The Mortifex Forest

Geography

The Moritfex Forest encompasses a large swath of land in the center of Kelestra, to the East of the <Great River>. It is home to several small hunting villages, strange people sequestered from the world, and a plethora of unique flora and fauna. It separates the Eastern Reaches from the river lowlands and reaches nearly from Marza to Diasian. The Southern third is known as the Southron Swamp, while the Northern third is simply known as the Dark Forest, where paths and roads are all but impossible, due to the density of the foliage. The Eastern Meridian Road extends from Bridgeport-on-the-River to the coastal village Tenango.

Ecosystem

Mortifex most closely resembles a Northeastern United States deciduous forest, with all manner of oak, birch, maples and other various trees. The Southron Swamp most closely resembles a Gulf Coast swamp/bayou. The temperatures are seasonal, with  humid summers, colorful autumns, snowy winters, and damp springs. In the swamps, the humidity holds more heat, and the summers are particularly uncomfortable.

History

Even as the population of Kelestra boomed with the establishment of the Trinity and the capital of the world, Diasian, grew up to the north, the vast majority of the Mortifex remained undisturbed. It is said that the spirits of those that came Before reside in the forest, and it grew up around the remains of an ancient city named Mortifex. The Chroniclers have precious little documentation to prove such a claim, as it is rare for someone to make their way out after being lost. The Eastern Meridian Road offers a smattering of small towns, and each have their own myths and legends about the forest. Most, however, accept that the forest is simply difficult to navigate, especially north of the Meridian, due to the thick canopy making astral navigation difficult at best.
During the Dragon War, the forest was notable for offering refuge for people, since hiding from the flying Evils was much easier. Many communities claim to be descended from those first refugees, who decided to stay and make the forest their home. Many settlements offer warm hospitality and an almost naive trust to passersby, mostly isolated from much of the civilized world, but they defend their homes fiercely if necessary. Travelers have learned to respect the laws of hospitality, as it takes a skilled hand to survive the journey without places to resupply.
One town, Dragonshiver, boasts a lucrative trade of a rare wood, Dragonshiver Pine that only grows in a small area a day north of the road. Ebony Dragonshiver is said to be what the finest Holy Symbols and Spell Foci are made from, because of the channeling properties it provides. Legend has it that it was the discovery of the tree that allowed Dragonslayer Arrows to be made, and that they would poison a dragon from within. The wood is highly sought after by the wealthy as a status symbol, with instruments, small carvings, and various magical implements being made from it. The citizens of Dragonshiver guard the location of the grove with a religious fervency, unwilling to overharvest. They consider themselves stewards of the grove, insuring it does not go extinct. Many have tried to illegally harvest the trees, but none ever return from that mission.

Alternative Name(s)

The Great Forest, Mortify

Type

Forest, Temperate (Seasonal)

Location under

Kelestra