The Thornwilds
The Thornwilds: The Savage Western Expanse of the Gloomwood
The Thornwilds are an untamed and perilous region, a labyrinth of twisted brambles, gnarled trees, and shadowed paths that lies between the Conifer Vale to the north and the Heartwood to the south. Here, nature is neither kind nor forgiving—it is a place of wild hunts, endless battles, and a ceaseless struggle between light and dark.
The land itself seems to conspire against travelers, filled with snarling thickets, towering briars, and narrow, winding trails that change from one night to the next. Beneath the canopy, ancient roots twist into impossible formations, forming natural bridges, tangled platforms, and steep, jagged ravines.
This is a realm of warriors and beasts, where the Bloodriders of the feral elves patrol the thickets, hunting corrupted creatures and defending their sacred hunting grounds. But they are not alone—for something darker also prowls the Thornwilds, hunting them in return.
General Terrain & Features
The Briar Tangle: A Multilayered Maze of Thorns
- The defining feature of the Thornwilds is its ever-shifting maze of brambles, vines, and ancient trees, dense and nearly impenetrable.
- Some of the briars have grown so thick that they have formed natural bridges, allowing passage above the ground—but these canopy trails are just as treacherous as the paths below.
- The lower reaches are dark, filled with moss-covered ruins, abandoned elven waystones, and half-buried remnants of the past, while the upper layers grant glimpses of the sky, but leave travelers dangerously exposed to predators.
- No path is ever the same twice—roots shift, thorns creep, and the trees themselves whisper. Those who do not know the ways of the wild may find themselves hopelessly lost—or worse, hunted.
The Thornbriar Hollow (Heart of the Briar)
Description: Thornbriar Hollow is a large, naturally occurring thorn bush area in the very center of the Thornwilds, where towering walls of briars and brambles twist together to form a maze-like hollow. The thorns are sharp and nearly impossible to cut, but paths through the brambles exist for those who know how to find them. Despite its intimidating appearance, the hollow is filled with small, sheltered groves where wildlife thrives in safety, protected by the thorny barrier.
The thornbriar maze was dense and impenetrable, but it was part of the natural wildness of the forest, offering safety to small creatures within its protective grasp. Its thorny walls were a challenge to navigate, but there were still paths of life threading through the brambles.
Before her corruption, Isolde often spent time here, using the thorn bushes as a natural barrier for her own private experiments and rituals. She respected the wildness of the hollow, knowing that it represented the untamed part of nature. The briars grew in balance, their protective qualities offering sanctuary for smaller creatures.
After the Darkening: The brambles have become alive, twisting and coiling as though sensing nearby movement. The thorns have grown longer and sharper, dripping with venomous sap that glistens in the dim light. The walls of the hollow seem to close in on those who enter, blocking paths or shifting when no one is looking. A feeling of dread suffuses the air, and the groaning of the vines creates a constant, low sound of tension.
- A vast, tangled expanse of thorn-choked woodland, the most treacherous and least forgiving part of the Thornwilds.
- Some of the briars are so large that travelers must walk upon their twisted branches, forming a labyrinth of living wood high above the forest floor.
- At its heart lies the Hidden Pool, a sacred and untouched body of water, shimmering with moonlight even in the deepest night.
- It is said that the Hidden Pool grants visions to those who drink from it—but only if their spirit is untainted.
- The Briar Heart, an ancient, sentient tangle of thorns, is said to be the source of the Hollow’s ever-growing maze, whispering secrets to those who dare approach.
The Broken Spires: Stone Teeth of the Wild
- Scattered throughout the Thornwilds are weathered stone formations, jagged and half-hidden beneath crawling ivy and blackened roots.
- These broken spires are remnants of something older than the forest, perhaps the bones of a forgotten kingdom or a natural fortress against the darkness.
- Some of the Bloodriders camp near these spires, using them as watchpoints against the corrupted creatures that stalk the woods.
- Others say that in the deepest parts of the Thornwilds, the spires still echo with the voices of the lost, whispering warnings—or luring the unwary deeper into the brambles.
Inhabitants of the Thornwilds
The Bloodriders: Hunters of the thorns
The Bloodriders are a fierce, war-bound faction of the feral elves, known for their relentless hunts and brutal skirmishes against the corruption. They are separate from the wild elves as they have dedicated their lives to the fight and have almost lost themselves in the hunt but they have not fully joined the Hunter of the Wild Hunt quite yet
Description: The Bloodriders are nomadic hunters who ride through the Thornwilds on their great wolves, weaving through the twisting bramble-walls like spirits of the hunt itself. They are the wardens of the thorn and the deadliest warriors among the feral elves, striking down corrupted creatures and Dark Riders alike in brutal, moonlit skirmishes.
Bloodriders mark their faces with crimson sigils and braid their hair with wolf fangs, signifying their oaths to the wild hunt. They hunt in packs, relying on speed, tactics, and the deep, supernatural bond between rider and beast.
- Hostility Towards Humans: Varied. The Bloodriders see no value in slaying humans without reason, but they also will not tolerate weakness. They believe only those who can defend themselves deserve to survive, and any human who wanders too deep into their domain must prove themselves worthy of passage—or die.
- Allegiance to the Witches: They respect Selene. Though they distrust magic, the Bloodriders revere Selene’s wisdom and strategic mind, viewing her as a leader who understands the necessity of war and sacrifice. Even after her fall, some elder riders still whisper that Selene’s path was the right one.
- Famous Bloodriders:
- Vaelor the Ghostfang – A warrior said to have slain a Dark Rider single-handedly, cutting off its head and offering its skull to the wolves.
- Yvara Red-Moon – A huntmistress who has seen the face of The Hunter in her dreams, wielding a spear dipped in the blood of a thousand foes.
