Tarnith

Tarnith is a land where memory lingers in root and stone, where the natural and the supernatural intermingle in quiet harmony. Shrouded in mist and legend, this ancient region lies nestled between sea and spirit, untouched by conquest and resistant to time. Its hills whisper old names, its glades shimmer with unseen watchers, and its people—druids, wanderers, and mystics—walk paths shaped as much by prophecy as by earth. To journey through Tarnith is to step sideways from the world as it is and glimpse the world as it once was—or as it might yet be again.
"Where the veil thins and the groves breathe, the land remembers what the world has forgotten."

The Peoples of Tarnith

Druids of the Veil Elusive and nomadic, these spirit-touched practitioners of old nature rites serve as caretakers of Tarnith’s sacred spaces. They move with the seasons, avoiding permanent dwellings and gathering only during solstices or celestial events. They wear ash-dyed robes adorned with feathers, bark-woven charms, and ceremonial vines.
Wander-kin Tribes A loosely connected network of humans, half-elves, and forest gnomes that roam Tarnith’s glens and groves. Some act as spirit guides or animal-tamers, while others protect forgotten places from interlopers. Known for their oral traditions and seasonal migration through the Whispering Woods.
The Archbound Mystics and seers who dwell near the Eternal Arch, claiming descent from the first druids or even extraplanar ancestors. They act as spiritual intermediaries, guiding souls to and from the veil. Rare, but deeply respected.

Geography

Tarnith is a land of ancient forests, wind-swept glens, fog-covered hills, and spiritually charged wilderness. It sits between the Domain of Calberg and the Huntdows Ocean, veiled in perpetual mist and thick with old magic.

Landmarks of Tarnith

The Eternal Arch A crumbling stone arch set in a wide glade, believed to be a portal between worlds. Its low hum grows louder at dawn and dusk, drawing druids to perform rites beneath its shadow.
Stone Grove of the Ancestors A monolithic circle of carved stones deep in the woods, used for moonlit ceremonies to honor the spirits and ancestors of the land.
Gleann na bhFéileach Known as the Glen of the Spirits, this misty valley blooms with spectral light during dusk. Pilgrims leave offerings here to seek omens or ancestral guidance.
Temple of the Four Seasons A sacred hill shrine carved into the land itself, with altars aligned to the cardinal directions and elemental seasons. Druids gather here for solstice and equinox rites.
The Whispering Woods A mystical forest where the wind carries voices of the past. Trees grow in haunting, unnatural shapes, and the deeper groves pulse with life and memory.

Ecosystem

Tarnith's ecosystem is a delicate and mystical balance of forests, glens, marshes, and highlands, where nature and subtle magic intertwine. Its ancient woodlands, dense with mossy trees and ghostly flowers, are home to unique species like the Silverglen Deer and Luneborn Foxes. Open glens and meadows burst with seasonal blooms, while sacred groves and standing stones house rare plants and spectral animals that only emerge at dusk. Tarnith’s wetlands support water-adapted creatures and rare flora, adding biodiversity to the region, while the cooler highlands provide nesting grounds for birds of prey and hardy vegetation. The entire ecosystem flows with the land’s four seasonal cycles, which the druids honor to maintain Tarnith’s natural and spiritual harmony.

Ecosystem Cycles

Mild and temperate, with constant mist and regular rainfall. The land shifts subtly with each season, but retains its dreamlike quality year-round. Winters are calm and reflective; summers vibrant but short-lived. Tarnith experiences cycles that follow the changing seasons, with natural phenomena marking each period. These cycles are celebrated in rituals that honor the land’s rhythms and shifts. Spring brings blooms and a renewed sense of energy to Tarnith, while autumn marks a time of honoring ancestors and reflecting on mortality.

Cycle of Renewal (Spring)

During the Cycle of Renewal, new growth bursts across the land as plants and trees awaken from winter's slumber. Blooming flowers and budding leaves attract Silverglen Deer and pollinators like bees and birds. Druid rituals focus on blessing the land for prosperity and marking the return of warmth. Animals come out of hibernation, and the forest resonates with fresh life and energy.

