The Stenchmarsh
The largest swamp in Realmgard, the Stenchmarsh is not, in fact, known to smell any worse than any given swamp elsewhere on the continent. The name comes from the easily-offended nose of the explorer Erasmus Widefarer, one of the first surveyors of a significant area of the Stenchmarsh.
Interestingly, there is evidence that the Stenchmarsh was formed suddenly and relatively recently — at least in geological terms — in history. The presence of ruins and magical artifacts suggests that the area was once inhabited until seemingly being flooded in a cataclysmic event. As this appears to have occurred towards the end of the Realmgardic period, there is little written evidence explaining what exactly happened, though various surviving mythological accounts do describe warring sorcerers calling down floods upon their enemies. The fauna of the Stenchmarsh is among the most unique in Realmgard, possibly as a result of the lingering magic influences on the wildlife.
While the treacherous conditions, hostile wildlife, and lack of comprehensive maps of the area have stymied the ongoing exploration and surveying of the Stenchmarsh, it remains an area of both natural and magicological interest to scholars.
Check out the rest of the Encyclopedia Realmgardica here.
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