Gnarley Forest
The Gnarley Forest is an ancient, untamed woodland on the outskirts of Greyhawk’s influence, home to elves, woodsmen, and hidden dangers lurking beneath its vast canopy. While small settlements like Five Oaks and Lockswell Manor thrive along its fringes, the deeper forest hides sinister threats, including the secretive humanoid stronghold of Blackthorn. Those who enter its depths must contend with treacherous terrain, wild creatures, and unseen watchers in the shadows.
Eastern Reach
The Gnarley Forest is an ancient and sprawling woodland, its vast reaches extending far beyond Greyhawk’s direct influence. While the Free City has often laid claim to its eastern fringes, it exerts no real control over the region—there are no city patrols, no taxes collected, and the inhabitants consider themselves free from outside rule.
Though the outer edges of the forest are tamer than the shadowed depths within, this is still a wild and untamed land, home to elves, reclusive woodsmen, and—more recently—sinister forces lurking beneath the canopy.
The Appearance of the Wood
The Gnarley Forest is a place of immense, ancient trees, towering high above, their dense canopies casting deep shade over the forest floor. In many areas, the lack of undergrowth makes for easy passage, and these clearings might seem almost park-like—were it not for the tangled masses of fallen timber and moss-covered stumps, which stand like eerie green statues.
Each spring, summer, and fall, wildflowers bloom across the forest floor, but none are as coveted as the ivory blossom—a delicate, white-petaled flower found only in the heart of the forest. These rare blossoms:
- Bloom for just 1d8 + 6 days after their buds open.
- Sell for as much as 10 gold pieces apiece in Greyhawk’s High Market, provided they are fresh and undamaged.
- Can be found in small clusters (2d10 per day of searching), though hunters risk attracting dangerous attention in the process.
The dominant trees of the Gnarley Forest are oaks and ipp trees, their broad branches spreading far overhead, offering natural pathways for those skilled (or daring) enough to travel 30 to 40 feet above the ground. Characters without climbing proficiency must succeed on Dexterity checks to avoid a painful fall.
Interspersed among the oaks and ipps are groves of dekla trees, their massive trunks as wide as small cottages and their roots forming a twisting maze that makes foot travel difficult.
Less inviting still is the yarpick, or daggerthorn—a vicious, thorn-covered plant avoided even by experienced woodsmen. However, each autumn, woodspeople send their children to collect the fallen yarpick fruit. Though the bitter pulp is discarded, its large, plum-sized seeds are:
- Highly nutritious and flavorful.
- Long-lasting and ideal for storage.
- Valuable, selling for 1–2 gp per bushel in Greyhawk’s markets, depending on supply.
Inhabitants of the Wood
This portion of the Gnarley Forest is sparsely populated, with only one human village and one hidden stronghold of a far more sinister nature.
Five Oak – The Human Settlement
The only true human settlement in this region, Five Oak is a small, isolated village where woodsmen, hunters, and outcasts make their home.
Five Oaks is home to about 100 people. A stone bridge spans the brook, leading to the village square, where stand:
- The mayor’s house
- The sawmill
- The trading post
The trading post, owned by Malco Frump, is a hub for rare goods, including platinum, jade, ivory, and exotic feathers. It is well-guarded, with two 4th-level fighters on staff.
It serves as a trade hub where occasional elven merchants from the deep woods barter their exquisite cloaks, enchanted leather boots, and finely crafted bows in exchange for:
- Salt (a rare and precious commodity in the forest).
- Perfume (a peculiar but valued elven luxury).
- Other unique goods from the outside world.
Elves and Reclusive Woodsmen
The sylvan elves of the deep forest occasionally venture into this region for hunting, exploration, or trade. Some solitary woodsmen or small family groups have carved out hidden homesteads, though even these hardy folk seldom stray more than a day's march from the forest’s edge, knowing that its deeper reaches are far too dangerous.
In a few places, these homesteads have grown into small woodland clans, with 20–30 people living together in a collection of cabins and lodges. However, even these rare gatherings of humanity are few and far between.
Farmsteads of the Gnarley Forest
The farmsteads marked on maps are clusters of at least three buildings, though lone huts, cottages, and cabins can also be found in the wilderness.
The people here live off the land, gathering mushrooms, berries, fruit, and tubers, while hunting deer and rabbit or fishing trout from the clear streams. Life is good, as the forest provides abundantly.
A typical steading is a clearing of 100-200 feet, ringed by tilled land, and always near fresh water. Many of these woodsfolk keep packs of 2d4 hunting hounds, trained to guard their homes and fight if needed.
The Rangers of the Gnarley
Experienced woodsmen here are skilled rangers, adept at archery, tracking, and camouflage. A 37-year-old veteran is typically a 5th-level ranger, armed with a longbow, leather armor, and a short sword, dagger, or throwing axe.
Lord Lockswell’s Manor
One of the oldest and most influential homesteads in the Gnarley Forest, Lockswell Manor has grown far beyond its origins as a simple woodsman’s cottage.
Lord Lockswell, fifth descendant of the founding settler, is a respected leader among the humans of the forest. Though his title of “lord” is not recognized by any monarch, his people freely grant him their loyalty. His manor house is the largest structure in the forest, a sprawling hunting lodge enclosed within a sturdy wooden palisade.
Lady Lockswell, daughter of a Greyhawk noble, serves as a priestess of St. Cuthbert. She is deeply loved for her generosity and healing, offering food, shelter, and care to all who seek her aid—even criminals before turning them over to her husband’s stern but fair justice.
The Lockswell Manor Feasts are legendary—held four times a year, these five-day celebrations draw in woodsfolk, traders, and adventurers from across the region.
Dangers of the Gnarley Forest
The Gnarley Forest is home to a wide array of dangers, both natural and supernatural. Savage orc warbands and brutal ogres stalk the woods, seeking prey or plunder, while packs of gnolls strike from the shadows, their bloodthirsty raids leaving few survivors. Giant spiders lurk in the canopy, spinning vast webs to ensnare the unwary, and those who stray too far might fall victim to the silent hunt of a deadly weretiger. Even the forest’s human inhabitants, from wary woodsmen to well-armed hunters, can be hostile to trespassers. Some encounters, like those with sylvan elves, may bring aid or warnings—but those who fail to respect the elves’ sacred lands may find themselves driven out or worse. Mystical creatures also roam these ancient woods: a rare unicorn may appear to those in dire need, while satyrs, with their mischievous nature, may offer revelry or ruin. The Gnarley Forest is alive with peril, and only the most cautious travelers will emerge unscathed.
The Ever-Present Threat
The forest’s inhabitants—from elves to monstrous predators—are deeply attuned to its quiet sounds, shifting scents, and ever-present shade. Unless adventurers possess the skills of experienced woodsmen or take extreme care to move with stealth, they will almost certainly alert the forest’s denizens to their presence before they ever see what is watching them.
Blackthorn – The Hidden Lair
Deep in the shadowed recesses of the forest lies Blackthorn, a fortified underground lair of orcs, ogres, and gnolls. Unlike typical humanoid dens, Blackthorn is well-hidden—there are no refuse piles, no patrols, no signs of habitation. Those who encounter orcs, ogres, or gnolls in the Gnarley have likely crossed paths with Blackthorn’s denizens—and these creatures would sooner die than reveal its location.
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