Tarana

A few miles within a dense forest is a city of connected treehouses populated by a community of Elves, Fair Folk, and other woodland kin. Rather than being laid out by streets or avenues, Tarana is mapped out based on the names of the eight ancient trees that comprise the city. For example, the Hall of Matrons is located at the crown of the Cuprenth, the Nysarrel houses several craft-houses and workshops, and the Lilac Inn is built along the branches of the Syrion.   The trees are connected by Branchways, a system of naturally grown branches and vines that act as pathways. These living pathways can shift slightly to accommodate different travelers, almost as if the trees themselves are guiding the citizens safely to their destination.   The surrounding forest of the The Everwood stretches for miles, from Grizzly Gulch 2 to the rocky eastern coast. These forests are rumored to be filled with dangerous plants and poisonous animals.

Locations in Tarana

The Cuprenth "Crownheart"

The tallest tree in all of Tarana.

Hall of Matrons

The town hall and seat of the governing body of Tarana. The heart and soul of Crownheart, nestles within the largest branches of the city's central tree. Shaped by nature and enhanced by careful elven craftsmanship, the Hall blends seamlessly with the tree itself, its smooth, organic walls lined with intricate carvings depicting the city’s history, seasonal cycles, and the revered spirits of the Everwood. Soft, glowing moss lines the high archways and illuminates the central council chamber, a vast, circular room where the Matrons gather around an ancient stone table etched with the city’s founding symbols. Though the Hall of Matrons is public for audiences and council sessions, an air of respect and reverence surrounds it, and the halls are guarded by vigilant wardens who honor the city’s traditions of peace and unity.   Each Matron has a private wing extending outward along Crownheart’s sturdy branches, designed as quiet retreats for their families and personal studies. These wings reflect each Matron’s style—some are lush with flowers and vines, while others are kept minimal, allowing the ancient wood to stand unadorned. Open balconies from these residences overlook the city, providing panoramic views of the other great trees and the endless forest beyond.

Matrons' Courtyard

An open plaza where residents bring grievances, petitions, and celebrations before the city’s ruling council. Occasionally, visitors from outside the Everwood are allowed here to address the Matrons.

The Verdant Atheneum

The city's collection of historical documents and forest maps, including accounts of past conflicts, alliances, and the history of the Tarana. Access is restricted to authorized personnel, but certain guides offer tours to dignitaries or visiting scholars.   The Eldergrove Archives. Hidden deeper within the Verdant Archive, this repository holds ancient documents, treaties, and knowledge about the Everwood and the Tarana’s history. It is maintained by scholars appointed by the Matrons and only accessible by those with special permission. Eldergrove’s interior walls are enchanted to shift and hide secrets.

The Starlit Canopy

A ceremonial platform at the tree’s highest point, used by the Matrons to make important announcements and conduct rituals. When the Matrons gather here, the platform emits a magical glow, and the announcements can be heard anywhere in Tarana. The Canopy is accessible only by a winding path up Crownheart’s interior.

The Sequnor "Redheart"

The second tallest tree. Primarily residential tree.

Elder's Rest Lodge

A small, family-owned inn that mostly serves residents and traveling relatives. It’s known for its simple yet cozy atmosphere and hearty forest stew, a favorite among those who call Redheart home.

The Firefly Lounge

A small, charming tavern perched high in the tree, offering views over the city. Known for its house-made berry mead and mulled wine, the lounge is decorated with clusters of firefly-shaped lanterns. Locals gather here to catch up, share tales, and watch the sun set over the Everwood.

Goldenroot Remedies

A warm, welcoming shop that is known for creating restorative and revitalizing concoctions. Goldenroot Remedies specializes in herbs that enhance stamina, boost energy, and aid in recovery from physical or magical exhaustion. The herbalist here grows rare root vegetables and flowers that thrive deep within the red-hued wood of Redheart. The store smells of warm earth and cinnamon, and the shelves are stocked with tinctures, teas, and poultices that help individuals recover from the harshness of the Everwood or long journeys.

The Quaeliun "Oakheart"

Primarily residential tree.

The Gentle Glen

A garden and tea shop where locals gather to enjoy herbal teas and relax. The shop also has enchanted instruments that play calming tunes, drawing visitors in for a moment of quiet respite.

The Nestled Hearth

A cozy, family-owned bakery tucked into the roots of Oakheart’s branches. Specialties include oak-flour bread, candied nuts, and pastries made with forest berries. The scent of freshly baked goods drifts through the neighborhood, drawing locals and travelers alike.

