Post by GRWelsh on Mar 31, 2024 21:04:08 GMT -5
I've been giving some thought to how to make the different forests in my campaign distinct from each other. My players started out in Hochoch, which is located between the Dim Forest and the Oytwood. My conception was that the humans have occupied this region for several centuries at this point, which they refer to as the Mid Wold, and it is a march ruled by a Margrave, established long ago as a bulwark of civilized humanity in the west. The humans in this region, having intermingled with the native Flan, have both a traditional respect and superstitious fear of the forests. Some hold to the traditions of the Old Faith of the druids, largely a relict of the Flan culture which was primarily of an oral tradition. The Dim Forest is my stand in for the local Mirkwood -- it seems like a perfect fit -- with the elves living there but staying predominantly to one section, with the rest of it being mostly under a shadow of danger or even corruption. Some ideas are that when humanoid mercenaries pursued Oeridians into the Flanaess a thousand years ago some of them settled in the local Barrier Peaks, Dim Forest and Lortmil and Yatil Mountains nearby. At the end of the Hateful Wars, some of the orcs, goblins, ogres and others driven out of the Lortmils fled west to the Dim Forest and Barrier Peaks. So, the Dim Forest has a long history of many humanoids in its eastern and central parts, especially near the northern Barrier Peaks. It may also have some other wickedness deep within that draws evil humanoids to it. In any case, it has a more unwholesome reputation than either the Oytwood or the Hornwood. The Oytwood has more of a fairy forest reputation, with humans avoiding it for different reasons -- strange lights leading wanderers astray, wild animals and weird monsters living within. The Hornwood, due to proximity to the Crystalmist Mountains and Barrier Peaks to the south and west, has dangers from monsters that creep down from the heights. Any thoughts on how to further make each forest unique and distinctive from each other? Perhaps I could have particular kinds of monsters and dangers more common to each forest, as well as tree types, and a description for what the forest feels like.
From the Guide (p. 59):
Dim Forest: The huge old trees of this vast forest are so broad and leafy as to make the ground beneath dim on the brightest and sunniest of days. No tracks are known, but some certainly must exist to allow passage through the leagues of woodland. Olvenfolk are said to dwell in that portion west of the Javan; terrible creatures live elsewhere within its bounds.
Hornwood: The Hornwood is a fair sized woodland within the Grand Duchy of Geoff. It is the Grand Duke's favorite hunting place despite (or possibly because of) the ferocious creatures often found there (mainly by making their way down from the Crystalmists). Several groups of Sylvan Elves dwell within the Hornwood. The area is named for the hornwood tree whose straightest limbs are specially treated and seasoned to make the finest of elven bows. Hornwood is exceptionally tough and resilient, but first grad wood is not common and is hard to prepare for use in bows.
Oytwood: Also within the borders of Geoff, the Oytwood is a smallish woodland which is inhabited mainly by elves.
Comparing the Random Encounter Tables in the Glossography (p. 13) doesn't show a lot of difference since Oytwood and Hornwood are treated as the same, and the main difference between those and the Dim Forest are fewer human type encounters but more gnome encounters. Humanoids are about equally likely in all three forests (6% in Dim Forest, 5% each in Oytwood and Hornwood).
Dim Forest: 01-03 Demi-humans, 04-12 Sylvan Elves, 13-18 Humanoids, 19-22 Men, Bandits, 23-25 Men, Brigands, 26-27 Men, Patrol, Light, 28-31 Men, Raiders, 32-35 Men, Tribesmen (woodsmen), 36-00 Use Standard Encounter Tables.
Hornwood, Oytwood: 01-05 Demi-humans, 06-20 Elves, Sylvan, 21-25 Gnomes, 26-30 Humanoids, 31-00 Use Standard Encounter Tables.
From the Guide (p. 59):
Dim Forest: The huge old trees of this vast forest are so broad and leafy as to make the ground beneath dim on the brightest and sunniest of days. No tracks are known, but some certainly must exist to allow passage through the leagues of woodland. Olvenfolk are said to dwell in that portion west of the Javan; terrible creatures live elsewhere within its bounds.
Hornwood: The Hornwood is a fair sized woodland within the Grand Duchy of Geoff. It is the Grand Duke's favorite hunting place despite (or possibly because of) the ferocious creatures often found there (mainly by making their way down from the Crystalmists). Several groups of Sylvan Elves dwell within the Hornwood. The area is named for the hornwood tree whose straightest limbs are specially treated and seasoned to make the finest of elven bows. Hornwood is exceptionally tough and resilient, but first grad wood is not common and is hard to prepare for use in bows.
Oytwood: Also within the borders of Geoff, the Oytwood is a smallish woodland which is inhabited mainly by elves.
Comparing the Random Encounter Tables in the Glossography (p. 13) doesn't show a lot of difference since Oytwood and Hornwood are treated as the same, and the main difference between those and the Dim Forest are fewer human type encounters but more gnome encounters. Humanoids are about equally likely in all three forests (6% in Dim Forest, 5% each in Oytwood and Hornwood).
Dim Forest: 01-03 Demi-humans, 04-12 Sylvan Elves, 13-18 Humanoids, 19-22 Men, Bandits, 23-25 Men, Brigands, 26-27 Men, Patrol, Light, 28-31 Men, Raiders, 32-35 Men, Tribesmen (woodsmen), 36-00 Use Standard Encounter Tables.
Hornwood, Oytwood: 01-05 Demi-humans, 06-20 Elves, Sylvan, 21-25 Gnomes, 26-30 Humanoids, 31-00 Use Standard Encounter Tables.