The Well of Darkness

The Well of Darkness is a landmark discovered in Tympi's Forest by the Spiritual Travelers on Nurend 15, 308. It is located about 5 miles southwest of The Old Woman's Cottage and within and area that the Page of Swords referred to as likely "one of the places she couldn't see". It was in an area of the forest that a spirit refused to go, which was possibly a Leshy leading the group astray according to Hysteria, or a lost spirit needing to be put to rest.

Purpose / Function

The original or intended purpose of this well is unknown, however, it was being used to store an Unusual Shard when the Spiritual Travelers found it. Whether it was being used to protect the shard, or the shard was creating it is unknown, however, the well was filled with a power liquid darkness. Additionally, the walls of the pit were covered in a large carving of a centipede spiraling down the entire depths of this well. The purpose of these carvings is also unknown, they could be religious as suggested by Kaswink, or perhaps something more nefarious.

Architecture

The area around the well proper is a forest clearing with incredibly dark plants covered in a strange film of unknown purpose or composition. It is a flat area about 300ft in diameter up until about 20 feet away from the well. At this point the ground rises up into a circular hill which flattens back out leading to the well itself which is just slightly over 5 feet in diameter. Lining the well in a spiral from about 3 feet below the surface down to the very bottom is a massive carving of a centipede. This centipede carving was destroyed, however, as Kaswink demolished it while recovering the Unusual Shard.

Defenses

Through some unknown means, the surrounding area (out to a 300 ft diameter), is devoid of any sentient or animal life. The plantlife that remains is unusually darkened though not necessarily dead, and the roots of these plants turn into an inky darkness as soon as they touch the air. The leaves and stems of these plants are also covered in a strange film of unknown purpose of composition. When approaching the pit itself, any protective talisman attempted to stay behind by shaking violently and had to be held firm by the approaching party. The pit was also filled with a strange inky darkness which was reminiscent of the surrounding area and creature which was present when Tympi was taken in the Spiritual Traveler's vision. This darkness is capable of incredibly strength and destruction as witnessed by Kaswink, but she was thankfully able to resist any lasting damage. In addition to the physical defenses, this well is also defended against divination magic as it cannot be scryed upon, witnessed by giants, or even physically seen by Tympi through the light of her Mothlight Tree.