The Hollow

An intimate gathering space woven between branches where residents play instruments, sing, and tell stories in the evenings. Musical instruments are carved into the walls, and it’s said that at night, the tree itself hums along with the music. A popular spot for young couples and families.

The Pelaya "Purpleheart"

The branches at the crown of the tree intertwine to create a bowl-shaped amphitheater.

The Arcane Frond

A shop and study space selling spell components, rare herbs, and scrolls. Run by a knowledgeable and eccentric eladrin, the shop is famous for its rare arcane items, such as featherlight ink and enchanted book pages that rearrange text for easy reading.

The Scholar's Grove

An outdoor, shaded area filled with book nooks and quiet study corners where scholars of various disciplines gather to read and discuss. Small gatherings of students often hold public debates or storytelling sessions here.

The Feylight Library

This magical library spirals up along the tree’s inner trunk, its shelves filled with rare tomes, scrolls, and magical artifacts. Glowing runes light the way, and enchanted books float back to their shelves when left unattended. Scholars and arcane apprentices come here to study and exchange knowledge.

The Scribe’s Eyrie

Located high in the branches, this open-air pavilion is where scribes and scholars copy important texts and create maps of the Everwood. The pavilion is equipped with delicate writing desks and weather-proof shelves. Skilled scribes also offer enchanted cartography services, creating maps that adapt to the landscape’s changes.

Fernleaf Elixirs

Nestled amongst the arcane scholars and magical artisans of Purpleheart, this herbalist specializes in magical and alchemical infusions. The Fernleaf Elixir offers potions and balms that enhance magical abilities, clear mental fog, or ease the mind. They also sell rare plants that are tied to the more mystical elements of the Everwood, such as moonlit herbs that bloom under the light of a full moon or plants that grow only near places of magic. The air in this shop is thick with the scent of dried lavender and starflower, and shelves are filled with glass vials of shimmering liquids that sparkle with hidden enchantments.

The Tabius "Trumpetheart"

Shrine to Gaios, God of Land and Forests

Resting within a naturally-formed hollow near the heart of Trumpetheart, lies a serene, open-aired grove encircled by ancient stone altars, overgrown with moss and adorned with small offerings of flowers, nuts and feathers from pilgrims and locals alike. At the shrine's center stands a weathered stone figure, half-covered in vines, depicting the deity in abstract form—a blend of humanoid and natural elements with limbs that flow into roots and branches. Priests and druids maintain the shrine in near-silence, whispering to the trees, asking for blessings of growth, balance, and protection for Tarana and the Everwood beyond.

The Gilded Leaf

A shop selling spiritual charms, protective talismans, and incense made from forest herbs. Many locals believe these charms bring good fortune and health, often hanging them outside their homes or workspaces.

The Elder’s Fane

A solemn meditation space high up in Trumpetheart’s branches, with an open view of the forest canopy. Pilgrims come here to listen to the wind and meditate on their connection to the Everwood. The area is enchanted to be exceptionally quiet, with only the gentle sounds of the forest audible.

Glade of Lights

A natural amphitheater carved into Trumpetheart’s branches where gatherings and ceremonies are held during the full moon. At night, small, bioluminescent fungi illuminate the space, lending it a serene, almost otherworldly glow. It’s used for important city rituals, weddings, and seasonal celebrations.

Trumpet's Call

A communal gathering space within a vaulted, hollowed section of the tree. Most popular among musicians, storytellers, and bards due to the natural acoustics of the space, they often gather here to perform for residents. It also serves as a venue for celebrations and public meetings.

The Syrion "Blossomheart"

The Lilac Inn

A charming, cozy establishment nestled high within the fragrant branches of Blossomheart. Known for its welcoming atmosphere and breathtaking views, the inn is partially hidden by a cascading wall of lilac blossoms that drape down from the branches above, filling the air with a soft floral scent. Inside, the inn boasts warm wooden interiors, tables carved directly from the tree itself, and lamps made from woven vines that emit a gentle, amber glow.   The main tavern room is lively and intimate, frequented by travelers, storytellers, and adventurers who gather around a central hearth to share tales and exchange news from the Everwood and beyond. Small alcoves, half-hidden by leafy curtains, offer more private spaces for quiet conversation or contemplation. Rooms at the Lilac Inn are simple but comfortable, with woven hammocks and beds draped in thick, woven blankets, giving guests a sense of sleeping in the heart of the forest itself. The inn’s kitchen serves a rotating selection of seasonal, local dishes, making it a popular stop for those passing through Blossomheart.The inn’s rooftop herb garden grows a variety of rare medicinal plants and culinary herbs. Locals and visitors are encouraged to taste samples, although taking cuttings is forbidden unless granted by the innkeeper.

