General
A corrupting influence has turned an already dangerous world into something wose. The struggle for survival is strong, with both graves being filled and houses abandoned.
Dynamic Aspects to Make the World Feel More Alive
Weather Patterns as Signs of the Forest's Mood: Use the weather as an extension of the forest’s mood. On some days, lightning storms might rage over the Gloomwood, crackling energy that feels more magical than natural. Other times, a deep, unnatural fog may roll through the village, muffling sound and making the villagers feel cut off from the outside world.
Flickering Shadows: Have shadows move unnaturally even during daylight. Small, flickering figures might dart just out of sight in the corner of vision, or the shadow of a tree might stretch farther than it should, as if reaching for someone. It adds a feeling of ever-present unease, even when the darkness itself isn’t physically nearby.
Unpredictable Time Flow: Time within the forest might move strangely, with travelers returning to the village feeling disoriented—what seemed like hours in the woods could have been mere minutes, or days could pass in what feels like a short walk. It adds to the confusion and the ever-growing feeling of being lost.
Climate and Weather Patterns
Before the Corruption:
Ravenshollow enjoyed a temperate, balanced climate—warm, gentle summers perfect for crops, mild springs and autumns abundant with rains, and cold but manageable winters. The forest brought shelter from harsh winds, and villagers learned to anticipate weather cycles through reliable patterns, carefully aligning their agricultural routines accordingly.
With the Growing Corruption:
Weather patterns have grown erratic and unpredictable. Storms arrive abruptly, fierce and violent, leaving lingering mists that refuse to dissipate. Summers now bring oppressive humidity, fostering disease among crops and livestock. Winters have grown colder, harsher, snowfall heavier and more prolonged. Fog and mist hang thickly over the village and surrounding fields even in midday, amplifying villagers’ anxieties and isolating them further.
Agriculture and Crops
Before the Corruption:
The villagers relied on hearty staples—wheat, barley, oats, root vegetables, apples, pears, and berries. They enjoyed rich harvests, supplemented by careful hunting, fishing, and foraging from the healthy Gloomwood forest edges.
With the Growing Corruption:
Crop yields have steadily diminished as blight and disease creep into fields, leaving stalks blackened and fruit bitter or spoiled. Some vegetables twist into unnatural shapes, seeds grow brittle, and grain stores spoil prematurely. Farmers have been forced to cultivate smaller patches of resistant varieties and herbs known for protective qualities (sage, lavender, garlic). Villagers grow more dependent on animals, though livestock has become increasingly nervous and difficult to keep healthy, sensitive to something unnatural encroaching from the forest.
Fauna and Wildlife
Before the Corruption:
The forest once teemed with deer, rabbits, foxes, wild boar, and birds of every color and song. Villagers hunted safely and sustainably, understanding the rhythms of the wildlife.
With the Growing Corruption:
Now, wildlife is scarce, cautious, and often visibly sickened. Animals that venture close appear gaunt, agitated, or unnaturally aggressive. Strange, twisted predators—Blight Wolves, Rothearts, corrupted boars—have emerged, their presence driving normal animals away or killing them outright. Birds no longer sing cheerfully; instead, a haunting silence settles over the village, broken occasionally by chilling cries from Screech Owls or the mocking calls of hidden Silth Shifters.
Ravens have begun beeing more commonplace gathering on rooftops, watching with eerie intelligence, or swoop silently through the trees. Ravens have always been symbolic of death and transformation, having villagers muttering about dark omens and making guarding signs.
Sounds and Smells
Before the Corruption:
Sounds of nature filled the air—birds, the gentle hum of insects, the whisper of wind through trees. Scents of fertile earth, fresh rain, blooming flowers, and woodsmoke brought comfort and familiarity.
With the Growing Corruption:
Unsettling silence dominates, punctuated by sudden, strange noises—far-off screams, snapping branches, cries mimicking infants or whispers from unseen beings. Smells have grown foul and cloying; swamp-like odors of rot, mildew, and stagnant water drift from corrupted forest areas, mingling unpleasantly with traditional scents of village life. Villagers increasingly burn herbs and incense to ward off the stench and spirits they believe it heralds.
Villager Behavior and Superstition
Before the Corruption:
Villagers respected the forest but trusted its bounty. Faith, both in the Old Gods and local folklore, was practical, moderate, and often positive. Rituals and prayers marked seasonal changes, harvests, and important life events, reflecting gratitude rather than fear.
With the Growing Corruption:
Anxiety and paranoia have seeped into everyday village life. Suspicion grows rapidly; outsiders are viewed warily, and villagers blame misfortune on curses or hidden transgressions. Superstitious practices have surged dramatically, with villagers wearing amulets, protective charms, or marking doorways with strange sigils. Salt lines windowsills nightly, and bundles of sage and lavender burn continuously to keep unseen threats at bay.
Fearful villagers avoid being out after dark and mistrust even close neighbors. Increasingly elaborate rituals—often rooted more in panic than tradition—have emerged, from leaving offerings of blood or milk at the forest edge, to hanging protective herbs and bones in doorways. While some of these rituals offer genuine, albeit temporary, protection, others are little more than desperate superstition.
The Temple of the Old Gods has struggled to counterbalance this rising fear, maintaining steady prayers and blessings, but their power feels less effective against the encroaching darkness. Even respected elders, such as Old Man Cedric and Mira Ashford, find their advice drowned out by rising panic and suspicion, with villagers quick to turn to harsher and more drastic measures against perceived threats.
As the darkening spreads, villagers might develop new superstitions or perform strange rituals in public—leaving salt on their doorsteps, wearing amulets, or marking their doors with ash. Over time, the village's traditions grow stranger, with a sense of fear-driven desperation seeping into everyday life.
Overall Atmosphere
Ravenshollow has become tense and wary. A once-hospitable village, now its residents are fearful, withdrawn, and suspicious. The presence of the corruption feels omnipresent—shadows lengthen, smiles fade quickly, and the ever-present mist cloaks the village in uncertainty and dread. In this anxious environment, villagers cling fiercely to whatever rituals or talismans promise safety, no matter how questionable their effectiveness.
The slow decay of trust, abundance, and comfort within Ravenshollow echoes the forest’s darkening itself, hinting at a deeper threat still hidden, but steadily growing stronger.
Comments