Thontaur Forest
Pronunciation: THONN-tar
Map Index: B-4, B-5, C-4, C-5
Location: Central Aorlan
Geography: The forest of Thontaur, situated in central Aorlan, is a realm of natural wonder and peril. Thontaur's geography varies dramatically, ranging from gentle hills at around 2,800 feet in elevation, to steep, imposing foothills as you approach the mountainous borders. The high foothills contain often impassable treacherous slopes. The tree line, situated at approximately 7,200 feet elevation, marks the upper limit of Thontaur's arboreal domain.
Dominating the forest landscape are ancient spruce trees, their towering forms found everywhere in the forest, but growing especially tall in the lower elevations behind sheltering hills. These trees, possessing wide trunks and deep roots, are the results of long centuries of growth. In the lower elevations near fast flowing streams, hemlock trees intermingle with the spruce, adding to the lush greenery. As the elevation begins its slow inexorable climb towards the towering snow covered Carakoros and Kheleckoros Ranges, the forest transforms. The higher altitudes see steadily shorter trees, gradually yielding to larger and more common open wildflower meadows as one reaches the high mountain foothills. Rising still further to the base of the formidable Carakoros and Kheleckoros peaks, the forest of Thontaur fades away as the once towering spruce trees become little more than stunted shrubs. In this land of cold and perpetual high winds, only the most cold tolerant vegetation manages to eke out an existence.
Primary Population: Draorn
Secondary Population: Half-Ghruz
Minor Population: Arn, Ceodari, Valtauri
Climate: The climate is temperate but unforgiving, with long, harsh, snow-laden winters. Once the first snows of autumn hit the ground the cold weather rarely stops. As winter begins, snow begins to inhibit passage through this land and the inhabitants find shelters. Spring brings warming temperatures and tremendous melting of winter snow accumulations.Summers bring welcome relief with a few months of mild temperatures mixed with low but usually adaquate rainfall.
Wildlife: Wildlife in Thontaur flourishes in this diverse ecosystem, encompassing a myriad of creatures, from fea and elusive forest spirits to wolves, deer, and a plethora of avian species, including hawks, owls, eagles, ravens, crows, and numerous small song birds.
Humanoids: In this great forested wilderness, danger lurks in the form of the Ghruz, a barbaric race of monstrous humanoids who migrated through Giant Pass from lands west of the Kheleckoros Range approximately 800 years ago. The Ghruz, violently destructive and exploitative, wreak havoc on the forest and its creatures. They are relentless hunters, depleting local game populations before moving on, leaving destruction in their wake. Their presence remains the primary peril for those traversing Thontaur.
Monsters: Many dangerous creatures lurk in this great wilderness forest. Some of the most commonly encountered monsters are dire boars, dire bears, dire wolves, forest drakes, and wood giants.
History: Remarkably, Thontaur weathered the Great Cataclysm with minimal damage. Other than some minor earthquakes, the extreme isolation avoided the catastrophe that devastated much of the world.
Today: This great evergreen forest stands as a large wilderness. With the exception of the damage caused by the barbaric Ghruz, mostly of Thontaur reamains untouched by outside events.
Map Index: B-4, B-5, C-4, C-5
Location: Central Aorlan
Geography: The forest of Thontaur, situated in central Aorlan, is a realm of natural wonder and peril. Thontaur's geography varies dramatically, ranging from gentle hills at around 2,800 feet in elevation, to steep, imposing foothills as you approach the mountainous borders. The high foothills contain often impassable treacherous slopes. The tree line, situated at approximately 7,200 feet elevation, marks the upper limit of Thontaur's arboreal domain.
Dominating the forest landscape are ancient spruce trees, their towering forms found everywhere in the forest, but growing especially tall in the lower elevations behind sheltering hills. These trees, possessing wide trunks and deep roots, are the results of long centuries of growth. In the lower elevations near fast flowing streams, hemlock trees intermingle with the spruce, adding to the lush greenery. As the elevation begins its slow inexorable climb towards the towering snow covered Carakoros and Kheleckoros Ranges, the forest transforms. The higher altitudes see steadily shorter trees, gradually yielding to larger and more common open wildflower meadows as one reaches the high mountain foothills. Rising still further to the base of the formidable Carakoros and Kheleckoros peaks, the forest of Thontaur fades away as the once towering spruce trees become little more than stunted shrubs. In this land of cold and perpetual high winds, only the most cold tolerant vegetation manages to eke out an existence.
Primary Population: Draorn
Secondary Population: Half-Ghruz
Minor Population: Arn, Ceodari, Valtauri
Climate: The climate is temperate but unforgiving, with long, harsh, snow-laden winters. Once the first snows of autumn hit the ground the cold weather rarely stops. As winter begins, snow begins to inhibit passage through this land and the inhabitants find shelters. Spring brings warming temperatures and tremendous melting of winter snow accumulations.Summers bring welcome relief with a few months of mild temperatures mixed with low but usually adaquate rainfall.
Wildlife: Wildlife in Thontaur flourishes in this diverse ecosystem, encompassing a myriad of creatures, from fea and elusive forest spirits to wolves, deer, and a plethora of avian species, including hawks, owls, eagles, ravens, crows, and numerous small song birds.
Humanoids: In this great forested wilderness, danger lurks in the form of the Ghruz, a barbaric race of monstrous humanoids who migrated through Giant Pass from lands west of the Kheleckoros Range approximately 800 years ago. The Ghruz, violently destructive and exploitative, wreak havoc on the forest and its creatures. They are relentless hunters, depleting local game populations before moving on, leaving destruction in their wake. Their presence remains the primary peril for those traversing Thontaur.
Monsters: Many dangerous creatures lurk in this great wilderness forest. Some of the most commonly encountered monsters are dire boars, dire bears, dire wolves, forest drakes, and wood giants.
History: Remarkably, Thontaur weathered the Great Cataclysm with minimal damage. Other than some minor earthquakes, the extreme isolation avoided the catastrophe that devastated much of the world.
Today: This great evergreen forest stands as a large wilderness. With the exception of the damage caused by the barbaric Ghruz, mostly of Thontaur reamains untouched by outside events.