Crimson Forest

The Crimson Forest is an secret level found within Level 9.1.

Description
The Crimson Forest is a beguiling thicket blanketed in a chilly fog. It is serene and idyllic under the ever watchful eye of the Lanterns which ward off harmful entities. Much of the soil and flora is tinted shades of crimson and red, giving the Level its moniker. Although there is a higher than average amount of ultisols and ferric oxides in the soil here than in the Field, why the plants all sprout in wondrous shades of red is still unknown. The Forest is vast. Beyond the reaches of society the woods are largely unexplored and its geography unmapped. Within civilized lands lie familiar things; wide valleys, dense woods, large rolling mountains, and snaking streams are common. Beyond our current reach, well… anything might be waiting for us. What we know is strange about the Forest, however, is the nature of its geographic folding.

The tectonic plates of the Forest do not lay flat — nor wrap around a massive globe like land on Earth. They instead crumple and fold into one another like crinkled paper. In some regions, looking into the sky reveals more of the Forest above you; accessible if you simply keep walking forward long enough to find where the fold is. In these places the concept of “down” is subjective, as reaching a high enough altitude will reverse gravity and have you fall upwards onto the fold above you. The thinnest of these converging plates are mere meters away - while others are miles and miles overhead, lost to the mists. The properties of gravity and up and down are strange but stable — settlers have become quite accustomed to the phenomena.

Weather within the Forest is peaceful and serene. The hanging fog never dissipates, keeping the Level near a chilly 8°C at all times. This fog, produced by the Lanterns, is considered a holy mist… an extension of the Lanterns themselves. Should an Entity borne of malice or evil enter the fog, the Lanterns would feel it; like a spider's web twitching from the touch of a fly.

There is no Wi-Fi in the Crimson Forest. In order to send information in or out, settlers are required to pass through Level 9.1 and return to a zone of internet connectivity. In order to maintain a link to the M.E.G. settlers attempt monthly cycles to upload / download data and news. On occasion, these cycles are interrupted by hazards and postponed. The longest period of radio silence from the Crimson Forest was seven months and sixteen days of standard time. Since travel through Level 9 and Level 9.1 is highly hazardous, most settlers who reach the Forest stay there as permanent residents.

Life in the Woods
As for sustenance? The Forest provides. Wild game is plentiful and nutritious flora can be easily cultivated. Much of the running water in the Forest is potable, yet acrid - however water taken from lakes should still be boiled for peace of mind. It is common practice to allow your water to settle in large containers, then removing the silt at the bottom to combat the natural taste. The Crimson Forest is home to a rich ecosystem of fauna ranging from insects to large mammals and everything in between. Many of these creatures resemble animals reminiscent of Baseline, but nothing living here was previously known to mankind. Eight eyed deer, rust colored moose, squirrels with prehensile tails, colonies of mice which group together in the dozens, and even haunting, silent owls with four wings have been documented among hundreds of other animals. Despite this unique biology, these creatures do not seem unnatural or anomalous. And despite the lack of dangerous entities, be aware of the natural predators which call the Crimson Forest their home. Hulking creatures resembling bears, lithe wild cats and packs of six legged canines are known to live here in harmony with the ecosystem. The Lanterns leave them be, just as they don't seem to mind the presence of humans within the Forest.

Colonies and Outposts
The Forest is dotted with dozens of small communities and groupings of cabins - but there are three primary towns of note which make up the Crimson Commonwealth. They are listed below, and represent the large majority of the population within the Level.

Bleakshore
Named after the "bleak" white stones on the shores of Lotus Lake, Bleakshore has cultivated a tradition of boating and fishing. This bustling collection of homes is deep within the Forest indeed - drawing the interest of would-be explorers and intrepid travelers.

A peaceful hamlet, which minds its own business.

Rosewood
Rosewood is a large community of cabins grouped along the coils of Bigrock River, and is the nearest settlement to the Crimson Fields. As such, strays from Baseline are often brought here for sancutary.

They perform seed cultivation, soil sampling, mineral panning, and the manufacturing of preserved foods and natural medicines.

Silkreach
Nestled comfortably at the base of the Withered Bluff and the Merlot Peaks, Silkreach is renowned for their masonry and rich resources pulled from the soil.

A dozen generations of terracing have allowed for astounding yields of farming around the community, which are bartered across the Commonwealth.

Cabins of the Lost
Some M.E.G. members who travel to the Crimson Forest disappear deep into the woods to get lost entirely — hoping to forget the troublesome nature of the other Levels altogether. Under the watchful care of the Lanterns, this level has grown a reputation of being a utopia: a wild land with promises of a peaceful life. Since the Levels discovery, it is expected no fewer than two hundred individuals once aligned with the M.E.G. have disappeared into the beguiling world of the Crimson Forest, never to return.

Exploration teams who venture deeper into the Forest have reported sightings of humans with crimson tinted skin and pale milky eyes. These strange sightings — not backed by photographic or reliable information — have been deduced to rumor only. Settlers of Rosewood however believe those who wander into the woods become changed by the Forest: that the lost souls seeking a life among the trees become “Clay Men”… empty husks of their former selves who wander the woods silently until they, too, become one with the woods.

Entrances and Exits
The Crimson Forest is so large that many people grow up, live, and die within this Level without ever leaving the woods. However - Levels connected to the Forest do exist. Some of these other levels are travelled to in search of resources. Others are visited for soul searching pilgrimage.

The only known entrance and exit from the Crimson Forest is through the dangerous expanse of Level 9.1, the Crimson Field. Locating the barrier between the Levels can be hit-or-miss, but generally if you travel away from the Gloom you will reach patches of fog that glow on the horizon. This glow is the iridescence of the Lanterns of the Forest, and is a sign that you are nearing the safety of their watchful presence. Citizens of Rosewood have marked a well-used trail for Wi-Fi Teams through a small section of the Crimson Field with large posts flagged with cloth. If you happen across one of these markings, consider yourself both lucky and on the right track.