Western Woods
The Western Woods, located on the western edge of Dreibach, are the last major habitable lands on the western edge of the Material Plane, bordering the Elemental Plane of Fire. They are largely wild and outside typical hierarchical governance, though the Rangatira and the Kháivara Conclave exist to discuss, moderate, and address various local and regional concerns. The settlements that do exist within the woods are mostly Human, Orokhim, and Gnome villages, typically run by (and sometimes consisting entirely of) Druid circles.
Geography
The Western Woods are a vast forested region on the western edge of Belcantas. They are bisected by a span of cliffs that cuts across from the northern edge of the Hephaestan Ridge to the base of the Erdelanian mountains. Besides these cliffs, they are largely flat, though the northern and northwestern regions have some rolling hills. The pass near Maunganiti is the only easy way to cross these cliffs.
Beyond the division caused by the cliffs, distinctions in microclimates and areas of settlement are usually referred to as separate groves. The Rangatiri typically identify themselves by the specific grove under their jurisdiction, though more than one rangatira is usually present in any given grove.
Ecosystem
The ecosystem of the Western Woods boasts incredible biodiversity. In parts of the woods, plants and animals have evolved in such unique and specific ways that, for instance, a particular beetle will rely entirely on the biology of one specific tree species that grows exclusively in one area of one grove, and a particular type of sparrow will rely on toxins from that beetle to become venomous to its predators, and so on throughout the food chain.
Ecosystem Cycles
The main driver of ecological change in the Western Woods are the Prozhg'atuim, massive wildfires that rage east from the Elemental Plane of Fire. The seed husks of many trees in the Western Woods only open at blisteringly hot temperatures, though, so regrowth begins quickly after these events.
Climate
Microclimates abound within the Western Woods, with portions ranging from tropical rainforest conditions (on the extreme southern and western edges) to taiga (for much of the northeastern portion).
Fauna & Flora
Plant Life
The Western Woods are largely a mixed forest, with conifers, evergreens, and deciduous broadleaf trees growing side-by-side (though the boundaries between groves are often defined by the proliferation of particular trees).Beasts and Monstrous Life
In the branches and canopies of the ancient trees, arboreal mammals thrive, including more species of monkeys than can be found anywhere else in the known world. The apex predators of the Western Woods are powerful enough to threaten even most humanoids. Some, such as chimerae, have supernatural powers that often draw from unknown aberrative sources or from nearby energy from the Elemental Plane of Fire.Humanoid Life
Humanoid communities in the Western Woods consist of Humans, Gnomes, and Nuél-orokh, primarily living together rather than in separate ethnic enclaves. A rare phenomenon, almost entirely unique to the Western Woods, is the Fireborn: a humanoid touched by forces from the Elemental Plane of Fire.Tourism
Casual visitors to the Western Woods are extremely rare. However, it is a venerated site for pilgrimages, particularly for druids and other sages with deep connections to the natural world. The magical secrets of the woods are rarely shared with outsiders; even those who venture there and return east guard them carefully.
A panoramic of the outer Western Woods, with the cliffs that separate the inner Western Woods visible in the background.
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The edge of the woods at Midland Grove, as seen from the Dovrian Plains.
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A dire-adder's lair in the Toaktua Grove, one of the most deadly regions of the Western Woods.
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The Laurophylian Grove, a humid, mild region southeast of Aajintéa characterized by waxy-leaved evergreen plants and a preponderance of bat species.
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Perpetual autumn at the edge of the Crown-Fire Grove.
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A village meetinghouse somewhere north of Maunganiti. This structure is not abandoned, but the woods are still allowed to reclaim parts of it, as per local tradition. —
by Idéfix
The edge of the woods at Midland Grove, as seen from the Dovrian Plains.
by ForestWander
A dire-adder's lair in the Toaktua Grove, one of the most deadly regions of the Western Woods.
by ajari
The Laurophylian Grove, a humid, mild region southeast of Aajintéa characterized by waxy-leaved evergreen plants and a preponderance of bat species.
by PicsART05
Perpetual autumn at the edge of the Crown-Fire Grove.
A village meetinghouse somewhere north of Maunganiti. This structure is not abandoned, but the woods are still allowed to reclaim parts of it, as per local tradition. —
Type
Forest
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