Scorched Grove

It is unknown when the great blaze began, all written works describe the blasted lands with no reference or idea of a time before.  For now, historians refer to the start of flame as The Great Calamity. 

Common theories is that the Calamity was caused by magic, the soil of the grove itself being tested to channel Evocation magic with great effect.  A popular myth told by forest-dwellers alleges that the Calamity was caused by the appearance of a great primal being of fire and destruction, which visited its wrath upon the Wood and then vanished as mysteriously as it arrived.  No matter what may be true, most agree the Calamity that befell the Grove was clearly unnatural.

Each year, the Grove pushes on the boundary of the forest, growing slightly as its edges are set ablaze by windblown embers or fire-infused creatures.  The expansion of the Grove leaves the newly-burned creatures.  The expansion of the Grove leaves the newly-burned areas similarly affected, experiencing the supernatural qualities of the Grove.  This gradual spread has increased with a recent spate of forest fires, making those who study the Grove nervous.

Defences

The Scorched Grove is cared for by a conclave of mystics and druids known as Tenders.  Many Tenders are talented thinkers and practitioners of natural magic, who have dedicated their lives to understanding the nature of the Calamity's effect on the Grove and healing the damage it has caused.  They believe that through study and communion with nature, the natural balance of the energy in the wood can be restored.

There is much debate about the intent and success of the Tenders.  High-Society perch-dwellers are inclined to think of the Tenders as nothing more than "odd-birds", embarking on a fool's errand.  These detractors claim that the Scorched Grove is simply a quirk of Humblewood's natural magic.  Much of the populace agrees with this point of view, despite educated claims to the contrary.  Still, given the affinity between nature and the cultures of the Wood, Tenders are generally respected for the care and reverence they give to the forest.

Geography

The Grove refuses to heal. The soil beneath the ashen steppes still smolder with embers. The air here carries a supernatural heat which can exhaust travelers or even cause burns depending on its fierceness. This hostile landscape is home to a variety of curious fire-aspected creatures, many having only appeared after the Great Calamity.