## Description

The Preborian Forest is a huge primeval forest located almost dead center in Marcandria, bordering Rosella to the north and Sillvengo to the south. The forest is often called The Forbidden Forest in Marcandria, with its name being a derivative of how the same term was pronounced in Marcandrian centuries ago. The forest gets its name due to how extremely hostile some of its inhabitants are towards civilization and civilized beings, with any Marcandrian entering the forest being attacked, to be driven out if lucky, to be killed if unlucky. The forest today is largely untouched, with the only traces of civilization once having it under their domain being a single ruined road built by the Concalians, alongside the old ruins of a Concalian town built along it. The Marcandrians have made numerous attempts to create a trade route though the forest, as the shortened travel time it would create between Marcandria's northern and southern provinces is considered to be of strategic importance both in terms of economics, security, and to increase cooperation and cohesion among Marcandria's provinces. Attempts to maintain a north-south route through the forest has so far (as of 1353AD) failed, though lumbering activities and the clearing of land to create new pastures and farmland have slowly been pushing back the forest's boundary over the centuries.

The Preborian forest is diverse in both flora and fauna, though the forest is most notable for the numerous fey creatures that inhabit it. These fey are chaotic beings with little in terms of governance or official leadership, though there exist individual fey who hold a lot of influence within the forest. While these fey are generally protective of their forest from outsiders, they are by no means under a single banner. Many cooperate with each other. Many have friendly symbiotic relations with one another. Others are rivals, or may despise one another to such an extent that they cannot stomach the sight of one another.

The most distinctive separation one can make among the relations between the forest's fey are between those living in the Verdant Groves in the forest's center and east versus those living in the more gloomy, tangled, and fetid Gloomswamp in the forest's west.

### The Verdant Groves of the Dryads

A dryad's tree in one of the Verdant Groves. (Image generated by Dall-E. Prompt: “A cinematic painting of a magical grove by the side of a river in a mystical fantasy forest, where the fantastical elements extend into the background. The scene features a large, thick central tree with a magical appearance in a small meadow-like clearing. The background is rich with mystical trees and flora that match the enchanting ambiance of the foreground. The entire forest, including the background, is filled with mystical flora in verdant greens, deep oranges, purples, and blues, all enhanced with ethereal shapes and luminous colors. The riverbank and the forest are seamlessly infused with vibrant, fantastical elements, creating a consistently enchanting environment focused on the magical, luminous flora and mystical trees throughout.”)

The verdant groves located in the Preborian Forest's central and eastern regions have a beautiful mystical and enchanting look to them. The presence of the Fey that inhabit them have slowly caused these groves to be suffused with the magic of these fey beings, making the groves reflect their magical and mystical nature. The flora in these groves are of the most verdant greens, with more mystical looking leaves, flowers, and fruits of deep oranges, blues, and purples also being heavily featured. These groves have both a mix of mundane flora, alongside more mystical looking and sometimes magic infused flora typically only associated with the Feywild. Plants here will on occasion uproot themselves and decide to re-locate, before re-rooting and seemingly turn back into regular plants again. The animals living in and near these groves similarly tend to have vibrant furs and healthy bodies. A few of these animals will on occasion get accidentally infused by the prevalent fey magic that exists in these groves, causing them to become a more unique looking, at times more intelligent, version of their species.

The dominant and most influential type of fey in the Preborian forest's verdant groves are the dryads. They are a form of all-female tree-spirits, each bound to a single tree that acts as both their home and life-force, providing them with all the nourishment they need to survive. A tree in these magically suffused groves will become a new dryad generally once every few years, with a tree outside the groves turning into a dryad on rare occasions. A dryad is able to separate their body from their tree, though is only able to receive nourishment from it so long as the ground they stand on remains connected to the tree's root. The dryads in the Preborian forest are able to traverse almost the entire forest due to most of it forming a single interconnected root structure. A dryad who leaves the area connected to their tree's root structure quickly dies. A dryad whose tree gets cut down goes mad, and quickly die unless she can find some other life-force to sustain her. This most often involved thrashing and gnawing upon anything they come across to consume its life force in order to stave off their own death.

The dryads view themselves as guardians of the woodlands, and protect it fiercely. Intruders who they believe may harm their forest quickly find themselves assailed with their poison-dipped arrows and fey magic as they dart across the canopies. The dryads, having lost sisters in the past due to lumbering activities done by humanoids, sees all humanoids as threats to their forests, and therefore attack them on sight. Of the fey in the Preborian Forest, the dryads are the ones Marcandrians are most familiar with, specifically because it's usually they who drive off or kill those who dare enter their forest. The dryads' ability to communicate with plants, alongside the interconnectedness of the forest's roots, allows the forest to notify them when it's being harmed. However, the forest's vast size coupled with the dryads not being particularly numerous means they are by no means able to stave all of the Marcandrians lumbering and forest clearing activities along the forest's edge.

