Manuriel- “Hand of Nature” or “Astral Forest”
Brief Description-
Noone has ever claimed that any of the dead gods floating in the astral plane were boring, but Manuriel certainly has a unique quality that sets it apart from the rest. It is called the “Astral Forest” by the githyanki due to dense vegetation covering its surface. It is also called the “Hand of Nature” due to the distinct hand shape. Noone knows why just the hand is here, but if people knew more of the nature of dead gods, then the multiverse would be a whole lot less mysterious.
Lay of the Land… or Hand-
The hand is roughly 3 miles from the base of the hand to the fingertips. The thumb is also pointed in the same direction as the fingers, making the hand roughly 1.5 miles at the widest point. The hand is slightly cupped as if the god was holding something when it died.
There is a gravitational pull towards the hand within 300 feet, so it always seems like you are standing in a normal forest. However, a few of the trees actually reach beyond this gravity pull, so it is possible to climb “off” the hand.
Special Traits-
Ordinary plants grow approximately 5 times faster when rooted in the god hand. Luckily razorvine has not taken root in this extremely fertile land. Monstrous plants that are rooted into the hand gain anywhere from 1 to 3 Hit Dice and have Fast Healing 1 as long as they are rooted.
Magical Traits-
None. The hand has a pure neutral aura if examined.
Ecology-
The ecology of the hand can easily be described in one word: “Anything”. Due to some of the shifting portals, the hand has collected an interesting number of plants and wildlife from tame to dangerous.
Settlements-
There are a few overgrown settlements that didn’t seem to make it past a small size before being abandoned. Crops are nearly impossible to grow since the weeds grow just as fast. Due to the dangerous nature of many of the plants, surviving on the hand requires a special talent. This explains the organization of druids based near the palm called The Astral Keepers. Another familiar site on the hand is to see explorers in search of strange new plants and animals.
The Astral Keepers-
This group is a fanatical organization of druids that live in shacks made of warped living trees in the palm of the hand. There are no records in this settlement and none of the druids seem to have a great memory of their past. Too many memories of the same monotony will dull one’s ability to remember things and the Keepers have ages worth of memories since they live on the Astral Plane. They spend most of their time patrolling the forest for despoilers. Most offenses are forgiven with a warning except for massive harm to the forest or the hand itself. They typically will allow small settlements but discourage anything that will disrupt nature’s balance.
For exactly one hour each day, all of the Keepers gather around a dead tree directly in the center of the palm and perform a chanting ritual. None of the Keepers know exactly why they do this, or what is does, but none of them will ever miss a ritual. The Keepers will not permit anyone, even those among their group, to harm the dead tree. They command a group of shambling mounds and other plant creatures to guard the tree at all costs.
The common symbol for the Astral Keepers is that of a silver hand, palm up, holding a tree sprout.
The dead tree-
This tree would have been the largest tree on the hand if it was alive. The roots rise up only to form a trunk about 15ft off the ground. These roots form a collection of 3 portals as well as a sizable area to walk underneath the tree. One of the portals is permanently anchored to a natural rock bridge in Arborea and the other two are shifting two way portals that will anchor to any naturally occurring arch within the multiverse. The trunk of the tree rises about 70 ft into the air before ending in a way that looks like a tree splintered by lightning. Oddly, no moss or other plants will grow on the tree and it is an even tan color everywhere.
Adventure Hooks-
-Anything naturally grown on Manuriel is more potent. Poison and cures typically have a greater effect when grown here.
-A group of Blighters are trying to destroy the hand and use its power to advance their own quest for power.
-The druids, at wits end, have made a call to help protect the hand from raiding githyanki parties.