Great Floating Garbage Patch

One of those islands is a giant floatella of garbage. Scavengers can find trash from all over the continent as well as mysterious other worldly artifacts such as this "Ca\_ B\_ttery."

## The Great Garbage Patch

The Great Garbage Patch is a group of vast floating islands of refuse, debris, and waste that drifts on the winds and currents of the sea. It is said to have originated from the industrial and economic activities of the neighboring city of Luden and the Merfolk empire before it's collapse. The garbage patch is a dangerous and unpredictable place, home to treacherous currents, unpredictable storms, and deadly creatures that feed on the trash and debris that accumulates on its surface.

Scavengers and treasure hunters brave the treacherous waters of the garbage patch in search of valuable and exotic artifacts, ranging from ancient weapons and tools to mysterious and powerful magic items. Many of these treasures are believed to have originated from the ruins of the Merfolk Empire or another world alltogether, which lies to the south-west of the garbage patch, and are said to contain powerful magic and ancient technology that has been lost to the world for centuries.

The garbage patch is also home to a variety of strange and dangerous creatures that have adapted to life on the floating island. Some say that the patch is home to giant squids and sea monsters, while others claim that it is home to twisted and mutated beasts that have been born from the toxic waste and pollutants that have accumulated on its surface.

Despite the dangers and difficulties of navigating the garbage patch, some have made their homes on the island, living in crudely constructed huts and shelters made from the debris that washes up on its shores. These people, known as the "trash-dwellers," are a hardy and resourceful people, who have learned to survive in the harsh and unforgiving environment of the garbage patch. They are a tight-knit community, fiercely protective of their homes and resources, and are known to be fiercely independent and self-reliant.

## The three islands

**"The Scrap Heap"** - The largest of the three islands, it is known for its towering piles of rusted metal and broken machinery. It is home to a community of scavengers and outcasts who have made a living by salvaging what they can from the refuse. The Scrap Heap is also known for its dangerous, unstable terrain, with treacherous cliffs and deep crevasses filled with debris.

**"The Dump"** - The second largest island, is a sprawling expanse of rotting organic matter and discarded food waste. It is home to a variety of vermin and diseased creatures, and is considered by many to be a death trap. The Dump is also known for its powerful and unpredictable currents, making it difficult to navigate.

**"The Filth"** - The smallest of the three islands, is a toxic wasteland of alchemical waste and hazardous materials. It is uninhabitable by most forms of life, but is occasionally visited by alchemists and other individuals seeking rare and valuable materials. The Filth Isle is also known for its dangerous storms and unpredictable weather, making it a treacherous place to visit.

## Wildlife

* **The Garbage Gull** - a large, mutated seagull . Its beak has grown longer and sharper, allowing it to dig through piles of garbage for food, and its feathers have become oily and waterproof, protecting it from the polluted waters. It feeds on fish and smaller sea creatures that have become trapped in the garbage, as well as any organic scraps it can find.
* **The Scrap Serpent** - a giant, eel-like creature that inhabits the deeper parts of the Great Garbage Patch. Its body is made up of scrap metal and other hard materials, allowing it to move through the garbage with ease and defend itself against predators. It feeds on smaller fish and sea creatures that are attracted to the garbage, and its scavenged metal body is a valuable source of materials for scavengers.
* **The Filth Fiend** - a small, rodent-like creature that is known for its agility and speed. Its body is covered in a thick layer of filth and grime, making it nearly invisible among the piles of garbage. It feeds on small insects and other invertebrates that live within the garbage, and its droppings are a valuable source of fertilizer for the few plants that can survive in the patch.
* **The Trash Titan** - a massive, lumbering creature that is the top predator of the Great Garbage Patch. Its body is made up of a variety of different materials, including wood, metal, and cloth, and it is capable of crushing smaller creatures with a single stomp of its foot. It feeds on the larger sea creatures that have become trapped in the garbage, and its body is a valuable source of materials for scavengers.
* **The Muck Manta** - a large, winged creature that glides above the Great Garbage Patch, feeding on the smaller sea creatures that are attracted to the garbage. Its wings are made of a durable, oily material that allows it to soar through the polluted air, and its body is covered in a thick layer of muck and grime that protects it from the harsh conditions of the patch.
* **The Soot Drake** - a small dragon-like creature that is known for its ability to breathe fire. Its body is made up of a sooty black material that allows it to blend in with the polluted skies above the Great Garbage Patch. It feeds on smaller creatures that have become trapped in the garbage, and its fiery breath can be used to melt and shape metals and other materials.
* **The Oilweed** - a hardy plant that can survive in the polluted soil of the Great Garbage Patch. Its roots are able to extract nutrients from the oil and other pollutants that have seeped into the soil, and its leaves are coated in a thick, oily substance that protects them from the harsh conditions. It is used by scavengers as a source of fuel and as a means of purifying water.
* **The Garbage Vine** - a twisted, gnarled vine that can grow through the piles of garbage in the Great Garbage Patch. Its leaves are oily and tough, able to withstand the harsh conditions, and its stem is thick and durable, allowing it to support the weight of the garbage around it. It provides a habitat for small creatures and insects that live within the garbage and it's used by scavengers as a way to move around the patch.
* **The Glowing Fungus** - a luminescent fungus that can be found growing on the piles of garbage in the Great Garbage Patch. Its bioluminescent spores are able to attract small sea creatures, which it then feeds on. It's used in illuminating the houses of the locals and the streets.
* **The Moldy Cap** - a type of mushroom that grows on the piles of rotting organic material that make up the garbage patch. It is able to break down the garbage and convert it into fertile soil.
* **The Ash Mold** - a type of mold that grows on the ash and soot that covers the garbage patch. It is able to consume the ash and soot, converting it into a nutrient-rich soil.
* **The Rust Fungus** - a type of fungus that grows on the rusting metal of the garbage patch. It is able to consume the rust and convert it into a nutrient-rich soil.
* **The Slime Slugs** - a type of slug that thrive on the mounds of rotting organic material that make up the garbage patch. They are able to consume vast amounts of garbage and can grow to immense sizes.
* **The Ash Bats** - a species of bat that have adapted to living in the heavily polluted air of the garbage patch. They have thick fur that protects them from the ash and soot that fills the air and feed on the insects that thrive in the pollution.
* **The Garbage Blossom** - a type of flower that grows amongst the garbage. It is able to absorb pollutants and other toxins from the garbage and filter them into a sweet smelling nectar.
* **The Oil Eels** - a type of eel that have adapted to living in the heavily oil-polluted waters surrounding the garbage patch. They are able to filter out the oil and other pollutants from the water and use it as a food source.

