The Artisan's Retreat

From miles around, intrepid adventurers, daring merchants and wayward travelers could see the massive Sequoia trees casting their shadows across the southern plains. The forest, commonly named the Artisan's Retreat, has stood for thousands of years with many of it's original trees still living, growing taller every year. Beneath the thick canopy lies a rare escape afforded to those attuned with nature as well as to those looking for a way to live absent of light. Believed to be filled with secrets, not many dare to travel here as it is said to charm those who enter into staying forever; enticing them to become one with nature.

Geography

The Artisan's Retreat overlooks the cliff side that rises far above the Westwaves. Climbing the trees on this coastline would allow the most breathtaking of views, placing the climber nearly a thousand feet above the sea. From the very tips of the trees, one could see the vast amount of seaweed in the Roheline Inlet to the north, the snow covered beauty on the Moonsinger's Mull to the south, and the outskirts of the city called Carincia to the east. A short walk from the more rocky coastline sees the ground give way to a complex network of roots, which make their way deep beneath ground, often times breaking through parts of the cliff side and winding their way down the stone face. These roots will commonly weave around each other in such a way that they form natural "bowls" where a life sustaining sap secreted from their upper layers during the warmer seasons pool. The ground itself becomes more and more visible as one moves east, yet not much plant life exists down here due to the lack of sunlight.

Fauna & Flora

The most prominent plantlife here is undoubtedly the massive Sequoias. Standing at 300 ft. tall, these trees have existed here since a time before humans ever settled the northeastern lands of Castora. These tress dominate the resources needed for other plants to grow, and those that do grow are inconsequential vine-like plants that scurry up the trunks and beg for sunlight when they reach the canopy. The sequoias spread by dropping 6 inch wide cones from their upper branches, though it is rare that these seeds grow past the very early stages as what they need to grow is usurped by much older trees.
Occasionally, some more magical plants known as Shadestem will grow, feeding off of the sap produced and held within the bowls formed by the roots. Shadestem itself is almost like a lily, though with shorter, deep purplish brown petals and green, wavy leaves. The petals and seeds of these plants are often harvested, processed and used as spices or dyes by the small communities within the forest.
The people who make their home here range from all different races, though they are primarily Elven and half-Elven. Interestingly, there is also a large presence of Dark Elves who have escaped the teachings of the Demonweb Queen and have since relocated to the surface to live a life of peace. The humanoid species of this forest tend to focus more on communal living and art, rather than battle and national progress as is common among those who live on the outside. This includes the aforementioned elves, humans, gnomes, halflings, and the rare drgonborn.
In addition to the humanoid species here, there is a seemingly infinite amount of wildlife, ranging from large deer, moose, giant owls, bears, skunks, chipmunks, squirrels, and the occasional boreal rat. However, the luckiest among travelers may run into the Glimmer Snail or the Gleamchiton; two species who supp on the life giving essence of the sap pools.

Natural Resources

The most notable resource that can be taken from the Artisan's Retreat is of course wood. Though not the most effective building material, large battlements can be erected quickly from the massive trunks. The Sequoias also make a wonderful firewood, and one tree can keep plenty of households warm all winter.
The sequoia sap, although harder to harvest because of how deep in the forest one must go to find it, is commonly used to treat infections and other disease. Clerics of the Elven pantheon have made use of the sap in keeping rot away from wounds that would otherwise have proven fatal.

Type

Forest, Boreal (Coniferous)