The dryads share these groves with numerous other types of fey. Among these are satyrs, a raucous all-male type of fey who enjoys trickery, frivolities, and debauchery. Pixies and sprites build small villages among the grove's boughs. Pixies and sprites are pranksters in their own rights, playing pranks on both their own kind, other fey, and even animals. Quicklings also scurry across the grove's forest floor, and are capricious beings who love nothing more than playing pranks, especially loving it when their pranks causes additional troubles for the one being pranked. Faerie Dragons also add to the list of pranksters who make their home in these groves.

The fey in these verdant groves have no official structure or leadership, with the Fey's interactions with each other primarily being grounded in personal influence, common interests and social norms. The most influential fey in these groves is Kalythra, an archfey who is the oldest living dryad in the forest.

//GPT

The central and eastern regions of the Preborian Forest are home to the verdant groves, a place of enchanting beauty and mystique. The presence of the fey inhabitants has imbued these groves with their magical essence, resulting in a reflection of their ethereal nature. The flora here boasts vibrant shades of green, with leaves, flowers, and fruits in deep oranges, blues, and purples, reminiscent of the Feywild's enchantment. Among the mundane flora, you'll find mystical and occasionally magic-infused plants, typically associated with the Feywild. These plants occasionally uproot themselves, relocate, and then return to a stationary state.

The wildlife in and around these groves also exhibits unique qualities, with animals sporting vibrant fur and robust health. Some creatures inadvertently absorb the pervasive fey magic, transforming into unique and occasionally more intelligent versions of their species.

The dominant fey in the Preborian Forest's verdant groves are the dryads, all-female tree-spirits bound to a single tree serving as both their abode and life source. The trees in these magical groves give rise to new dryads every few years, with occasional instances occurring outside the groves. Dryads can separate from their trees but must remain connected to their roots to receive nourishment. These dryads can traverse most of the forest, thanks to its interconnected root structure. Straying beyond their tree's root area results in their swift demise, while the loss of their tree causes madness and a desperate quest for another life force, often involving consuming whatever they encounter.

Dryads view themselves as protectors of the woodlands and fiercely guard their territory. Intruders are met with poison-tipped arrows and fey magic as dryads traverse the canopies, viewing all humanoids as threats due to past losses from lumbering activities. They can communicate with plants and sense harm to the forest, although their limited numbers and the vast forest size mean they can't prevent all human activities.

The dryads share these groves with various other fey, such as satyrs, mischievous all-male creatures reveling in trickery and debauchery. Pixies and sprites inhabit small villages among the boughs, indulging in pranks on their kind, other fey, and even animals. Quicklings, capricious pranksters, scurry across the forest floor, delighting in causing trouble for their targets. Faerie Dragons also contribute to the mischief in these groves.

These fey coexist without formal structure or leadership, relying on personal influence, common interests, and social norms. Among them, Kalythra, the oldest living dryad in the forest, holds the most influence.

//GPT END

### The Gloomswamp

A part of the Gloomswamp. (Image generated by Dall-E. Prompt: “Cinematic painting of a dreary swamp from a fantasy forest. Much of the forest floor is soggy, and covered by shallow water. Twisting half-withered trees stand about in clusters, their canopies so thick that rotten wood still hangs stuck in them. The swamp is sprawling with vegetation, half lush and flourishing, with mystical plants dotted about. The other half is decayed and withered. The swamp is eerie and dimply lit, with the thick canopy blocking out the sky.”)

The Gloomswamp blankets a substantial portion of the western reaches of the Preborian Forest. As the name suggests, it's a dim, fetid, and tangled expanse that carries an eerie ambiance, with twisted and overgrown foliage that appears perpetually half-withered. A thick, soggy canopy obscures most of the sunlight, entangling rotted wood to such an extent that entire trees seem suspended despite their lower portions having decayed away. Only occasionally does the canopy split too allow for a decently sized clearing. This region teems with a paradoxical blend of decay and vitality. Decaying carcasses are often encircled by thriving moss and aquatic plants that peek through the swamp's shallow waters. The persistent croaking of crickets and toads composes a perpetual symphony, while the dim light of fireflies intermingles with the ever-present fog, creating an ethereal dance around twisted waterlogged roots. In this murky environment, distinguishing firefly luminescence from the glint of lurking predators' eyes can oftentimes be difficult.

