Darkwood Forest (Endhaven Supplement)
Summary[edit]
- Mildly Mythic, Moderately Wild
The Darkwood Forest is the primary source of darkwood throughout the planes. In ages past, darkwood was an unusual but widely available tree. Through simple harvesting, these slow-growing trees (a species of sequoia) have become extinct in most localities. As their value rose, their worth in gold ensured that when any were found, they were quickly harvested.
Statistics[edit]
| Name: | Darkwood Forest |
|---|---|
| Planar Size: | Medium plane |
| Influences: | None |
| Ruling Organization: | Order of the Darkwood Forest |
| Government Type: | Council of Elders |
| Other Organizations: |
|
| Capital: | Trading Post |
| Languages: | Common, Sylvan |
| Religion: | Charystan Pantheon |
| Patron Deity: | Hart |
| Resources: | Darkwood |
| Important Locations: |
|
History[edit]
- THREE EMPIRES
After the War of Good and Evil, the Order of the Darkwood Forest established a conservancy over a large stretch of Darkwood Forest. They manage harvesting, support growth, and kill poachers. For generations, the order has stocked the forest with dangerous creatures. The order both defend the wood, and retaliate against those who would cut down their trees. Once the Griffon Empire collapsed, the Order endured, defending this forest by itself.
- RECENT EVENTS
The conservancy faces two primary issues: poachers and everyone else.
Poachers are the lesser threat. Poacher have learned how to plane shift into the conservancy, and using custom magic, fell and remove a tree from the conservancy. The Order has ramped up the Darkwood Avengers to find these poachers and crack the darkwood trading ring.
The other problem of the Conservancy is the sheer, omnipresent value of the Conservancy. The other empires and nations covet this place. If it were not for the sheer, overwhelming defensive capability of the conservancy, these nations would have invaded and seized the Conservancy already. The Conservancy is very aware that sooner or later, they will need to seek an alliance.
Planar Information[edit]
The Darkwood Forest is located in temperate hills. This area is frequently blanketed by mists and fogs. The hills are usually steep and rocky. The forest itself covers approximately thirty square miles.
- Darkwood is a species of conifer related to the Sequoia.
- Darkwood trees can reach 1,600 years age.
- A mature darkwood tree weighs 70-1,300 tons and fetches 100,000-2,400,000 gp on the open market (500,000 average).
- The conservancy is approximately 30 miles square.
- There are 30 darkwood trees per acre in the conservancy (or 14,400 darkwood trees per square mile).
- The conservancy is 900 square miles, or 576,000 acres.
- There are approximately 13 million darkwood trees over the 30 square mile conservancy.
- Total worth of the conservancy is estimate at SIX BILLION gold pieces in darkwood alone.
- GATES AND LANDING POINTS
There are two landing points in the Conservancy. One landing point and gate are at the Trading Post. One landing point is at the lair of Parthenon, the great wyrm brass dragon.
- CLIMATE AND TERRAIN
The climate of the forest is very moderated, usually cool to warm, but rarely hot or cold. The terrain is hills.
- FLORA AND FAUNA
The dominant flora is the darkwood tree, a species of sequoia. Below the canopy is a rich diversity of plant life, predominantly ferns.
Animal life is dominated by forest game but does include other creatures.
Animals include:
The protectors of the forest have also imported some terrible creatures into the forest:
Politics and People[edit]
The Conservancy is governed by the Order of the Darkwood Forst.
- GOVERNMENT
Darkwood Retreat:' The natives of the forest have their own government separate from the Order of the Darkwood Forest. This government is so that the inhabitants can rule themselves. This includes fey (dryads, sprites, etc), treants, and wild animals. There are an estimated one dryad per one thousand trees (approximately 130 thousand), and one treant per square mile (approximately nine hundred). Darkwood Dryads are noteworthy for their unique abilities in forest warfare.
When the forest wishes to discuss and issue, Parthenon or one of the esteemed council elder calls a retreat. Many from the forest then attend the meeting. The elders of the forest talk about the issue, and the attendees usually follow the recommendations of their elders.
Any inhabitant or visitor to the forest is allowed to attend and speak at meetings.
- NOTEWORTHY ORGANIZATIONS
See: Order of the Darkwood Forest.
- POACHERS
With the forest worth so much, poachers have equipped themselves for tree-stealing raids using very expensive magic items. The favored tactic of poachers is to fly in invisibly, cast warp wood or move earth to fell a tree, then cast a combination of spells to shrink and section the trunk apart. The profits from these trees allow poachers to commission increasingly rare and powerful magic items. Poachers frequently change tactics, always seeking to safely and efficiently steal more wood per raid.
- IMPORTANT NPCs
- Great wyrm brass dragon Parthenon.
Major Landmarks[edit]
- TRADING POST
Most trade that happens with the forest happens with a trading post lying just outside the forest.
- RETREAT GNOLL
This small hill is used to conduct the government of the forest.
- THE CONSERVANCY
These underground caves are the home of the Order of the Darkwood Forest.
Adventure Hooks[edit]
- Stop poachers
- Stop Darkwood Avengers from revenge killings
- Help defend the forest
- Steal wood from the forest
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