Equine Woods

Though categorised as 'woodland', the area of a Equine Woods is actually closer to a prairie or grassland region. The area is entirely overrun with wild horses, resulting in its name.
It is said that Epona and Sleipnir, the immortal mother and father of all horsekind, roam the plains in a tireless lover's chase.
There are no major civilisations in the area of the Woods, other than a few small and scattered Druid Groves, with Druids dedicated to the Land and Shepard Circles.
Though it is worth noting that the Equine Woods are considered sacred by centaurs, and it is therefore not uncommon to encounter them on pilgrimage to climb the Seven Hills of Horsekind - great tors which rise above the landscape and have shrines to either Epona, Sleipnir, or both, at their summits, marking the places where Epona caught Sleipnir in her first pursuit of him.

Geography

The region is a vast and beautiful dry prairie of flat and fertile land, dominated by grasses, sedges and a glorious array of flowering plants native to the Elven Lands: amakiir, amastacia, holimion, ilphlkiir, ithlil, to name but a few of these such flowers. The Equine Woods also has a scattering of small trees and outcroppings to provide cover during the warmer seasons, as there is little water to be found with only a very few streams and ponds present.
With the region's close proximity to the Forest of Solitude, the many scattered trees are often referred to as "Oak Openings" by the local population, wherein the oaken trees connecting the prairie to the forest begin to scatter out like welcoming arms and fingers, ushering into the depths of the forest beyond. These Oak Openings are also keenly important for the continued nourishment and growth of the region, as the shade created by the trees create a microclimate in their boughs, allowing for broader leafed prairie plants to thrive in the cooler, more even temperatures and moister soils.
The soil of the Equine Woods is quite firm and dry, meaning that erosion is usually minimal and takes decades longer to take effect than it does in other regions of the Empire; in fact there are noted to be only seven key locations within the steppe of the region which shows any serious signs of erosion.
These seven locations take the forms of great tors, created by long term erosion and the weathering of rock. The tors are large, free-standing rocky outcrops which rise abruptly from the surrounding smooth and gentle slopes of the rounded hills nearby.

Climate

The Equine Woods has a pleasantly dry temperature almost all year round, with the exception of a short two month period in the middle of the year when rainfall becomes more frequent and thus boosts the overall humidity quite a bit higher and makes the air more damp.

Fauna & Flora

Fauna:

The key fauna of the Equine Woods is the abundance of wild horses of all colours, coat types, sizes and life stages. It is not uncommon to see entire herds of wild horses moving together through the region with stallions; mares; fillies, colts and foals.
These wild horses are treated as sacred as descendants of Epona and Sleipnir, and are allowed to roam freely with no interference from outside influence, with the very rare exception of some of the druid circles and nomadic Elven clans or tribes. Even in these unusual occasions, the interference is kept minimal, and due to both groups abilities to quite often communicate with animals and the nature around them, such mingling is always consensual on both sides.
It is also widely accepted and expected that travelling centaurs will be seen on a pilgrimage between the Seven Hills of Horsekind, the tors scattered across the region. The centaurs consider the prairie sacred due to its connection to Epona and Sleipnir, and work hard to maintain its safety and upkeep amidst their pilgrimages.

Flora:

There is a vast array of flowers and plants which grow wild in the region, all of which are most commonly referred to by their Elvish names. They grow akin to wild flowers, free and scattered amidst the fertile soil and tall grasses, attracting bees, dragonflies and butterflies in the dozens.

Amakiir: [AM-AH-k-ire]

It's Common name is "Gem Flower", given its name due to the diamante shape of the petals. This flower has bright turquoise petals which gradient into a pale green towards the centre. It is a small flower which sits at the end of a long, slender white stem; with pale, faintly perforated white leaves which are shaped like sharply tipped ovals.
These flowers have a fair amount of pollen and can cause allergic reactions to those who are more sensitive, however, for those who can bare the high pollen levels, these flowers smell sweet like crushed apple.
It is favoured by bees for the sweetness of the pollen. These flowers are often crushed to create turquoise dye.

Amastacia: [AM-AH-stacy-ah]

It's Common name is "Star Flower", given its name due to its star-like shape, usually having only five petals. These flowers come in varieties of different colours, usually quite subtle and pastel in shade with darker stripes at the centre of the petals. The stem is relatively short, keeping these flowers close to the ground, they have very small rounded leaves in variegated shades of green.
These flowers have a subtle, musky spell with a faint hint of underlying spice, like cinnamon.
They are favoured by butterflies; the petals can be used to sooth burns.

Holimion: [HOLY-me-on]

It's Common name is "Diamond Dew", given its name due to its shimmering, translucent petals which reflect and refract light like a glass prism. Due to its glass-like appearance, it often has the appearance of water droplets sitting on the petals, as if still clinging to the early morning dew. The stems are short, and the flowers are almost entirely seated into the grass, but a small number of serrated leaves gently emerge from the sides, in a soft shade of olive.
These flowers have fresh notes of faintly citrus scents.
They are favoured by bees, and the petals can often be added to drinks to provide a soft citrus taste; they can also be stepped and mixed with honey to make a warm honey and lemon-like drink.

Ilphlkiir: [ILL-flick-ire]

It's Common name is "Gem Blossom", these flowers grow specifically on the Equine Wood apple trees, notable for their pale pink shades with speckles of a darker cherry shade, and strong fruity-floral scent. They are named due to the elaborate natural folds in the petals with appear like gemstone cuts.
The fruity-floral scent of the flowers are reminiscent of the smell of fresh strawberries and roses.
They are favoured by both bees and butterflies, and attract both in a large variety to assist in the pollination and growth of large; sweet apples. The apples grown are very sweet, often used in baking; brewing and the making of certain perfumes.

Ithlil: [ITH-lil]

It's Common name is known merely as "Lily", but the Ithlil comes in many different varieties. Some have solid black petals decorated with yellow dots; some have petals with are all slightly differing shades of magenta; some are clusters of brilliant coppers and bronzes and some have white petals which enrich into bright violet at the tips. Despite the various colours and Ithlil are all recognisable by the identical shape of their petals and leaves. The petals are all bell-shaped and the leaves are all tiny heart shaped and autumnal orange in colour.
The scents of the Ithlil change depending on the colours presented, they vary from more woody and mossy smells to rich and floral undertones. These flowers are preferred by dragonflies and butterflies, and are sometimes used as resting places for small field mice.

Fhaenfallow: [FANE-fall-oh]

It's Common name is "Feverbalm", a herb with faintly velvet feeling leafage which have medicinal properties when brewed in tea. The herb can have the temporary effect of curing a creature of insanity.

Rallathil's Rhemlladya: [RALL-uh-thihl's Rem-lad-ee-ah]

It's Common name is "Rallathil's Remedy", a herb of incredible healing benefits. It looks like a cluster of thin and spindly fronds with small oval leaves, coloured with a dark blue shade and pale white veins. When stepped in how water and prepared as tea, Rallathil's Rhemlladya tastes very bitter and causes discomfort in the form of nausea, shaking and weakness before inducing sleep. By consuming the herbs in this manner, a whole week's worth of healing can be done in a twenty-four hour period, though the consumer would be extremely hungry upon waking.
The effectiveness of this herb is counteracted by the fact that if someone is "too" injured, the plant will kill instead of heal.

Type

Grassland