Lauchlein Lake

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Lauchlein Lake is one of the more remote lakes of Meratt county. Lauchlein Lake is shallow and filled with aquatic plants, small fish, and frogs; it is often covered in mist, and its more swamp-like nature means the locals avoid it. Lauchlein Lake used to play host to a fey court, but this was in the distant past, millennia ago when the Verduran Forest still covered the lands of modern-day Meratt county. Today, a small circle of standing stones still sits beside Lauchlein Lake, attesting to its ancient fey inhabitants.

Lauchlein Lake has long been the subject of a variety of rumours; the stone circle, in particular, goes through decades-long cycles of being used for local weddings and events before then being shunned as a supposed site of foul rituals. A persistent rumour is that a now long-dead duke drowned his young wife after marrying her at the stone circle, and that the woman returned as a vengeful spirit who can take on the form of a swan. This old rumour has now become conflated with newer rumours about the very real vigilante known as the Night Swan. Rumours also alternately claim that Lauchlein Lake is the home of either a serial killer or a murderous trio of kelpies.

Inhabitants

In truth, Lauchlein Lake does have a mysterious inhabitant but none of the rumours about her nature is quite correct. Atratus is the lake's sole guardian and has kept the lake a wild and beautiful place since the time of the fey courts. Atratus is a swan maiden, a fey protector of the wilds, who finds the presence of the nearby Oppara Highway disgraceful.