## Demographics

### The locals

The locals of the Great Garbage Patch are a hardy and resourceful people, who have adapted to the harsh and toxic environment of the islands. They are a diverse group, made up of various races such as goblinoids, kobolds, and even some troglodytes.

Appearance-wise, they are a motley crew, with skin that ranges from a sickly pale to a dark, soot-covered grey. They often have missing or misshapen limbs and fingers, as well as other physical deformities caused by the toxins present in the garbage. They often wear clothes made from old rags and tattered fabrics scavenged from the garbage.

Their culture is centered around survival and resourcefulness. They worship a variety of gods and spirits associated with garbage, such as the "Trashlord" and the "Midden Queen". They also have a great respect for the wildlife of the islands, which they see as fellow survivors in this harsh environment. They often have symbiotic relationships with certain creatures, such as the Garbage Gulls, who they feed in exchange for their assistance in finding valuable scraps.

Their cuisine is highly unconventional, consisting mostly of scavenged scraps and garbage. They will eat almost anything, including spoiled and rotting food, and often ferment or smoke meats and fish to make them more palatable. They also consume various fungi and plants that grow in the garbage, such as the "Garbage Cap" mushroom and the "Trashweed" plant. To outsiders, their food is often revolting and unappetizing, with a strong smell of rot and decay.

### The towns of the Garbage Patch

* **Scavenger's Haven**: Located on the larger of the three islands, Scavenger's Haven is a bustling port town built on the ruins of an merfolk harbour which surfaced out of the garbage. The town is surrounded by towering piles of garbage and debris, with narrow alleys and winding streets leading to the town square where a large market is held. The main source of income for the inhabitants is salvaging valuable items from the garbage, and the town is known for its black market where illegal and exotic goods can be found. Local hazards include dangerous creatures that lurk in the piles of garbage, and the risk of cave-ins and other accidents while salvaging.
* **Trashmound**: This small village is located on the southwestern side of the larger island. It's surrounded by a towering mountain of garbage, which the villagers have built their homes into. The village is known for its strong community spirit, where everyone pitches in to maintain the village and protect it from dangers. Local hazards include deadly creatures hiding in the garbage and the risk of collapse from the weight of the garbage mountain.
* **Flotsam**: This town is located on the smaller eastern island, surrounded by a vast expanse of garbage-strewn water. The town is built on floating platforms made from salvaged wood and debris, connected by a network of rickety bridges. The inhabitants of Flotsam are expert boatmen and divers, making their living by salvaging valuable items from the depths of the garbage-filled sea. Local hazards include dangerous sea creatures and unpredictable currents and storms.
* **Festering Pit**: This small village is located in the center of the larger island. It's surrounded by a vast pit filled with rotting garbage and waste. The villagers make their living by scavenging valuable items from the pit and by processing the waste into fertilizer and other useful products. The village is known for its strong smell and the high incidence of disease and illness among its inhabitants. Local hazards include dangerous creatures that lurk in the pit and the risk of sickness from the noxious fumes.

### Luden and the Garbage Patch

Despite the proximity between Luden and the Garbage Patch, there are few ludenites in the islands. Any rat which could would much rather go there than stay in the Garbage patch.

[Needs Redacting] Heck there might be an agreement that the locals return any 'rats' they find to Luden after all that's where most the trash comes from. So abandoned babies, thrown away corpses etc. from Luden all end up in the garbage patch. Or escaped criminals going there to hide. [Needs Redacting]

As such any ratman living or dead can be sold to the Luden at a high price. As a ratman in the garbage patch it's as if you had an eternal bounty on your head that's why few tourists or explorers of the ratfolk variety ever go there.

Some records say that an envoy from the Gnoll Empire went there and all the Seguerial Slaves he brought along dissapeared overnight and that attempting to spread gnollamaggots locally resulted in the formation of tiny malformed Gnolls now refereed too as "Fennecgnolls' due to their small appearance, red fur, animal-like intellect and diet consistent solely of insects.

### Politics and Overall Governance

There i no governament which controls the whole garbage patch. There have been attempts by Luden to claim it's theirs, but those are just words.

The garbage patch is like the wild west of floating garbage with no central government. Only towns and villages who grew out the trash cooperating with each other as the garbage tide shits and they find themselves close to one another.