The Grove Maze

The grove maze is an ancient grove that is said to be the location of the remaining fairies and other fey like creatures within the material plane. This grove is protected by ancient fey spirits, druids, and other creatures that call the endless pines of this grove home. Strange magic infuses the area making it nearly impossible to leave once entered without aid. Here some countries and powerful kings have used the area as a prison for those beyond hope or that cannot be controlled while those fleeing from people, organizations, or even god like beings have used the grove as a hiding place from unwanted eyes. 

Geography

Entrance: The entrance to the grove has been the home of a druid grove for many generations and those who look over it now remember not how the grove was founded other than it was founded and bound by their ancient ancestors. The fields are imbued with magic from nature that seems to be able to increase the yields from the gardens that the druids have planted. Flowers, trees, and other plants not only grow in abundance but the plants themselves gain limited sentience and are able to gather information for the druids to use. 

Grove: The grove itself is a thick mass of trees that are all able to move and change the paths within the forest itself. This is part of the reason that the people caught within the grove are unable to leave with many trees shifting their positions and making new paths available while old ones are closed off. Along with the hills covered in trees there are parts of the grove that are more than just trees, some of the areas within the grove are not on the material plane but seamlessly blend into the feywild so some people that go into the grove for a few days might learn if they get out of the grove that months have passed. Streams and rivers are uncommon but can be found within the grove should the paths lead to one, these rivers do not leave the grove and seemingly get fresh water from somewhere but none leave the grove making the water unable to lead people out or carry people into the grove. 

The Great Tree: The great tree is a place within the grove near the center with the largest tree within the grove, its roots span the entirety of the grove giving this tree the ability to sense all creatures within the grove at the same time and communicate it to the arch druid of the grove. This tree also holds the one entrance to the fey court within the feywild. Because it leads to the court it is one of the ways that people within the grove can leave it by taking another portal back to the material plane that does not lead to the grove. This tree is also the source of the druids power that guard the grove. 

Center of the Grove: The grove's center contains a field surrounded by trees with a single mountain within the middle, legends say that those who are pure of heart are able to climb the mountain and have their deepest wishes granted by a captured genie. Not even the druids know if this can be done as nobody but their founder has actually met the genie but the arch druid can feel the presence of the genie through the great tree within the grove.

Ecosystem

There are many different creatures that call the grove their home, animals unlike mortals that enter the grove are able to leave so long as they walk in one direction long enough. Because of that and the fear that hunters show this part of the wilderness so animals have learned that the grove is a safe place for them from at least threats from hunters. There are powerful predators also within the grove which help control the ecosystem and prevent overpopulation. Certain animals are only in the grove long enough to eat the dead or unwanted parts of animals and plants that prevent disease or stagnation from setting in.

Ecosystem Cycles

Throughout the rotting season the trees and plants that get the rot are not only tended by the druids to try and save them but other animals come in to eat the trees that begin to rot or other animals come to knock the trees down if they are to far rotted. This happens typically at the end of spring and throughout the summer when the weather gets hot. The animals that preeminently call the grove their home are typically ones that cannot survive out in the world or would get picked off to quickly, when they die within the grove there are other animals that eat the dead that come in late summer and early fall to catch the animals that died from disease or were not entirely eaten by predators. During the winter it happens again as the predators move out of the grove from the lack of food and the prey begin to breed and refill the forest during the winter for next spring.

Localized Phenomena

The trees of the grove are not grown from special seeds or soil, they are not tended by the magical hands of the druids, somehow these trees are gaining the ability to comprehend their place in the grove and the world around them. This local phenomena is not able to be explained by wizards that pass by to study the magic or the druids who spend their lives tending to the grove itself but many minds believe that it is the presence of so many fey that give the trees their power but the druids tell different stories.

Climate

The grove itself ebs and flows with the temperature changes of the world, cold in the winter and warming up in the spring before the heat of summer and the cooling of fall. Though the magic within the grove and cast by the druids prevent any storms or extreme temperature changes from occurring in the grove which would upset the delicate balance that the spirits have taken the time to set into place.

Fauna & Flora

Micha's Tears: Micha's tears is a strain of ivy that grows in the southern part of the grove. These flowers are widely known for their ability to provide relief to those who are feverish and the flowers also have been known to give people a fighting chance who have the weeping pox. 

Iron Wood: Iron wood is wood that is used by the druids of this grove to form suits of armor made from the wood that give as much protection as steel does. Only the druids of this grove know the secrets to making this armor and many have tried to replicate the process but none have succeeded thus far.

History

The grove itself does not have many points in history where it was prevalent in the world at large. There have been a few times where armies or famous battles have taken place near the grove which provided protection for the druids, nearby animals, and even some of the soldiers from the battles looking to hide from their enemies. The battle of the heavens also saw some action around the grove as several angels of nature or servants of the gods of nature came to the grove seeking refuge from the fighting to regain their strength but none have ever re-emerged from the grove to tell their stories.

Alternative Name(s)

The Endless Green Prison

Type

Forest, Boreal (Coniferous)