A glowing, serpentine water spirit rises from a dark river, holding a crystalline heart, surrounded by rocks and willow trees.

The River-Knots The spirits of this world, the River-Knots, are not single entities but are formed from the memories and experiences carried by a river's current. A River-Knot is a sentient accumulation of water, silt, and forgotten objects, shaped by the geography of its specific river. Its personality and power are a direct reflection of the river's character: gentle and playful in a winding stream, or powerful and destructive in a roaring rapid. Anatomy and manifestations Body: A River-Knot's form is a churning, semi-translucent mass of water, often with stones, broken relics, and silt suspended within it like a visible history. It can change its shape freely, though it often adopts a roughly humanoid or serpentine form. Heart-Stone: Each River-Knot has a singular, smooth, polished stone that serves as its core. This Heart-Stone holds the sum of its collected memories and anchors its consciousness. It must always remain in the river; if removed for too long, the spirit will dissipate, and the river will become "dead." The Mists of Memory: When a River-Knot is calm, it exudes a fine, pearlescent mist. The mist has a mild hallucinogenic effect on mortals, causing them to see hazy visions of the past events and forgotten people connected to that stretch of water. Personality and temperament The Tributary Spirits (Lesser Knots): These inhabit smaller streams and creeks. They are often curious and skittish, but easily angered by pollution or human interference with their See more