Dreadwood
Overview
Long a home of horrid monsters and vicious raiders, the primeval Dreadwood hides within its borders a multitude of terrors. Keoland maintains ranger patrols that sweep through the outer reaches of the forest periodically, while several wood elf clans dwell at its edge in the Silverstand.
The two forces are generally successful at keeping the monsters of the Dreadwood in check, but at times a threat that avoids or overcomes them emerges to wreak havoc across the land.
Significance
The inner depths of the Dreadwood are a place where the planar bindings between Oerth and the Shadowfell are thin. Undead creatures and villainous monsters that seek to tap into the essence of the Shadowfell thrive deep in the forest.
Its innermost reaches mingle with that dark realm, forming a warped mirror version of the Dreadwood that extends into that plane.
One of the Dreadwood's most powerful denizens is a truly ancient night had named Granny Nightshade, who dwells in the deepest depths of the forest.
Features
Her twisted fortress, Castle Spiral, stands at the nexus point between the Shadowfell and Oerth, and from its gates emerge skeletons, zombies, shadows, and other horrors to threaten the land.
The rings of the Dreadwood worsen as one progresses further in.
Outer Fringe
The outermost reaches of the Dreadwood are as lightly wooded as those of any other forest and extend five to ten miles into the woods. This part of the forest is as safe as any other woodland, thanks to frequent ranger and elf patrols that keep the denizens of the deeper forest at bay if they try to encroach here. Owlbears, wolves, and a few bandit gangs that elude the notice of the patrols represent the most common threats to explorers or travelers.
Middle Reaches
Inside the outer fringe, the forest takes on an increasingly sinister character. Even on the brightest days, the thick canopy of greenery threatens to devour the sunlight. Throughout this middle area, bright light struggles to extend itself, dimming and dimming further until turned to darkness.
Those who travel without a source of light during the day find that the thick canopy casts everything in dim light, and in some areas the growth overhead is so thick that the area below is dark.
Dreaded Deeps
In the heart of the forest, natural light is unknown. Each step a traveler takes when moving through the middle reaches toward the center seems to dim the sun's light a little more, until one enters the dreaded deeps, where the forest growth is so heavy that it blots out the sky.
Sources of bright light barely shine, while any normally bright illumination beyond that turns to dim light and dim light becomes dark. Even darkvision suffers here.
Dark Dreams
Taking a long rest anywhere in the Dreadwood carries with it the risk of drawing Granny Nightshade's attention. Many have suffered horrible dreams that leave them marked by the forest.
Creatures of the Dreadwood come to hold advantage over these dreamers the next day, knowing their names and personal details, calling to them to journey deeper into the forest and serve beside their mistress.