Nor'wood Tribelands
Of course, one should take great care as to their behavior in these lands, especially when foraging for things as simple as firewood. You would be ill advised to chop down or take limb from any fruit or nut bearing tree that yet lives and may bear food in the coming autumn. For you have arrived in the Nor'wood Tribelands, and are now in land soverign to the Depenwood Conclave. Their word is law, and when it comes to harming the great garden that is the Depen, they enforce that law with barbed arrow shafts. And they are not known for missing or giving warnings
Common legal advice given to mercenaries intending to travel into the region from Suranth or other places.
Geography
Descending from the southwestern part of the Steppes, one will note the change in geography that announces their escape from the vicious lands of the Steppes, and finally arriving into Depenwood. A foolish journey, there are easier ways to get from Suranth to Depenwood, though the few bold, tough and adventurous types to ever make this trek all agree, the dangers were worth the sights. For as you descend from that harsh arctic mountain range, after days if not a week or more of fighting off or avoiding Bestial, Joten, feral Greenskin, and violent winter storms alike, you are welcomed by the Nor'wood Basin. A boreal woodland thick with strong, hearty trees, both leafed and needle alike. Great white pines, mighty spruce and fir share home with the sturdy oak, tough elm, and of course the hearty maple. Wild raspberry, blueberry, and even strawberry bushes are much in evidence, and even the occasional wild apple or pear tree will likely be found. Within this Basin, however, one is not yet truly in civilized land, and should keep their wits about them. Though the more seasonal-esque climate and the healthy and plentiful hilly riverlands seem inviting, one should press on. For the Nor'wood that gives the region its name, are the frontier of the Nor'venilya tribe's control, and as such, are not a safe place to travel alone and unprepared. Bestials hunt these riverlands often, as do Greenskins and even, depending what stories you wish to believe, foul dark folk from below, the tainted kin of the Nouedon, the ones most call Dharkeer or Dark Elves. The basin is safer than the Steppes themselves, and one can find some sembalances of civilization near some of the rivers, but truly to regain the amount of relative safety one would expect of civilized lands, one must head south, through and out of the picturesque Nor'wood Basin, and into the heart of the Nor'wood Tribelands.
The heart of the region opens into a true heartwood, a forest that is broken up by only rivers and the coast itself, along with but one geographical feature, a large lake that many rivers from the Nor'wood Basin drain into, feeding the Daeouef River on its run to the sea. This is where one truly enters the Depen, and will quickly realize on their travels that the seemingly absurd stories are true. This place is a garden of sorts. Chestnut, acorn, and walnut trees dominate near the roads, with apple, pear and even cherry trees. Fruit bushes of all kind grow thick along with wild carrot, onion, turnip, radish and more. The land itself is a farm, maintained and offering succor to all whom travel or live in the Depen. Game is plentiful here as a result, as one might expect, even further off the roads where the more natural mixtures of trees again dominate, food is plentiful, which attracts great amounts of game. Moose, turkey, deer, boar, all manner of small and medium sized mammal and bird. Rivers are healthy and busy with fish, amphibians and water fowl. Of course such a wealth of resource availability does mean a glut of predators make their home here as well. Grizzly bears are the most dangerous, though their smaller cousins the black bear, are no small threat either, should you provoke them. Wolves, lynx, bobcat, and of course mountain lion near or within the Nor'wood Basin.
These are merely the natural fauna of the region, of all of Depenwood. The real danger is the less than natural predators. Though you are safer in the heartwood of the Nor'wood Tribelands, you are never truly or fully safe. Greenskin warbands wander into the region often, looking for easy plunder and succor. Bestial warbands and packs do the same, of course. Thankfully Joten are highly uncommon, and the rare times any wander into the region, the Nor'veniyla tribe responds swiftly, efficiently and with a show of brutal violence. But along with these threats, the likes of less natural, but less organized monsterous beasts should not be discounted. Hydra, chimera, wyvern, griffin and even roc or basilisk are not unheard of, and whenever sign of such a beast is established, it will be the talk of any community in the area of the sighting or sign discovery, as official warnings and advisories are offered, and any military in the region begins the hunt for the creature.
Of course, once one reaches civilization, that is a settlement, well, let us say they do things a bit differently in Depenwood. You will find what you expect of course, that is a collection of structures on the ground in some fashion, likely walled, however the largest trees within the walled off area will still be standing. This is because any settlement in Depenwood is at least fifty percent arboreal in its layout and nature. The Nor'wood Tribelands are no exception.
