The Forests of Striror

Diglam Forest

General Information

Type- Boreal Forest
Region- Central Striror
Environment- Dense pine woods, heavy snowfall, howling winds
Diglam Forest is a vast expanse of towering pines and frost-laced brush, blanketed by snow and steeped in ancient mystery. Mist curls through the trees even during daylight, and haunting howls echo from deep within. The forest has a reputation for disorienting travelers and is often used as a rite of passage by local tribes. Villagers believe that spirits of the First Settlers walk among the trees, guiding or judging those who enter. Glowmoss, moonroot, and frostleek herbs grow here, harvested by shamans under moonlight.

Notable Features

The Silver Path- A narrow, shifting trail of glowing fungi said to appear only for the worthy.
Whispering Tree- A massive pine whose bark is etched with ancient runes. It is said to speak in riddles during the aurora.

Threats

Frost wolves, winter wargs, and will-o’-frosts stalk the woods. Deeper in, rumors tell of a spirit called the White Witness—a ghostly elk that silently observes intruders and curses the unworthy.

Arlingfait Grove

General Information

Type- Sacred Forest Grove
Region- Eastern Striror
Environment- Crystalline everfrost trees, aurora-lit canopy
Arlingfait Grove is a sacred haven, where the trees are translucent and shimmer like glass. This grove is watched over by the druids of the Aurora Veil, a reclusive order of nature-mystics. It is a place of pilgrimage for those seeking visions or blessings from the spirits of winter. No flame burns within the grove—any fire brought in is immediately extinguished. Magical beasts such as frost elk, snow owls, and aurora moths thrive here, and the grove's ambient magic makes it a nexus of natural energy.

Notable Features

The Heartlight Pool- A small, reflective pool at the grove's center where visions are said to appear.
The Hollow Pines- Ring of trees used in seasonal rituals and solstice celebrations.

Threats

Trespassers risk angering the grove's spirits. Elementals and magical beasts defend the area. Those who disrespect the grove may become lost for days within a single clearing.

Halicastle Thicket

General Information

Type- Haunted Forest
Region- Western Striror
Environment- Black-barked trees, dense fog, ancient ruins
Once the site of a powerful frost fortress, Halicastle Thicket is now a cursed woodland where ruins crumble beneath twisted, dark trees. The forest is thick with fog and silence, broken only by the creak of branches and the distant clang of phantom weapons. The ruins of Halicastle itself are partially swallowed by root and snow, but those who explore its remains often report ghostly figures and visions of old wars.

Notable Features

The Silent Spire- The last standing tower of Halicastle, sealed by frost magic and warded by spectral guardians.
The Grasping Roots- Tree roots that move subtly, making passage dangerous for the unaware.

Threats

Phantom knights, vengeful spirits, and frostshades haunt this thicket. Locals warn that the forest seeks to trap the living to join its legion of the fallen.

Maniline Forest

General Information

Type- Taiga Forest
Region- Southern Striror
Environment- Fir trees, glowing undergrowth, bioluminescent fungi
Maniline Forest is a vibrant anomaly in Striror's frozen landscape. Its undergrowth glows with blues and greens thanks to rich deposits of moonfungus and nightbloom. Despite its beauty, the forest remains cold and treacherous. Alchemists and herbalists value Maniline for its rare ingredients, while beast hunters stalk the elusive snowcats and frostback lynxes that prowl the brush.

Notable Features

The Dreamweft Hollow- A grove thick with sleep-inducing spores, used in spiritual rituals.
The Shifting Den- A frostcat lair that moves location with each solstice.

Threats

Frost goblins tunnel beneath the forest, harrying travelers. Territorial predators and natural illusions make the forest unpredictable and dangerous to the unprepared.

Type

Forest