Turuvua

The densely forested peninsula of Turuvua is as cozy and beautiful as it is dangerous and cruel. Massive trees hold entire villages on their branches, while also harboring horrible venomous creatures between their roots. The cold water flowing and splashing fills the air with its lively music, but also threatens to drown anyone who gets too close. In Turuvua, danger lies behind every tree, under every step; such is nature's will.
 

Death is the easy way out

In most of the world, the dangers of the wilderness are simply an inherent part of the natural world. But not in Turuvua. Among these woods, nature has intent. Turuvua will actively try to kill you, for only those capable of surviving are worthy of living under her canopy. Many plants will instantly kill or incapacitate careless travelers, and those who don't will be used as hiding spots for the dangerous beasts that await you. From the massive green demon to the tiny pricklemote, hearing leaves rustling nearby or catching a hint of movement out of the corner of one's eye is always bad news.
 

Haventree

Haventree is the main settlement in Turuvua. Located on and around a massive tree that towers over most of the forest, this is a relatively safe location. The rivers that run though Haventree are filtered to remove all deadly impurities, the underbrush is thoroughly cleaned, and arcane wards alert the Haven Guard of any dangerous beasts getting too close.
  Many Turuvuans, and all strangers mad enough to visit, carry a special compass that always points to the Haventree. Turuvua is treacherous and ruthless, so one of these compasses can often be the difference between life and death. There are also paths that connect the Haventree to the most important landmarks in the region, although following a path is never a guarantee of safety.
 

The Mother Tree

Deep in the forst, far from Haventree, grows the Mother Tree. The nature of this place is shrouded in mystery, but its importance for Turuvua's spirituality is undeniable. A sect of shamans live around the Mother Tree and, thanks to its connection to a Faint Divinity, the blessing of the Mother Tree can grants these shamans the ability to see through the eyes of any creature in the world. According to myth, the Mother Tree was planted by the Wandering Gods when they first arrived in Telumar, and its roots spread all around the globe.
 

Lake Nantule

In the middle of Turuvua lies a large lake of calm warm water. It's the are of Turuvua where one can see the most stars, and therefore it holds special importance. According to legend, the return of the Wandering Gods will be announced on the lake's surface, and therefore there's always someone watching it. Anyone can become a Watcher, and holding Watch for an hour is an important part of the coming of age ritual. All throughout the year, all sorts of festivals and celebrations are held around the lake.
 

Eat or get eaten

Turuvuans are deeply loyal to their communities, but in such a hostile environment, self-reliance is paramount. Those unable to survive in the wild spend their days in Haventree, as self-preservation is the priority for most Turuvuans. Slowing down to help someone is a risk not many are willing to take. Turuvuan children spend their first years in Haventree or in the small safe spaces in their parents' village. But as soon as they're able to run, jump, and obey basic commands, they are taken into the wilds to teach them about the forest.
 

Government

Turuvua is an elective monarchy—the Mother Tree shamans choose the new monarch when the previous one dies or when they feel the current one is no longer doing their job properly. This has caused problems in the past, as kings rarely want to give up their crown. But the shamans have a Faint Divinity on their side, so who would dare face them head-on? Still, due to the difficulty in traversing the forest's terrain, the country mostly works as a federation of semi-autonomous villages.
  Turuvua keeps open diplomatic relationships with all other nations. They often trade with the Azra and are happy to welcome the Lendarian in the outer and less dangerous areas of the forest, where they dance, sing, and share stories to celebrate life.
  Due to their shared border with Liyume, they're often in contact with them, mostly to trade with the unique products that one can find in the forests. Turuvuans know Liyume's armies wouldn't last a day in Turuvua, so they aren't worried about potential invasions.