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Capital:
n/a
Population: unknown
Government: various
Religions: various
Imports: n/a
Exports: n/a
The High Forest is a vast
area of dense woods lying in the great saddle of land between the
Worldspine Mountains and the Edgemoor Mountains. Covering an area
of nearly 100,000 square miles, whole nations could be lost within
this great wood. As indeed, there are.
The vast forest is actually
many different regions. The northwest is a land of mighty redwoods
and tall pines that is home to many dragons. In the northeast,
small tribes of elves struggle with orcs and intelligent fungus
creatures amidst the fog-bound stands of oak and elm. South of the
river Phaedon the land rises up in rocky spires beloved by both
pine and dragon alike. Somewhere in the east, among the stands of
ash and poplar lies the home of the great treant known as
Shadowmoss.
Nearly every part of the
forest is home to trolls, and those not home to dragons are likely
to shelter evil beholders.
THE LEGEND OF
RAMETH
In ancient days, the High
Forest was home to the fey races and held in high regard by the
men of Iridian and Numanthaur. It was a place apart, and lay long
untouched by the hands of mortals, who held it to be a sacred
place. When the Wrath of the Gods came upon those doomed nations,
the evil god Malbor fled from his temple in Iridian and sought to
escape the ruin he had brought on his followers. It was here, in
the forest sacred to the goddess who had spurned him, that he
sought to hide. But Rameth, prince of those Iridians who had kept
faith with the gods, pursued him and found out his refuge.
Then the fearsome god and
the mortal prince did battle, and Malbor grew hot with fury so
that the rain which fell upon him smoked and spattered as upon a
great bonfire and, indeed, his huge warhammer was ablaze with
unholy flames. Rameth was a small figure on the field, yet as
sharp and terrible to behold as a star which blazes in its final
throes. Terrible oaths did the god of darkness swear, and great
rents did his hammer create upon the earth, yet his foe eluded
him. Five times did Rameth wound the god with his spear, which he
had washed in the living blood of Theeurth, and five times did
Malbor scream in pain. The echoes of those screams are still
heard, it is said, amidst the tall mountain walls which surround
the forest.
Yet, despite the valor of
the faithful prince, the contest ended in the only way it could.
Malbor slew Rameth in that place, and howled his fury at the
heavens. Yet in the moment of his triumph, the dark god was forced
to flee, for he perceived the coming of the hosts of Heaven and
knew he was not prepared to meet them. He fled the High Forest,
but as he went, he dripped dark blood upon the ground. Each drop
that fell turned into dark stones which burrowed into the earth
and there slept, awaiting another day to release their hidden
evil. It is from these stones that the many monsters of the High
Forest rise, the curse of Malbor on the place of his greatest
wounding.
MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS
Osaval (Village;
population 820) This tiny forest community on the northern eaves
of the forest has escaped the evil embrace of the lords of
Ascarlon only by agreeing to serve an equally terrible master. A
being called Katerrilax lives in an ancient citadel above the town
and requires that the townspeople worship it as a god, offering up
one of their sons or daughters each year for sacrifice. The people
of the town have lived under Katerrilax’ brutal but safe and
prosperous rule for twenty years.
The Marrodh
(Fortress; population 160) The famous half-orc druid Ulgash of the
Seven Hands makes her home in this hidden fortress somewhere in
the eastern uplands of the High Forest. Here, she trains those who
seek her knowledge and who have the skill to find her.
IMPORTANT LOCAL SITES
The Tomb of Rameth -
Legend has it that somewhere in the High Forest lies a sunny green
hill within which the Iridian hero Rameth was buried after his
battle with Malbor. The legend says that on stormy days, the ghost
of Rameth sometimes comes forth, driving off the evil creatures
born of his ancient enemy.
The Black Spike -
There is a wooden temple in the western forest which is said to be
tended by servants of the god Malbor. There, they tend a great
black spike of stone which is said to be the largest drop of blood
which the god shed in his battle with the hero Rameth. This unholy
relic is thought to empower the region with the vile power of
undeath.
The Well of Worlds - At the exact
center of Vatheria, there is said to be a temple which contains
one thousand and one doors, each of which opens on to another
world or time. |
