E is for Evergloom

The Evergloom was the most feared place in Meterra until the Devil's Playground appeared. A vast swamp extending for over a hundred miles, it is home to countless deadly creatures from myth and legend. Aside from the expected denizens of a swamp such as crocodiles and leeches, the Evergloom is also home to hydras, will-o-wisps, enormous insects, spiders and snakes, and even carnivorous plants and trees that have been warped by some malevolent force.

It is not known why the swamps of the Evergloom are so hostile; the Crystal Marsh on the eastern side of the kingdom is far less dangerous. The learned have speculated that there is some dark magic in the Evergloom that has corrupted what was once a pure, clean land. However, no one has ever been able to discover is this speculation is accurate, as few survive a trip deep into the swamp.

The authorities suspect that the Evergloom is home to another form of deadly creature: Two pirate lords are believed to have established bases at the northern end of the Evergloom, though this has not yet been confirmed. If it is true, rooting out these pirates will be a monumental task, as Meterra's naval forces are as yet little more than a small squadron of patrol boats, insufficient to fend off experienced pirates. Time will tell if the Navy will become a force strong enough to overcome them.

Other rumors about the Evergloom include tales of a temple to a long-forgotten frog-god, a swamp dragon's lair, and even an entire sunken city, lost in the distant past. Of course, these could all be fairy tales or rumors spread by charlatans seeking to excite the gullible. On the other hand, no one knows for sure...

There is one more thing to note about the Evergloom: It is growing. Not slowly over the course of centuries, but rapidly enough to notice. A few weeks ago, the small town of Lundy was fifteen miles from the edge of the swamp; now, it is less than ten. The terrified citizens of the town have sent word to the capital, pleading for the king to stop it. Fortunately for them, there is a man in the king's employ who knows the Evergloom better than most, and who may have the courage to go into the swamp to find the cause of this unnatural growth. But Bartinus Faltor hates the Evergloom...