THE WITHERWILD
DISTINCTIONS
This corruption, empowered by the endless spring, is
spreading throughout Fanewick. Some believe the overgrowth
began in the forest, while others claim it sprang from the
bogs. But no matter its origins, this flourishing malignancy
induces horrific changes and massive growth on anything
it touches, transforming them into Withered beings. Plants
spring to life with a desire to consume all around them.
Animals grow to immense proportions, with onerous
dispositions to match their exaggerated teeth, tusks, and
claws. Even harmless creatures that were once hunted for
food have become dangerous and formidable adversaries.
Use this information to prepare your campaign. You can also
share it with your players as needed.
THE WEEKS OF DAY AND NIGHT
The day and night cycle occurs weekly, meaning the sun rises
for an entire week before setting into a nighttime of the same
length. This has an impact on everything from agriculture to
trade, as many merchants refuse to travel through the night.
But this cycle doesn’t just affect Wicklings, it’s dictated how
Fanewick’s wondrous ecology has evolved. Days and nights
are accompanied by entirely different natural soundscapes
as Fanewick’s nocturnal denizens sleep through the long days
and stalk the woods in times of darkness while their diurnal
counterparts sleep. The plants similarly live on this strange
day-night loop, and many live out their entire life cycles in a
week. Sun rose vines make a thorny ascent to the top of the
tree canopy over the course of the week, only to wilt under the
light of the moon. Conversely, night bloom, a bioluminescent
flower that emits the smell of burnt sugar and decay,
When a person is corrupted by the Witherwild, either from
a purposeful attack or accidental harm (see the upcoming
“Corruption from the Witherwild” section), they are
transformed. They become a nightmarish hybrid—their body
warped and intertwined with plant or beast. The Witherwild
slowly replaces the personality of its victims with the same
drive to consume exhibited by the rest of the corrupted
Fanewick. Though the Withered may retain a semblance of
who they are for a time, they eventually face the final loss of
their personhood. Some Wicklings believe the Withered are
gifted this power by Nikta’s wrath to drive the forces of Haven
from Fanewick and return the Shepherd’s Reaping Eye.
only blossoms when evening falls, illuminating patches of
forest—a godsend to anyone forced to travel in the dark.
THE SERPENT’S SICKNESS
THE GODS OF FANEWICK
The plague sweeping across Haven spares no one. Since
the initial outbreak, Haven officials have worked tirelessly to
quarantine those in the early stages of the disease, but this
effort has done little to stop its spread. Due to the rarity of
crimson lady’s veil, many citizens began to carry or consume
all manner of flowers and snake sheddings in an attempt to
protect or cure themselves.
Gods in this land aren’t ethereal concepts that exist in another
realm; instead, they wander the land as incarnate beings,
residing in both the natural world as well as within homes and
small villages. As such, they’re generally present in Wicklings’
lives. Many communities, and some larger families, even have
their own small god or tutelary spirit who watches over them.
In the initial stages, victims are afflicted with a hacking cough
laden with dust that resembles powdered bone. Then a scaled
rash erupts across their skin, cracking their flesh in a unique
and painful pattern that resembles a snake’s skin. Not long
after, the victims’ bodies harden until their organs solidify and
cease to function. The final stages of the Serpent’s Sickness is
so quick that many transform into statues where they stand,
leaving all of Haven a cenotaph to a once-great power.
Belief and worship take on a different meaning in Fanewick—
there is a constant push and pull between the goals of people
and their deific neighbors. The gods must curry worship from
mortals, often by performing small miracles, acts of service,
or by testing their resolve with tricks and curses. Mortals
rely on the small blessings from the gods to keep them safe
when traveling and working in Fanewick. The most powerful
and widely acknowledged Faint Divinity is the Shepherd of
Seasons, Nikta, as the loss of her eye had the most recent and
visible impact on everyone in Fanewick.
LADY’S VEIL
These small flowers grow in patches of sun throughout
Fanewick. For every ten thousand blossoms of white-petaled
flowers, one blooms a unique and vibrant red. These flowers
have long been used in herbal teas across the region, with the
crimson flowers holding a place in specific ceremonies. Even
so, they were only foraged until the Havenites discovered
crimson lady’s veil—the only known cure for Serpent’s
Sickness.
Fanewick’s various divinities each have their own opinion
concerning the Witherwild corruption. While some enjoy
nature’s newfound dominance, many of the lesser deities are
wary of how out of balance Fanewick has become. While their
behavior and motives may be inscrutable, these deities are
more accessible than gods who watch from on high.
Fulg, Stacker of Stones: A small god who favors tribute in
the form of smooth, stacked river rocks. Under his power,
bivalves and limpets grow abundantly on rocks where they
can be easily harvested. He is largely uninformed about the
problems Fanewick faces, and he prefers it that way.
Thus, the Haven Army invaded Fanewick and began cultivating
the flowers on massive farms that have overtaken the region’s
bogs. Though the theft of the Reaping Eye has created an
indefinite growing season, the red flowers remain just as rare,
and Fanewick is permeated by a sickly sweet smell as the
Haven Army races to mass-produce a cure for the Serpent’s
Sickness.
Hyacynis, They Who Spread Small Blossoms: A friend of
bees and tiny flowers who has embraced the Witherwild
after seeing their influence and domain swell (literally)
to immense proportions. They’re enjoying this rampant
growth and do not see a reason to end it.
Daggerheart SRD
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