Cairn Marks

Photo by Sudarshan Bhut - unsplash.com

The forest is full of dangers, this much we know. The woodswalkers are the only ones allowed to go freely. They are skilled in the ways of the forest and they are able to protect themselves as well as offering protection to others. That does not mean that they do not need help.
The woodswalkers leave messages for each other, scattered throughout the lands. It is important that these messages be easy to spot or the aid may missed. To achieve this, the Woodswalkers will erect stone towers, cairns, to identify their messages.
It is difficult to leave messages without knowing how long it will be until someone finds it. It is impossible to know that the messages won't be found by enemies. In response, the woodswalkers created a code, a series of pictograms that represent entire messages in themselves.
The Code is learned by all woodswalkers inorder to keep them safe. It is not recommended to create new signs, but use a combination of signs to best explain. It is also very important that the Woodswalkers do not show the code to anyone that is not also a woodswalker, it is vital that the code remain trusted
The knowledge is kept quiet, any new codes must first be agreed upon by the leaders of the woodswalkers, and taught to all woodswalkers before they are implemented. It serves no purpose to use a symbol that is not known by all.
Woodswalkers only use these codes when necessary, keeping the number of cairns as low as possible, in effort to inhibit anyone from deciphering the messages.

Artist - Wetdryvac WDV - Artstation.com

Typical Messages

Suitable shelter ahead
Dangerous animal territory
Reliable source of Medicinal Plants
Reliable source of Edible Plants
Caution - Enemy enclave ahead
Move quietly with weapons ready, area is dangerous
Witches sighted near