The swamp's marshy character stems partly from its gently depressed and flat terrain, forming natural basins amidst the larger hills. Equally responsible for its waterlogged, half-wilted, and fetid nature are the creatures dwelling within. Their exuded magic has gradually suffused the region, transforming it into a reflection of the mystical beings that call it home. Legend tells that the swamp was initially created by an ancient hag, known only as Grandmother Mary. Over time, various fey and other magical creatures migrated to the swamp, further expanding its borders. Despite its drooping appearance, the swamp hosts an extensive array of both ordinary and mystical flora, ranging from unassuming moss to mobile flesh-eating plant-monstrosities.

This area harbors numerous fey, monsters, and sentient entities. Unlike the fey residing in the verdant groves, the inhabitants of the Gloomswamp tend to mingle only with their own kind, often clashing with one another. Historically, most had some form of association with or servitude to Grandmother Mary. However, her frequent prolonged absences has allowed these denizens to pursue their individual objectives.

Within the swamp's murk, small troll tribes establish camps, engaged in hunting and frequent skirmishes with other trolls and monstrous denizens, although battles among trolls rarely yield results due to trolls' regenerative abilities. Solitary ettins also carve out territories in the swamp, while small colonies of Vegepygmies thrive in pockets where the dense canopy prevents sunlight, enabling their russet mold to flourish. Catoblepas can be found grazing on the swamp's vegetation, exacerbating its fetid characteristics. Predators such as carrion crawlers, displacer beasts, and hydras also lurk in the swamp, ceaselessly seeking their next prey.

At the heart of the swamp stands Grandmother Mary's colossal oak tree, its hollowed interior serving as her lair when she's present in the forest. Even during her long absences, her loyal Yeth Hounds and other servants continue to guard her home and domain. Wood Woads, created through a ritual involving the carved-out heart of a living humanoid, stand as silent sentinels throughout the swamp, unwaveringly upholding Grandmother Mary's mandate to repel unwanted intruders.

### Ruins of Thyndron

- Who lives there. How they operate, cooperate, etc.

- About hag: Mention how Marcandrian folklore often tell of an old lady whose managed to survive in the forest's east, and whose able to grant you any wish you desire, for a price.
  - Hag is generally only referred to as “Grandmother Mary" or “Mary the Green”.
  - Hag's true name has long since been forgotten. She is often referred to as “Grandmother Mary" or “Mary the Green”
- About wood woads: Both dryads and other types of fey will sometimes kidnap humanoid intruders, cut out their heart, and place it inside a tree to create a wood woad whose meant to ward off future intruders.
- Forest is rich in fey magic, with regions of the forest often reflecting the nature of its fey inhabitants. Some beasts have also been infused with fey magic, making them more mystical and sometimes more intelligent.

### Cyclops Communities

Maybe have Cyclops be staple of Archipelago area instead? More New World environments.

Kobold areas in mountains? Korreds?

Strangled ??? - Largest area that Etttercaps have enwebbed entirely.

One of the Nymphs is an Abomitable Beauty? i.e. evil? The one in the swamp, having turned evil due to reflecting the swamp's nature?

### General Forest

- Ettercap infestations spread aboutt, often trying to catch and eat sprites, pixies, and other small fey. Large spiders around where they are.
- Wood woads along edges of forest
- Spriggan hunting ground - dead forest area.
- Rivers with hydras, nymphs, etc.
- Mountain area around.

