The Dark Wood

When Maksur Das was collecting specimens on the dark side, they were explicitly researching the wildlife and ecosystems of the dark wood, a span of forest that stretches across the landscape surrounding the resting place of the city. Unfortunately, their curiosity would also be their downfall. While it is true that the residents of the undercity reside there because they have nowhere else to go, their ancestors knew they had no choice but to stay under Maksur Das as the only way out was through the dark wood and there was no point in tempting fate any further.
Even in the days past, when sunlight would graze across the canopy of the dark wood, it was still known as a place of great danger. The anhks, large dangerous cat-like creatures, would stalk anyone careless enough to stumble into their territory and very few would make it back out. Poisonous flora would expel barbs at anyone that got close enough to trigger the defense mechanism, leading to a slow paralyzing death. Even the smallest creatures in the forest can kill a man if he isn’t careful. However, in the millennia since the Tower of Souls, the dark wood has only grown more sinister.
There is no road or treaded path through the dark wood, so any party looking to travel through it must forge their own path. Unfortunately, the woods are too dense and the underbrush too thick for any vehicles to make their way through, so all travel has to be on foot. The best guides to get through the dark wood are in the undercity. Unfortunately this means that in order to get to Maksur Das, it has to be done unassisted. Be it as it is, Maksur Das is not a common destination, so very few mercenaries are well traveled enough to provide assistance to anyone seeking to travel there.
Over the last few centuries, the seismic activity in the area has caused the ground to fissure throughout the dark wood. Paths that may have been more accessible in years past may now have chasms spanning a dozen or more feet. The fissures also emit an odd fog that has managed to not only drape the dark wood, but also the entire surrounding valley. Since the fog has become commonplace in the dark wood the beasts within have only become more savage. The people of the undercity make sure to tell anyone going into the dark wood to steer clear of any faults as if they fall in, they will most likely not be seen again.
While most of the dangers of the dark wood are known to those who dare walk the woods, not all of them are. A trader may arrive at the undercity with a strange rash and a poison coursing through his veins that hasn’t been encountered before and therefore can’t be treated. It's not entirely uncommon for hunters to come across a body of a human or animal that has bite marks inconsistent with any they know of. What's most frightening though are the fallen trees with large tracks beside them leading deeper into the forest. While not a rare sight, no one has been brave enough to find the beast that makes such tracks.

Type

Forest

Inhabiting Species

• Graap
• Tharban