- Rhaen Two-Wolves – A legendary rider, said to be so attuned to her twin wolves that she can fight through their eyes even from miles away.
- The Bloodriders revere Nightclaw, the legendary shadow panther of the Thornwilds, believing him to be a harbinger of war and a guide to the strongest hunters.
The Thorn Sisters – The Briarbound Blades
Not all elves seek visions in the moonlight. Some listen to the thorns, to the whisper of knife-sharp briars that twist through the forest’s darkest hollows. These are the Thorn Sisters, a deadly coven of hunters, all women, who forsake clan and shaman to dwell where only the brambles grow. They are silent, their bodies marked by the thorn’s bite, their blades curved like fangs, their eyes blackened with the sap of the Briar Heart.
Their leader is called Varethia, an elf who once spoke with the Fey Lords, but now lets the forest speak through her. The Thorn Sisters are feared by all—even their own kind—for they do not fight with honor, nor do they ask the spirits for guidance. They strike without warning, moving through the brambles like ghosts of the green, striking at corrupted beasts, trespassing humans, and even their own kin should they show weakness.
The Bloodriders respect them but keep their distance, for it is said that those who hear the Thorn’s Call never return unchanged.
Description: They do not speak. They do not leave the thorns. They do not show mercy.
The Thorn Sisters are an isolated order of feral elf women who dwell deep in the Thornbriar Hollow, where the brambles grow so thick that one must walk across their woven branches. They are cut off from the rest of their kind, bound in ritual silence, speaking only through gestures and the language of the forest itself.
The Sisters are assassins, hunters, and executioners, devoted to keeping the heart of the Thornwilds pure. They kill humans without question if they enter their land, flaying them on the Briar Heart as an offering to the old forest.
- Hostility Towards Humans: Absolute. No human has ever left Thornbriar Hollow alive.
- Allegiance to the Witches: None. They see all three witches as corrupting forces, believing that the true power of the forest lies in the thorns, the blood, and the hunt.
- Famous Thorn Sisters:
- Varethia the Briar Queen – Their silent, masked leader, whose body is covered in ritual scars, each one marking a slain defiler.
- Ilya the Needlefang – The fastest killer in the Hollow, who can slip through any shadow and leave only a torn throat behind.
The Dark Riders: Corrupted Hunters in the Thorns
Nightclaw: The Shadow of the Thornwilds
Description: Nightclaw is a massive, shadowy panther, its coat so dark it seems to swallow the light around it. Its eyes are bright amber, glowing like twin lanterns in the night. It is nearly invisible in the darkness, moving like a whisper through the trees.
Behavior: Nightclaw is a solitary, elusive hunter, rarely seen but often felt—a soft rustle of leaves, a flash of yellow eyes in the darkness. It is territorial and known to stalk anyone who lingers too long in its domain, vanishing before it can be confronted.
Wildlife of the Thornwilds
Common Fauna
- Briar Elk – Massive, thick-coated elk, their antlers tangled with vines, blending into the thorny terrain.
- Razorwings – Small, hawk-like birds, their feathers sharp as blades, capable of cutting through flesh with a single dive.
- Shadow Lynxes – Silent hunters of the low branches, their grey fur mottled with streaks of deep green, perfect for blending into the canopy of thorns.
Corrupted Creatures
- Hollow Stags – Gaunt, skeletal deer, their ribs exposed, their antlers blackened with rot.
- Twistroot Wolves – Massive wolves, their bodies fused with creeping vines, their eyes empty voids of shadow.
- The Thorncrowned – Shambling figures made of brambles, whispering in a language no living thing understands.
Flora of the Thornwilds
The Thornwilds are dominated by brambles, thornbushes, and wild roses with thick, spiked stems. Poisonous plants like nightshade and bloodwort thrive here, their dark berries glinting ominously in the dim light.
Features: Hidden within the brambles are small clearings, often used by wolves or other creatures as resting places. Some claim to have found the remnants of ancient stone circles, overgrown and half-buried in the thorny maze.
Mostly hornbeam, hazel, and hawthorn, with their branches twisted and interwoven. The trees are shorter here, struggling for sunlight amid the dense undergrowth.
Features: Hidden within the brambles are small clearings, often used by wolves or other creatures as resting places. Some claim to have found the remnants of ancient stone circles, overgrown and half-buried in the thorny maze.
Common Plants
- Bloodbriar Vines – Thick, red-tinged thorns, often used in Bloodrider rituals, said to draw strength from battle.
- Moonshade Ivy – A dark green ivy that clings to stone, glowing faintly under the light of the full moon.
- Thornbloom Flowers – Delicate white blossoms that only grow in the deepest parts of the briar, said to be a sign of the Briar Heart’s favor.
Rare & Dangerous Plants
- Briarheart Root – A gnarled, blood-red root, pulsing with dark energy, found only near the Hidden Pool.
- Widow’s Weave – A parasitic vine, its tendrils spreading like veins, said to feed on the life of whatever it touches.
- The Sable Blossom – A pitch-black flower, its petals curling inward, said to grant visions of the past when brewed into tea—but at a terrible cost.
Superstitions & Whispers
- "If you see Nightclaw before the hunt, death follows." – The Bloodriders believe seeing Nightclaw before battle is an omen of a warrior’s last fight.
- "The Dark Riders do not bleed, for they are already dead." – Some say the Dark Riders are not warriors, but ghosts, cursed to ride forever.
- "The Briar Heart knows your name." – To speak aloud within the Hollow is to risk being heard by something that listens from beneath the roots.
- "The pool reflects only truth." – Those who gaze into the Hidden Pool will see their fate—but not all fates are kind.
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