense and pointy but also have skin and hair that is coarse as sandpaper, leaving open wounds on its opponents only by brushing against them at high speeds. Galtboar, which is a common wild boar found in and around the region, has its large tusks that it charges at opponents with, but some have seen larger variants of Galtboar in Galati Forest. Called Larger Galtboar, these are a meter to 1,2 meters high standing on its four legs and have sharp tusks and a tail called a Galtsrazor, which it uses to cut down foliage and can also be utilized against opponents. While these herbivores are not the most dangerous things in the forest, they are still a danger due to having a natural hostility to outsiders.
The hunters and carnivorous beasts that roam inside the forest are as aggressive as the other wildlife. The reptilian and bipedal Cekasaur, a fast mover with two small arms hunts in packs of four or five with claws and teeth. Standing 1,2 meters tall, it is small but still si very capable even if alone due to it is using tactics and the claws to climb the trees. There are also larger beasts, like the Giant Galatiwolf, the Galati Forest's unique variant of the Giant wolfs. These have a poisonous bite, the saliva causing pain and motion-sickness symptoms. While not deadly on its own, it slows prey down and makes for an easier kill. As with the Giant wolf, it has coarse hair as a thick layer which protects it against attackers.
There are rumours though, of a beast that moves through the foilage with a chameleon ability, capable of hiding in close to plain sight. It is large, larger than even a Dragonphoneix. What makes it even more terrifying is that you never see it attack and the ruins in Galati have had to evacuate several times due to this beast. None is sure what it looks like, but a survivor tells of fangs the size of arms, eyes sharp and glowing and a mind that seeks to feed itself one anything it can get. If this creature were to get out, no one can be sure if it doesn't demand an army to stop it.

History

The Nekur history has told of the Galati Forest as an impenetrable and dangerous place even for the Salendites, who are used to hostile flora and fauna from their own native region. The Urukin developed within the forest and historicly have along lived the edge. As they are resistant to poison, it is mostly them that have explored the deepest parts of it, but exceptions exist.
Urukin tells about how the forest became so dangerous, that the God Fereris transformed it for to create beasts for His army in the war between Gods. He disappeared afterwards, probably either dead or fleed, the forest was left untamed and creatures became more and more aggressive. Urukin as a people was a small country until it joined with Nekuram, which in turn included the forest. Explorers tried to get further in between wars among the demons but many disappeared to never be found.
In 1753 V.D. ruins were found in the forest, indicating a lost part of civilization or that others once lived in what now is Nekuram. A path was made to the ruins so that explores could find who it was or what it was the ruins belonged to. Old Nekur and Lavi text, "Iv(...)al and Fere(...)o", were found inscribed on the walls with parts of what is believed to be names of Gods or even people. As the exploration of the ruins has continued, artefacts have been found but nothing that brings a close to the mystery.

Alternative Name(s)

Cunn (by the Urukin)

Type

Forest

Included Locations

• Seilrean

Owning Organization

Nekuram