The Old Oak

A Conscientious Traveler's Guide

Photo: Warm Mist by Andreas Rocha

"Watch Old Oak, but don't go near,
It makes the children run with fear,
For past its branches lies the wood,
Of amber and its members could,
Devour a child or three they say,
And that is why, child, stay away."

~ Kopastad Nursery Rhyme

This children's song can be heard on most streets on the outskirts of Kopastad. Though it is primarily used to remind children of the dangers of wandering too far into the Amberwood, all but the most skilled adults would do well to heed its advice, and the conscientious traveller would do well to ponder the Old Oak's impressive stature from afar.
Located in the outskirts of Amberwood to the north east of Kopastad, the Old Oak is an enormous oak tree that looms over the forest canopy. Being taller than the surrounding woods by a significant margin, the Old Oak can be observed at a distance of nine miles on a clear day. Because of this and its proximity to Kopastad, travelers along the Bloodgold Road may use its appearance on the horizon as an indication that they are within one to two days' walk of Kopastad, depending on the travel speed of their caravan.³
As the nursery rhyme above indicates, however, the Old Oak's magnificent figure is best observed from afar. Being nested within the fringes of the Amberwood, the Old Oak has become the unofficial dividing line between Kopastad's tended forests and the wild, dangerous sprawl of nature known as the Amberwood. Approach it, but keep your distance, and you remain in relatively safe lands, ripe with game, wood for staves and bows and tender, beautiful flowers, and the cairifa berries that the area is known for.
Stray too close to the tree, however, and the wilderness of civilization quickly fades to dangerous wildlands that much of Chedonc is known for. All sorts of monsterous wildlife wanders the northern reaches of the Amberwood, and most expeditions to explore it have failed. Though some brave merchants travel through the Amberwood to do trade with Fisterix, they are few and the path is dangerous.

Conclusion

The Old Oak is a magnificent specimen of nature, a useful landmark, and a grand natural resource that a conscientious traveler will admire and use from a safe distance.







3 For more advice on effective caravaneering techniques, see my other guide: Shrewd Caravaneer's Guide to Commerce.

Type

Tree

Parent Location

Kopastad