Green Warden

The Green Warden is described as a giant that can change its height at will and disappear amid the forest as if invisible or moving through the trees. The most common depiction is that of a large, tree-like humanoid similar to depictions of a treant or ent, but with bark-like armor upon it's body. Its face is said to be more humanoid like than any such plant-like creature. Some claim that people are just catching sight of some sort of forest giant, but this dismissive attitude is often met with stories of the great, primal power on display. Unbridled growth is said to follow in its wake with vines, flowers, and other foliage blossoming with supernatural quickness.   Only a select few stories speak of the origin of such a creature with most arguing that the Warden has existed for as long as the Evermore Wood has. Some even claim that the Warden is the anthropomorphized personification of the wood itself.   What is known about it is that it is very powerful and no one who has dared raise a weapon against it has survived. The tales say that anytime someone has taken up arms against it that they were turned into a forest creature, a plant, or merely smote from existence. All the tales speak of its great power to the point that there is some speculation that the Warden may be some sort of primal god.   It is otherwise depicted as a fairly passive and benevolent being whose motives seem beyond the ken of mortals with its own idea for how the world should be. It may aid someone in one telling or punish them in another depending upon the storyteller.

Great Forest Spirit

  The most common variation of the Green Warden is that of the Great Forest Spirit which is said to take the shape of a great, white stag that moved with an ethereal presence that was almost ghost-like. The spirit or apparition is said to be a protector of the wildlife within the Evermore Wood, often punishing greedy hunters and facing off against creatures that would despoil the woods. Those who seek to take too much from the forest are often met with its wrath in the stories told around campfires and warnings issued to various logging initiatives. Tales tell of its fondness, however, of those who are pure of heart and it is said to grant boons to said individuals who seek its favour.    

First Elemental

  The story of the First Elemental comes from the elves of Kiato who are said to have settled upon the site of its ancient birthplace. It is said that when the Evermore Wood was young a monster sought to defile the forest. From the ground rose a massive elemental made of wet earth and lush wood with fiery eyes and a voice that bellowed as a howling wind. It is described as having four arms, one for each of the elemental schools of thought. The creature fled at the sight of it and the elemental gave chase, but the monster soon tired and was caught. The two fought for five days and nights and when the elemental finally smote the monster it's blood seeped into the ground to taint the soil and twist the trees around it thus creating the Darkwood. The elemental had completed it's task to defend the forest, but had also failed to avoid the despoilment of the sacred woods. Instead of returning to the earth, it became a guardian of the forest and created lesser elementals to also act as protectors; fire elementals to weed out the sickness within the forest, water elementals to encourage growth and keep the fire in check, earth elementals to tend the soil and encourage growth, and air elementals to breath life into the foliage.  

Shadewalker

  Stories about the Shadewalker first cropped up around Novaya.  Hunters spoke of encountering large, grey-skinned, human-like figure covered in moss and bark that walked through the forest. As tall as some trees, but narrow instead of bulky, it was only ever seen below the shade of the forest canopy. These sightings mostly came from the inexperienced, those who had come lost in the maze-like Darkwood, or the injured. The giant would chase off those who despoiled the forest or took more than their fill. To those who were lost it would guide them onto a path and those who were injured it would heal. The creature was often described as having a slight feminine shape which became reflected in the stories told about it.

Those who seek to protect nature and even hunters often pay small tributes to whatever particular version of the Green Warden they believe. Some even do so depending on their location and how prevalent a particular one is, even going so far as offering tributes to each individual incarnation. Areas closest to where a supposed entity may live might have a yearly celebration, but will always be watchful of how they interact with the forest more so than other areas further away citing 'too many unexplained things' for it to be a mere story.

A few different stories exist about the various aspects of the Green Warden, but the few that were written down were mostly amalgamations of various oral tales that were all very similar.

Various artists have tried to lend their creativity to the depiction of what the Green Warden looks like that most who grow up in the various settlements around notable areas are familiar enough to tell you what it looks like even if they've never personally had a sighting of their own.