Fälsch (fälʃ)

Fälsch is a part of the Volksland island group, although it is technically not an island at all. It is a Floating Forest which has become moored upon a collection of rocks known as the seven sisters that jut from the sea. These stones rise as pillars through the trees that make up the bulk of Fälsch, and provide a solid anchor that keeps the floating root mass that supports the forest from floating away on the currents.

The forest covers an area of nearly 188 square miles, and despite having little solid land, it supports a community of Biegen who live in houses built into the trees. The human inhabitants of Fälsch make up only a small portion of the islands overall population, which is dominated by the Baummensch, the spirits of the trees themselves. There is no towns or villages on the island, for no settlement is permitted by the Grünerkönig, leader of the Baummensch.

Notable Spirits

The forest of Fälsch is the domain of the god-king known only as the Grünerkönig, who rules all who live there. He is a giant, well over twelve feet tall, with bark-like skin and mane of leaves surrounding his face and cascading down his back. He is the leader of the Baummensch, who are the spirits of the trees that make up the forest. Most of the Baummensch are the wives and daughters of the Grünerkönig, and some believe that the king is the only spirit of Fälsch to manifest in a male form.

The Grünerkönig is not fond of humans, and will not tolerate any logging activities in the forest of Fälsch. Those humans who do live there make sure to pay their respects to the Baummensch, and follow the laws laid down by the god of the wood. They are allowed to harvest the fruit of the forest, which includes the rare and precious salzapfel. This strange, salty fruit is said to preserve those who consume it, granting them exceptional longevity, although not immortality. Only a few are found each year, and merchants from around the ring will pay immense sums to acquire one. Salzapfel do not spoil or rot no longer how long they are stored, and even a single bite is said to add a year to one's life.

Not all of the Baummensch are as disdainful of humans as their king. Several of the Baummädchen, the spirits of young trees, have fallen in love with human men and formed temporary marriages with them. As a consequence several families claim to have ancestors who were of the Baummensch. Very rarely, a child will be born who bears marks of this descent, such as green hair, or an ability to hear and understand the slow speech of the trees. These children are prized by the community of humans on Fälsch, and serve as intermediaries between the human population and the Grünerkönig.

Geography

The only solid land on Fälsch are the pillars of stone known as the Seven Sisters. All other land is the rootmass that supports the forest, and this is difficult for the inexperienced to navigate with any safety. There are many places where a traveler can slip and become tangled in the roots, sometimes so far that they are trapped underwater. The humans have built bridges from fallen wood in the regions they regularly travel, and most stay to these relatively safe paths. In storms, the entire forest will sway and rock with the wind and waves, and anyone trying to travel through the forest is apt to be thrown off their feet and crushed between the flexing roots.

Ecosystem

The floating forest biome is unique to the Great Ring, and contains many species that are not found elsewhere. The tree species that make up the forest are specially adapted to their oceanic environment, and have deeply entangled root systems that keep them stable and upright, while providing the trees with water and nutrients. The rootmass is like a floating reef itself, with huge numbers of sessile creatures like oysters and clams clinging to the roots. There are also dozens of species that live in the shelter of the roots, many of which spend some of their time in the portion of the forest above the water.

The most useful species as far as humans are concerned is the netweed, a carnivorous aquatic plant that thrives in the rootmass of the Floating Forests. These plants are known to capture and paralyze fish that swim to close, entangling them in their long strands. A careful human can pluck the fish from the netweed with a fishing spear. It is best not to touch the plant itself - while it is not capable of fully paralyzing a human, it will cause temporary numbness and can even paralyze a hand or arm if allowed to wrap around the limb.

The forest also hosts a number of crustaceans that scuttle beneath the canopy, eating algae, insects, and even snails that inhabit the lower levels of the forest. These crabs are in turn preyed upon by the tree octopus. This cephalopod can be seen swinging through the tree branches of the forest, and can even glide short distances by flattening its body out. Some humans have tamed the local octopuses, and carry the clever creatures around on their shoulder as a pet.

Type

Island, Floating

Location under

Volksland

Geographic Details

Location: Northeastern Region
Latitude: 54.78 degrees North
Longitude: 45.91 degrees East
Average Elevation: 10 ft
Highest Point: 131 ft
Lowest Point: 0 ft
Area: 187.7 sq mi