Post by Trippy Hare on May 4, 2006 21:18:05 GMT -5
The forest of Ivorsherlet occupies about one quarter of the habitable land in Eshathar, stretching across the central continent like a carpet. Along its outskirts lie colonies and settlements of almost every race, and within the forest dwell countless marvelous creatures and plants. The Canid race fiercely protects the central region of Ivorsherlet, where the tree growth is thickest. Canid patrols also routinely sweep through other regions of the forest, sniffing out intruders. One obvious exception is Krelyst Kain: the Canids avoid the dead-zone, as do most other living things.
Among the trees are mysteries stretching back to the very beginnings of Eshathar. Not even the Canids have explored the entire forest, and it is possible that whole civilizations have lived and died within its canopy. The Elven city of Bishal often appears in Ivorsherlet, and is easily the largest non-Canid settlement permitted within the forest, though there are several tiny villages hidden among the trees. Along its borders lie even more settlements, as the forest is far too large for the Canids to effectively patrol them all. Though most of these border towns are small, quiet hamlets relying on agriculture and hunting/gathering, there are a few more modernized settlements.
Encroachment by other races has begun to take its toll, as more and more woodland is claimed by the logger's axe and turned into pasture or plains. Despite valiant efforts by the Canid patrols, and the forest's own native denizens, there is simply too large an area to effectively protect, and some acreage is always lost. This has become a sore point of contention between Canid patrol squads and small subsistence farms, and though neither kingdom is officially at war, open hostilities along the border are common.
there are those who would use the incredible natural bounty of the forest against the very denizens who protect it, saying that the Canid race greedily hoards the riches Ivorsherlet can offer, and that her wealth would be better suited if it were divided. This attitude has led to several 'crusades' into the interior by mobs of peasants, though none of these attempts have led to anything other than brutal counter-offensives by Canid troops. Despite its massive strategic value and dominance over much of the River Alamy's waters, formal declarations of war have not been brought to bear against Llanivaya or the forest, though many speculate it is only a matter of time before they do.
Among the trees are mysteries stretching back to the very beginnings of Eshathar. Not even the Canids have explored the entire forest, and it is possible that whole civilizations have lived and died within its canopy. The Elven city of Bishal often appears in Ivorsherlet, and is easily the largest non-Canid settlement permitted within the forest, though there are several tiny villages hidden among the trees. Along its borders lie even more settlements, as the forest is far too large for the Canids to effectively patrol them all. Though most of these border towns are small, quiet hamlets relying on agriculture and hunting/gathering, there are a few more modernized settlements.
Encroachment by other races has begun to take its toll, as more and more woodland is claimed by the logger's axe and turned into pasture or plains. Despite valiant efforts by the Canid patrols, and the forest's own native denizens, there is simply too large an area to effectively protect, and some acreage is always lost. This has become a sore point of contention between Canid patrol squads and small subsistence farms, and though neither kingdom is officially at war, open hostilities along the border are common.
there are those who would use the incredible natural bounty of the forest against the very denizens who protect it, saying that the Canid race greedily hoards the riches Ivorsherlet can offer, and that her wealth would be better suited if it were divided. This attitude has led to several 'crusades' into the interior by mobs of peasants, though none of these attempts have led to anything other than brutal counter-offensives by Canid troops. Despite its massive strategic value and dominance over much of the River Alamy's waters, formal declarations of war have not been brought to bear against Llanivaya or the forest, though many speculate it is only a matter of time before they do.