Travel through the
Enchanted Wood is a dangerous affair for humans, even those who live at its edge. The divine power that protects the Wood does everything it can to manipulate and cast out those that are foolish enough to enter. However, there are those who, for whatever reason, have come to traverse the Wood frequently. They've learned how to respect and follow Wood law, and have usually also taken the time to learn enough
Elven to get by. These people are colloquially called Wood Wanderers.
Although most Wood Wanderers traverse the Wood for their own purposes, there are those who offer their services to others as guides, hunters, or reagent gatherers. Any who seek to offer such services must acquire a royal license from the Hall of Records in
Araniae. The distribution of these licenses is carefully monitored, and those that have them must get them renewed every five years. Licensed Wood Wanderers are expected to pay a portion of their profits to the kingdom in taxes like any business, and these taxes are put toward the upkeep of Wood Wanderer outposts along the edge of the Wood.
by me, Kaari13
Types of Permits
Hunting Permit
This document establishes the bearer as a wise and careful hunter. Not all hunters are required to have them, but any who seek to take a larger bounty from the Wood are wise to acquire them to avoid confrontations from the Wood's sentient inhabitants. These licenses also give the bearer the right to set animal traps within the Wood's confines. Because of the dangers they pose, such traps can only be used by licensed hunters.
Gathering Permit
This document gives the bearer the right to gather rare and valuable ingredients that lie within the Wood. Such bearers are expected to avoid killing plants wherever possible, and follow any restrictions the elves place on particular reagents. Licensed gatherers are expected to share the locations of their harvests with the permit office at the Hall of Records so that they can monitor gathering activity to avoid over-harvesting in any location. Otherwise, gatherers keep the locations of their finds to themselves, also to avoid over-harvesting.
Logging Permit
This document gives the bearer the right to harvest lumber from within the Wood. These permits are
very strictly regulated, only given out to ten people at any one time. Lumberers with permits to work in the Wood take only what the
dryads allow them to take. These include trees that are ill or dying, fallen trees and branches, and trees that are over-growing. Dryads mark such trees with patterned ribbons and often remain in the area until the wood is harvested to ensure it doesn't endanger other trees and plants.
Guide Permit
This document establishes the bearer as a knowledgeable and trustworthy guide. Merchants and travelers from other kingdoms will pay handsomely for a licensed guide to lead them through the Wood to Etherea's wealthy interior. Other guides can be hired for much cheaper, but few are willing to risk following someone without a royal license.
Survey Permit
The rarest form of Wood Wanderer permit is given to those who are royally sanctioned to search for new sources of stone and ore. Good stone is rare in Etherea's interior, and deliveries from the mountain quarries can take months to reach their destinations. Good sources of ore are even less common, some types found only under the Wood's ground. Establishing a new mine or quarry within the Wood can take years, especially if the location is near any sort of settlement. Licensed surveyors help the process by fully investigating any potential areas. If a site is found to be potentially worth the effort of negotiating with the King, the surveyor marks it and sends word to
Araniae.
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