Lake Daeouef, the large lake in the northeastern area of the region, is where many rivers and tributaries from the Nor'wood Basin drain into, coming together to feed the lake, and in turn drain through the Daeouef River heading out to sea. This lush land is fed by many such systems however, for the lake creates the effects one might expect. It is that snowmelt and rains in the spring and early summer which feed the bounty of the Depen and let it be the lush boreal forest that it is. Here in the Nor'wood Tribelands is but one example of this at work. The Nouedon people are well studied of plant and woad, and understand such things better than any other race, and they use that knowledge to insure prosperity in their home.
The heart of the region opens into a true heartwood, a forest that is broken up by only rivers and the coast itself, along with but one geographical feature, a large lake that many rivers from the Nor'wood Basin drain into, feeding the Daeouef River on its run to the sea. This is where one truly enters the Depen, and will quickly realize on their travels that the seemingly absurd stories are true. This place is a garden of sorts. Chestnut, acorn, and walnut trees dominate near the roads, with apple, pear and even cherry trees. Fruit bushes of all kind grow thick along with wild carrot, onion, turnip, radish and more. The land itself is a farm, maintained and offering succor to all whom travel or live in the Depen. Game is plentiful here as a result, as one might expect, even further off the roads where the more natural mixtures of trees again dominate, food is plentiful, which attracts great amounts of game. Moose, turkey, deer, boar, all manner of small and medium sized mammal and bird. Rivers are healthy and busy with fish, amphibians and water fowl. Of course such a wealth of resource availability does mean a glut of predators make their home here as well. Grizzly bears are the most dangerous, though their smaller cousins the black bear, are no small threat either, should you provoke them. Wolves, lynx, bobcat, and of course mountain lion near or within the Nor'wood Basin.
These are merely the natural fauna of the region, of all of Depenwood. The real danger is the less than natural predators. Though you are safer in the heartwood of the Nor'wood Tribelands, you are never truly or fully safe. Greenskin warbands wander into the region often, looking for easy plunder and succor. Bestial warbands and packs do the same, of course. Thankfully Joten are highly uncommon, and the rare times any wander into the region, the Nor'veniyla tribe responds swiftly, efficiently and with a show of brutal violence. But along with these threats, the likes of less natural, but less organized monsterous beasts should not be discounted. Hydra, chimera, wyvern, griffin and even roc or basilisk are not unheard of, and whenever sign of such a beast is established, it will be the talk of any community in the area of the sighting or sign discovery, as official warnings and advisories are offered, and any military in the region begins the hunt for the creature.
Of course, once one reaches civilization, that is a settlement, well, let us say they do things a bit differently in Depenwood. You will find what you expect of course, that is a collection of structures on the ground in some fashion, likely walled, however the largest trees within the walled off area will still be standing. This is because any settlement in Depenwood is at least fifty percent arboreal in its layout and nature. The Nor'wood Tribelands are no exception.
Lake Daeouef, the large lake in the northeastern area of the region, is where many rivers and tributaries from the Nor'wood Basin drain into, coming together to feed the lake, and in turn drain through the Daeouef River heading out to sea. This lush land is fed by many such systems however, for the lake creates the effects one might expect. It is that snowmelt and rains in the spring and early summer which feed the bounty of the Depen and let it be the lush boreal forest that it is. Here in the Nor'wood Tribelands is but one example of this at work. The Nouedon people are well studied of plant and woad, and understand such things better than any other race, and they use that knowledge to insure prosperity in their home.
Ecosystem
As Depenwood is a massive boreal forest, much of how the climate and ecosystem of the regions behave is dictated by the same features. That is the seasonal cycle, with winter lasting a solid five months, spring lasting about two months, autumn lasting about two as well, and summer lasting two to three months. The methods will vary, but any species of flora or fauna that is successful here has in some way mastered this cycle. Some, like the mighty grizzly, simply pack on monstrous amounts of weight through the last weeks of summer and all through autumn, eating like mad, in preperation to hibernate through most if not all of the winter. Deciduous trees will lose their leaves and seem to go into a stasis as well.
But how can this nation, and this region have such a plentiful food availability with such a short growing season. It has everything to do with the long winter itself. The whole of the Depen is fed by the waters that run from the highlands to the north, and the higher places within the woodlands itself, every year of the melt. This melt water runs through the soil, and in trickles and torrents, carries all manner of nutrient and mineral from those high places into the ground and water supplies that feed the vast forest of the Depen. It is this yearly nutritional burst that kickstarts the growth of the forest again. Combine that with the very long summer days, sometimes with eighteen to twenty hours of sunlight, you get a swift but hale and hearty growing season.
