The Howling Woods
The Howling Woods are a region in southwestern Ur'En. The territory runs south from the Mudras River to the coast of the Istaril Sea. The woods are heavily shrouded in a near omnipresent mist that makes navigation difficult and gives it a foreboding air. Hidden deep within are the halls of the Wendikal Clans, monsters never seen outside the woods, and the mysterious ruins of those who have tried to conquer the forest before. Along the southern coast, the woods peel back to the relatively civilized lands of the Shivra city states ruled by the living gods of the The Triumvirate.
The Woods are named for the occasional calls of the Wendikal that carry far further than sight through the dense fog. The woods have a reputation for being a land of horrors that defend their secrets with deadly efficiency. They have swallowed entire armies and turned back empires from laying claim to it. Only its natives know its wild paths and hidden treasures, but they do not give up this knowledge easily.
The Woods are named for the occasional calls of the Wendikal that carry far further than sight through the dense fog. The woods have a reputation for being a land of horrors that defend their secrets with deadly efficiency. They have swallowed entire armies and turned back empires from laying claim to it. Only its natives know its wild paths and hidden treasures, but they do not give up this knowledge easily.
Geography
The northern boarder of the region is marked by the Mudras River which flows west from the White-Bone-Teeth Mountains. Along the river, the land is idyllic farms and pleasant pastures. Much of this territory is under the thumb of the Al'Badadi Empire, where it was annexed during the War of Splintered Trees.
Moving south, the forest itself is marked by the ever-present mist that obscures both visual and magical investigation. The source of the mist is yet unknown but is likely a form of defensive magic meant to prevent intrusion. The forest quickly becomes thick with trees and foliage, hampering most overland travel. The geography of the interior is unmapped by outside sources, but there are said to be many streams, hills and even the hidden city of Evermoot, gathering place of the Wendikal Clans. As one moves further south, the temperature drops, until, by the time one reaches Mina, it becomes permanently below freezing except for the warmest days of summer.
The coast along the south and west are uncharacteristically temperate, and the treeline and its foul fog do not extend to do shores. This creates a thin but extensive strip of arable fertile farmland that streches all the way from Ashur to the Telentia River Plains in the north. This coastline is where Shivra civilization has flourished in the shadow of the cursed woods to the north.
To the east, the sea meets the White-Bone-Teeth Mountains. Sheltered in a temperate fertile valley lies the city of Lagash, the oldest and most populous in the region.
Moving south, the forest itself is marked by the ever-present mist that obscures both visual and magical investigation. The source of the mist is yet unknown but is likely a form of defensive magic meant to prevent intrusion. The forest quickly becomes thick with trees and foliage, hampering most overland travel. The geography of the interior is unmapped by outside sources, but there are said to be many streams, hills and even the hidden city of Evermoot, gathering place of the Wendikal Clans. As one moves further south, the temperature drops, until, by the time one reaches Mina, it becomes permanently below freezing except for the warmest days of summer.
The coast along the south and west are uncharacteristically temperate, and the treeline and its foul fog do not extend to do shores. This creates a thin but extensive strip of arable fertile farmland that streches all the way from Ashur to the Telentia River Plains in the north. This coastline is where Shivra civilization has flourished in the shadow of the cursed woods to the north.
To the east, the sea meets the White-Bone-Teeth Mountains. Sheltered in a temperate fertile valley lies the city of Lagash, the oldest and most populous in the region.
Fauna & Flora
The region is known for its hostile nature, at least in part due to the wildlife. While the plants are not as dangerous as those in the Blood Swamps for example, many of the animals found here grow far bigger and more aggressive than in other regions. Many species of mammalian mega-fauna can be found here, as well as the truly terrifying creatures that hunt them.
Natural Resources
The woods most abundant resource are its trees. The lumber harvested from the outskirts is sent to shipyards like the ones in Ashur to create some of the finest vessels that ply the oceans. Craftsmen and carpenters the world over laud the fine creations that can be built with the fir, pine and maple wood taken from the forests. Deep within the mists, the hills yield rich deposits of iron that many will pay through the nose to obtain. Many of the animals carry fine fur coats that are worn by nobles and peasants alike on the other side of the continent.
All of these resources come at a high price. One must at minimum get permission from the local Wendikal before attempting to extract resources. At worst, one must pay the natives exclusively for the goods that only they can obtain from the shrouded heart of the cursed forest.
All of these resources come at a high price. One must at minimum get permission from the local Wendikal before attempting to extract resources. At worst, one must pay the natives exclusively for the goods that only they can obtain from the shrouded heart of the cursed forest.
Alternative Name(s)
Wendikal Lands, The Cursed Forest
Type
Forest, Boreal (Coniferous)
Location under
Included Locations
Included Organizations
Owning Organization
Contested By
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