Brokilon
Brokilon is one of the last primeval forests on the continent and widely considered by humans to be the kingdom of the dryads, especially since they're not known to live anywhere else. Brokilon forest was once much larger than today, but the human expanse pushed it back to the current limits and despite being only a shard of it's former size its still considerably large for a smaller kingdom. It is a home not only to the dryads, but to a variety of other semi-mythical and mythical beings such as hamadryads, pucks, sylvans, leprechauns and variety of others. However only the dryads have been able to form a cohesive force tending to the forest and as such they are considered the rulers of the area.
Society
The society of Brokilon is hard to define in any shape or form. It is a place of variety and each of the sentient beings of the forest gathers in own specific form of society, from loners over to small communes, at times single racial and other times across several species. The most prevalent law of the forest is the law of natural selection and nature itself. That said, by all standards the forest can be considered somewhat tranquil and in balance, as a place "where everything is still as it should be", with slight deviations here and there. One of such deviation being actually the keepers of the forest themselves, the Dryads. They live in a community with standout individuals as minor leaders among them and their eldest, the dryad queen Eithné. With a mostly naturally shared agenda, the society works largely on individual impulses, the dryad seem to know their place in the order of things without a thought.
The dryads are fairly territorial beings, rarely wandering far out of their forest. Known to fiercely they do defend their homeland, they are known to be merciless upon invaders; especially those carrying tools of wood harvest for fire with them, many a man has found their untimely end upon the dryad arrow tip. That said, elves tend to be typically welcome in the forest, unlike humans, even further the Scoia'tael commandos often times retreat into the forest in order to recover from their wounds - and they are welcome for as long as they stick to the simple laws of the forest and maintain the harmony.
Eithné
Also known as the Dryad Queen is the eldest and most respected of the dryads, generally perceived as the ruler of the Brokilon forest. She is known to be an expert archer and it is said that the very forest shapes to her will, that the thorns and bushes can swallow who she decides and choke them death on her command. How much there is truth to this tale is a question, but the claim that she is the single most powerful entity in the forest remains true. She resides in the very heart of the forest, Duén Canell.
General Locations
Duén Canell (The place of the Oak) is what could be considered the capital of Brokilon. It is home to the Dryad Queen Eithné and numerous other dryads and it's location is not exactly certain for most. The capital resides nested somewhere in the valley in the center of the forest and no outsiders are permitted in. In a rare exception a visitor would be lead into Duén Canell blindfolded. It is said the capital is formed by numerous strangely shaped trees creating a perfect lodging for the dryad inhabitants, and it is a place of tranquility and marvel. It lies far north from Ghleann na Ribíní, the Valley of Ribbons.
Craag An (commonly known simply as The Castle) was a village but is currently nothing more than a necropolis slowly being eaten by the forests of Brokilon. As a seat of kings of yore, the place is said to be filled with hidden treasures. It's location is widely unknown, but that does not stop various adventurers from dreaming about finding it one day.
Ceann Treise (The Headstrong) is a waterfall on the Ribbon river in Brokilon, far north of Garren's Mill.
Locations of Ghleann na Ribíní, the Valley of Ribbons
Ghleann na Ribíní (the Valley of Ribbons) is a valley cut into surrounding lands by the river Ribín (Ribbon). It starts a little way north of Garren's Mill and it continues down south past the Mill and the Inn at the Cross Roads, ending in the flatlands way down south. It is a fertile area and a good third of the valley is covered by the forest Brokilon.
Ribín (The Ribbon) is a river running down the eastern edge of the forest Brokilon. It is relatively small fast pacing river cascading down through series of waterfalls. It's speed made it ideal for the miller purposes and gave birth to the town of Garren's Mill. It runs down through the Ghleann na Ribíní (the Valley of Ribbons) all the way to Yaruga.
Bahna is a river running down the south-western edge of Brokilon forst. It is a slow paced small river that disappears several times into large swampy areas along it's path before finally joining into river Ribbon by the Ceann Sleá.
Ceann Sleá (the Spear Tip) is an area of Brokilon forest between the river Ribbon and river Bahna, the name given because of the V shape the two rivers form where they join. This piece of land seen the aftermath of the battle in 423AR, when the human forces crushed the elven defenders and subsequently the pursuing human army got swallowed by the forest never to be seen again.
