Tontuwa Grove is a densely forested region in the far northern region of the
Western Woods. Its extreme weather patterns and volatile wildlife make it a place where only the strongest can survive.
The Tontuwa Grove is the northernmost region of the Western Woods, set on a slight plateau above other nearby regions and recognizable to locals by its absence of flowering forbs. It is bordered to the north by the Lands of Ash.
The climate is taiga-like, with long and bitterly cold winters best suited to coniferous trees. These winters can last anywhere from four to seven months at a time. On average, summers are cool, mild, and brief. However, periods of intense heat, humidity, or even severe thunderstorms often plague the region, stemming from the harsh and constantly changing conditions of the nearby Lands of Ash.
Beasts of the Tontuwa Grove become more aggressive during the winter due to the demands of the extreme weather. Most herbivores become partially or entirely carnivorous during the season. As a result, the tribes of Tontuwa Grove traditionally leave the area well before
Habernuë, rather than hibernating onsite. This tradition spawned the
Barérehi, a yearly
narta race that begins in the grove and ends in
Maunganiti.
The animals of the Tontuwa Grove tend to be more territorial and aggressive than most. Many animal species found here grow tusks, claws, horns, or other natural weapons that help them defend against others in the savage winters. Some animals, whether via magic or other supernatural means, seem to have fused over the years into hybrid creatures that combine the features of multiple unrelated animals. The most famous of these is the owlbear, which seems to have originated here, though it has become an invasive species throughout Belcantas.
Dragons, both true and lesser, are a well-known danger in the region. The ancestral homeland of the blue dragons lies to the north, and kobold infestations usually herald the rise of a new dragon in the territory.
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