Dread Woods

Written by Agent Serro

Dread Woods - This part of the forest is completely dead with its borders being a rotting stage of decay as the dead area continues to slowly grow in size. No evidence for why this is happening but plenty of rumors and legends about strange occurrences in this area. The Empire did send a patrol with researchers and druids but no answers where discovered. It was rumored that this patrol did not go very far in, then was only there for a day. But the Empire assures the citizens that its nothing to worry about, just merely a bad spot of land where things don’t grow well.

Residents of Echo Bay has long since been avoiding this area all together as no one will enter the Dread Woods. A few years ago, 3 children went missing from Echo Bay and the town sent a group of volunteers into this area to see if the children where there but none of them ever returned. Afterwards the Overseer of Echo Bay had forbidden any to enter this area making it off limits to all residents. Out of the other towns it is whispered that Covenfell has the most connection to this forest with its tainted past. Residents of Covenfell have long ago stopped going into the forest and avoiding it all together.

Within the Dread Woods there are no animals, birds, insects or life of any kind to be found. It is simply a large dead area, but the area is growing as it seems to slowly become bigger as its borders creep outwards. Trees being twisted, lifeless and tangled together making traveling a slow process for those that enter. The air is heavy with a scent of rot and decay, even the soil is lifeless with nothing being able to grow in it as there is a lack of any nutrients. The foul air making it difficult to breath, patches of soil that are like deep thick tar and other deadly obstacles making it a place to avoid.

Rumors of the land being cursed, void of all life and a place that chills the very soul. Late at night sometimes scary sounds and strange looking lights are witnessed coming from the tree line. Unnatural storms are known to happen within this area as well, storm clouds moving against the wind and lightning being odd colors. Venturing into this area is not recommended, for safety always stay on the road and while on the water keep a safe distance from the shoreline as even the water seems to be lifeless around the shore.