Whether its long winding boundaries or the large number of snakes lurking within those boundaries that inspired Snake Marsh's name is unknown. Travelers crossing this narrow strip of swamp land should proceed with utmost caution. Only a fool or an adventurer would stray from the road through the swamp, for the unpatrolled regions of the swamp are infested with fearsome monsters and marauding bandits alike. Merchants traveling the Swamp Road are advised to hire ample mercenaries to guard their goods.

Features: Heavy rains often wash out the Swamp Road, and repairs on the road are constant. Elevated five feet above the steamy swamp floor the road provides easy passage across the muddy wetlands. The waterways that frequently breach the road are bridged in sturdy stone. During a heavy rain there is a 1 in 10 cumulative chance per hour that a 10-100 foot section of the road will be washed away. To determine where the road has washed away roll 1d8: (1-3) 10-60' in front of party, (4-6) 10-60' behind party, (7) 10-60' in front and 10-60' behind party, (8) directly beneath party.

Lilly field in the Snake Marsh (Click for larger version)

The Snake Marsh Viper , a species unique to the region, uses its brilliant coloration to lure prey to it. The viper is not only known for its beauty but also for the speed with which its poison can kill a victim, and the speed with which it attacks. Though the Snake Marsh Viper's normal diet consists of small rodents and birds, like all water snakes, it is quickly provoked, making it a deadly enemy, despite its small size.

The flora of the swamp is diverse. Some of the more prevalent types of plant life are willows, eucalyptus, green sack trees, virginia creeper, melon bushes, and elm trees. Lilies fill the waterways as well as tall salt grass.

At night low fog rises from the swamp floor, reducing visibility to about 10 feet. The ceiling of the fog varies, but averages about 20' feet. The cloaking effect of the fog makes travel by night especially treacherous. The fog burns away within an hour of sunrise.

The Snake Marsh is unseasonably warm year round (about 80° F in the winter). Sages have many theories to explain the unnatural warmth in the area. The truth of the matter is unknown. There are places within the swamp were water boils continually, and mutated plants and animals are found. There have been some unconfirmed reports of the discovery deep within the swamp of the ancient ruins of a complex which predates the Dark Qunitmillennium.