The Whispering Woods

“Do not answer the voices—some are not meant for you.” — Etching on a barkstone shrine  

General Information

Continent: Tarnith Location: Central Tarnith Altitude Range: 400–1,200 ft Notable Features: The Hollowed Tree, Voice Pools, Barkstone Shrines  

Geography

The Whispering Woods stretch across the heart of Tarnith, an ancient forest of gnarled elderwood trees and moss-laden groves. Mist clings eternally to the forest floor, and shafts of pale sunlight filter through dense, twisted canopies. Footpaths spiral in unnatural patterns, and cairns wrapped in vine markings appear and vanish with the seasons. The land seems to subtly shift—what was once a glade may become a clearing of stone overnight.  

Mythical and Magical Significance

This forest is considered a living memory of the continent, echoing with the thoughts and voices of ancient druids and spirits. The Whispering Woods are said to lie atop a powerful leyline nexus, allowing for limited communion with the spirit realm. Some believe it is a cradle of primal magic, older than written history. The Hollowed Tree at the forest’s center is rumored to contain a slumbering spirit of nature—or a rift to another plane.  

Cultural Importance

The Druids of the Veil use the woods for vision quests, seasonal rites, and ancestral communions. Barkstone shrines are etched with spells and memories, and travelers are expected to leave offerings of bone, fruit, or silence. Songs are forbidden here—whispers and wind carry more weight than words. The Whispering Woods are also a test: those who survive its illusions are often seen as touched by the Veil.  

Strategic Role

Though not militarily important, the forest is spiritually vital. Control over or access to the Whispering Woods grants great prestige among druidic circles. No roads pass through it—only hidden paths known to the Druids or the Luneborn foxes. Many outsiders fear to enter it, creating a natural barrier to southern Tarnith.  

Flora & Fauna

Voiceleaf Vines – Whispering plants that echo surface thoughts when touched.

Moonshade Moss – Silvery moss that glows faintly under moonlight, harvested for healing rites.

Luneborn Fox – Elusive spirit-guides that appear during major druidic ceremonies.

Cairn Owls – Watchers of sacred groves, believed to carry ancestral memories in their eyes.

Moss Wyrms – Small serpentine creatures that blend perfectly with the forest floor.

Secrets & Legends

The Hollowed Tree holds a portal to the Spirit Veil, open only during lunar eclipses.

Certain Voice Pools can grant visions of the past—but sometimes whisper falsehoods.

A buried druidic tomb at the forest’s northern edge pulses with seasonal energy every solstice.

A spectral stag known as the Warden of Whispers walks only once a generation to choose a new spiritual heir.

Related Articles

Tarnith The Hollow Tree Cycle of Reflection The Voice Pools