Vakao Forest

The densely wooded area known as Vakao is possibly the most dangerous area in all of Smiltis now that the shattered Expanse has cooled. Not only does it have poisonous plants, it is also shrouded in thick mists and filled with large venomous beasts. On top of this, Nordea's Chosen, a cult that nearly wiped out the majority of Arheim's population, placed a curse on the land centuries ago that chokes the land with dense forests and gas-spewing swamps. Only powerful members of the Mistwalkers or the Witch Hunt ever elect to travel through the area, and even then they often do not return.

Geography

The land of the forest is generally flat, with small swamps dotted throughout. The trees range from frightening gnarled oaks to comforting white birches, though even the prettiest of trees can look creepy when enveloped in the mists that haunt the area. The swamp releases poisonous fumes from deep beneath the earth, which is fatal to those not prepared to deal with it.

Fauna & Flora

The animals of Vakao are often dark, thin, and vicious. Crows and ravens frequent the trees looking to find a corpse hidden below, and dire wolves hunt in packs. This speaks nothing of the abberrations that dwell in the mist. These creatures wait patiently for a living thing to creep too close to its den and then strike so quickly it is almost like the prey was never even there. All of the forest animals have either adapted to the poison fog or know to avoid it, and the intelligent ones herd prey through the gas to get an easy meal.