The Forest of Alea'Thesai (Ah-lay-uh Thess-ai)

Alea'Thesai, meaning "Haven of the Hidden" in Elvish, is a large swath of forest located within the country of Torvahl. While it is certainly not the only Wood Elven enclave on the continent of Ilvanys, it is arguably the largest in terms of geographical size, if not population.   Central to the forest is the Great Tree, a massive plant of ambiguous nature. While it somewhat resembles an oak tree, it seems to be an entirely unique flora, shifting appearance over seasons and years in a constant state of growth and rebirth. The Great Tree is apparently coniferous, as it does not lose its leaves during the cold months, but in general its appearance is better likened to deciduous trees. The rest of the forest appears deciduous as well, but despite the leaves changing colors as expected, many of the trees retain the majority of their leaves even during the winter, and no matter the time of year one can see the branches and lush canopy of the Great Tree towering over the forest.   To many of the other peoples found throughout the country of Torvahl the naming is Alea'Thesai is somewhat confusing, for the Wood Elf settlement and the forest itself share the same name. To the Elves that live within the forest, the entirety of the forested region is their home, a concept which, while not difficult to comprehend, is not necessarily thought of as intuitive by most outsiders. The druid-crafted abodes within the trees found near the Great Tree are indeed the homes of the majority of Wood Elves, and there you will also find the leadership figures of the enclave and businesses of those who live there, but despite untamed nature of the massive woodland that surrounds this settlement the Wood Elves of Alea'Thesai view the entire forest as their home.   This does not however mean that these Elves disregard the dangers of the forest as a whole, for from an early age the people of Alea'Thesai are taught to respect, revere, and be wary of the dangers that lie amongst the boughs of the trees that surrounds them. No shortage of dangerous beasts and spiritual protectors make their home within the forest, and it is for this reason that many opt to make offerings at the edge of the forest if they intend to pass among the trees at all, for it is only the Elves that call this place their home that're familiar with the territorial markers that indicate areas unsafe to travel. Despite this, the southern road that connects Ellia's Rest to Trisea City is one of the more commonly travelled in times of peace, and ever since the realm of Alea'Thesai was brought into the fold of Torvahl the Wood Elves of the region have maintained the safety of this road that passes through their wood as much as they're able, even if travelers are unaware of the protection they receive. To hear it told by the other longer-lived races found within Torvahl, the road originally passed around the forest, but over time the trees seem to have expanded their borders and enveloped the pathway.   Reaching the central hub of Alea'Thesai is not a task easily accomplished for those unfamiliar with the forest, and the only semblance of a "road" leading to the Wood Elf haven barely qualifies as such. It is a narrow, overgrown path that seems to exist as something of a courtesy by the forest itself, for it is certainly not a maintained "road" in the traditional sense. It is generally believed that, more than anything else, the pathway exists as a "show of good faith" by the forest, which the Wood Elves believe to be capable of an approximation of "thought". The path appears to close in times of distress, and seems to only be available to those who showcase no ill will towards the Wood Elves or the forest itself. Dissenting opinions claim that this is actually a carefully maintained illusion by the Wood Elves themselves, believing that Druids are capable of long-range manipulation of the forest, but in any case it is generally understood that the location of the trees is flexible, and one can not always rely on traditional methods of navigation to traverse the forest.   The dangers of the forest are as numerous and varied, in both flora and fauna. While it's no secret that the forest is home to many kinds of dangerous creatures, it is also home to a myriad of poisonous, carnivorous, and sentient greenery. Someone unfamiliar with the woods may flee a Dire Bear only to find themselves entangled in vines that pull them beneath the ground to be digested. For this reason, it is advised that if one wishes to reach the Wood Elves, they should be careful to not stray from the path provided for any reason, for they will quickly find themselves lost and endangered with little hope of finding the path again. Amongst the trees are countless varieties of beasts, including not only those which you might expert in such a large woodland, but some which are normally only found elsewhere in the world and others still which seem to only thrive within this particular forest.