Blackwood Forest
Blackwood Forest is the source of much of the raw timber used in Setston to build the ships which frequently leave that port city. It is one of the only hardwood forests not lost to the magical corruption of The Cataclysm, and is therefore quite a valuable resource. Claimed by the Setston Shipwright's Guild, much of the forest remains in pristine condition as the guild slowly works its way deeper. By the order of Queen Leonor in 472 PC, the guild must replant any trees it cuts down. This has significantly slowed the progress of deforestation, and provided employment opportunities for a whole clan of druids.
This is, however, a vast territory filled with thick foliage. All manner of ne'er-do-wells dwell within, taking the opportunity of the SSG's business to rob and otherwise injure hardworking citizens of Coznia. Bandits, wild animals, and the occasional magical abomination come south from the Blasted Wastes prey on woodcutters and their support staff. More, unauthorized logging efforts continue on the fringes of the forest, operated by unethical individuals with no intention of replacing the lumber they take.
In all, this is a dangerous piece of wilderness which has no major roads through it and goes largely unpatrolled by the Coznian authorities.
Geography
Low hills rise from the banks of the Girane Channel towards the Withered Highlands, but the Blackwood Forest is largely on flat land. The river runs through the southern edge of the forest, which is named not actually for the color of the wood harvested here, but for the way the bark on most trees grows black in the tainted wind that blows south from the Blasted Wastes.
The soil here is rich and loamy, and the undergrowth is thick and tangled in most places. Game trails track their way through the trees, but it is unwise to traverse using these, as they are labyrinthine and often populated by the wild animals that created them.
Ecosystem
Large, deciduous trees (generally oak and ash) dominate the ecosystem here. Low brush and climbing vines, most boasting sharp spines, also call the area home, and make traversing the woods an endeavor not to be taken lightly. For all that, though, the land is rich in edible berries and roots, game both large and small, and clear hidden springs. Unfortunately for adventurers, bandits, and woodsmen alike, the creatures of this forest seem marginally more sentient than most wild animals, and are uncannily wary of humanoids. The food chain operates here much the same as elsewhere, with the notable exception that marauding monsters take their place at the top of it, and many of them lair amongst the towering trees.
Type
Forest, Temperate (Seasonal)
Inhabiting Species
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