Penetrating deeper into Nispad, humans discovered abandoned elven structures. On the wall of one of the shrines, they found an image of a humanoid creature holding a strange staff. Deciphering the surviving writings, they learned of the Marsh Guardian—an ancient guardian of the swamps. According to the manuscripts, it was he who taught the swamp elves to tame Koaks, see "whispers," and read signs hidden in the fog. His weapon wasn't just a staff, but an ancient, still-living branch ingrained in the hand of some prehistoric creature. Poisonous mushrooms and clumps of magical moss grew on it, feeding on the very energy of Nispad. With it, the Guardian could condense the fog into tentacles, command tree roots to seize strangers, and awaken toxic vapors to poison enemies. Despite the elven records, the expedition found no other traces of the Guardian. Who knows, perhaps he still watches over the rare visitors from the dense forest, preserving the eternal silence of his domain.