## Inhabitants

- Beasts: Badgers, Bears (Brown), Beavers, Boars, Deer, Elk, Foxes, Frogs, Goats, Hares, Small Lizards, Lynx, Rats, Small Snakes, Poisonous Snakes, Spiders, Giant Spiders, Phase Spiders, Squirrels, Toads, Giant Toads, Weasel, Wolverines, Wolves
- Birds: Bats, Eagles, Hawks, Ravens, Owls, Giant Owls, Vultures
- The Verdant Groves of the Dryads:
  - Beasts: Badgers, Bears (Brown), Beavers, Boars, Deer, Elk, Foxes, Frogs, Hares, Small Lizards, Lynx, Rats, Small Snakes, Poisonous Snakes, Spiders, Squirrels, Toads, Giant Toads, Weasel, Wolverines, Wolves
  - Fey-infused beasts (examples): Giant Toads, Giant Fire Beetle, Giant Lynx
  - Birds: Bats, Eagles, Hawks, Ravens, Owls, Giant Owls, Vultures, Misc small birds
  - Fey: Dryads, Pixies, Quicklings, Satyrs, Sprites
  - Monsters and other non-mundane beings: Ankhegs, Bagienikk, Bulettes, Cockatrice, Faerie Dragons, Owlbears
  - Plants: Awakened shrubs, Shambling Mounds, Awakened Trees (rare, only awakens temporarily to relocate), Treants (very rare)
- The Gloomswamp
  - Beasts: Beavers (in/near rivers that pass through), Boars, Frogs, Small Lizards, (Swarm of) Maggots, Muskrats, Rats, Shrews, Small Snakes, Poisonous Snakes, Spiders, Giant Spiders, Phase Spiders, Squirrels, Toads, Giant Toads,
  - Birds: Bats, Fireflies (large insect), Ravens, Vultures, Misc small birds
  - Fey: Aridni (moth version of pixie/sprite), Boggles, Displacer Beasts, Meenlocks, Quicklings, Redcaps, Yeth Hounds (in service to Grandmother Mary)
  - Plants: Corpse Flowers, Shambling Mounds, Wood Woads
  - Monsters and other non-mundane beings: Basilisks, Bukavacs, Bagienikks, Banderhobbs (when Grandmother Mary makes them), Carrion Crawlers, Catoblepas, Ettercaps, Etttins, Froghemoths, Hag (Grandmother Mary), Hydras, Stirges, Trolls, Vegepygmies
  - Other: Black Puddings, Gray Ooze, Orche Jelly

ALL CREATUR NOTES FROM BELOW GATHERED:

- Beasts: Badgers, Bears (Brown), Beavers, Boars, Deer, Elk, Foxes, Frogs, Goats, Hares, Small Lizards, Lynx, Rats, Small Snakes, Poisonous Snakes, Spiders, Giant Spiders, Phase Spiders, Squirrels, Toads, Giant Toads, Weasel, Wolverines, Wolves
  - Swarm of maggots
- Birds: Bats, Eagles, Hawks, Ravens, Owls, Giant Owls, Vultures
- Fey: Dryad, Pixie, Sprites, Satyrs, River Nymphs, Quicklings, Aridni, Meenlock, Redcap, Boggles, Blink Dogs, Displacer Beasts, Darklings, Ettercaps, Doppelgangers/Changelings, Korreds?
  - Faerie Dragon
- Plants: Awakened Shrubs, Shambling Mounds Awakened Trees, Treant Saplings, Treant, Wood Woad, Corpse Flower?
- Monsters: Bukavac, Bagienikk, Catoblepas, Carrion Crawler, Froghemoths, Spriggan, Ankhegs, Basilisks, Bulettes, Owlbears, Perytons, Wyverns, Stirges, Cockatrice, Banderhobbs, Ropers, Hydra, Behirs
- Other Intelligent Beings: Trolls, Bullywugs, Ettins, Cyclops?, Vegepygmies
- Undead (near ruins): Will-o-wisps, ghosts, spectres, flaming skull, Nothic
- Other: Mephit, Back Pudding, Gray Ooze, Orche Jelly, Flail Snail, Cave Fisher,

- Dryad/Fey Groves
  - In central and eastern parts
    - Kalysra's/Amatheera?'s Grove - Largest
    - 2-3 other dryad Groves
  - Creatures:
    - Dryads
    - Pixies
    - Awakened Shrubs?
    - Sprites
    - Satyrs - often try to woo the dryads and nymphs
    - Nymphs - near ponds? Or perhaps no nymphs to not have overlap with dryads?
    - Quicklings?
- More wild regions near some mountains - where wolves typically are.
- Decayed Marsh areas / hag area in west
  - Creatures:
    - Trolls - live in ramshackle “homes” - or rather pieces of wood arranged to make a roof and some walls, like a cone-shaped tent.
    - Shambling Mounds - hunt from the marshes/wetlands. Step in a wet area and you may be stepping right into a shambling mound.
    - Bagiennik's
    - Aridni?
    - Meenlocks?
    - Redcaps?
    - Quicklings?
    - Catoblepas? - beast that makes their wetland habitat gloomy, tangled, and more fetid.
    - Bullywugs?
    - Vegepygmies?
    - Carrion Crawlers?
    - Froghemoths
  - Plants: Gas Spores?
- Cursed portion?
  - Where the fallen dryad once was? thus near border of forest in south?
- Concalian City Ruin?
  - Probably somewhere near center - probably along the road that goes through the forest. This is a road from the Concalian time, that has decayed just like the city ruins have.
- Otherr:
  - Korred communities near mountains, in caves in mountains?

