Witchwood

The Witchwood is named not for its association with witches, but for the prominent witchleaf tree that grows there. The leaves and bark of the tree are used extensively for alchemical and magical purposes alike, containing restorative properties. Of course, just because it's not named for an association with witches doesn't mean there aren't any witches living there, who use the witchleaf trees for their own nefarious magical needs.

History

The First Elves

When the elves were banished to Aedelor by their goddess, they found themselves in a vast woodland known by most as the Witchwood. They were given the task of battling against the calissae, but found their new mortal flesh to be at risk from more than just the larger powers. Disease washed over them as they worked to build and survive in an alien landscape. Thousands of elves died in the first few years following their exodus. The Witchwood became a mass burial ground. Having been used to a living being transforming at the moment of death into another form of life, they were horrified over the lifeless bodies left behind by their fallen. Unable to return to Aedurun, they opted to bury the dead with seeds or mushroom spores to encourage new growth, and fertilizer to attract insect life. They wished to return as much of the body as possible back to nature, to imitate a cycle of life they were familiar with. To ensure nothing remained, old bones would be dug up and ground down, spread throughout the forest as nourishment. The woodland was named Ven Ela'darei (ell-ah-DA-ray) in their tongue, the land of life and death.

Type

Forest, Boreal (Coniferous)