The Great Vorthali Forest
"It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen; much unlike the deserts of western Saloria, this land was nothing but lush green for as far as the eye could see, and then some!" -from My Days in the Jungle by Ferdinand HertalsonCovering over two million miles, the Great Vorthali Forest is the largest wooded area on Zantin. The towering trees are home to thousands upon thousands of different creatures unique to the rain-forest. The native goliath population live in small semi-nomadic tribes throughout the jungle, although they are being threatened by the ongoing Salorian colonization.
Geography
The forest stretches from the north-eastern coast of Vorthal to the Lieori Range in the west, and as far south as the Iceveil. The Vorthali River flows north-east across the lower-half of the region creating swamp-like land several miles wide in the flatter areas.
Forest Layers
The forest can be divided vertically into four layers; the emergent layer, the canopy, the understory and the forest floor.Emergent Layer
This is the highest layer of the forest, receiving intense amounts of sunlight, high temperatures, and high winds with low humidity. Animal life is not especially present above the cover of the trees but a bird-of-prey may occasionally break through as well as migratory birds during the appropriate season.The Canopy
The canopy is made from the largest trees, some standing over 400 feet high, and provide cover to the ground below. This layer also holds the most animal life of the forest, nearly two-thirds, with ants, beetles, spiders, and birds finding home in the canopy.The Understory
This layer is composed of the smaller trees of the rain-forest, reaching between 20 to 40 feet, as well as vines and some shrubs. Predators will use this layer to hunt unsuspecting prey below.The Forest Floor
The forest floor, or jungle, is majorly ground cover, such as moss, fungi, shrubs, and herbs. Mammals are most present at this level of the forest.Fauna & Flora
It is still currently unknown what has spurred the strange evolution of plants and animals within the forest; much of the flora and fauna have become massive compared to their cousins, such as the trees which have nearly quadrupled the size of the next closest in height. Thousands of strange animals have evolved out of the woods, including the Gwueblu, an extra-planar being that resides in the stomach of a host in a symbiotic relationship. Even with the animals recorded, new creatures are discovered on almost every excursion. Not every animal is so abnormal, however, as deer, wolves, snakes, beetles, and other animals also inhabit the jungle.
Native Civilizations
"I don't know if they hate us, or they're just scared. Either way, it's dangerous to get close to the goliaths." -Maximus DovatThe goliaths are the oldest race present on Vorthal and have been largely untouched by outside influence until recently. Because everyday life in a goliath tribe is full of danger, and any mistake could cost the entire group, they are known for placing self-sufficiency above all else; any goliath unable to fend for them-self will be expelled. They are also fond competitors and extremely territorial, often warring for control over resourceful hunting grounds. When Salorian explorers first landed on the coast of Vorthal, the goliaths of that region likely believed it was another tribe encroaching in their territory, and thus immediately retaliated. Now the goliaths are seen as inherently hostile towards non-goliaths.
Natural Resources
Much of the thousands of species of plants found in the jungle are being discovered as edible by the newly founded colony of Kina Vora, and as such are being cultivated and farmed. Colonist hope to eventually be able to grow these exotic fruits in Saloria and create a new market for them across the eastern hemisphere.
Mineral deposits of gold and silver have been discovered throughout the jungle, such as those at the Faerdi Mine. Extracting these resources has proven to be a difficult task, however, as any mining done is often met with violent reactions from local wildlife. Salorian colonists have resorted to using the local goliath population as slave labor to avoid loss of Salorian life.
Ancient Constructions
"I'm telling you, there was a pyramid! I could barely see it through the trees, but I saw it! A pyramid of gold shining in the light!" -Voran WayfinderWhile the forest goliath tribes are not known to build elaborate structures, there have been reports of large constructions appearing to be hundreds of years old. Because of the difficulty of traversing, explorers have had a hard time recording their exact location, and as such, most have been written off as hallucinations or simple tricks-of-the-eye.
Maps
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Digmund Dagsby's Search
A map drawn by Digmund Dagsby of his expeditions to search for Ferdinand Hertalson. Dagsby used a few pages from the legendary explorer Hertalson's notebook in order to track him to a region of the Great Vorthali Forest.
Type
Forest, Jungle (Tropical)
Location under
Included Locations
Inhabiting Species
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