Dim Forest
Stretching like a dark scar across the western borderlands of Keoland and Geoff, the Dim Forest is a vast, brooding woodland shrouded in near-perpetual gloom. Named for the deep canopy that smothers sunlight even at midday, the forest is a place of mystery, menace, and strange beauty. Travelers speak of its shifting shadows, ancient trees, and the sense that the woods are always watching.
The Dim Forest is a place of shadow and silence, where ancient power stirs beneath the leaves. It is both sanctuary and graveyard, its beauty hiding danger as old as the Oerth itself. Those who travel its depths must be prepared to face monsters, madness, and the forest’s own will—for not all who enter are meant to leave.
Geography
The Dim Forest is characterized by its dense, old-growth trees—towering oaks, twisted ash, and thick-branched pines. The undergrowth is heavy with moss, tangled roots, and a strange hush broken only by the occasional cry of a distant predator.
- Light rarely filters through the treetops, creating a landscape of twilight even in full day.
- Fogs cling to the forest floor, and unusual fungi and bioluminescent plants dot the shadows.
- Meandering creeks, hidden glades, and overgrown ruins mark the land, often concealed until one is upon them.
Paths are unreliable and often shift, as though the forest itself dislikes being mapped.
Fauna & Flora
The western Dim Forest is home to several communities of wood elves and rangers who dwell in harmony with the land. These protectors maintain ancient wards and guard sacred groves, offering passage and guidance to those they deem worthy—or warning to those they do not.
In contrast, the eastern Dim Forest is far more dangerous, untamed, and thick with menace:
- Monsters such as owlbears, ettercaps, giant spiders, and twisted fey creatures roam freely.
- Most feared are the green dragons said to lair deep in the heart of the forest. Their presence has tainted the land, warping creatures and creating pockets of unnatural growth.
- Some cultists of nature’s darker aspects and rogue druids are also rumored to dwell within, seeking to unlock the forest’s primeval power.
History
Legends say the Dim Forest has stood unchanged since before the migrations, a remnant of a primordial age. Some claim the trees themselves are sentient, communicating in low creaks and rustling warnings. Others whisper of lost elven cities, buried barrows, and portals to the Feywild hidden in the forest’s heart.
It’s also said that ghostly figures—possibly ancient rangers or fey guardians—appear at times of great need, guiding travelers away from danger or into it, depending on their purpose.
The Dim Forest lies near the borders of Keoland, Geoff, and Gran March, making it a critical, if dangerous, region. Its western edge is watched carefully, especially following recent giant incursions from the Crystalmists. The elven inhabitants of the forest are often courted as allies but remain aloof and enigmatic.
Few armies have dared to pass through the forest, as supply lines vanish and soldiers go missing without a trace.
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