Wanderer's Guide to Dendralis - 835, 3E

Wanderer's Guide to Dendralis

Greetings, friend! We wish to extend our gratitude to you for picking up this copy of the Wanderer's Guide to Dendralis. Built upon the great works of Talamus Wynned, this volume is meant to provide you with a glimpse into everything you might wish to know about the Land of Trees.
A land steeped in mystery and ancient magic, Dendralis offers wonders and perils alike, from its enchanted Greenwood to the shadowed depths of the Darkwood.

Of course, details will not be overexpressed, as this is meant to be a suitable guide for wanderers and adventurers, not a repository tome for scholars. We strive to release new editions with updates to current events whenever possible, ensuring your guide is as accurate as it can be. Nevertheless, we hope this guide proves a useful tool for you, regardless of which edition you carry. Safe travels through Dendralis, friend.
—Historian's Collective, 835, 3E

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Dendralis—The Land of Trees

Dendralis is a land of natural beauty and mystery. As the historic home of the Wood Elves, its dense woodlands have long shaped the history of the land and its peoples. Once covered by over 80% forest, Dendralis today retains more than 50% woodland coverage. These forests, however, are now fragmented and far less homogeneous than they once were.

The Elderwood: A History of Dendralis

In Time Immemorial, the continent of Dendralis was blanketed almost entirely by a single forest—the Elderwood. This forest, revered as ancient and sacred by the native Wood Elves, the Aéldelins, held a power that seemed to connect all living things within it as a single, harmonious organism. The Aéldelinians and the Elderwood thrived together, each sustaining the other.
This harmony, however, seemed destined to one day falter. An elf from the eastern shores named Maedhros began to preach the old teachings in a different way, exalting power over unity. With the help of seven other usurpers—and drawing strength from tens of thousands along the east coast—Maedhros attempted to seize control of the Elderwood during a Convention of Elders. The forest, with its mysterious power, repelled this binding attempt, but the shockwaves caused by the struggle triggered a catastrophic tectonic event known as The Separation.
The Separation tore the continent asunder, creating the Great Eastern and Great Western Corridors—vast, jagged scars that stretch from the northern tundra to the southern jungles. These corridors remain physical reminders of the event, shaping the geography and isolating regions to this day. The upheaval reshaped the land, expanded the continent’s coasts, and unleashed a series of natural disasters that rippled across the northern hemisphere for nearly a year.
Today, the original glory of the Elderwood can only be found in the Greenwood, located in central and south-central Dendralis. The Greenwood, and its inhabitants—the Olosse, direct descendants of the Aéldelinians—carry on much of the Elderwood’s legacy, both biologically and culturally.

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Geography/Climate

Dendralis features a predominantly temperate and subtropical climate, with minor exceptions in regions that stretch into tropical or arctic zones. Aside from the arid Western Highlands, the continent is mostly semi-arid, with more humid conditions along the west coast and in the south-central regions.
The land is divided into nearly 20 geographic regions, but these can be grouped into broader categories. Among the most notable are:

The Emerald Shores and Emerald Isles

The Emerald Shores, located along the northern coastline of the Emerald Sea, are a land of bustling trade and secluded settlements. Sandy beaches give way to rolling dunes and lush coastal plains, their breeze carrying the salty tang of the sea mingled with the earthy aroma of nearby farmland. Emerald Isles, a scattered chain of verdant islands just off the coast, mirror the Shores’ fertility but offer a more contemporary charm. Their air is alive with the sound of crashing waves and the chatter of seabirds, while fishing boats dot the shorelines, their wooden piers brimming with activity.

The Greenwood

The Greenwood, located in the central and southern parts of the continent, is the heart of Dendralis. Towering ancient trees with trunks wide enough to house entire families stretch skyward, their dense canopies weaving an emerald quilt that lets through dappled sunlight. The air is alive with the scent of moss, earth, and the faint sweetness of flowering vines, while the melodic calls of unseen creatures echo in the distance. Travelers might find themselves pausing to marvel at the serene, almost otherworldly beauty—but they should tread carefully, as the forest holds as many dangers as wonders.

