Glenwood Forestfolk

Lyrical and inspired by nature, examples include Sylwen, Ariatha, Thornelle, and Velanya.

Grounded and evocative of strength, examples include Kaelin, Brynthorn, Asharn, and Feydris.

Reflecting their unity with nature, examples include Mistral, Quillan, Eryth, and Wren.

Family names are often derived from natural elements or ancestral deeds, such as Oakroot, Silverbough, Fernshade, or Briarveil.

Titles and honorifics are common, such as Leafwarden, Rootkeeper, or Shadecaller, often tied to a person’s role or deeds.

The Forestfolk speak Sylvanroot, a melodic language influenced by the sounds of the forest. Dialects vary by region, incorporating local flora and fauna into metaphors and expressions.

The Forestfolk see themselves as stewards of the Glenwood Forest, preserving its magic and history through oral traditions, rituals, and craftsmanship.

• Respect for nature and its cycles.
• Loyalty to clan and community.
• Balance in all aspects of life—between chaos and order, work and rest.

They possess advanced knowledge of herbalism, natural dyes, and sustainable agriculture. While eschewing industrial technology, they have refined techniques in crafting tools, weapons, and shelters from natural materials.

• Always greet with a bow or touch to the heart.
• Never take from the forest without expressing gratitude.
• Sharing resources is expected within the community.

Clothing is practical yet adorned with natural beauty, made from woven barkcloth, soft leathers, and dyed fabrics. Accessories like beads, feathers, and carved wood are common.

Their art includes intricate wood carvings, tapestries dyed with natural pigments, and jewelry crafted from seeds, stones, and metals. Architecture blends seamlessly with the forest, using living trees, hollowed logs, and vine-woven structures.

The Glenwood Forestfolk’s cuisine is deeply tied to their environment, emphasizing fresh, foraged ingredients and sustainable practices. Their food is a reflection of the seasons, rich in natural flavors and crafted with care.

Staple Ingredients

• Fruits & Berries: Wild strawberries, elderberries, blackthorn, and gooseberries.
• Vegetables & Herbs: Root vegetables like wild carrots, forest onions, and parsnips; herbs such as wood sorrel, thyme, and mint.
• Grains & Nuts: Acorns (processed into flour), hazelnuts, chestnuts, and foraged grains like wild millet.
• Proteins: Game meat such as venison, rabbit, and quail; freshwater fish like trout; and occasional foraged eggs.
• Mushrooms: A wide variety of edible fungi, including chanterelles and morels, are prized delicacies.

Common Dishes

• Verdant Stew: A hearty soup made with game meat, root vegetables, and mushrooms, often cooked over an open flame.
• Acorn Flatbread: A flat, unleavened bread made from acorn flour and baked on stone.
• Honeyed Berry Tart: A dessert crafted from wild berries and honey encased in a nut-based crust.
• Leaf-Wrapped Roast: Game meat seasoned with forest herbs, wrapped in large leaves, and slow-cooked in embers.
• Spring Nectar Drink: A refreshing beverage made by fermenting flower nectar and wild honey.

Seasonal Foods

• Spring: Fresh greens like fiddlehead ferns, young herbs, and wildflowers.
• Summer: Juicy fruits, ripe berries, and freshwater fish grilled over open flames.
• Autumn: Roasted chestnuts, rich stews, and preserved mushrooms.
• Winter: Smoked game, dried fruits, and hearty root vegetable dishes.

Culinary Practices

• Foraging: Forestfolk are expert foragers, with deep knowledge of edible plants, fungi, and herbs.
• Preservation: Drying, smoking, and fermenting are key techniques to preserve food for the winter months.
• Cooking Methods: Most dishes are cooked over open fires, in clay pots, or on heated stones, emphasizing natural flavors.
• Flavor Enhancements: Honey, wild garlic, and forest herbs are used to create complex but natural flavors.

Festive Foods

• During festivals, the Forestfolk prepare communal feasts that include rare ingredients like spiced venison, flower petal wines, and giant berry pies baked in clay ovens. Special ceremonial dishes, such as Sylara’s Offering, a salad of foraged greens and edible flowers, are shared in honor of the goddess.

Taboos

• Wasting Food: Every part of an animal or plant must be used, with waste seen as disrespectful to nature.
• Overharvesting: Taking too much of any resource is forbidden, as it disrupts the balance of the forest.
• Consumption of Certain Creatures: Predatory forest animals and creatures tied to spiritual myths (like white stags) are considered sacred and not eaten.

• Seasonal festivals like the Verdant Bloom (mid-summer) and Gloamhaven's Embrace (late autumn).
• Daily meditative rituals to honor Sylara.

Newborns are blessed by a shaman with a water ceremony, symbolizing their bond to the forest and its spirits.

Young Forestfolk undertake a Trial of Seasons, a year-long journey where they must survive and thrive alone in the wilderness, proving their connection to the forest.

The deceased are returned to the earth, buried beneath saplings to nurture new life. Their spirits are believed to become guardians of the forest.

• Destroying the forest unnecessarily.
• Dishonoring Sylara or refusing her rites.
• Betraying the clan or harming a fellow Forestfolk.

The legend of Sylara’s Heart, a mythical tree said to house the goddess’s essence, is central to their culture. It is believed to grant wisdom and power to those who prove their worth.

• Sylara’s Chosen: An ancient hero who united the clans during a time of great strife.
• Elaran Shadekeeper: A shaman who protected the forest from invaders with powerful nature magic.

Natural beauty is highly valued, with emphasis on a healthy, earthy appearance. Features that reflect harmony with nature, such as glowing skin, bright eyes, and hair adorned with flowers or vines, are admired. Scars from nature-based trials are seen as marks of strength.

The Forestfolk value equality, with roles often based on skill rather than gender. Both men and women can be warriors, shamans, or artisans. Their goddess Sylara reinforces the balance between masculine and feminine forces.

Courtship often involves shared adventures or tasks, such as hunting, crafting, or tending to the forest. Gifts are commonly exchanged, typically handcrafted items imbued with personal significance.

Partnerships are built on mutual respect, shared goals, and a connection to the land. Long-lasting unions are seen as sacred and are blessed by a shaman under the forest’s canopy.

• The Leafwardens: Protectors of the forest, acting as its warriors and guardians.
• The Circle of Sylara: A spiritual order of shamans and druids who maintain the Forestfolk’s connection to nature.