The Blighted Forest

Once a thriving woodland, the forest that lays beyond Razlom's Gate has been utterly transformed, possessing an unnerving stillness and visibly decaying flora. The trees, once robust evergreens, now stand as hollowed-out husks with blackened bark, leaking a foul-smelling sap. The undergrowth is a mess of rotting vegetation, and even the ground feels wrong, sinking unnaturally beneath any step.   The corruption that defines the Blighted Forest is believed to stem from powerful Apostate magic. This magic not only taints the land but also animates the dead. The rare travelers who have survived the passage through this region report strange, irregular tracks in the snow and the horrific sight of eviscerated animals moving as though controlled by some unseen force. The forest is known to be home to packs of ghouls—undead creatures driven by an unrelenting hunger. These ghouls are not native to the forest but are drawn to its dark energy, summoned and controlled by the powerful influence of the Bonestealer.   The Bonestealer’s magic extends beyond simple necromancy. The very atmosphere of the forest is suffused with the malice of their rituals, warping not just the creatures that wander there but the land itself. The presence of rotting, animated corpses and the twisted trees creates an ever-present sense of unease for those who enter, as though the forest itself is waiting to consume any who linger too long.