Lochán Spéir (the Star Pond) is one of the hearts of the Brokilon forest., the southernmost one. A settlement made of formation of trees around a pond that as if reflected the stars through both night and day is home to numerous dryads. Nested in a valley it is well protected against outside world and it is as most such places are a place of peace and tranquility.
Tearmann na Duilleoga (the Sanctuary of Leaves) used to be an ancient elven settlement across the river Ribbon from where the Garren's Mill now lies. The settlement got established in around 150BR but was destroyed by the elven settlers themselves in 423AR after the loss in the battle against the human knight Vence to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. The remnant lies in the forest and animals have been it's only inhabitants since. Even through the centuries the ruin remains an impressive place and for whatever reasons it is said the most beautiful flowers grow there. A legend claims that each single blossom is an elven heart bleeding of sorrow of the defeat.
Cas Tuiteam (the Steep Fall) is a rock cliff in the forest of Brokilon and allegedly home to various large deadly monsters. Most people are unaware where it is, hidden in the depth of the forest, though a rumor among the non-humans is that it might be one of the various Scoia'tael camps in the region.
Criostail Earrach (the Crystal Spring) is a place deep in the southern Brokilon, close to the Cas Tuiteam, the Steep Fall. It is said this is the exact place where the elven clan led by Réalt ag Taitneamh first met the dryads and made pact with them later to establish Tearmann na Duilleoga, the Sanctuary of Leaves. Rumors say the dryad he met there was Eithné herself, and that in their pact Réalt offered a drop of his blood as a sacrifice for the forest, to become part of it and Eithné a tear drop for the trees that would have to clear way for Elves to be able to build their settlement. The two drops changed into a form of a crystal to signify the Elven and Dryad alliance forever were buried under the pond. Some claim the water from this pond has magic properties and doubtless many mages would like to find out. However, the path towards it is decorated by countless bones of those who were met by dryad arrows.
Uaine Scamall (the Greenmist Swamp) the water of river Bahna is spreading through the flat area on the southwestern border of the great forest, forming the Greenmist Swamp. It is a dangerous place threatening to swallow whole anyone trying to cross, filled with ever present fog and mist, home to drowners, swamp hags and other creatures, forming natural forest defense from this direction. A local legend says that when the skulls of dead in the swamp pile up high enough that they will stick out of the water, the end of the world is nigh. And the pile is probably fairly high by now.
Society
The society of Brokilon is hard to define in any shape or form. It is a place of variety and each of the sentient beings of the forest gathers in own specific form of society, from loners over to small communes, at times single racial and other times across several species. The most prevalent law of the forest is the law of natural selection and nature itself. That said, by all standards the forest can be considered somewhat tranquil and in balance, as a place "where everything is still as it should be", with slight deviations here and there. One of such deviation being actually the keepers of the forest themselves, the Dryads. They live in a community with standout individuals as minor leaders among them and their eldest, the dryad queen Eithné. With a mostly naturally shared agenda, the society works largely on individual impulses, the dryad seem to know their place in the order of things without a thought.
The dryads are fairly territorial beings, rarely wandering far out of their forest. Known to fiercely they do defend their homeland, they are known to be merciless upon invaders; especially those carrying tools of wood harvest for fire with them, many a man has found their untimely end upon the dryad arrow tip. That said, elves tend to be typically welcome in the forest, unlike humans, even further the Scoia'tael commandos often times retreat into the forest in order to recover from their wounds - and they are welcome for as long as they stick to the simple laws of the forest and maintain the harmony.
Eithné
Also known as the Dryad Queen is the eldest and most respected of the dryads, generally perceived as the ruler of the Brokilon forest. She is known to be an expert archer and it is said that the very forest shapes to her will, that the thorns and bushes can swallow who she decides and choke them death on her command. How much there is truth to this tale is a question, but the claim that she is the single most powerful entity in the forest remains true. She resides in the very heart of the forest, Duén Canell.
General Locations
Duén Canell (The place of the Oak) is what could be considered the capital of Brokilon. It is home to the Dryad Queen Eithné and numerous other dryads and it's location is not exactly certain for most. The capital resides nested somewhere in the valley in the center of the forest and no outsiders are permitted in. In a rare exception a visitor would be lead into Duén Canell blindfolded. It is said the capital is formed by numerous strangely shaped trees creating a perfect lodging for the dryad inhabitants, and it is a place of tranquility and marvel. It lies far north from Ghleann na Ribíní, the Valley of Ribbons.