Beasts etc:

- Magical beasts such as chorts and morvudds here as well?
- Non-mundane beasts:
  - Giant Snails? Beyond the Witchlight
  - Giant Fire Beetle
  - Giant Centipede?
  - Giant Lynx?
  - Giant Dragonfly? Beyond the Witchlight
  - Giant Toads?
  - (Fey infused versions of beasts? Like runic bears etc as well? i.e. have giant versions of the animals come due to a reason, like being infused with the fey magic that flows through the forest.)
- Beasts: Badgers, Bears (Brown), Beavers, Boars, Deer, Elk, Foxes, Frogs, Goats, Hares, Small Lizards, Lynx, Rats, Small Snakes, Poisonous Snakes, Spiders, Giant Spiders, Phase Spiders, Squirrels, Toads, Giant Toads, Weasel, Wolverines, Wolves
- Birds: Bats, Eagles, Hawks, Ravens, Owls, Giant Owls, Vultures
- Plants:
- Monsters:
  - Ankhegs, Basilisks, Bulettes,
  - Owlbears, Perytons?
  - Wyverns,
  - Stirges - marshland areas?
  - Cockatrice
  - Manticores? Maybe not?
  - Banderhobbs - servants of Hags, so in Hag/swamp area.
- Fey:
  - Boggles born out of feelings of loneliness - near forest border where there are villages?
  - Blink Dogs?
  - Displacer Beasts?
  - Darklings?
  - Ettercaps? Parts of the forest entirely impassable due to their webs? Make this visible on map somehow?
  - Doppelgangers/Changelings - like Te'Lik
  - Korreds?
- Otherr:
  - Mephits?
  - Flaming Skulls in Conalian ruins, alongside ghosts etc?
  - Black Puddings, Gray Oozes, Orche Jelly. Most common near ruins?
  - Faerie Dragons?
  - Ettins? Maybe not a good fit with the rest of the inhabitants. Perhaps only in the surrounding mountains, being pushed from the forest by tthe other inhabitants?
  - Awakened Trees? Or have some of the trees in the forest on occasion decide to relocate themselves.
  - Swarm of Maggots
  - Nothic? Scouring Concalian Ruins? Conciri Magisterr from long back that went mad?
  - Will-o-Wisps in ruins?
  - Gricks? Maybe not?
  - Treant Sapling? Witchlight. near dryad groves?
  - Flail Snail?
  - Cave Fisherr? In caves and dark areas of the forest?
  - Wood Woad - either hag or dryads, of both, who have carved out the hearts of invaders, and placed in the trunk of a tree to create wood woads. Exist only to protect the woodland around where they were made. Dryads and hag have them in some areas near forest border to deter humanoids from entering the forest.
  - Ropers? In caves?
  - Cyclops? Since this is based on Italy, and to some degree Greece with Concalia. Perhaps this is where they best fit, orr maybe in the highlands?
  - Corpse Flowers? Lore says the sprout from necromancer tombs. maybe have them exist in hag area?
  - Hydra? Hag area or in big lakes?
  - Treants? Super rare if so,
  - Behirs? In mountains
  - River Nymphs? Each river has one nymph?
  - Spriggan - Dryad whose tree got cut down. have an area be its hunting ground. All animal life in that area is gone, it's killed everything. Probably near southern borderr.

Topology:

- East: Aside from the hilly landscape that exists throughout the forest, the eastern part of the forest also features a low-lying landscape with gentle depressions, flat terrain, and perhaps even some natural basins. This topographical feature allows water to collect and pool in the low areas, creating a landscape that's prone to waterlogging. As a result, the soil in the eastern part of the forest retains water for more extended periods, contributing to the formation of wetlands.

Another area in the Verdant Groves (Generated by Dall-E. Prompt: “A cinematic painting of a magical grove by the side of a river in a primeval forest, featuring a large, thick central tree in a small meadow-like clearing. The grove is filled with an array of mystical flora in verdant greens, deep oranges, purples, and blues, now enhanced with ethereal shapes and luminous colors to make the flowers appear more magical. The riverbank setting is harmoniously balanced with this vibrant mix of flora, creating an enchanting environment. The focus is on the magical, luminous flora, especially the flowers with their unique ethereal qualities, without animals or fey.”)
A dryad's tree in the Verdant Groves. (Generated by Dall-E. Prompt: “A cinematic painting of a magical and mystical grove by the side of a river in a primeval forest, centered around a couple of large, thick trees. These trees are the focal points of the grove, with a small meadow-like clearing surrounding them. The grove is infused with fey enchantment, featuring verdant green flora and mystical elements in deep oranges, blues, and purples. The scene includes the riverbank with a mix of mundane and magical flora, showcasing the serene and enchanting environment beside the flowing river. No animals or fey are included, focusing solely on the vibrant flora and the prominent trees.”)