Deforestation of Farensal

Back in the Time of Wander, the region later known as Farensal was covered by Old Forests that were filled by innumerable plants and animals that provided sustinence to the Wanderers that ventured into them, but also many dangerous Spirit beings, chief of them the Forest giants, guardians of the forest.

Later the human influence in the area grew, and they settled towns and later cities in the lands. Bit by bit the forests were hacked down for agricultural land and building material. In the historical times, only small remains of the forests remain in the hills.

Cultural consequences

The deforestation was innately tied to the cultural shift of the early human inhabitants. The earlier Wanderers had lived harmoneosly with nature, gathering wild plants and hunting animals provided by the forest. Later settlers arriving from the highlands had adopted the settled livestyle of their former enslavers, the Stone Giants, and prefered to settle in small towns, and clear the forest for fields. Finally the founding of the first cities placed even higher demand on agricultural land and building material, leading to large scale deforestation.

The former forest floor yielded plentiful harvest for centuries, but finally the overuse of the land is believed to have led to diminishing yields and multiple years of drought, leading to the First Intermission Period (c.300). However, this natural disaster lead to the Faren culture spreading far west and east by settlers looking for new fertile lands ouside their native river valleys. In turn, they established trade routes between the new areas and their fromer city states, helping the Faren city states of Farensal to become the cultural centers they are known as in the later eras.

by Alan Wigginton (wikimedia)

Farensal used to be covered by lush old forests,
but driving out the Forest Giants led
to their disappearance

Timeline

• c. 400 BFS the Wanderers first arrive to the forests. They live harmoneously with the nature, hunting and gathering
• c. 200 BFS Survivors from the Great Slave Rebellion of Stonelords' Throne arrive to the lowlands and settle small towns in the area
• c. 5 BFS Peace treaty of Farinos
  Human unite to drive away the Forest giants
• 1 AFS Founding of Silford, the first city in the lowlands
• 100-300 AFS First Kingdom Period
  Early kingdoms flourish in the plains, the former forest floor yielding rich harvests to the growing population. Increasing deforestation for agricultural land and building projects
• c. 300 AFS First Intermission Period of war and unrest. Possibly iniated by multiple years of failed harvest, and increased competition over diminishing sources of wood for building material
• 294 AFS the Republic of Free West Island is founded, following a mass migration from the plains to West Island