DANIEL MEIERER

* ~ * Location *~*

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   The monk statue is the focal point of this landmark. The figure marks this area as a shrine to meditation and peace. Given its resemblance to a monk, and its nature-inspired features, it is clearly an object of a divine being rooted in nature. This meditating monk marks this spot as a place for people to freely, good or evil, meditate without concern. The waters below may be the location of debate, fights, and what have you so long as the rules of Kailiria and the rules of Monk Springs are met.

 

   The waters themselves should be prided from their purity. Not only that, the nature of purification both physical and spiritual make this more than just a centerpiece for meditation. This is an actual shrine, a rift in reality where peace of mind may be sought.

 

   The waters that descend from the center of the bottom of one of the two coupled floating islands holds the ability to help a person meditating under them relax and clear their mind. People who meditate and rest under these falls are send to feel a temporary inner peace unlike anything (not counting true enlightenment) the average soul has ever had the honor of experiencing.

 

   The island itself is home to a number of mythical insects. Crickets and cicada being the dominant creature.

 

* ~ * Legends *~*

 

* ~ They say that the first to come to the Springs was a monk seeking endlessly to escape the trials and depressions of life. Taken by the serenity of the location, he managed to stay on a tiny island in the center. He stayed and meditated without end. The area brought him so much peace and wiped away the most frightful of inner demons, leading the man to refuse ever to wish to leave. The wise monk, rooted to the area, would finally shed his earthly woes as he meditated away the troubles of the time. To the day, it is said he contemplates there as the floated islands lone tree.

 

   It is often mistaken that the tree Monk was once a deer, and in is believed to still be and wandering the forests, as while he was meditating the tree he grew into began by branches reaching out to the sky in hopes of divine answers. The branches kept growing, and spreading, the more questions he gained. These answers never came and, instead, more dangers from society invaded his view of a perfect, peaceful world.

 

   Fearing he will never find enlightening, the endless, sourceless waterfall from the floating islands is said to be the tears shed from his soul. It is said when the waters stop, the monk has finally found his answer.

 

   It is said part of what keeps the tree munch rooted to his spot is that, as people meditate underneath his floating islands, he collected their troubles and woes in the hopes of assisting those on the same path as his. The tree acts as a sponge of negative energy, which is filtered through its roots and escapes as water made pure and blessed through the positive energy being pumped out through it.

 

   The crickets and cicadas of the island are said to flock there, singing a majestic, magical melody in hopes of soothing the tree monk's worldy woes. It is said there is one peculiar cricket that hides among the tree monk's leaves. This cricket is said to have watch the monk since he had come as a human. This cricket, being the oldest companion to accompany the monk in the wilds,

 

* ~ * Runes *~*

 

The edge of every water fall has a number of runes made from a number of different cultures spells. These runes purify, cleanse, and bless the water before it enters monk springs. This same rune is present along the rocks surrounding the edge of the spring, just barely visible. These runes help keep this water blessed.

 

* ~~ * Rules * ~~ *

 

* - Clothing, while allowed on the floating islands, are not authorized in the waters of the spring. The lint will choke the younger of the aquatic life.

 

* - There is to be no hunting of aquatic wildlife within monk springs. The rivers beyond the shrined circle, designated by the darker patch of rock with in the waters, are to be considered sanctuary for all creatures, prey and predator alike.

 

* - A shower shall be provided near the shrine. Regardless of the runes, these showers, runes of course, will be used to make certain Monk Springs stays utterly neutral, balanced, and pure.

 

* - Food is allowed so long as it will not bring harm to the ecosystem of the springs.

 

* ~~ * Wild Life * ~~ *

  

* -  Natural / "Light" Aquatic Life -*

   The natural fish are said to be lead, regarding mythical feral beast and savage hierarchy, by a massive catfish lurking amongst the hidden pools beneath one of the water falls, moving as it pleases, noticed when it pleases.

 

   A natural ecosystem made up of bacteria, tiny dead cell nibbling fish, beautiful koi, patient and splendid Betta fish (with grumpier and hostile ones hidden in a series of underground caves and small pools of water). Along the deeper spots of the system of water, koi, Plecostomus, and catfish of various colors and sizes thrive. Large ones that are said could feed an adventuring party with a single catch are said to be most plentiful where one least expects.

 

*- Magic / "Zen" Aquatic Life -*

   The spiritual fish are said to be led by a small and limber, black and white koi fish said to be capable of granting wishes. It is often out in the open, but its white pearlescent scales are said to blind those it doesn't wish to see it from the light of the sun and moon from its pure reflective nature. Meanwhile, the black onyx scales were dark and tended to well enough they were said to blend into any shadow it came across. Capable of hiding in plain sight should it fall under the scrutiny of unworthy eyes.

 

    This natural ecosystem is reflected and supplemented by a similar sea of magical creatures. Much like how the native wildlife seems tooled to feeding off of the waste of any who relax in the waters of Kailiria, the fish life rooted in magic feed off of the spiritual energy of those who take sanctuary in their waters.

   

   A magical carp, sea dragon, child stealing frog creature, and many other beasts of legend are often mistaken or fall into a race seen in or around these forests. Drawn by some strange unseen force, or entity.

 

*- Carrion/ "Dark" Aquatic Life -*

   To prevent waste of all kind, carrion creature provides the dead who may be placed in the waters for religious of burial purposes will have the corpse devoured by animals up to and including: the bonefish, Garra rufa, doctor fish, nibble fish, many fish of many names and many names for the same fish. Some possibly wildly different as some feed off of the necrotic spiritual energy left behind by a departed soul in a number of varying ways depending on the life of the departed.

 

   This is a warning to any who put a non-sentient or not magically reincarnated, animated, or capable of emotions and the ability to resist that a corpse of pure corpse nature will be devoured within a matter of ten to thirty minutes.

 

*~~*Nyeheheh. Naturalism *~*