Triste Woods

On the western edge of the continent of Bastique, beginning at the end of the mountain range that almost divides the continent in two, lies a forest perpetually shrouded in fog, called Triste Woods. Filled with broadleaf trees, mostly oak and birch, the forest stretches for unknown miles. No one has ever been able to fully explore the forest, and most maps will end here.
The perpetual fog is something of a natural phenomenon, as no matter the weather or the season, the fog remains thick. This is one of the main reasons why no explorer has been able to fully map the woods, as they only need to be there for a few minutes before they become completely lost.
This has led to the other reason why explorers have not ventured far into the woods. Of the few explorer's that make it out of the woods, all of them tell tales of strange lights in the distance, visible even through the fog. When followed they will dance further away, all the while the sound of cackling can be heard around them.
These tales told by the explorer's ultimately led to the belief that a witch lives deep in the forest, leading all who dare to enter to their death and feasting on their remains. These stories are given extra credence as bodies have been found at the edge of the forest, many half-eaten. While scholars have often argued that the teeth marks are more likely to belong to the wolves that call the forests home, this has done little to convince the people of Bastique that the Woods are safe to travel through without risk of becoming the Witches next victim.
Whether these are victims of wild animals, noble assassinations or the Witch of the Woods herself is unclear, but it's enough to keep any who enter wary and many a lumberjack to flee the Canarde Logging Camp in terror and choose safer forests to ply their trade. Most lumberjacks will return, however, partially due to the fact that the Triste Woods are the only known location of the Iron Wood trees, which produce wood that is as strong as its namesake but is much lighter and easier to work. It is most commonly used for crafting the bows and arrows that Bastique is famous for, along with the majority of it's high-quality tools. This means that most lumberjacks are willing to face their fears of the forests in order to make their fortune, as well as knowing that their fear of Madame Canarde, the logging camps Matron, is far greater than their fear of any Witch of the Woods.

Fauna & Flora

While little is known about the animal inhabitants that call the deeper parts of the forest their home, some smaller fauna have been seen closer to the edges of the forest. Various black birds, such as ravens and crows, have been seen nesting amongst the trees. They occasionally leave the forest to enter the surrounding fields and mountains to hunt for food, enjoying both the voles scurrying across the ground and the cloudberries that grow on bushes found throughout the mountain range.
It is also common knowledge that wolves live within the forest, as scholars have been able to study some of the bodies that have been found and have discovered that the bite marks originate from a large species of wolf that scholars have named Le Nuit Loup, or the Night Wolves. The few sightings of the Night Wolves speak of large shadows, almost as big as a horse, darting through the trees, and the deep, strangely warbling howls that can be heard in the deeper recesses of the forest.

Type

Forest

Included Locations

• Canarde Logging Camp