Gorllewin Forest

Purposeful Isolation

It's assumed that people first arrived in Gorllewin Forest and founded new tribes, centuries before the Isle was officially discovered. When one of the Wayakeskwen tribes in the Ithfaen Peaks was destroyed by colonization, the tribes of Gorllewin Forest chose to isolate themselves as a means of safety. Mysticism about the forest has grown, as no expeditions into the woods have succeeded, and it's been ingrained in Wayakeskwen culture that contact with foreign lands must be avoided. While the region holds lots of food and wood, isolation means little access to specific medicines and metal tools.

• An old ship wedged between large craggy rocks, turned gray by salty winds and covered in lichen, algae, and barnacles.
• Villagers keeping close track of the foods and other supplies prepared for the next winter.

True Wilderness

The Ithfaen Peaks, rocky coastline, and rough oceans surrounding the region help contribute to its isolation, and create the swaths of mist and clouds that enshroud it. The moisture allows plants to flourish, especially massive endemic redwoods, intersected by long riverways and clumps of mountains with rich alpine prairie. The lush vegetation supports diverse wildlife which has adapted to take advantage of the region's spirits.

• An ancient cedar with large twisting roots growing above the soil, draped with thick mosses and lichens.
• Bears, eagles, raccoons, orca and other predators gathering in bays and rivers to feast on the migration of salmon.
• Hummingbirds and bees with glowing wing patterns feed on a lush meadow of flowers taking in wild magic through their roots.

Stewards of the Forest

The peoples inhabiting Gorllewin Forest highly value the wildlife and spirits they live alongside, both for cultural reasons and practical ones. Farming, hunting, and foraging are all done in sustainable ways, meaning the ecosystem stays balanced, natural resources don't run low, and spirits are rarely angered. The prevalence of spirits further supplements the environment and creates upwellings of wild magic which local druids have to keep villagers safe from.

• A shimmering mist released from deep in the soil by mushrooms in their spores, causing rocks, trees, and animals to merge with the fungi.
• Gardens with a rich variety of native plants interspersed between houses and growing with the natural terrain.

Communal Efforts

In most of the tribes, the wellbeing of one's community is seen as incredibly important, so villages typically share resources and community gatherings are frequent. The recently formed Gorllewin Wayakeskwa coalition is an extension of that, meant to maintain peace and regulate resources across every tribe, encouraging trade and travel along the forest's waterways and bringing together druids to study ways of using wild magic. While interactions between the tribes has greatly benefited them, most are still wary of contact with organizations outside of Gorllewin Forest.

• A small fleet of canoes laden with supplies being rowed along a wide river to trade oceanic goods with ones made further inland.
• Druids examining how much bursts of wild magic effect the rate and health of plant growth.

Type

Forest, Cloud / Water (Subtropical)

Location under

Isle of Colaedwr

Included Locations

• Blackberry Village
• Hyas Cove
• Nonacikan River

Related Myths

• How Stories were created

Cuisine Notes

Main Ingredients: Mushrooms, Rice, Fish, Deer, Roots, Berries, Nuts
Signature Dishes: Salmon with Rice, Acorn Pumpkin Pie