Harken Forest

This large woodland Forest—which the native elves call the Windsong Forest—in-stretches from the Nentir River to the mountains and extends for miles to the south. It separates the Nentir Vale from the more populous settlements of the south. In this expansive wooded area along the vale’s southern edge, any tree might conceal a threat—or danger could come from the tree itself, if it happens to be one of the treants that watch over the deep forest. Allied with the Harken treants is a group of zealot elf druids who call themselves Harken’s Heart.
Perhaps the most dangerous threat to the Forest is the red dragon Cazzak “the Blessed”, that had settled in the hills east of Harkenwold and believes all he can see from his lair to be his realm. He is trying to convert his “subjects” to the worship of Tiamat, by any means necessary.
-The Barony of Harkenwold: Half a dozen small villages lie along the upper vales of the White River. Among those settlements are Albridge, Dardun, Desul Torey, Duponde, Easthill, Harken Village, and Tor's Hold. Together, they make up the Barony of Harkenwold—a tiny realm whose total population is not much greater than Fallcrest's. The people of Harkenwold are farmers, woodcutters, and woodworkers; little trade comes up or down the old King's Road. The barony has drawn the attention of the Iron Circle, an army of mercenaries and followers of Asmodeus from Sarthel, in the south. The band's leader, Lord Vhennyk, sees Harkenwold as a vulnerable spot where he and his soldiers can gain a foothold for an eventual invasion of the entire vale.
-Gravelstokes' manor: The bleak stone mansion of the Gravelstoke family is located somewhere in the Barony.
-Riverslye Homestead: A small halfling commune located near Albridge.
-Blackleaf Village: Formerly a thriving village, this settlement was destroyed by a Cadaver collectors and now lies in ruins.
-Daggerburg: An ominous goblin keep somewhere deep in the western reaches of the Harken Forest, near the Witchlight Fens. The goblins sometimes raid the river-traffic moving along the Nentir, or send small parties of marauders to Harkenwold’s borders. They have a long-standing feud with the Woodsinger elves.
-Dal Nystiere: This eladrin settlement fell to ruin centuries ago, destroyed by some unknown threat, and is accessible only through magical portals. Strange witchlights and evil monsters are known to haunt the ruins. Hidden beneath a ring of standing stones on the outskirts of Dal Nystiere is a secret sanctuary used at one time by wizards as a place to conduct magical research. The sanctuary is now the domain of an undead mage named Yisam who has ill plans for the Nentir Vale. Druid Grove: To the northwest of Albridge stands a large grove of ancient trees, long sundered from the Harken Forest proper. A stone menhir stands in the clearing at the center of the grove.
-Harken’s Heart settlements: The elven druids of Harken’s Heart live in small camps or settlements sprinkled throughout the forest, and they rarely number more than a dozen members in a particular community.
-Kalton Manor: Back in the days when Nerath was settling the Nentir Vale, minor lords in search of land to call their own established manors and holds throughout the area. Kalton Manor was one of these, a small keep raised by Lord Arrol Kalton about two hundred years ago, but it was not finished—monsters from the Witchlight Fens drove off the tenants Arrol had brought with him. At the end, Arrol and a handful of his servants and family lived alone in a half-finished keep slowly falling into ruin until they disappeared as well. Stories tell of hidden treasure—the old Kalton fortune—hidden in secret chambers beneath the ruined keep.
-Malorunth, the Eternal Ash: At the center of Harken Forest lies the corpse of Malorunth the Eternal Ash, a powerful archfey who governed the forest in the ancient past.
-The Great Braided Tree: A tall, multi-leveled woven structure near the center of the Harken Forest, is part headquarters, part education center, and part residence for the largest Harken’s Heart population. It holds about two hundred elves, though this number sometimes swells to several hundred in times of great discussion or peril.
-Toadwallow Caverns: Located beneath a forested hill overlooking fetid marshland near the White River, those caverns are unpleasant and ill regarded. The Toadwallow are currently occupied by the Mud Hides, a tribe of bullywugs led by chieftain Gloorpk.
-Spiderhaunt Thicket: North of the King’s Road, the leafy boughs of Harken Forest grow thorny and dense. Within, the Spiderhaunt Thicket is overgrown and nigh impenetrable. Amid lie the ruins of ancient elven settlements, many swarming with arachnids or haunted by undead fey. It’s the temporary headquarters of the Hunter Spiders. This group of drow was stranded on the surface years ago when the tunnel back to their home city of Erelhei-Cinlu collapsed. They have a reason to believe that concealed in this area of the forest is another passage back to the Underdark. Until they find it, the drow guard their adopted territory against intruders. -Woodsinger camps: The elves of the Woodsinger Clan live in small camps located the southeastern part of the Harken Forest. This nomadic tribe consists of a dozen bands, numbering near 200 in total. They occasionally trade with the humans of Harkenwold and keep an eye on travelers along the old King’s Road. They also oppose the goblins of Daggerburg. A few days ago, a Woodsinger tribe led a wise, cautious elf woman named Eriyel established a campsite near Harkenwold.