The Darkwood

To the east lies the Darkwood, a stark contrast to the Greenwood. Here, skeletal trees twist and claw at the sky, their lifeless branches draped in ghostly, glowing fungi. A near-constant dark fog clings to the ground, muffling sound and distorting vision, while the air carries a faint metallic tang mixed with decay. Those who dare to enter often report a chilling sense of being watched, though few return to confirm the source.

The Great Western Corridor

The Great Western Corridor, a scar left by the Separation, runs the length of the continent’s western side. In the south, the Fissures dominate—a labyrinth of jagged ravines and towering cliffs, where shadows dance on sheer rock walls. To the north, the mysterious Meadows of Luna come alive at night, glowing with bioluminescent flora and the flickering lights of ethereal insects. Between these extremes lie sprawling lowland grasslands, where the air carries the scent of wildflowers and damp earth after a rain.

The Great Eastern Corridor

The Great Eastern Corridor, another scar left by the Separation, is a region of dramatic contrasts. In the south, it opens into the Fertile Valley, a lush expanse of rolling hills and fertile plains teeming with life, before transitioning into the humid and eerie Great Swamp with its towering cypress trees and shrouds of hanging moss. To the north, the corridor narrows into a steep, grassy canyon with steep cliffs, eventually giving way to the continent’s lone arctic region—a barren tundra of ice fields and freezing winds that stretch endlessly toward the horizon.

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Peoples

Dendralis is the generational home of the Wood Elves and their adjacent subraces. The Greenwood is home to the Olosse, the direct descendants of the Aéldelins—the original Wood Elf ethnicity. The Olosse carry on many of the old ways of the Elderwood and share the same unique relationship with the forest as their ancestors, allowing them to live in harmony with a lush yet dangerous environment.
Several elven subraces on Dendralis also trace their roots back to the Aéldelinians. The Dreadwood Elves of the Darkwood, corrupted in soul through their allegiance to Maedhros, are distant kin, as are the Orcs of the Western Highlands, whose flesh was warped in devotion to their deity. The enigmatic inhabitants of the Meadows of Luna are believed to descend from ancient Aéldelinians, though this connection remains unproven.
Mankind has also made its way to the Land of Trees, firmly establishing itself along the northern shores of the Emerald Sea over the past five centuries. The Fertile Valley and Emerald Shores now host a significant human and half-human population, forming a society centered on trade and agriculture. Lineages that have lived in Dendralis for at least three generations have blended into a singular Dendralin culture, while recent arrivals maintain stronger ties to their Olde World heritages.
The communities of the Emerald Shores are home to a variety of other races and subraces, though none make up more than 8% of any given locale. This diversity has fostered a vibrant cultural tapestry along the shores.

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Politics

Beyond the Emerald Shores, much of Dendralis' population remains relatively isolated within their geographic regions. The Orcs of the Western Highlands restrict interaction between the western elven cultures and the rest of the continent. Meanwhile, the Olosse are deeply connected to their forest home, leaving them with little incentive to expand beyond the Greenwood. As a result, the Emerald Shores are the most traveled and diverse area of the continent.
Elven territories in Dendralis generally operate under communal forms of government, known as Elder Councils, treating all members of society as equals. Leadership positions are often determined by age, wisdom, and demonstrated experience. While largely peaceful in their interactions with outsiders, the elves of Dendralis maintain a guarded stance, engaging primarily in economic exchanges. However, their defensive capabilities are formidable, relying on advanced strategies and tactics that surpass their offensive capacities.
In contrast, the human settlements in Dendralis are predominantly democratic city-states. These communities are often linked by shared economic and political goals. The Fertile Valley features closely associated settlements, while the Emerald Shores and Emerald Isles are united under the Emerald Shores Alliance, formalized by the Alliance Decree. This decree established the Emerald Shores Merchant Navy, a naval force funded primarily by Emerald Point to ensure peaceful trade and economic stability among its members.
For centuries, Dendralis has enjoyed relative peace, thanks to these progressive and non-aggressive political systems. The primary exceptions are occasional raids by Orcish parties and sporadic cult attacks originating from the Darkwood.

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The Land of Trees is a realm of wonder and intrigue. It is also a place that demands respect, humility, and a connection to the land from those who wish to thrive within its borders. Approach your journey through Dendralis with an open heart and a cautious step, and this sacred land will reward you with an experience richer than you could imagine. Just watch your step.