Cycle of Vitality (Summer)

Summer brings the Cycle of Vitality, where Tarnith is at its most lush and abundant. The forests are thick and verdant, with rich canopies shielding the undergrowth. Many creatures, especially young ones, thrive in this period of plenty. The druids hold celebratory rites to honor the sun and the bounty of the earth, with offerings left in sacred groves to keep the balance intact.

Cycle of Reflection (Autumn)

As the Cycle of Reflection arrives, the forests of Tarnith change hue, and the land enters a quieter phase. The druids perform rites to honor ancestors, and the Spirit Veil—a thin mist—is known to settle over the land, allowing brief glimpses of spectral figures. Animals prepare for winter, gathering food or moving to lower elevations, while plants shed leaves, returning energy to the soil.

Cycle of Dormancy (Winter)

Winter’s Cycle of Dormancy sees a peaceful stillness settle over Tarnith. Snow and frost blanket the ground in the northern regions, while trees and animals conserve energy. Druids perform rituals to ensure the protection of the land during this time, lighting fires in sacred spaces to call forth warmth and safeguard the land’s spirit. The landscape is quiet and serene, a time for introspection and connection with the ancestors.

Localized Phenomena

The Spirit Shroud – A nightly mist through which ancestral spirits can be glimpsed.
Lunar Rains – Sacred rainfall under a full moon, collected by druids for ritual use.
Echoes of the Arch – A resonant hum from the Eternal Arch, growing stronger during solstices or planar alignments.

Climate

Tarnith has a mild, temperate climate with distinct seasonal changes. Rain falls frequently, keeping the forests lush and the air cool and misty. Winters are mild, while summers bring an intense but short-lived warmth that encourages an abundance of life.

Fauna & Flora

Flora

Moonshade Moss – Glows in moonlight; sacred in healing and spirit rites.
Elderwood Trees – Twisted sentinels believed to house ancestral consciousness.
Wraith’s Bane Flower – Blooms only at night, said to repel malicious spirits.
Starfire Fern – Used in vision rituals; spores create temporary spirit sight.

Fauna

Silverglen Deer – Ethereal messengers of the land, often seen at dawn.
Moss Wyrms – Non-lethal serpent-like grove protectors.
Cairn Owls – Guardians of stone circles, considered omens of change.
Luneborn Fox – Appear during ceremonies; guides to hidden groves.

History

Tarnith’s past is more legend than record—a land where myth and memory entwine. Ancient carvings and weatherworn standing stones speak of a druidic civilization that once thrived under the canopy of the The Eternal Arch, using it as a conduit to commune with the spirit realms and the shifting veil.
In the Age of Thorns, long before the druids faded into the mists, a figure emerged to unite Tarnith’s scattered peoples: The Legend of King Caedryn, known as The Blade of Whispers. Guided by prophecy and bonded to the land itself, Caedryn rallied the fey-touched, druids, and wildfolk beneath a single banner. His reign is remembered not for conquest, but for balance—establishing sacred rites, groves of peace, and guardianship over the Veil.
At his side stood the The Knights of the Emerald Flame—a legendary fellowship of warriors and spirit-bound defenders, each chosen by sacred glades, spirits, or beasts. Wielding weapons blessed by nature’s breath and enchanted with fey sigils, they rode not for dominion, but to safeguard harmony. Their legacy endures in tales passed from grove to grove, with some believing the knights will rise again in Tarnith’s hour of greatest need.
Eventually, as the Veil grew thicker and the Druids of the Veil returned to their nomadic ways, Tarnith was left to the wilds once more. Structures crumbled, and the Eternal Arch stood alone in the mist, humming with the whispers of ancient pacts. Today, the Druids of the Veil carry on their sacred duty—protecting the land, guiding the lost, and remembering what the rest of Caemothas has long forgotten.

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