But how can this nation, and this region have such a plentiful food availability with such a short growing season. It has everything to do with the long winter itself. The whole of the Depen is fed by the waters that run from the highlands to the north, and the higher places within the woodlands itself, every year of the melt. This melt water runs through the soil, and in trickles and torrents, carries all manner of nutrient and mineral from those high places into the ground and water supplies that feed the vast forest of the Depen. It is this yearly nutritional burst that kickstarts the growth of the forest again. Combine that with the very long summer days, sometimes with eighteen to twenty hours of sunlight, you get a swift but hale and hearty growing season.
Ecosystem Cycles
Some of the biggest and most notable cycles are of course tied to the seasons. Below is a simple but comprehensive list and breakdown.
Spring:
Spring means migrations north, as the elk, geese and other such beasts head up into the Nor'wood Basin or beyond to their summer grounds. This also means other birds and mammals, like deer and various species of duck come back into the Depen from their wintering grounds in Valewyr. With the movements of such large quantities of prey species, one should of course expect predators, particularly wolves, along with foul creatures like the nomadic Bestials or greenskins, to follow suit, following their main food source. This is one of two seasons where the military in the region will be at its highest state of alert and with its largest and busiest patrol presence, for both natural disaster response and to deal with any such creatures.
With the melt that gives the Depen the vibrancy of life that those whom live here so cherish and treasure, does come great danger. In the Nor'wood Basin, spring is the most dangerous time to be climbing amongst the foothills and crags in the region, as beyond the other dangers, a mudslide, landslide, avalanche or flash flood is all to possible. In fact flash floods and river overflow is extrememly common in the spring all through the Nor'wood Tribelands, and those communities you will find that are established, that is, found on maps of the region, are those that have plans and infrastructure in place to deal with this. Those that settle foolishly in a river valley or the like the year before and don't prioritize readying for spring...those communities oft disappear before they can ever necessitate being added to maps of the region
Early spring is also a dangerous time for bear attacks for unwary travelers. Grizzlies coming out of hibernation have dropped all that weight they packed on before the winter, and often then some. They are desperate and willing to eat just about anything. The first three or four weeks of spring are often some of the most dangerous for travelers in the region. Many animals are also nesting or giving birth or rearing young as spring comes into full force, which of course, is a dangerous time for off chance interactions with apex predators.
Summer:
Summer is a time of warm weather, plentiful water and sun, and rather calm when it comes to wildlife. Animals and plants grow, and the hearty first harvest, early berries and nuts and fruit, insure plenty for all, and plentiful game for those whom live in the region. However it is not without its dangers. Midsummer storms, though short, are brutal, and if its been dry enough, they can start forest fires. Of course such things are part of the natural sequence of things, and old burned growth will eventually (and quite swiftly when the Emerald Order's Magisters get involved) turn into luscious and healthy new growth. In a manner of a few years, when such an incident occurs and is of a large enough swath of woodlands to warrant their direct intervention, the magisters of the Emerald Order in the region can have the burned area looking more or less as healthy, or healthier than it did before the fire, in seven or eight years.
The other danger of summer is trade season. Trade season sees an increase in monstrous raids, and the hunting of such beasts like wyverns and their ilk. This lush season brings such monsters out in force, for the roads and the herds of deer and the like are a boon to such unnatural predators. Greenskins are particularly active as well, the raiding bands coming south from the Steppes far more common in these brief summer months than any other.
Autumn
With migrations working opposite to spring, it has a similar effect, though given the added propensity of the odd Nor'Westor squall, and the plentiful food from the harvest season, the attacks are less common. Bestials move through the region, following the elk, or moving south with the deer and their like, but though they will still lash out if they sense opportunity, they are well fed and not starving. Though this makes them more formidable of a foe, it does seem to have a noticeably inverse effect on their desire to seek conflict. They do not have the same propensity for raiding in the autumn migrations. Most scholars think this has to do with them being more beast then 'men' as some would call these fell tribes 'beastmen'. They behave similarly to the fauna of the region, though there can be no denying their tainted heritage and heretical nature, or their worship of the Ruined Gods.
