The High Forest

The High Forest is an ancient place home to an assortment of creatures, and might be the largest and oldest forest in all of Faerun. As millennia passed, its roots swallowed rivers, its canopy stole the sun from vast tracts of land, and Ancient sylvan magic permeated throughout it. In all that time, the High forest has changed little, save for the mysterious closing of all the portals to the Feywild nearly a millenia ago. Once living in harmony with fey inhabitants that could come and go as they pleased, many descendents of fey and sylvan creatures call The High Forest home. A few wood elven settlements exist within it, the biggest being Ellath Ennore (Vice's home). Natives do not refer to the forest as "The High Forest"; The elves instead call it Sran Nythmmel (Suh-RAN NITH-mel). To outsiders, what lies deep within the high forest has remained somewhat of a mystery. Not even the native wood elves that inhabit it have a full understanding of its entirety, but they are wise enough to know which areas to avoid. Unlike other forests in Faerun, The High Forest is encompassed by a primordial intelligence with a personality all its own. Inhabitants learn quickly that their every move, action, and word are witnessed by the nearly omniscent forest. Natives know that for outsiders the High forest can be quick to anger, slow to forgive, and will hold a grudge that passes from generation to generation like a powerful curse. This is why the wood elves adapted to live up in the trees, as opposed to chopping down acres to build houses and settle. Humanoids that are not sylvan in nature (fey, elves, etc) are looked upon less favorably and the forest will be less forgiving if harmed or disrespected. This can range from damaging the forest, breaking a sworn oath, casting blight, or destroying an emissary of the forest. Alternatively, the forest will favor those that protect it from a threat, restore a damaged portion of it, or save an agent of the forest. The standing of an individual affects how the forest conducts itself in their presence, either hindering them, aiding them, or showing indifference. The High Forest has a number of magical properties, similar to spells. These include:

Animating and moving flora such as trees, roots, and branches

Absorbing the knowledge possessed by those who die on the forest floor

The ability to "awaken" animals to speak to and help travelers, spawn green hussars as guardians, and create permanent protectors like treants to ward certain springs, groves, and sacred sites. All serve the forest, and many act as the forest's defenses.

The High Forest's omnipresence may put off most outsiders, but its inhabitants have cultivated entire cultures around loving and respecting their home and nature as a whole.

People & Society

A little over half the population of The High Forest are elves (most but not all being wood elves), but there are also many gnolls, centaurs, orcs & half orcs, humans, half elves and halflings. Aside from centaurs, the forest is also home to other kinds of fey, though not as plentifully. These include fairies, pixies, dryads, fauns, and rabbitfolk descendants.

Alternative Name(s)

Sran Nythmmel

Type

Forest, Temperate (Seasonal)

Included Locations