Forests
The mountains of Kozakura are covered with pine
and cedar forests. The damper lowlands also host
great stands of bamboo and groves of cypress.
The largest of these woodlands are recognized by name. The Fokobi Forest on Hinomoto is thick with bamboo and cypress, while cypress dominates the Benduri Forest on Mikedono. The Minodati Forest southwest of Sudaiko is bamboo, cypress, and cedar. The great teak and mahogany woods of the Waturi Forest spread through several provinces west of Renkyu; the Atanu Woods near Chimotoge consists of the same sort of trees. The Kanfu Forest on Tenmei is host to cedar and bamboo.
The neighboring island of Kanshu is largely covered by the Chijoshi Forest, whose cedar and bamboo woodlands are home to the bamboo spirit folk of that island. Ryuten to the north is covered with teak and cedar, while Kabudono to the south supports mangrove, cypress, and bamboo.
Forests are less settled than most lands in Kozakura, and provide excellent hiding places for outlaws, bandits, masterless samurai, and dangerous creatures. This is a special problem in the wooded northern mountains and in places in the Waturi and Minodati Forests. The bandit chief Higemoto is especially notorious in Sogai Province, emerging from his hiding place in the Minodati Forest in the spring to prey on Imperial Post Road travelers to the south, then disappearing back over the mountains in the winter.
The bandit Higemoto of the Minodati Forest is a
ronin, a lawful evil masterless samurai, who
has recruited other ronin to his cause. He has over
100 followers, and is aided by the wu jen
Katohara and the monk Nogori.
The Waturi Forest deserves special mention. The type of wood which grows there and its location near Renkyu make it an ideal source for the wood needed in shipbuilding. The Renkyu shipyards draw heavily on this source of supply to meet their needs, and occasionally clash with local bamboo spirit folk who wish to protect their secret forest groves from woodsmen. Woodsmen are supposed to cut timber and bamboo only in areas authorized by Katsuhara, the shugodaimyo, and troop patrols enforce this edict. The result is that most of the Waturi remains unexplored. While Katsuhara patrols keep bandits out of the area, other denizens of the woods operate undisturbed, making travel off the beaten path a dangerous proposition. An ancient shrine to the Lord of the Woods, honored by bamboo spirit folk, is located in the heart of the forest.
The largest of these woodlands are recognized by name. The Fokobi Forest on Hinomoto is thick with bamboo and cypress, while cypress dominates the Benduri Forest on Mikedono. The Minodati Forest southwest of Sudaiko is bamboo, cypress, and cedar. The great teak and mahogany woods of the Waturi Forest spread through several provinces west of Renkyu; the Atanu Woods near Chimotoge consists of the same sort of trees. The Kanfu Forest on Tenmei is host to cedar and bamboo.
The neighboring island of Kanshu is largely covered by the Chijoshi Forest, whose cedar and bamboo woodlands are home to the bamboo spirit folk of that island. Ryuten to the north is covered with teak and cedar, while Kabudono to the south supports mangrove, cypress, and bamboo.
Forests are less settled than most lands in Kozakura, and provide excellent hiding places for outlaws, bandits, masterless samurai, and dangerous creatures. This is a special problem in the wooded northern mountains and in places in the Waturi and Minodati Forests. The bandit chief Higemoto is especially notorious in Sogai Province, emerging from his hiding place in the Minodati Forest in the spring to prey on Imperial Post Road travelers to the south, then disappearing back over the mountains in the winter.
The Waturi Forest deserves special mention. The type of wood which grows there and its location near Renkyu make it an ideal source for the wood needed in shipbuilding. The Renkyu shipyards draw heavily on this source of supply to meet their needs, and occasionally clash with local bamboo spirit folk who wish to protect their secret forest groves from woodsmen. Woodsmen are supposed to cut timber and bamboo only in areas authorized by Katsuhara, the shugodaimyo, and troop patrols enforce this edict. The result is that most of the Waturi remains unexplored. While Katsuhara patrols keep bandits out of the area, other denizens of the woods operate undisturbed, making travel off the beaten path a dangerous proposition. An ancient shrine to the Lord of the Woods, honored by bamboo spirit folk, is located in the heart of the forest.
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