The Howling Woods
In the lands westward from the Sunless Mountains lies a large dark woodland forest that stretches from its northern shore with the Haunted Sea to its southern border with the Wretched Marshes. Tall dark pines that form a thick canopy over head, mixed with a near constant overcast sky and dense mist makes a very macabre environment for anything that dwells within the reaches of the woodlands. The forest hugs the base of the sunless mountains and stretches west until it thins into the rocky outcroppings of the Shadow Caves. The forest can be broken into three major regions, the northern Dusk Wood, home to the Wood Elf kingdom of Dusk Star, the central Outlaw Country which forms the bulk of the woods mass as it is what separates the sunless mountains from the opening badlands of Dead Reach, and finally the Southern Swamp lands a putrid expanse of submerged and bogged down trees which feeds directly into the Wretched Mashes.
Geography
The forest begins at the foot hills of the Sunless Mountains and stretches west until it cuts abruptly into the rocky out cropping of the badlands that comprise both the regional territory of Dead Reach and The Shadow Caves. The three regions of the Howling Woods begin with its northern woodland called the Dusk Woods, aptly named for they are the only part of the forest that ever sees direct sunlight and it is only during the time of dusk. This portion of the forest is much less rugged than its southern counter parts, the trees here are far larger and straighter then the ones in the central and southern regions and the landscape is primarily gentle hills and slight cliff faces which over look large pools of crystal clear water, it is here that the Elven Kingdom of Dusk Star was created. Moving to the central Outlaw Country it is here where the most rugged and dense foliage occurs, here there is a constant state of over cast skies and dense fog and mist within the forest. No kingdom has had control over these lands for millennia not since the great Mage Kings ruled the Howllands, this central woodland is the resting place of countless now ruined castles, fortresses and temples from the bygone eras, it is a more rugged landscape with many steep hills, caves, and ravines that scar across the land and provide the only real reprieve from the ever choking trees and brush. This Outlaw Country extends downward until it eventually blends and meshes loosely with the bogs of the Southern Swamp Lands. The southern most region of the Howling Wood and the eternal resting place of several of the ancient mage kings citadels and strongholds, it is here in these half submerged and sinking trees that some of the most bizarre and vile creatures within the Howllands Dwell. The landscape is bleak and putrid, a never ending expanse of stagnant water and rotting soil, which extends south until it meshes with the beginning bogs and marshlands of The Wretched Mashes.
Fauna & Flora
The northern woodland of the Howling Woods is by far the most tempered region of the three and sports the largest amount of docile life. The trees here are massive in size towering dozens of feet into the air and creating a thick lush canopy of pine leaves with their hulking needle covered limbs, the roots of these trees burrow deep into the ground and are expansive and strong enough that they can crush boulders beneath their weight or simply supply the support for sizable gnomish homesteads. Beneath the canopy of the massive Sunset Pines is a lush and wondrous expanse of brush, this brush ranges from simple thorny thickets to entire small tree groves that dot and interconnect the floor of the forest. There are three species of note that make up the most significant space within this brush line, the first is a species of shrub called Midnight Laurel, named for its beautiful pale white flowers that sprout upon the coming darkness of the night. This shrub grows in large groups in between the root systems at the base of the Sunset Pines, the stems and branches of this shrub are lined with a thin defensive layer of needle like spines that act as a deterrent against animals who wish to eat the buds of the shrubs flowers. Along the pine needle covered ground of the forest floor grows a species of flower that grows in tight patches which dot the undergrowth of the forest floor, these flowers sprout large stems which can grow to about six feet in height, the flowers that erupt from the top and sides of these stems apart bright blue in daylight but as night begins they begin to glow with a radiance a kin to that of cold star light, illuminated the dark forest around them. The creatures of the northern woodlands are primarily docile with only a small number of real predators among their number, the first and most abundant of these beast is a species of deer with thick fleece like fur that grows in clumps upon their hides and acts as both and insulator, a defense against the spines of the Midnight Laurel, though it does not hide them very well from predators as their light vanilla white coats make them stick out against the more dull brown brush line but they seem to disappear once the first snow falls reach the floor of the forest. More illusive than the deer but still equally felt within the forest is the species of fox that dwells in small burrows they dig between the large root systems of the great Sunset Pines, these foxes called the Eventide Fox by the Wood Elves of Dusk Star are revered by the kingdom and are often kept as royal pets within the homes of both the leading house hold and its kin houses. These foxes sport a vibrant coat of ashen white with streaks of blazing orange running down their sides and tails like large tongues of fire. They are said to be symbols of nobility and good fortune in Elven culture, and their pelts if taken are venerated as items of immense spiritual importance either for ill or good tidings. The dominant or "Apex" predator of this region is a race of mountain lion that hunts the deer and foxes of the region and sometime will venture south into the central woodlands in search of different game if food is running short in their original territory. They are called Onyx Panthers and they hunt from natural caves within the rocky foot hills of the Sunless Mountains, they hunt in small parties of three and often will use ambush tactics and speed to overwhelm and kill their prey.