The Nor'Westors can bring flash floods as well, though these are more common near the ocean coasts than on the rivers and lakes. Autumn brings one final risk of course. The rut. Elk, moose and other beasts are in full heat through the end of summer and into the first few weeks of autumn and are at their most territorial and aggressive. This extents to many predatory species as well, as if the notion of a bull moose being MORE aggressive than normal weren't enough to make event the most experienced woodsperson white knuckle their weapon and keep their head on a swivel. This also is the next most frequent season for predatory attacks, specifically again, grizzly bears. These apex predators go into a bit of a hunting and eating frenzy in the final weeks of summer and all of autumn, desperate to pack on the body fat they need to hibernate. The salmon runs in many of the Depen's major rivers, including the Daeouef, help of course, and sign of the bears and the beasts themselves can be found all along and up and down the river.
Winter:
This season is insidious in its dangers. One need not worry about floods, forest fires, or most predators, or even most monsters or raiding beasts. No it is the very cold, the sheer volume of snow that can fall, and disease that are the killers and the things any being or creature or plant need to overcome. It can reach bone chilling temperatures, not as bad as the tundras north of the Steppes in Suranth, but not much better. The snow falls can, in the worst storms, be several meters in ten to twelve hours, though thankfully such storms are rare, only happening two or three times a year to that extreme. Ice storms as well, can be a notable danger, these even more dangerous to civilized beings in the area. Depenwood, like their allies and neighbors in Suranth, are noted practioners of dogsledding, snowshoeing and skiing, out of necessity. Winter is a dangerous time to travel as well, for food is not plentiful for anyone or anything, and though the apex predators of the region, most notably grizzlies, are hibernating, wolf packs do not hibernate. And in the winter, wolf packs have been known to be hungry enough and desperate enough to try their luck, and smart and skilled enough to succeed.
Spring:
Spring means migrations north, as the elk, geese and other such beasts head up into the Nor'wood Basin or beyond to their summer grounds. This also means other birds and mammals, like deer and various species of duck come back into the Depen from their wintering grounds in Valewyr. With the movements of such large quantities of prey species, one should of course expect predators, particularly wolves, along with foul creatures like the nomadic Bestials or greenskins, to follow suit, following their main food source. This is one of two seasons where the military in the region will be at its highest state of alert and with its largest and busiest patrol presence, for both natural disaster response and to deal with any such creatures.
With the melt that gives the Depen the vibrancy of life that those whom live here so cherish and treasure, does come great danger. In the Nor'wood Basin, spring is the most dangerous time to be climbing amongst the foothills and crags in the region, as beyond the other dangers, a mudslide, landslide, avalanche or flash flood is all to possible. In fact flash floods and river overflow is extrememly common in the spring all through the Nor'wood Tribelands, and those communities you will find that are established, that is, found on maps of the region, are those that have plans and infrastructure in place to deal with this. Those that settle foolishly in a river valley or the like the year before and don't prioritize readying for spring...those communities oft disappear before they can ever necessitate being added to maps of the region
Early spring is also a dangerous time for bear attacks for unwary travelers. Grizzlies coming out of hibernation have dropped all that weight they packed on before the winter, and often then some. They are desperate and willing to eat just about anything. The first three or four weeks of spring are often some of the most dangerous for travelers in the region. Many animals are also nesting or giving birth or rearing young as spring comes into full force, which of course, is a dangerous time for off chance interactions with apex predators.
Summer:
Summer is a time of warm weather, plentiful water and sun, and rather calm when it comes to wildlife. Animals and plants grow, and the hearty first harvest, early berries and nuts and fruit, insure plenty for all, and plentiful game for those whom live in the region. However it is not without its dangers. Midsummer storms, though short, are brutal, and if its been dry enough, they can start forest fires. Of course such things are part of the natural sequence of things, and old burned growth will eventually (and quite swiftly when the Emerald Order's Magisters get involved) turn into luscious and healthy new growth. In a manner of a few years, when such an incident occurs and is of a large enough swath of woodlands to warrant their direct intervention, the magisters of the Emerald Order in the region can have the burned area looking more or less as healthy, or healthier than it did before the fire, in seven or eight years.
The other danger of summer is trade season. Trade season sees an increase in monstrous raids, and the hunting of such beasts like wyverns and their ilk. This lush season brings such monsters out in force, for the roads and the herds of deer and the like are a boon to such unnatural predators. Greenskins are particularly active as well, the raiding bands coming south from the Steppes far more common in these brief summer months than any other.
