This vast ancient boreal forest stretches the expanse of the northern borders of the Nentir Vale from the Cairngorm Peaks to the Dawnforge Mountains. This boundary separates the Nentir Vale from the northern arctic tundra and frozen wastelands.
Almost primordial in age, ancient ruins from before the rise of civilized man lay deep within its borders. Here and there are places where the barrier to the realm of Faerie is at its thinnest. Many an elf city from the Feywild appears from time to time deep within the forest when the stars and seasons are right. The elves of this faerie woodland claim the deeper parts as sacred to them and defend themselves fiercely.
The vast expanse of the Winterbole Forest defines the northern border of the Nentir Vale and the limit of Nerath’s expansion at its height. The local inhabitants, fierce humans who revere the primal spirit called the Hunter of Winter as their totem, were never brought under Nerath’s sway, and remained uneasy neighbors of the empire at its height.
Being so near the northernmost region of Nerath, this woodlands remains relatively cool during the warmer months of the year but during the winter becomes extremely cold. Parts of the wood has an unexplained reddish hue about the forest floor and the bases of the trees. Large sections of the wooded region are thick with various colors of giant mushrooms. Small game animals lives in the forest, but larger creatures also dwell within, rumors also tell of a fearsome predator, the dragon named Ashranthrax that lives with the expansive forest. Locals of Nentir Vale hunt animals along the southern edges of the forest, but do not dare go deeper than a few hours on foot. At times, some of their fellows have gone missing while hunting in Winterbole Forest. Some logging also goes on around the edges of the forest.
The huge, old trees of this forest are so broad and leafy as to make the ground beneath dark on the brightest days. Terrible creatures like tenebrous worms and slow shadows abide elsewhere within the forest. Today, Winterbole Forest is perhaps the most dangerous location in the region. The trees remain standing, but they long ago lost their graceful beauty and are now tall and gnarled, and many rotting timbers projecting out of the ground. Mushrooms and other fungi sprout everywhere. A thick cloud of spores fills the air and blots out the sun, allowing the unnatural growths to flourish. Winterbole Forest is a dense, ancient woodland where towering evergreens loom overhead, their gnarled roots twisting through uneven ground. Moss-covered ruins and half-buried relics hint at civilizations long forgotten, while thick underbrush conceals hidden dangers. Near-constant mist clings to the forest floor, shrouding shadowed glades and stagnant pools, while treacherous ravines and tangled brambles make navigation difficult for anyone brave enough to actually enter the forest. Whether well-worn or newly forged, every path holds the potential for discovery—or disaster.
Ancient trees form an almost unbroken canopy. Occasional shafts of sunlight pierce the gloom. In some places, the foliage is so dense that day feels like dusk; in others, patches of golden light create serene, dreamlike clearings.
Moss-covered boulders, creeping ivy, and tangled brambles make travel slow and treacherous. Fallen logs serve as makeshift bridges over sunken ravines while shallow, sluggish streams wind through the undergrowth, their waters black with tannins. Paths where they exist are narrow and winding and often obscured by ferns and fallen leaves.
The terrain is uneven, riddled with jagged ridges, hidden sinkholes, and deep hollows. Massive stone formations jut from the earth, often covered in runes, overgrowth, or faintly glowing fungi. Small, secluded clearings serve as gathering points for what few wildlife, fey, and those who call the forest home.
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