Tanglefoot Woods

Geography

Thick, dense forest. The Tanglefoot Woods are the smallest named forest within Ecadia yet the most mysterious. The trees appear to be both darker and lighter depending on where you look and, under certain light, almost seem to move as if alive. There are ponds and lakes within, that are rumoured to glisten like multicoloured jewels.

Ecosystem

No two places are the same in the Lost Wood, everything is unique from the creatures to the plants, strangely enough nothing from the wood ever seems to spread past the river border or into the nearby mountains or desert.

Ecosystem Cycles

More than most regions these woods change with the seasons, taking on stronger colours and aspects of each, the plants and creatures almost seeming to react directly to the natural conditions.

Localized Phenomena

Known as the Lost Wood this forest earned that name for a reason, those who venture within often find themselves with no sense of direction and no recollection of the areas around them, almost as if the woods themselves shift and change to confuse and lose those who dwell. Even the most seasoned explorers struggle to navigate it's ever changing nature, sometimes becoming last for weeks or months at a time, wandering aimlessly within.

Fauna & Flora

The shifting, colour adapting plants are a wonder to scholars, they have been found to have an underlying magical property unique only to this area, everything within almost hums with it, however to this day no one has been able to utilise it.
The plants aren't the only thing that's unique about these woods, rare creatures are rumoured to dwell within, occasionally venturing to the outskirts to be gazed upon and wowed at by tourists. Rumours spread daily about Unicorns, Fauns and Teleporting Dogs, those who find themselves lost and manage to escape babble endlessly about walking trees, giant snakes and other deadly beasts.
Oddly enough, these creatures and plants do not spread past the confines of the forest, people have tried to take them out by force and have found themselves instead taken by the woods, cursed to wander endlessly.

Natural Resources

Uniquie magical plants and creatures, although no one has manage to ever successfully harvest any such resource and remove it from the woods.

History

The Tanglefoot Woods have been an alluring place since mortals first discovered it, not much is known about their existance or appearance however even during the age of Dominion it is said that land was free, lorded over by no creature, for the powers within are beyond even those.
Scholars have long theorised about these woods, some claim it is a gift from Yondalla herself, even possibly a doorway to her resting-place. Others believe it to be a weakpoint between here and the Feywild, a place so close to the other realm that aspects of it spill into ours.
The Kingdom of Fersk was founded along the borders of these woods, claiming the lands between them and the Forest of Therin, that was until their Kingdom collapsed at the disappearance of it's King and forces. This region was abandoned and later reclaimed by the neighbouring Kingdom of Thelis, who saw the woods as a wonder, setting up tourism to the local areas and encouraging research into the forest.
In the south-eastern portion of the woods there are rumours of an old witch that bends and shapes the forest to her will. Those who end up lost in those areas claim to stumble across her hut, deep in the woods, some say she tries to lure them in so she can eat them, others say she guards the entrance to another realm.

Tourism

Many come to see the fabled Tanglefoot woods, for it is truly a unique place, some even charge a hefty fee to take guided expeditions within the outskirts but never too far. It is quite common for those who think too highly of themselves to venture too far within the woods and never be seen again, or to come out months later confused and mad.

Alternative Name(s)

The Lost Wood