Hoarwood Grove
The Hoarwood Grove, nestled in the ancient Hoarwood forest, is a somber and mystical enclave of evergreen Eldar and their Eladrin. Known for its stark beauty and quiet resilience, the grove thrives in a harsh, snow-covered environment where frost and life converge. Despite its serene surface, the grove bears the weight of recent subjugation by the Snowcloak Dominion under King Nezzar, a conquest that threatens its delicate balance and culture.
The Eldar of the Hoarwood Grove
The grove is home to several evergreen Eldar, towering treant-like beings with needles of icy green and bark as dark as iron. These Eldar are steadfast and enduring, embodying the tenacity required to survive in the northern wilderness. They share their wisdom in soft, low voices, like the sound of wind through snow-laden branches. Their magic harmonizes the harsh frost with the enduring life of the forest, maintaining a fragile equilibrium. Evergreen Eldar are slow to act but unyielding in their resolve, serving as both spiritual and literal pillars of the grove.
The subjugation of the Hoarwood Grove has deeply unsettled many Eldar, severing their symbiotic bond with many, or in some cases all, of their Eladrin progeny. Bereft of their companions and weakened by the Dominion's exploitation of the forest, several Eldar have gone feral, reverting to an ancient, defensive behavior encoded in their essence. These once-majestic guardians now roam the Hoarwood as unpredictable and hostile forces, lashing out at any non-Eladrin they encounter.
This behavior, a last-resort instinct forged in ages past, is a natural strategy to exhaust aggressors over time. The wandering Eldar attack supply lines, patrols, and settlements, forcing the Dominion to allocate resources to counter their wrath. While terrifying to Dominion forces and wary travelers alike, the wild Eldar serve as both a grim warning and a flicker of hope to the grove’s scattered Eladrin: even in despair, the forest fights back.
Culture of the Hoarwood Eladrin
The Eladrin of the Hoarwood Grove mirror the unyielding strength of their evergreen progenitors. Their culture emphasizes perseverance, harmony, and devotion to the Divine presence within the frost and forest.
Rituals and Beliefs:
- Winter’s Vigil: A solemn ritual held during the longest nights of winter to honor the Divine and renew the bond between the Eldar and the forest.
- Hymns of Frost: Eladrin songs, sung in haunting, melodic tones, are believed to strengthen the grove’s resilience against external threats.
- Seasonal Renewal Rites: These ceremonies ensure the health of the evergreens and the creatures of the forest, harmonizing the rhythms of frost and life.
Daily Life:
- Forest Stewards: Hoarwood Eladrin tend to the Eldar and the forest’s creatures, ensuring survival in the unforgiving cold.
- Crafting with Wood of the Hoarwood: They fashion tools and artifacts from fallen evergreen branches, imbuing them with subtle magic for endurance and protection.
- Reclusive Diplomacy: Though reclusive, they once cooperated with nearby settlements, offering items or guidance to those respectful of the forest.
The Subjugation by the Snowcloak Dominion
King Nezzar of the Snowcloak Dominion, driven by a desire for the Hoarwood’s strategic and magical resources, subdued the grove in a calculated campaign.
The Conquest:
- Exploitation of Resources: The Dominion began harvesting the grove’s magical evergreen wood, which has unique properties for fortification and enchantment, disrupting the grove’s natural rhythms.
- Eladrin Subjugation: Many Eladrin were conscripted into servitude, while others fled into the deeper forest, forming resistance groups.
Current State of the Grove
The Hoarwood Grove now stands under the watchful eyes of Dominion soldiers, its once-proud culture subdued but not extinguished. The grove’s remaining Eladrin preserve their traditions, but watch helplessly as the forest is gutted by the Dominion. Though King Nezzar claims the grove, he treads cautiously, wary of the forest’s lingering magic and the potential for a widespread uprising. The Dominion’s forces remain ever vigilant, seeking to quell any signs of resistance.
Folklore and Hope
Even under the Dominion’s shadow, the Hoarwood Grove retains its mystique. Travelers still report hearing whispers in the cold wind and seeing faint, otherworldly lights among the evergreens—signs, they say, of the grove’s unbroken spirit.
To the Eladrin and their allies, the Hoarwood Grove is more than a place; it is a symbol of resilience. Like the evergreens that endure the harshest winters, the grove waits for the day when its light and life can flourish once more.
