Drekker Woods

Drekker Woods is a coniferous forest located in Narthica. Part of the border between Whirlan and Crystland runs through it, marked by a solid stone wall.

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Geography

Drekker Woods is a large but relatively unassuming temperate coniferous forest between the Narthican countries of Whirlan and Crystland. There is one small town inside its Whirlan borders and several on the outskirts of the forest.

As a coniferous forest, Drekker Woods is comprised of mainly evergreen trees such as spruce, pine, and fir. The southwestern section of the forest has maple and elm mixed in as the forest grows closer to Northwood Forest, but the part inside Crystland has only evergreens. There is very little ground cover in the forest, leaving the dead evergreen needles to cover the ground in a soft brown carpet.
There is only one main road going through Drekker Woods. It is made of dirt and connects the Whirlan village inside to another outside of the forest. Travel through Drekker Woods is

Drekker Woods (Whirlan-Crystland) by Lilliana Casper

limited, though not for any particular reason. The Whirlan-Crystland border is marked by a solid stone wall built by Earthlings in the 1400s and has no gates or openings.

History

Drekker Woods has existed on the continent of Narthica for as long as anyone has lived there. In its long history, several towns were constructed within, particularly when the country of Crystland was first founded. As time passed, however, people began to build larger towns outside of the woods and left it as a resource area rather than a residence.

Sixteen Earthlings were commissioned to create the wall between the two countries. Eight are from Crystland, eight are from Whirlan. All sixteen are the best of their Houses and are known for their flawless work.

— Notes from Crystland records

When Crystland was formed, the rulers of both kingdoms agreed that the northern country would own it. After Whirlan lost most of Northwood Forest to Tierhal, Crystland offered to split the territory, and a border was created across the forest. This solid stone wall was made by Earthlings and has no cracks, holes, or gates. Because the wall could not be crossed, no roads or paths were ever built through the forest to connect the two countries.

Drekker Woods has remained a vague and unremarkable forest since the last town, the small village of Henley, was built in the 1600s. A simple dirt road was constructed to connect it to another in Whirlan, but there have been no other projects involving the area.

Crystish locals will often go inside to chop wood and hunt for food, and Gifteds from both Whirlan and Crystland will use it for training.

— excerpt from a Narthican guidebook

Alternative Name(s)

Dark Woods; the Dark Forest

Type

Forest, Boreal (Coniferous)

Location under

Narthica

Contested By

• Crystland
• Whirlan

I love walking through the woods in the winter. The snow coats the floor with white powder, the wind blows between the trees like cold breaths, and everything is still and quiet. There's no shouting, voices, or sound. It's peaceful.

— the diary of a Crystish local

by Lilliana Casper