The Leaf's Edge

A modest gathering house woven into the branches of Blossomheart, seamlessly blending into the tree’s natural architecture, and its lintels adorned with flowering vines and subtle engravings of Everwood animals. A quiet training ground for archers, hunters, guides, and scouts who reside in Tarana or are passing through.

The Branching Reach

An open-air gymnasium where residents practice agility-based skills like leaping, balancing, and maneuvering across rope bridges, nets, and suspended rings. Participants learn to nimbly navigate the forest canopy and can even take lessons in aerial acrobatics and combat. The area is filled with hanging vines, suspended platforms, and soft mossy landings. Occasionally, traveling troupes perform here, attracting an audience eager for daring feats and storytelling from the trees.

Songwood Pavilion

A multi-purpose platform draped in flowering vines, where archery training takes place during the day, while at night it transforms into a stage for musical performances and storytelling. Locals practice archery using enchanted targets that light up and emit musical notes when hit, allowing archers to “play” melodies as they improve their skills. On festival days, the pavilion hosts musicians and bards who blend their performances with precision archery shows, bringing together the arts of music, storytelling, and marksmanship.

The Sky Garden

A suspended network of gardens, carefully arranged across interwoven branches, where rare Everwood flowers and herbs bloom in colorful displays. Locals stroll through the hanging pathways to pick fresh herbs or simply enjoy the view. During festivals, the garden is illuminated with floating lights to create a dazzling display.

The Nysarrel "Blackheart"

Workshops & Crafters and their residences. Stables located at the roots.

The Woven Branch

A workshop specializing in intricately crafted leather goods from local fauna. The leatherworker can engrave custom patterns into the leather that resemble fey runes or animal motifs, which are said to bring luck.

Emberlight Forge

A blacksmith’s shop with an unusual kiln powered by magically enhanced embers that burn with a faint blue glow. Weapons forged here are renowned for their light weight and durability, especially favored by rangers and wardens.

Timberheart Gallery

An elevated gallery showcasing the finest woodcrafts, carvings, and sculptures made from the Everwood’s fallen trees. Artisans display intricate works representing forest creatures, fey beings, and scenes of local folklore. The gallery is perched among branches and accessed by suspended rope bridges.

Blackheart Bowyer

Built into the sturdy branches of the blackwood tree, the shop is built of dark, polished wood, with smoke curling from a chimney at the base. Known for its masterful craftsmanship, Briarwood Bowyer specializes in creating exceptional bows and arrows, each infused with the natural strength and resilience of Blackheart’s wood.

Heartshade Stables

Located just above ground level, these stables house sturdy forest mounts and enchanted plant creatures used as beasts of burden. Here, stable hands care for everything from large forest lizards to vine-harnessed carts. Some mounts are enchanted to climb the trees, making them ideal for traversing between levels of the city.

The Crasern "Thornheart"

The Treewardens guildhall & barracks.

The Sentinel’s Roost

A high platform where sentries stand watch over the city and the surrounding Everwood. It’s equipped with telescopes, enchanted weather gauges, and messenger hawks. The Roost serves as the city’s primary lookout and is connected to the barracks by a series of sturdy ladders and pulley elevators.

Training Course

An open area where Treewardens practice archery, obstacle courses, and tree-climbing maneuvers. Spectators are often welcome to watch training exercises or try their hand at climbing challenges under a warden’s guidance.

Thistlebranch Apothecary

This herbalist is known for their deep knowledge of defensive and protective herbs, particularly those that can ward off dangerous creatures or provide protection against the more aggressive fauna of the Everwood. Their shop is hidden beneath a tangle of thorny vines and brambles, with plants that have been carefully cultivated to defend against harm. Known for crafting powerful healing salves, venomous bite antidotes, and protective charms, the Thistlebranch Apothecary is sought after by adventurers and local wardens alike.

The Verdant Armory

A shop selling specialized weaponry and armor designed for forest combat, such as camouflaged cloaks, thorned arrows, and vine nets. A Treewarden often demonstrates the items’ efficacy in small sparring matches outside the shop.  

Rootlock Forge

A blacksmith’s workshop built directly into the base of the tree, blending into the gnarled roots. It’s known for producing reinforced, lightweight armor and durable weapons. The forge is heated by magically-controlled rootfires, embers that burn within hollowed tree roots.  

The Thicket Hearth

A tavern frequented by both locals and most popular with visitors. It’s known for its hearty food, such as forest-root pies and roasted game.