Craag An (commonly known simply as The Castle) was a village but is currently nothing more than a necropolis slowly being eaten by the forests of Brokilon. As a seat of kings of yore, the place is said to be filled with hidden treasures. It's location is widely unknown, but that does not stop various adventurers from dreaming about finding it one day.
Ceann Treise (The Headstrong) is a waterfall on the Ribbon river in Brokilon, far north of Garren's Mill.
Locations of Ghleann na Ribíní, the Valley of Ribbons
Ghleann na Ribíní (the Valley of Ribbons) is a valley cut into surrounding lands by the river Ribín (Ribbon). It starts a little way north of Garren's Mill and it continues down south past the Mill and the Inn at the Cross Roads, ending in the flatlands way down south. It is a fertile area and a good third of the valley is covered by the forest Brokilon.
Ribín (The Ribbon) is a river running down the eastern edge of the forest Brokilon. It is relatively small fast pacing river cascading down through series of waterfalls. It's speed made it ideal for the miller purposes and gave birth to the town of Garren's Mill. It runs down through the Ghleann na Ribíní (the Valley of Ribbons) all the way to Yaruga.
Bahna is a river running down the south-western edge of Brokilon forst. It is a slow paced small river that disappears several times into large swampy areas along it's path before finally joining into river Ribbon by the Ceann Sleá.
Ceann Sleá (the Spear Tip) is an area of Brokilon forest between the river Ribbon and river Bahna, the name given because of the V shape the two rivers form where they join. This piece of land seen the aftermath of the battle in 423AR, when the human forces crushed the elven defenders and subsequently the pursuing human army got swallowed by the forest never to be seen again.
Lochán Spéir (the Star Pond) is one of the hearts of the Brokilon forest., the southernmost one. A settlement made of formation of trees around a pond that as if reflected the stars through both night and day is home to numerous dryads. Nested in a valley it is well protected against outside world and it is as most such places are a place of peace and tranquility.
Tearmann na Duilleoga (the Sanctuary of Leaves) used to be an ancient elven settlement across the river Ribbon from where the Garren's Mill now lies. The settlement got established in around 150BR but was destroyed by the elven settlers themselves in 423AR after the loss in the battle against the human knight Vence to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. The remnant lies in the forest and animals have been it's only inhabitants since. Even through the centuries the ruin remains an impressive place and for whatever reasons it is said the most beautiful flowers grow there. A legend claims that each single blossom is an elven heart bleeding of sorrow of the defeat.
Cas Tuiteam (the Steep Fall) is a rock cliff in the forest of Brokilon and allegedly home to various large deadly monsters. Most people are unaware where it is, hidden in the depth of the forest, though a rumor among the non-humans is that it might be one of the various Scoia'tael camps in the region.
Criostail Earrach (the Crystal Spring) is a place deep in the southern Brokilon, close to the Cas Tuiteam, the Steep Fall. It is said this is the exact place where the elven clan led by Réalt ag Taitneamh first met the dryads and made pact with them later to establish Tearmann na Duilleoga, the Sanctuary of Leaves. Rumors say the dryad he met there was Eithné herself, and that in their pact Réalt offered a drop of his blood as a sacrifice for the forest, to become part of it and Eithné a tear drop for the trees that would have to clear way for Elves to be able to build their settlement. The two drops changed into a form of a crystal to signify the Elven and Dryad alliance forever were buried under the pond. Some claim the water from this pond has magic properties and doubtless many mages would like to find out. However, the path towards it is decorated by countless bones of those who were met by dryad arrows.
Uaine Scamall (the Greenmist Swamp) the water of river Bahna is spreading through the flat area on the southwestern border of the great forest, forming the Greenmist Swamp. It is a dangerous place threatening to swallow whole anyone trying to cross, filled with ever present fog and mist, home to drowners, swamp hags and other creatures, forming natural forest defense from this direction. A local legend says that when the skulls of dead in the swamp pile up high enough that they will stick out of the water, the end of the world is nigh. And the pile is probably fairly high by now.