The Twisted Trees of Myth Adofhaer

Village of Danthan

1. DIRE BADGER - Looks sickly and attacks wantonly. 10HP due to damage from spider swarm.
2. DIRE BEAR - Willing to warn the players that a bad area is nearby and tell them where it is
3. DIRE WOLVERINE - Grumpy and hungry as the Tirbana have been messing with the game. Uncooperative and will attack in a mad rush.
4. Swarm, Spider - There are a lot of spiders everywhere and have been instructed to swarm by the magic item of the mad mage.
   
5. Tirbana Eyewing - When it is encountered alone, an eyewing fl ees enemies, returning to the colony to alert its kin. It then leads several drowsers back to the site of danger. It uses its poisoned bite in combat, hoping to make victims more susceptible to the drowsers’ sleep ability.
6. Tirbana Drowser - They are a colony’s fi rst line of defense, meeting any threat head on with their sleep ability.
7. Tirbana Slayer - The slayer then races into combat, tearing through foes with its bite attack boosted by its skirmish ability
8. FETID FUNGUS - Stinky walking fungi may be found particularly near the creek
   

1. Empty - This empty hut contains nothing of value. The floor is covered with bones from 10 elves mixed with the discarded dung colored larva carapace. The yeast smell is overpowering and will make it hard to search the huts as the oxygen is actually displaced by that and the rotting stench of the dung they left behind and rotting flesh still clinging to the bones.
   
2. 3 Bodies & 8 corpses - This hut contains a snapshot of the Tribana life cycle. It is littered with dead bodies covered with Tirbana larva who are feeding on the dead that housed their eggs. All of the baby insects here will begin swarming toward the party as soon as the door is opened. Their bite can't do any real damage, but it hurts like getting your foot caught in a door. They are AC 10. The larva have 1 HP and the young form larva have 2 HP. The larva come in 5 varieties. There are about 30 dead flesh white larva about 3" long that are partially burried in the flesh. There are about 10 each of the larva that have shed their larval carapace (it turns brown when discarded). These are the different types of Tirbana in their young forms. None of them can fly and only move at 10'. There is dried blood all over the floor. The yeasty smell is strong here but not overpowering. In the back of the hut are 3 elves lying on their sides barely alive. It looks at first like their mouths are stuffed with something, but on close inspection you will see it is their throats that have been stuffed. It looks like a nasty case of goiters. Their necks are covered with a whitish flem like substance. If this is scraped away an cut in the side of the throat (away from the veins). Pearly white eggs can be seen if the cut is inspected. A brown lumpy substance can be seen covering the mouths of the elves. This is the source of the yeasty smell. It is the excrement of the Spawners that is used to keep the hosts alive as the eggs grow. A host creature can be saved by the application of a cure disease or heal spell. This kills the parasitic larvae and allows any Constitution damage to be healed normally. All the people will remember of their encounter is the deep humming of the droners. They will of course be horrified by what has happened to their peaceful hamlet. Some scream, some vomit, so go into shock some just cry pityably. Play this up big time! Make it really sad! Make the situation really sick! 
3. Spawner - The spawners will remain in the huts, uses its displacement ability and takes cover, trusting its sleep drones and its fanatically loyal slayers to defend it. When they realize their defence will fail they block the doors of the hut with a log and takes cover behind a table or under bedding. If directly threatened, it emerges from cover to bite or fling acid orbs at its foes. It hates all elves and will attack them in preference to any other target. This Spawner has 58 HP
4. 4 bodies - 10 corpses - As hut 2
   
5. Spawner - This one has 45 HP
   
6. Spawner - This one is the original settler and has 65 HP
   
7. 2 bodies and 3 Elk - 4 corpses lots of other bones. - As 2 but without any survivors.
   

1. Dire Animal - Boar
2. Dire Animal - Bear
3. Dire Animal - Wolf
4. Dire Animal - Wolverine
5. Dire Animal - Bat
6. FOREST SLOTH
7. WOOD WOAD
   
8. BURROW ROOT
9. VERDANT REAVER
10. ASSASSIN VINE

1. LEGENDARY - Snake
2. Dire Animal - Boar 
3. Dire Animal - Bear
4. FOREST SLOTH
5. Bonetree
6. WOOD WOAD
7. BURROW ROOT
8. VERDANT REAVER
9. ASSASSIN VINE
10. FETID FUNGUS
11. WOOD WOAD
12. RED SUNDEW
13. IRONMAW
14. Assassin Vine
15. Tendriculos
16. GREENVISE
17. Fungus, Shrieker
18. LEGENDARY ANIMALS - Bear
19. Dire Animal - Wolf,
20. Dire Animal - Wolverine

BANYAN OCTOPUS TREE

Ruins

The High Forest

Capital: None Population: 29,088 (elves 52%, gnolls 12%, centaurs 10%, orcs 10%, humans 6%, half-elves 4%, half-orcs 3%, halflings 1%) Government: Many competing forces Religions: Corelion Larethian, Eilistraee, Malar, Mielikki, Shiallia, Silvanus, Vhaeraun Imports: Adventurers, armor, food, weapons Exports: Ancient artifacts Alignment: All neutral and chaotic The High Forest is a holdover from the early days of the world, when elves, giants, and dragons ruled a continent covered in green.

The forest is home to all the woodlands races, including aarakocras, centaurs, drow (including Vhaeraun- and Eilistraee-worshiping surface- dwellers and Lolth-worshiping Underdark marauders), gnolls, gnomes, hybsils, moon elves, pixies, satyrs, treants, and wild elves.

