Ellarwood
Overview:
Ellarwood is an extensive ancient, forested area, covering well over 100,000 square miles of varied terrain, forestation and wooded hinterland located on Prukath. It’s a vibrant and mysterious realm of mixed habitats, in places cathedral like trees, towering hundreds of feet into the sky, there trunks thick and knotted with age. In places the forest canopy forms a nearly unbroken sea of green, with sunlight filtering through in beams that create an ever-changing dance of light and shadow on the forest floor. In other areas the forest is more open, with wooded glades, lush undergrowth, and babbling brooks. From the main expanse, finger-like projections of the forest reach out across the landscape, connecting Ellarwood to smaller, scattered woodlands and groves, creating a network of interconnected green havens. These forest fingers create natural corridors of green, linking Ellarwood to neighbouring woodlands and serving as pathways for wildlife and otherworldly beings. Even these small stretches of forest are dotted with hidden glades, crystal-clear streams, and seemingly ageless trees, imbuing even these small patches and unique aura and the hint of magic.
No ancient forest would be complete without its contingent of fey folk and Ellarwood is no exception. Elves, as Guardians of the Forest, are found in most, but not all, areas, helping maintain the delicate balance of nature, the wider citizenship, and that the ancient magic of the wood endures. Their homes are believed to occupy the inner reaches of the forest blending seamlessly into the natural landscape.
Besides the elves, other beings of magic and mystery are said to dwell deep within its untouched heart. Dryads, sprites, and other enigmatic creatures are whispered to roam these woods, their presence felt in the subtle changes in the air, the sudden laughter carried on the wind, or the flicker of movement just at the edge of vision. Many parts of the forest are shrouded in mystery, as they have yet to be explored even by the elves themselves. Dryads are known to protect some parts of the forest, acting with benevolence to some, but not to be toyed with by those with ill-intent, particular towards the forest. Whilst nymphs may frolic in the streams and hidden pools, mischievous pixies and sprites are often seen flitting through the forest, causing harmless trouble for travellers who venture too far from the beaten path. Ellarwood is also rumoured to house more elusive beings—powerful entities tied to the ancient magic of the world, whose motives and purposes are beyond mortal comprehension.
Many parts of Ellarwood remain largely unexplored. Even the elves do not claim to know every secret held within the depths of the forest. The dense undergrowth, enchanted fog, and the protective magic woven into the land have kept intruders at bay for centuries, preserving the wild, untamed nature of Ellarwood.
It is said that only those who have earned the favour of the forest's guardians can find these hidden places, and even then, only if the forest wills it. For those fortunate few, may find wonders beyond imagining—ancient ruins overgrown with ivy, where the spirits of the past whisper their secrets; shimmering groves where the boundary between the material world and the Fae realm blurs; and sacred trees that have witnessed countless ages, their wisdom shared only with those worthy of hearing it. Less fortunate Travelers should tread carefully within Ellarwood, as the forest has a will of its own. Paths may shift, landmarks may disappear, and those with ill intent may find themselves hopelessly lost – or worse.
Ellarwood is a place of beauty, mystery, and danger—a forest where magic is alive, where the boundaries between the mundane and the mystical blur, and where the ancient guardians ensure that the balance of nature remains undisturbed.
Terrain and Wider Description:
Ellarwood’s geography is rich and varied, covering a variety of terrains, habits and geographical features, not all of which may appear to fit within what might be termed “normal geographical bounds.” But what do you expect from somewhere such is this, where magic and mystery lurk.
From hidden valleys, deep gorges, cave systems, ruins, lakes, glades, and heathlands, you’re likely to find an example somewhere within Ellarwood’s wider boundaries. As such, each region has its own distinct character and, in some cases, magical aura. The terrain is characterized by gently rolling hills, winding rivers, thick underbrush, and towering trees, with pockets of marshland and glades scattered throughout. This creates an environment that is at once beautiful, mystical, and full of hidden secrets waiting to be discovered, providing a diversity of landscapes, each with its own unique charm and mysteries. The forest itself is ancient, with certain regions (if you were to visit them,) showing signs of being untouched for millennia, as if the hands of time have scarcely brushed the land.
Central, if not geographically so, to this are the **Elderheart Tree** and **Forest Heart Lake**, the source of the wood’s life and magic, contrasted by the dense woodlands of the Northwood and the windswept coastlines of the Westfold.
Forest Heart Lake is the largest body of water within Ellarwood, and it lies near the centre of the forest. It is a breathtaking lake, with crystal-clear waters that shimmer with an almost magical luminescence. The lake is fed by an underground spring known as the **Heartspring**, which is believed to draw its waters from deep beneath the earth. The elves of Ellarwood say that the Heartspring is connected to the roots of the Elderheart Tree, giving the lake its purity and a subtle magical quality. The water from Forest Heart Lake flows into various smaller streams and brooks that snake their way throughout the forest, providing life to all corners of Ellarwood. Animals of all kinds come to drink from the lake, and it is rumoured that the water has healing properties, especially near the source of the Heartspring.
