Forest Kin
“We do not own the jungle. We serve it, and it remembers.”
Deep within the vine-draped interior of Verdant Island, beyond the worn paths and the reach of coastal winds, dwell the enigmatic Forest Kin—a reclusive and ancient tribe that has lived in harmony with the jungle for longer than any written record can recall. To the villagers of Gudhorkan and the wider Solaris Republic, they are the stuff of stories: ghost-like hunters who move without sound, wielders of old magic that calls to the spirits of earth and sky, and guardians of secrets that predate empires.
Culture & Way of Life
The Forest Kin live in scattered, hidden enclaves woven into the jungle’s living fabric—tree-dwellings connected by vine bridges, root-hollowed meeting chambers, and sacred glades untouched by tools or fire. Their society is deeply spiritual and animistic, centered around a belief in the sentience of the land itself. To them, the jungle is not just home—it is ancestor, god, and judge.
They worship no singular deity but instead revere a pantheon of primal spirits known as the Ancient Echoes—beings said to inhabit the wind, the beasts, the rivers, and the jungle canopy. Rituals are common and complex: dances under moonlight, offerings made of woven leaves and bloodroot, and long nights of shared vision trances led by the tribe’s spiritual leader, the Tribal Shaman.
Leadership
The Forest Kin are led by a figure known only as Shaman Yatlowa, a revered elder whose face few outsiders have seen. It is said she was born during a lunar eclipse, marked by the jungle spirits from birth. Her wisdom and connection to the land are unparalleled; she speaks to the trees, calls storms with her staff of thorns, and walks freely where even predators fear to tread.
Under Yatlowa’s guidance, the tribe has become even more insular in recent years, tightening the ancient boundaries between their world and the settlers of Gudhorkan. Some believe it is because of rising tensions with the outside world, others whisper it is in preparation for a prophecy long foretold.
Origins & History (As Best Known)
What little is known of the Forest Kin’s history comes from fragments—etched into stone in overgrown ruins, carried in cryptic tales told by elder fishers, and hinted at in the journals of rare explorers who ventured too far inland.
- Pre-Solaris Era: Before the founding of the Solaris Republic, Verdant Island was untouched by civilization. The Forest Kin are believed to have arrived—or possibly emerged—from the jungle itself during this time, coexisting with nature in a way that suggests not colonization, but symbiosis.
- The Shrouded Time: According to Gudhorkan legend, there was once a period when a great shadow fell across Verdant—when the jungle grew silent, and strange creatures emerged from rifts in the land. The Forest Kin, it is said, performed a ritual that sealed the darkness away, though the cost is unknown. This is often cited as the origin of their mistrust of outsiders, lest the seal be broken.
- The Pact of Separation: Several generations ago, a pact was made between the Forest Kin and the early settlers of Gudhorkan. The settlers agreed to remain on the coast and never enter the jungle without permission. In return, the Forest Kin offered protection—though whether from threats on the island or beyond it is unclear.
Despite these fragments, the Forest Kin remain largely a mystery. They do not write books or leave maps. They do not trade or travel beyond the jungle. Yet, their presence is unmistakable—watchful eyes in the trees, totems appearing overnight near trailheads, and the quiet hum of unseen wards in the air.
Relationship with Outsiders
The Forest Kin do not hate outsiders, but they do distrust them. Those who treat the jungle with respect—healers, monks, scholars of the natural world—may be approached, tested, and, very rarely, welcomed. Those who come with steel and fire are warned once, then never seen again.
Some believe that the Forest Kin are guarding not just themselves, but something much older and more powerful buried beneath the jungle—a sleeping power, a forgotten god, or perhaps a gate to somewhere far worse. Whatever the truth, the Forest Kin seem determined to make sure it stays hidden.
