Ebirecca

Ebirecca is one of the ancient forests of Helvara. It is situated on and marks the border between the Kingdoms of Salternia and Grendola. On its southern edge, namely the Salternian towns of Briga and Kaldran are directly adjacent to Ebirecca forest.
According to legend, it was the mythical lord of the land, Dáoì, who has made the forest sprout from the earth and given the forest its name, which loosely translates to "Seat of the Heart" in the ancient Dáhaì tongue. The forest lies in the heart of the geographical distribution of the Dáhaì ethnic group, who are said to be the children of Dáoì and have originated from him. In its mythological origins, Dáoì has willed the forest to grow to provide a home for his children, the black wolves, to roam free and not have to hide.
It is no surprise then, that it is the circle of druids associated with Dáoì, the Circle of Dáhaì, that has taken Ebirecca as their sacred dominion. The heart of the forest with its massive oaks trees serves as their grove, and houses their sanctum respectively.
The forest is most often described to have a mythical and gloomy ambiance and is often at the center of fantastical tales. It is classified as one of the primeval forests of Helvara. It is often theorized, that before population by humans much alrger stretches of Helvara across Morisia, Grendola, Salternia have been covered by one large and primeval woodland, that had been running even farther into eastern territories, and that Ebirecca as well as Noricca and other ancient forest are the last remannts of this great forest landscape. Ebirecca has stood and developped undsiturbed over many tens of thousands if not millions of years, only protected by its druids, which earnes it the title of a primeval forest.
The Kingdoms of Grendola and Salternia have extremely limited logging and hunting rights in the forest during only the autumn months of Divarn and Vimdan. This allows the forest to regenerate regularly under the supervision of the druids and to have no marks of human activity outside the designated areas, especially in the heart of the forest, so that its ecological processes remain in order.

Geography

The forest covers an area of almost 2'500 square kilometres, nearly evenly distributed between both of the nation's territory it occupies, the Kingdom of Salternia and the Kingdom of Grendola.
The terrain of Ebirecca is divided into some diverse natural regions, the main division being between the gentle northeastern slopes that transition into the foothills of eastern Grendola and Salternia, and the "Firgan" mountainrange that runs along the western bounds of the forest that descends steeply into the valleys of southwestern Grendola, northwestern Salternia, as well as the country of Morisia on the other side, towards the west. The greatest differences of terrain and heigt are found on the western mountainrange. There are valleys separated by narrow ridges of rock at the top, making the mountainrange diffcult to traverse. Also, nestled into the western mountainous regions of the Firgan are deep and dangerous ravines, no one dares venture in. The mountainous valleys in the west are covered by endless coniferous woods growing upon a base of rugged terrain, mostly made up of sandstone over granite stone and ore deposits. Meanwhile the meadow-valleys and rolling hills in the east are more inviting to settlers and agriculture.
The river Rhyn originates in the mountains of Ebirecca and exits the Firgan mountainrange towards the east through Salternia. Ebirecca is home to many natural and glacial lakes, the glacial lakes being evidence of a past glacial age. The woods are streaked by countless of streams and brooks, next to the grander rivers that spring from the Firgan mountains.

Localized Phenomena

Ebirecca is the only place where the Ebireca, a type of Devara Rock, can be found. These are stones with alleged magical attributes, that are only found in the ancient woods of Helvara. The rocks are shaped into unnatural forms by the environments of the forests. The Ebirecca variant are tiangularly shaped deep mossy green stones, that are speckled with copper tones. Ebirecs are firmly under the protection of the druids of the Circle of Dáhaì. The druids will hold special celebration to search for the stones, whoich are most often found interwoven into the roots of the ancient oak trees or at the deepest point of rivers and streams.

Climate

In the western mountains of the Firgan the climate is much colder than in the east and has a higher rate of rainfalls. Especially in the highlands, rainfalls occur more frequently all year round. In the winter months, due to high pressure the peaks of the mountainrange are often basking in sunlight, which leaves the valleys below covered in a sea of fog formed as a result of pockets of cold air trapped in there.
The much more exposed foothills in the east are much drier and have a more gentle climate.

Fauna & Flora

The close supervision of the Circle of Dáhaì blesses the forest of Ebirecca with great biodiversity.

Flora

Ebirecca is a dense and mixed forest with many diverse species of trees of varying heights and diametres. It is mainly made up of deciduous trees and firs with large patches of spruce on higher altitudes. In its middle lies the great oak tree grove, that is protected by the druids of the Circle of the Dáhaì. Its undistrubed heartlands feature fascinating multi-layered tree canopies and the largest trees lnown to humans. In some places the groves are so untouched, that the forest floor is littered with debris and dead trees. The trees in Ebirecca have developped rare structure with deep fissures in its bark, which is not possible for younger trees and unique kinds of moss with magic capabilities.

Fauna

Apart to the usual animals and beasts that live in northern Helvaran woods like deer, boars, elks, moose, bisons, and bears, the Ebirecca forest is populated by a large quantity of wolves, more than any other place on the continent. The eastern foothills are also populated by wild and domesticated cattle and sheep. In the Firgan mountains lynxes and marmots as well as ibex and chamois can be found. Other mammals like smaller rodents, or squirrels, rabbits and beavers can be found all over. Then there are hedgehogs, moles and many different families of bats. In terms of smaller carnivores, there has been note of genets, red foxes and polecats. In terms of birds there are different species of owls, falcons and eagle to be observed. Close to eighty different species of fish have so far been found in Ebirecca's rivers and lakes.

Alternative Name(s)

Woods of Dáhaì

Type

Forest, Temperate (Seasonal)

Included Organizations

• Circle of Dáhaì

Owner/Ruler

Dáoì

Ruling/Owning Rank

Archdruid

Owning Organization

Circle of Dáhaì

Contested By

• Grendola
• Salternia

Related Materials

• Devari Rocks