The Central woodland of the Outlaw Country is the most dangerous region of the three within the Howling Wood, it is home to the most dangerous and mysterious of beasts and plant life that called the forest home. The most abundant of these creatures is a large species of pine tree much denser and more twisted than its northern kin, this pine called the Blood Pine is a carnivorous and extremely dangerous and invasive tree. Its towering stature creates a large obscuring canopy above the forest floor which prevents most light from reaching the ground, this coupled with its enlarged powerful roots that can crush stones beneath their grip, make this tree the most dangerous and lethal of the plant life that dwells in this region. The Blood Pine uses its powerful, large roots to create large bowls which collect rain water forming large pools of water for other animals to drink from, but unknown to the other beasts of the woods is that the bark of this tree secretes a thick clear sap that dissolves into the water giving it a crystal clear and sterile look to it, but in reality it is now laced with a powerful tranquilizing agent which paralyzes any who ingest it within minutes. Once the creature is paralyzed with Blood Pine will slowly begin to wrap its roots tightly around it eventually burying it deep within the base of the tree, where it will begin to feed off of the now dying and decomposing creature. Burgeoning from the root columns of the Twisted Oak is a species of thorn thicket, growing in thick bushels they prove to add to the suffocating constrained atmosphere of the central wood. The bushes are covered in long razor sharp thorns which grab and tear at even the smallest of fur tuft or exposed flesh. At the end of the bush stems blooms a beautiful blood red rose which acts as a small food source for the more docile animals within this region. Some of the root pools erode overtime forming strange natural embankments and small sink holes, at the bottom of these pits swarms a creeping and putrid mass of ever moving vines, these vines use their large numbers to cover up the moth of the pits allowing for it to be completely camouflaged from the surface. Once tread upon the false ground will give way and drop the victim into the pit, where in the vines will begin to entrap and strangle the creature and upon death they will bury it beneath them, consuming its biomass as it slowly decomposes. The apex predator of this region is a species of large viper that lies in wait within the over head canopy, perfectly camouflaged against the bark of the tree the viper has small spiked growths upon its upper scales which allow it to merge almost seamlessly into the texture and appearance of the dark brown thorny bark. These vipers can grow up to approximately ten feet in length and have been known to kill both animal and adventurer alike, these vipers are unique as they do not swallow their prey whole, choosing rather to use their serrated back teeth to rip large bit sized chunks off of their victims. These vipers have been referred to in folklore within the region as the Hissing Limbs, as they will hiss loudly once disturbed and once again when they are about to strike. The most abundant and docile of the beasts within the central woodland region is the tough hided Fell Deer. who use their massive antlers to rub aside the thorny rough bark of the Twisted Oak as to feed upon the inner soft membrane like wood, during the warmer months when the razor roses are in bloom and the Fell Deer's antlers are still coated with their signature red velvet , they will come and gather around the razor thickets to rip off their velvet with the thorns and consume the roses as they do this.
The Southern Swamp Lands of the Howling Woods are home to the same species of plant life as the central region with a few species of plants and trees from the Wretched marshes mixed in. There is only one animal that dwells within this region, the apex predator of all the regions of the Howling Woods, a species of giant sloth standing eight feet tall at the head and nearly the size of a bear, these enormous beasts are omnivorous but much of their diet consist of plants and algae from the swamps. Their giant frontal claws allow them to scoop up large amounts of the bog muck and use it to create large mud huts from rotting logs and poisoned soil. The sloths are said to be horridly filthy and have an odor to them that would make even the most wretched sewer dwelling being vomit. They are nocturnal and fiercely territorial, known to rip apart any and all who come into their territory into gory meat chunks. When they do feed on meat they often choose the large frogs and fish of the marshes and swamp but are sometimes seen venturing north into the southern central woodlands in search of fell deer and even a Hissing Vine or two, they sometimes even attack small adventuring parties and defenseless trading caravans in search of an easy meal.
Alternative Name(s)
The Forgotten Woods
Type
Forest, Temperate (Seasonal)
Included Organizations
Owning Organization
Contested By
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