The Viric Jungle
"This is the very edge of Parabola, where many creatures enter their dreams. Things pass you – men and women, animals and monsters, a hound with a twitching nose. They cut through the trees without seeing. They do not notice one another, or you..."[1]
The Viric Jungle is one of the borderlands of Parabola where dreamers regularly pass by.
The Shallow Wilderness[edit]
"Some dreamers are merely passing through, towards deeper reveries and nightmares. Some linger here, in self-induced trance, in semi-dream, or caught in the middle consciousness by a well selected toxin."[2]
The Viric Jungle is one of the borders of dream, and a place through which the minds of dreamers pass further into Parabola.[3] The area's greenery radiates a soft viric glow, the color of shallow sleep, giving the Jungle its name.[4][5] The landscape of the Viric Jungle is teeming with natural wildlife: jewel-colored insects, vividly-colored flowers,[6] trees drenched with sap and bursting with fruit.[7][8] Harvesting these fruits is prohibited without a license, however.[8]
While most dreamers pass through the Viric Jungle on their way to other parts of the Is-Not,[9] some of them choose to linger here, particularly those in a state of shallow sleep or other types of half-consciousness;[2] they do not notice one another during their transit.[1] The Viric Jungle is frequented by a variety of creatures, including animals,[1] but is notably not visited by Rubbery Men,[10] as they generally dream in the Sea of Spines instead.[11] The dreams of these sleepers can impact the landscape and surroundings of the Viric Jungle,[12] and as their dreams grow in intensity, the viric ambience of the Jungle intensifies as well.[13] After the dream is dispelled, the landscape of the Jungle usually reverts back to its natural state.[7]
The Viric Jungle is regularly patrolled by the Viscountess of the Viric Jungle, who seeks to protect dreamers from the dangers of Parabola,[1] and the Storm-Bird, who has the ability to dispel nightmares of high severity.[14] Since the Viscountess' tenure as Lord Mayor of London, the Viric Jungle has been frequented by Londoners with increasing regularity.[9] The Jungle is also populated by several Fingerkings, who lurk within the undergrowth of the foliage, revealing themselves when the time is right.[15]
The Ravages of War[edit]
|
Beyond this point lie major spoilers for Fallen London, Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies, or Mask of the Rose. This may include endgame or major Fate-locked spoilers. Proceed at your own risk. You can find out more about our spoiler policy here. |
"It's true, the campaigns of the war do tax the Viric Jungle hard. What occurs in Parabola flows outward, those coming in inevitably find themselves drawn in to the War's nets."[16]
In the past, the Viric Jungle was one of the many battlegrounds of the war between the Cats and the Fingerkings; they kept an uneasy armistice thereafter, though the Viscountess remained suspicious that the Fingerkings were compromising their agreement by damaging the Jungle's terrain.[17] This peace did not last, as London was soon roped into the Parabolan War as a neutral party, increasing the War's ferocity and its impact on Londoners' lives.[18]
While the Viric Jungle itself is not often a theater for the war, it may still be adversely impacted by the violence occurring in other parts of Parabola.[19] The Jungle's greenery may be damaged during periods of severe conflict,[20] and it may find itself shrouded by dark shadows and airs of mirthlessness in the process, leaving it almost unrecognizable from its former splendor.[21] Thanks to the number of vulnerable dreamers from London that pass through, the Viric Jungle is also used as a staging ground for offenses against London itself,[22] placing London's citizens in direct risk of attack from either side of the war.[23] The Viric Jungle is resolute, however, and while it may take weeks to restore itself without direct intervention,[24] the damage can be repaired.[25] The reminders of bloodshed will be slowly consumed by the Jungle's soil and greenery until it once again resembles an untouched wilderness, the impression of peace still holding strong.[1]