Autumn
With migrations working opposite to spring, it has a similar effect, though given the added propensity of the odd Nor'Westor squall, and the plentiful food from the harvest season, the attacks are less common. Bestials move through the region, following the elk, or moving south with the deer and their like, but though they will still lash out if they sense opportunity, they are well fed and not starving. Though this makes them more formidable of a foe, it does seem to have a noticeably inverse effect on their desire to seek conflict. They do not have the same propensity for raiding in the autumn migrations. Most scholars think this has to do with them being more beast then 'men' as some would call these fell tribes 'beastmen'. They behave similarly to the fauna of the region, though there can be no denying their tainted heritage and heretical nature, or their worship of the Ruined Gods.
The Nor'Westors can bring flash floods as well, though these are more common near the ocean coasts than on the rivers and lakes. Autumn brings one final risk of course. The rut. Elk, moose and other beasts are in full heat through the end of summer and into the first few weeks of autumn and are at their most territorial and aggressive. This extents to many predatory species as well, as if the notion of a bull moose being MORE aggressive than normal weren't enough to make event the most experienced woodsperson white knuckle their weapon and keep their head on a swivel. This also is the next most frequent season for predatory attacks, specifically again, grizzly bears. These apex predators go into a bit of a hunting and eating frenzy in the final weeks of summer and all of autumn, desperate to pack on the body fat they need to hibernate. The salmon runs in many of the Depen's major rivers, including the Daeouef, help of course, and sign of the bears and the beasts themselves can be found all along and up and down the river.
Winter:
This season is insidious in its dangers. One need not worry about floods, forest fires, or most predators, or even most monsters or raiding beasts. No it is the very cold, the sheer volume of snow that can fall, and disease that are the killers and the things any being or creature or plant need to overcome. It can reach bone chilling temperatures, not as bad as the tundras north of the Steppes in Suranth, but not much better. The snow falls can, in the worst storms, be several meters in ten to twelve hours, though thankfully such storms are rare, only happening two or three times a year to that extreme. Ice storms as well, can be a notable danger, these even more dangerous to civilized beings in the area. Depenwood, like their allies and neighbors in Suranth, are noted practioners of dogsledding, snowshoeing and skiing, out of necessity. Winter is a dangerous time to travel as well, for food is not plentiful for anyone or anything, and though the apex predators of the region, most notably grizzlies, are hibernating, wolf packs do not hibernate. And in the winter, wolf packs have been known to be hungry enough and desperate enough to try their luck, and smart and skilled enough to succeed.
Localized Phenomena
Void Fens: These small but dangerous regions are said by legend to be inhabited by Dark Fey, though that may be local legend, but none would suggest trying to find out. These regions are located all throughout Depenwood but are most common in the northern regions of the Depen and at their most potent, and reactive, in the Nor'wood Basin. These are tundra swamp regions, as the name may suggest, marshy and swampy, thick with overgrowth, but the waters seem...off, and mist and fog are almost constant and thick. Magisters feel confused, aloof, and spellcasting in such places is dangerous to say the least, for they are tainted places where the veil of the Aether that seperates the Materium from the Void is thinnest, in the worst of them, almost non-existent. It is even a matter of a few local legends that some of these places are hunting grounds for strange unexplainable entities, though in truth, it is oft a Horror or Nightmare from the Void finding purchase in the Materium for a short time, before the unstable magickal energies that hold their manifestation of a physical form in the Materium together collapses. At least that is what would normally happen. But in areas like this, sometimes the sheer instability of the manna in the area can allow the taint of the Void to infest the area with enough stability to allow such a creature to come forth and through dark magicks, sustain its own presence. Usually via vile acts that perpetuate the infection of the region, slowly. Local rumors of strange or twisted beings sometimes aren't just fairy tales.
Nor'Westor Squalls: These storms coming in off the ocean and from the north, are the tailings of Nor'Westors that slammed Suranth, and thankfully by the time they get to Depenwood, they've lost a lot of their power. But even then, they will still dump a frankly wild amount of snow and/or rain on the coastal lands of the Nor'wood Tribelands. These storms only get this far south two or three times a year, mostly in late autumn and early winter, however when they do, they are tremendously damaging. Especially for coastal regions, as they can drive waves up to four or five metres in height to smash into the coastline. Thankfully that power blows itself out in minutes, as little as ten or twenty in most cases. But the precipitation can be insane. fifty to sixty centimetres of snow, or thirty or forty millimeters of rain in a storm that lasts a mere three or four hours. Flash floods are a common result.
