Owlpin Grove
Nestled between Boroughton and Stillwater Sound rests this grove of temperate trees. The forest is known primarily for its abundance of wildlife and rare plants.
Geography
The forest rests on a gentle slope that inclines northward towards Boroughton and acts as a windbreak from the south. It is possible to traverse the forest from any angle and the coastline where the forest thins to the sea is almost flat due to the erosive force of the waves.
There are few changes in topography within the forest with the exception of a large bowl in the northeastern quarter. In the winter months this space that spans nearly 5 acres of sunken trees fills with rainwater, becoming a seasonal bog that emits a foul oder that floats on the wind for miles. There are several small rivers that flow from the north towards the sea that are a source of freshwater. The largest of these is wide and deep enough to require bridges made from stone, though none have been built. The only way to cross is to ford it at level points.
Ecosystem
The weather from Stillwater Sound dictates the forest's lifecycle throughout the year with warm, dry summers and tempestuous winters.
The trees here are primarily deciduous with species of sycamore, horse chestnut and ash growing strong in the verdant climate, however there are spatterings of pines on the slops of the hill to the north that turn the ground mildly acidic with their dropped needles. In the southern reaches you can find many small bushes and thickets filled with game animals such as rabbits, grouse and deer.
In the autumn months the forest becomes home to migrating birds flying south to escape the frost providing hunters with a boon before the cold sets in.
Climate
The temperature is warm between spring and late autumn with the forest's leaves blanketing the floor. Only when the first frost sets in does the forest become dramatically different with many trees dropping their leaves and animals that can migrating away or vanishing into burrows.
If a strong northwestern wind strikes driving storms from Stillwater Sound towards the grove the resulting rain and wind creatings a haunting atmosphere where old trees can be torn from the ground and the rivers flood with drowning ferocity.
Though it is considered to be in the north, it rarely snows in the grove, though hail can be expected on colder winter days.
History
During the War of Tears the forest became a hotspot of activity as both the Kingdom of Breaton and Driston Empire used the forest as cover for advancing soldiers. Several skirmishes would unfold here as scouting parties were caught or encountered opposition within the trees. A notable battle was in 1172 when a force of 1000 Driston troops were slaughtered in the night by 200 Breaton elites.
Type
Grove
Owning Organization
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