Submission (#5183) Approved

EDIT: Sorry about that, I guess I spaced on putting more description; I wrote this and my other Bellmoril entry at the same time, and I guess I neglected this one... agh. I made some changes, corrected some typos/language and hopefully described the region a bit better! (I'm not sure if formatting shows up with prompts but, I attempted to highlight areas to save you guys having to reread/search my rambly writing.)

Regional Affinity: Bellmoril
Elnin: https://worldofeyre.com/character/ELN1370 (Oliver)
563 (Formerly 413) Words of a sailor man lovin' water and trees in water lol

Bellmoril, known for its many red, orange, and yellow forests are also known to hide more than a number of recursive lakes and islands (usually also dominated by trees).  Despite being more sparcely populated as some of the denser wooded areas, they are no doubt a beautiful addition to the firey mountainsides and sunset-colored valleys of the region. Tourists and natives alike sometimes venture to these places and it's not uncommon for visitors to observe unique aquatic plants or slinky, heavily-scaled fish.

While they aren't the navigable oceans or rivers he finds himself fond of, Oliver has been known to take time to relax by the dark, deep red lakes and ponds overshadowed by such large trees. Many of the ones he's personally visited had large roots or branches that curled into the water, or trees that swallowed up the islands they grew on, giving the illusion of floating trees on the water. They by no means could rival the great roots and branches of Ealei, nor the swamps of Enmir, but Oliver found in them a magic all their own. To his surprise, some ever-golden trees sometimes had similarly-hued roots, for example. Not that he would ever go digging up trees just to compare their colors, but he figured that it was just another, potentially-magical trait Bellmoril trees had over more common foliage. 

There was something to be said about the shade and the tree-formed coves that overlooked dark, shadowy water, as well as the strange yet beautiful hue the water itself took on. The water's surface not only reflected the colorful leaves above but washed out the dark brown, mud-laden leaves under the surface, creating a texture that--to Oliver--resembled scales. Reclining on such long, curled branches was a favorite passtime of his, since he considered it 'picturesque' and a perfect beautiful moment that always gave his metallic marking a unique, glimmering shine. The sunlight peaking through leaves could always rival his luxurous glint of metal, and it was a favorite spot for him to bury small treasure chests in shallow holes for wanders and kittoms alike. Often the natural stone pathways formed by water erosion were the perfect trails to hide them near, and though they were often slippery, the shallow water nearby made them less than dangerous. The few, rare green plants Oliver could find in Bellmoril tended to linger near the waterways, he found. But he had come across some delicious red watercress not too far away. 

Occassionally, the tree-laden lakes connect to a waterfall, facillitated by the mountains and hills around, and even rarer still, Oliver has found a tree hugging such stone walls, seeming not unlike an umbrella or roof as it curved away the gently trickling waters of streams, or bravely split the torrents of more heavy-flowing rivers and lake run-off. 

Yes, many flocked to Bellmorill for the forestry, and for the golden waves of leaves and mountains, but ever a water-loving elnin, Oliver found waterways he enjoyed even here. 

That, and apparently Bellmoril mud does WONDERS for the skin and hair. Nutrient rich, and a warm and inviting color, it is truely the secret to his soft hair and beautiful coat. Not that he'd tell many that. After all, the quiet and serenity were the icing to the cake that was this nature retreat, hidden amongst the woods and weaving between the clearings.