Oldwood
Oldwood is a vast and wild ancient forest in the southeastern area of Teboba. Covering more than 500 square miles of steep ridges, dark valleys and fetid swamps, Oldwood is a sprawling, mostly unexplored wilderness that has maintained a reputation of evil and malevolence.
This reputation has hampered King Mak II in his efforts to pacify and populate the regions in Teboba. Past problems with hags, dragons, giants and a large and very active population of goblins have created an aura of danger, horror and fear that is not easily ignored by the Court in Southridge.
In less than a generation, the Oldwood has seen suffering wrought by the Witch of the Oldwood, no fewer than four Dragons of various types, and a small horde of Goblins and Hobgoblins venture forth from the forest depths. Hundreds of deaths have resulted and any exploration or exploitation of the area is a very dangerous endeavor.
Many still believe that there is much to be gained by venturing into these woods, however. Only 16 years earlier, a vast fortune in gold and jewels was found in an ancient tomb during the battle with the Oldwood Hag, and while that particular tomb is now quite empty, no one doubts that there are other, undiscovered tombs and catacombs that could very well contain even greater treasure. Scholars have long questioned why Teboba in general, and its eastern forests in particular, are such a focus for dragons and hags. One suggested reason is that both dragons and hags are drawn to treasure (amongst other things) and if these evil creatures are still coming to Oldwood, then perhaps there is more to find.
Localized Phenomena
Deep within the forest is a wide, dry ravine known as the Dry Gulch. Dry Gulch is noteworthy because no trees, grass, shrubs or plants of any kind grow there. The ravine has a length of roughly one-half mile and is about 300 yards wide at its greatest width. Its walls are steep, stoney and difficult (if not impossible) to climb and access to the ravine is only possible through very narrow openings at either end. At the very center of Dry Gulch is the Witch Tower, where the Oldwood Hag was defeated and destroyed 18 years earlier by Dogar Lann.
