| abstract
| - It is a treacherous swamp on the continent of Tanalore where the Magic Fruit grew. Rosella had to traverse the troll's caves to reach it. The swamp is filled with mucky water, although it tastes awful it is safe to drink. One can hear many chirpings and croakings from many unseen swamp creatures. A single misstep could send those who are not careful splashing into the sucking slime. The swamp is a quagmire that sucks people under, it isn't long until those who fall in take their last breath. It is this dangerous aspect that has lead the region to be described as the sucking swamps and the death bogs of Tamir. Though it is livable for some creatures, as a swamp creature lives beneath the swamp who hunts frogs, if a frog were to try and swim through, it would be easy prey. From the shore, to the steep mountain rises to the west, a small cave leads into the mountain into the Troll Cave. From there, the huge muddy swamp spreads eastward. The mucky swamp spreads in all directions. The marsh is filled with plant life, from thick reeds, to moss hanging from tall swamp trees, grass and bushes. The large, moss-draped trees grow abundantly there. Swamp grass lines the edges of the swamp and large shrubs encircle the mucky bog. The large moss-covered trees tower overhead, while grass tufts and reedy plants poke up from the mire. Tufts of thick grass poke up from the water. Cattails can be seen as well. Some of the grass tufts form a series of tiny dry mounds--high spots--that pepper the swamp. These lead through the muck to a small island of land in the middle of the huge swamp. The island is larger than the rest of the mounds leading to it. Upon the little swamp island grows a scrawny little tree, the elusive Tree of Life of legend. The magic tree bears just one fruit every hundred years. The fruit cures all ills, bestowing perfect health for many years upon the one who eats it. Once the fruit is removed, it takes another hundred years for a new one to replace it. A huge cobra guards the tree. The eternal city of Tanalore lies somewhere between the Impossible Mountains, the Swamp, and Medusa Desert.
|