Central Forest:
The central region of Ellarwood, known as the **Forest Heart**, is where the Elderheart Tree and Forest Heart Lake reside. This region is the most magical and vibrant part of the forest, where the trees grow tallest, and the air seems to hum with mystical energy. The Forest Heart is the main sanctuary for the elves and more benevolent fey, where the influence of the Elderheart is strongest, and the magic of the forest is at its most potent. The terrain here is a mix of thick woodland, small glades, and babbling streams that radiate outwards from Forest Heart Lake, feeding the surrounding areas. The trees in this region are massive, their trunks wide enough for elven dwellings to be built within their branches, and their leaves create a thick canopy that filters the sunlight into a golden-green glow.
Whilst there are many special glades within the forest, **Forest Heart Glade** can be found to the north of its namesake lake, surrounded on three sides by the lake. Formed by a natural clearing with verdant grass, and an abundance of wildflowers that bloom in every colour imaginable, the glade is one of the most serene places in Ellarwood. It serves as a gathering place for the elves and fey alike, especially during festivals or sacred rituals.
Northern Forest:
To the north, the forest becomes denser, the ancient trees that have grown close together, their branches intertwining to form a thick canopy that allows only dappled sunlight to filter through. In some cases, almost no light penetrates, the ground almost in perpetual darkness. This region is known as the **Northwood**, where the underbrush is thick, and the forest floor is covered in ferns, mosses, and the tangled roots even more knotted and treacherous underfoot. The Northwood is the home to many of the forest’s fey creatures, including dryads and sprites, who prefer the secluded and shaded environment. It is also home to some of the forests less savoury inhabitants. Visiting Northwood should not be taken lightly, even by the denizens of the wider forest, who rarely travel there themselves without just cause.
Eastern Forest:
Towards the eastern edge of Ellarwood, the land begins to rise gradually into rolling hills, which extend all the way to the base of the mountains some 500 miles from the forest’s centre. Whilst a finger of the main forest scratches at the foothills, these hills are dotted with smaller woodlands semi-independent from the main forest. These grow less densely compared to the heart of Ellarwood, and wildflowers cover the hillsides in a riot of colours during the spring and summer months. The hills provide a natural boundary to Ellarwood, with numerous streams flowing down from the mountains, feeding into the rivers that wind their way through the forest. The **Eastwatch River** is one of the more significant, forming a natural border between the main forest, the foothills and the **Ironhold Mountains** beyond. The Eastwatch River is also a major source of fresh water for the eastern parts of Ellarwood, with many tributaries branching off and weaving their way into the forest.
Western Forest:
To the west, Ellarwood begins to thin, giving way to sylvan meadows, heathland and open clearings where sunlight freely touches the earth. This part of the forest is known as the **Westfold**, where the main forest gradually transitions into more open woodlands, and wider open spaces. Here the influence of the forest is less felt, but still present for those with a keen eye, natural or otherwise! The **Silversea** lies to the southwest, its sparkling waters contrasting with the greens and browns of the forest. The coastline is rugged in some places, with rocky cliffs that overlook the ocean, while in others, it consists of sandy beaches bordered by tall grasses and wind-bent trees. The **Windwhisper Cliffs** are one of the most striking features along this coastline, rising high above the sea and providing breath-taking views of both the forest in the far distance and the seas below.
Southern Forest:
To the south, Ellarwood gives way to wetlands and marshes that are known collectively as the **Mirewood Marshes**. These marshes are fed by the many streams and tributaries that flow south from Forest Heart Lake, creating a labyrinth of waterways, small ponds, and marshy islands. The Mirewood Marshes are home to a wide variety of wildlife, including waterfowl, amphibians, and other creatures adapted to the wet environment. The marshes are also known for their unique flora, with occasional patches of **glowbloom flowers** that emit a soft blue glow at night, creating an ethereal atmosphere. The Mirewood is often shrouded in mist, and many of the elves avoid it, as it is said to be home to will-o'-the-wisps and other mysterious beings that lure travellers astray. Whilst various paths criss-cross the marshes from east to west, one of the few “safe” places to travel east-west is near the confluence of southern and northern branches of the Eastwatch river. The marshes effectively becoming the rivers delta, soon becoming lost within the thick reedbeds, bogs and shallow, ever changing, mist clad, meres.
Forest Pathways:
The entire forest is crisscrossed by ancient paths - some well-travelled by the elves, while others are nearly forgotten, overgrown and hidden. These paths connect the different regions of Ellarwood, from the Northgrove to the Forest Heart and beyond. The elves have names for many of these paths, such as the **Silverleaf Trail**, which winds its way through the central part of the forest, passing by several of the sacred groves, and the **Feylight Path**, which leads towards the west, eventually reaching the coast and the cliffs overlooking the Silversea. Others are only known to the forest itself, where time and distance become less material, almost as if on another plain. However, you’ll find none of these paths marked on any normal map of the region, there locations and way-markers handed down in elven folklore and closely guarded. Whilst an elven ranger may know of these paths and use them to aid his party, woe betide them should they openly share those secrets or name the route. Should that happen the forest is as likely to take matters into its own hands, leading even the most seasoned ranger a merry dance and to an unknown fate.
