Gamboge Forest
The Gamboge Forest is home to a mixed community of some 10,500 wood elves, 1,300 high elves, 6,000 humans and 2,800 gnomes. The wood elves occupy the deepest heartlands of the forest, with a handful of high elf and gnomish settlements among them. They do not care for humans sharing their lands and they drive them off with traps, snares and warning volleys of arrow fire when they approach too closely. The wood elves have been approached by the gnomes of the Flinty Hills for help, and have been seen in the wooded part of the Flinty Hills. There at least the two races appear to cooperate to help each other defend the lands, though the wood elves do not venture into unwooded hills.
The woodsmen of the Gamboge, like all the races, give fealty neither to Nyrond nor the Pale, but they prefer the traditional tolerance of Nyrond's rulers and most of the forest produce is traded to Nyrond. Fortunately, Archbold did not make the same mistake here that he did with the Celadon, possibly due to the sound advice of Borneven's local ruler. For this reason' Gamboge forest produce is sold to Nyrond at fairly cheap prices and this effective subsidy is vital to the kingdom. The tubers, nuts and berries of the Gamboge helped northern folk get through a winter which otherwise might have meant starvation. The northern Nyrond folk know and respect this. Few would emulate their western compatriots in looting the forest, though one or two desperate people are just beginning to do so of late.
However, while relations between the communities of the Gamboge and local Nyrond folk are fair, there is bitterness in the hearts of many woodsmen against the distant and seemingly uncaring rulers of the land in Rel Mord. Some 1,000 Gamboge men fought in Nyrond's cause during the wars, and many supported the gnomes of the Flinty Hills when the Bone March humanoids came pouring from the east. From the gnomes, the woodsmen have had gifts of silver, gems and ore in return for their help. From the king of Nyrond, nothing. And now, still, these men support Nyrond with the fruits of the forest, and little thanks comes their way yet. There is no love of the king here.
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