Faerie Woods

Before one even steps into the trees, the magic can be felt. It starts as a pleasant tingle of warmth and wonder, and upon fully entering, a visitor who bears no ill will toward the forest or its inhabitants is filled with a crescendo of enchanted awe such as can be felt nowhere else in the whole of Bastarre.
-Zenirya Rosehaven, adventurer

Geography

Faerie Woods is a deciduous sylvan forest that occupies nearly a third of the island upon which the country of Enorium dwells. While the land is mostly flat, a small hilly area can be found near the easternmost side. These hills contain the largest clearing in the woods, and by climbing not to far up into the nearest trees, one can obtain a breathtaking view of the ocean and its white sandy beaches.
A small river cuts through the western portion of the woods, and numerous small creeks are dotted throughout the forest. While there are no lakes of which to speak, several large and small ponds can be found. It is around these ponds that some of the lushest and most beautiful plant-life can be seen.
While the edge of Faerie Wood do not quite meet up with the coast, there are a few areas where the tree=line opens up close to the lovely white sandy beaches. The forest’s inhabitants are strongly cautioned to not stray past the trees and outside of the strong magical protections afforded them, but from time to time some of the bravest and most adventurous sylvan folk will venture onto the beaches to frolic and gather shells and pretty coloured rocks.

Fauna & Flora

Faerie Woods is a remarkable panoply of colour and beauty, an explosion of exotic flora unlike anywhere else on Bastarre. Imbued with the powerful fae essence, nearly any colour imaginable is represented by the flowers and plants that flourish here, often working together to create patterns and displays that must be seen to be believed.
It is near the edges of the ponds and other water sources that one can usually the most dazzling arrays of colour. The ponds also boast the largest species of flower found on Bastarre, the Nymph’s Touch, each petal capable of growing as large as a centaur foal. The flower is a deep blue colour shot through with silver veins that reach out from the vibrant red center. It is commonly found at the center of a natural bouquet made up of numerous other flowers, with never more than a half dozen of these flowers around any given pool of water.
While the usual sorts of forest animals can be found in Faerie Woods, and in great abundance, the unsustainable hunting practices of the Enoriun people have forced a migration of otherwise plains-dwelling creatures to seek refuges in the forest. Antelope now roam the forest in greater numbers than ever, and several species of birds have changed their habitat to this new sanctuary.
The most memorable creatures that can be found in Faerie Woods are the fish that live in the ponds. Much like the wide array of flowers in the forest, the colours and patterns of several species of fish are unique to this part of the world. The nymphs that inhabit a number of the ponds delight in nurturing these creatures that add to the beauty of their already breathtaking surroundings.

History

Faerie Woods has been the home of the largest population of fae and sylvan folk on Bastarre as long as any can remember. While the history of the forest is not well known to those who dwell outside of it, the fae who call it home enjoy telling the tales they have learned of its founding.
It is said that long before humans and their ilk set about forging their own homelands, the fae had staked their own claim in the wood. While details vary, as is common when stories are told but not written, all agree that one of the most powerful fae to ever exist gave his (or her, depending upon the storyteller) very essence to enchant the forest, sending out a call to the magical folk, coaxing them to travel there and make it their home.
How this enchantment took place is a mystery that can only be guessed, and there are plenty who are happy to put their own spin upon it. One thing seems quite likely, however, and that is that the woods are still alive with the original fae’s spirit, which watches over its charges and protects them. This enhances the magical qualities of the forest, and helped to strengthen the protective bonds that were created at the time of the Hellgate, preventing the darkness of the fiends and their minions from taking over the forest as they did so much of Bastarre.