Rendale Forest

Rendale Forest is a quiet and calm place, far removed from most of Vastiaria's civilizations. It's a beautiful place with plenty of natural resources, but being out of the way has so far spared it from the conflicts that often play out across Vastiaria. And it's denizens would probably have preferred to keep it that way.
But when wanderers stumbled across as strange curio and brought it back for assessment, interest in the region increased. And when more was found, so too was that interest increased. This was due to the very peculiar fact that the amount of items suggested that they weren't just dropped by careless travelers, but signs of lost civilization. A civilization no-one had heard about. This lead to a great many historians, archeologists and similar faring to the region, setting up the town of Alabasterville to investigate further.

Geography

The terrain is hilly, with trees covering most of the landscape aside from a couple of meadows. Brooks slither through the landscape between the hillocks, occasionally pooling in larger lakes. The landscape has been described as very picture-resque. A few communities dot the landscape, mostly druidic enclaves, but the city of Alabasterville stands out, home to many scholars, adventures and archeologists interested in the mysteries of Rendale Forest.

Ecosystem

A large number of common animals dwell here, usually none larger than deers due to the lack of space. Fairies and radander are also native to the area and work together to take care of the forest.

Localized Phenomena

The wide variety of odd curious found in the forest does result in unpredictable surges of magic from time to time. This can be anything from as harmless as a funny illusion, to a beneficial burt of healing to a dangerous explosion that levels everything around it. Caution is paramount, especially for those without them means to detect magic.

Natural Resources

The big draw of the region is the vast, untapped treasures of the region. If what has been found so far is any indication, the lost civilisation were skilled craftsmen and enough intact and functional designs have been found to make investigation worth it. Many groups are now hoping to strike it rich in the region.
Beyond this, wood, fresh water and plenty of game help sustain local populations.

History

The history of Rendale is for the most part a big unknown. The name seems to etymologically come from Ruin Dale, though some has suggested it is instead the Rend Vale. Either way, a dramatic name for what is a beautiful place, suggesting perhaps that before the forest grew, the place had been ravaged. Certainly, the odd ruins and curios that explorers find hint at as much.
Of course, buried ruins are hardly news in a sphere that has seen as much warfare as Vastiaria, but the complete lack of information about the culture that made them is unusual. In fact, the town of Alabasterville sprang up around scholars intending to solve that mystery 2982 AIT . The local druids speak of a great blight created by the makers of the ruins and how it brought them to their end. They usually discourage investigation into the subject, warning that nothing good can come from digging it up such a troubled past.
It's more recent history is also blurred. Local tales speak of a great protector called Vigos who purified the blight and seeded the forest, letting the greenery overtake the folly of the lost ones. This entity is revered by druids, fairies and randande alike, suggesting the figure is or at least was real.

Tourism

Lotsof archeologists and adventures, ranging from amateurs to professionals, have been attracted to the region, even more so now that more promising finds have been located.

Alternative Name(s)

Rustshard Forest