Nor'Westor Squalls: These storms coming in off the ocean and from the north, are the tailings of Nor'Westors that slammed Suranth, and thankfully by the time they get to Depenwood, they've lost a lot of their power. But even then, they will still dump a frankly wild amount of snow and/or rain on the coastal lands of the Nor'wood Tribelands. These storms only get this far south two or three times a year, mostly in late autumn and early winter, however when they do, they are tremendously damaging. Especially for coastal regions, as they can drive waves up to four or five metres in height to smash into the coastline. Thankfully that power blows itself out in minutes, as little as ten or twenty in most cases. But the precipitation can be insane. fifty to sixty centimetres of snow, or thirty or forty millimeters of rain in a storm that lasts a mere three or four hours. Flash floods are a common result.
Natural Resources
Timber is a large resource of course, as is the frankly massive list of readily available produce
A wide variety of animal meats and hides/feathers
Wide variety of tree saps and plant nectars
Ribbon-Tail Lobster, a favorite all along the coasts and ports of North Valerick, can only be caught all along Depenwood's coastlines, including in the Nor'wood Tribelands.
Silver, though the mine is not massive it is considered a healthy and rather plentiful vein.
Flashrite, a highly valuable mineral, which thought he vein is again, not large, it is suspected, by all prospecting reports, to be of a reasonably decent size, and promises a decent yield of Flashrite ore, which is one of the key ingredients in the production of smokepowder.
A wide variety of animal meats and hides/feathers
Wide variety of tree saps and plant nectars
Ribbon-Tail Lobster, a favorite all along the coasts and ports of North Valerick, can only be caught all along Depenwood's coastlines, including in the Nor'wood Tribelands.
Silver, though the mine is not massive it is considered a healthy and rather plentiful vein.
Flashrite, a highly valuable mineral, which thought he vein is again, not large, it is suspected, by all prospecting reports, to be of a reasonably decent size, and promises a decent yield of Flashrite ore, which is one of the key ingredients in the production of smokepowder.
Tourism
Those whom travel to the region are oft doing so with intention of trade or to visit one of the cities in the region. The capital of Ein'ceouef is well known for its various and delicious syurps and extracts for use in everything from baked goods to various mixed beverages, and as such, they are moved in bulk by ship, rail and road often all throughout the year, as an example.
Others come for the promise of fortune and excitement, be it a bounty on some magnificent beast like a wyvern, or to take part in something like the annual summer bestial cull, when the foothills at the edge of the Steppes are thick with want to be mercenaries hoping to make their fortune, as their is a summer long bounty on Bestial heads.
Still others visit for the exploration and the promise and thrill of adventure. There are rumored to be all sorts of odd and forgotten places tucked away in the woodlands of the Depen, and the Nor'wood Tribelands are no exception. Far off the beaten roads and away from towns or villages, much less cities, their are alls sorts of local folklore about forgotten and abandoned ruins of many sorts. These bits of folklore always share one common thread though. The promise that there is likely some great treasure in the location.
Finally one of the other most common reasons people visit this area, are to make the stops at 'Old Silvercrown', a monstrously massive old oak tree that is believed to be a site of great power and is a holy site to the Talian Cult. Talia's faithful visit for many such reasons. Some do it for the meditative value of the journey and experience itself, some do it because they hope by doing so and praying there as a couple, Talia will bless them and insure they can conceive a child. Others travel for the practical study and value of tracing the steps of such pilgramages in the study of theology. There are many assorted reasons people do it.
Others come for the promise of fortune and excitement, be it a bounty on some magnificent beast like a wyvern, or to take part in something like the annual summer bestial cull, when the foothills at the edge of the Steppes are thick with want to be mercenaries hoping to make their fortune, as their is a summer long bounty on Bestial heads.
Still others visit for the exploration and the promise and thrill of adventure. There are rumored to be all sorts of odd and forgotten places tucked away in the woodlands of the Depen, and the Nor'wood Tribelands are no exception. Far off the beaten roads and away from towns or villages, much less cities, their are alls sorts of local folklore about forgotten and abandoned ruins of many sorts. These bits of folklore always share one common thread though. The promise that there is likely some great treasure in the location.
Finally one of the other most common reasons people visit this area, are to make the stops at 'Old Silvercrown', a monstrously massive old oak tree that is believed to be a site of great power and is a holy site to the Talian Cult. Talia's faithful visit for many such reasons. Some do it for the meditative value of the journey and experience itself, some do it because they hope by doing so and praying there as a couple, Talia will bless them and insure they can conceive a child. Others travel for the practical study and value of tracing the steps of such pilgramages in the study of theology. There are many assorted reasons people do it.
Maps
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Nor'wood Tribelands
The map of the lands ruled and run by the Nor'venilya tribe in Depenwood.
Included Locations
Included Organizations
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
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