Whispering Woods

Once wrapped in myth and superstition, the Whispering Woods have since become a familiar and vital part of life for many of the western cities of Elysoria. Located within a few days' travel of several major settlements, this mid-sized forest spans roughly 200 kilometers in both length and breadth. While it may lack the mystery of the Elderwood or the silence of Mystwood, it holds value in a different way—as a source of livelihood and sustenance.   The woods are mostly temperate, with tall ash, elm, and beech trees rising over an understory of bramble, fern, and moss. Trails wind in every direction—many worn smooth by generations of hunters, gatherers, and traveling traders. Small lodges and waystations dot the outer reaches, and many local families know the forest paths better than their city’s alleys.   Once, long ago, it was said the woods whispered warnings to those who entered with ill intent. Today, the name lingers more as tradition than truth. Whatever enchantments may have once stirred here have since quieted under the steady tread of boots and hooves.   The Whispering Woods are now best known as fertile hunting grounds, especially in the autumn months when the great antlered herds move down from the hills. The forest is also rich in game birds, wild boar, and rare forest hares, whose pelts are prized by both merchants and tailors.   For the cities nearby, this forest is a reliable provider—of food, of trade goods, and of stories passed between generations around firelit camps. It is not revered, but it is respected.   And in a world where so much wild land resists understanding, there is something to be said for a forest that lets itself be known.