The few humans who live or travel within the forest are usually druids, rangers, members of the Harpers, or adventurers used to surviving in environments in which they are not entirely welcome.

Druids say that the forest is under the protection of the deities Eldath and Mielikki. If true, that explains how the High Forest has survived the woodcutter's axe unscathed.

The forest is too large for any one group to rule completely. At present, the greatest powers The depths of the High Forest are dangerous,, mysterious, and somehow fey or strange -- holding not just the evils of dark magic and lurking eyes and strange weather, but "good" mysteries, too.

The deities of nature and wild things and growth seem awake and alive here. Their powers run strong, and druids are sometimes, "called" here by dream-visions to groves hidden deep in the gloom.

The mysteries grow deeper along the swath of old, moss-cloaked trees and sunny glades that runs southwest from the Star Mounts, along either bank of the Unicorn Run.

Bards and common folk alike believe that certain deities—from Lurue and Silvanus to Mielikki and Eldath—personally visit the river in animal guise. For this reason, wise travelers are loath to harm or offer rudeness to any creature, from slug or snail to stag or pheasant, that they meet "along the Run." Those who venture far upriver say the land becomes broken and fissured, the trees creating tunnels and near-caverns, but that the Run cuts through them in slow, wide loops and curves that have carved cliffs and gorges. These are the fabled Sisters, and those who've seen them swear they are the most beautiful place in all Faerun.

The river here descends from the Star Mounts and is fed by side-streams that pass through the Sisters in cascades and waterfalls.

The mists they shed, and the side-pools watered by the falling mists, make for lush cloaks of greenery on everything. On the cliffs and high plateaus around the falls dwell centaurs, leprechauns, pixies, naiads, nereids, and sylphs. Dryads dwell in trees on either side of the Run below the Sisters, and there's some evidence that they serve as sentinels, warning those upriver of the approach of intruders.

Those who draw near while marked in some invisible way by the favor of one or more of the nature deities are allowed to come unchallenged, and creatures of the Sisters don't hide from or avoid such Favored Ones. Seeing the moon rise over the Sisters and in its light spotting a unicorn atop a cliff is considered a mark of Mielikki's blessing of good fortune on the observer.

LIFE AND SOCIETY The nonhumans, druids, rangers, and adventurers of the High Forest live in a self-contained and self-sufficient world. Merchant caravans from Waterdeep or the Moonsea travel to Loudwater or Secomber or Everlund, human cities on the; edge of the great wood, but the forest itself needs nothing that the outside world has to offer.

The denizens of the High Forest live by hunting. Some cultivate herbs, mushrooms, and other plants that can be grown under the trees or in natural clearings. The various races hunt different animals and harvest different plants—slow nomadic shuffling of the various clans and tribes keeps the forest's resources from being exhausted in the same manner that crop rotation keeps farmers' lands healthy.

Many races and factions of opposed alignment and interests occupy the forest. Small-scale skirmishes between them are frequent.

Large-scale conflicts only occur when one side or the other cares enough to track its enemy through difficult terrain and expend valuable magic and lives pursuing battle. The different races have zones of influence within the forest, but few attempt to exert complete control over a given territory for long.

At the moment, the most combative groups active in the forest are the wood elves who seek to exterminate the orcs who flow in steadily from the Spine of the World and know no other way than violence, the treants who dominate the north tip of the forest, and the tieflings and half-fiend elves of House Dlardrageth who still lair in underground ruins near the Nether Mountains.

MAJOR GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES The High Forest covers a span of nearly three hundred miles from east to west, and about the same distance from north to south.

The High Forest is the wildest of all woods in the North. Trees are bigger here (some approaching gigantic stature) and wildlife is more numerous, and often of giant size. It is a fairy wood, home to bright creatures like brownies, pixies, sprites, nymphs, treants and unicorns, and dark creatures like kech, forlarren, stirges, perytons and mongrel men.

Men rarely roam the wood, though intrusions into the northeastern Tall Trees section will be watched and perhaps interdicted by the many druids who dwell there. Likewise, intruders into the Woods of Turlang in the northwest may be stopped by the treants who dwell therein.

Goldenfields

(Small City, 7,988): Tolgar Anuvien of Waterdeep (NG male human Clr16/Dis3 of Chauntea) founded this city thirteen years ago as an abbey to his deity. Under his careful administration, Goldenfields has grown into a fortified farmland covering more than thirty square miles, making it by far the North's largest city in terms of area.

Unlike the great fields of Amn and Sembia that seek only profit, Goldenfields is an ongoing act of devotion to Chauntca. Waterdeep and other cities of the North depend on Goldenfields for grain and produce, Tolgar relies on adventurers and alliances with powerful wizards for defense against frequent barbarian raids, orc attacks, and worse.

House of Stone

House of Stone: On the east edge of the Ardeep Forest sits an immense square tower built at least a thousand years ago by dwarves and elves of Illefarn. The moon elves used to keep all outsiders away from the House of Stone, but when they left the tower became fair game.

The House of Stone contains hundreds of rooms, atriums, halls, temples, and towers locked together like the pieces of a maze. Some chambers have been shattered by long-ago battles or roof collapses, others rise and fall in shafts, and a few sport silent, hurrying armed phantoms of elves, dwarves, and humans. Not surprisingly, many rooms are now home to ghouls and shadows.

Legends speak of dwarven gold, gems, and an armory of weapons hidden here. Originally called Stoneturn, it was built to defend Stoneturn Well, still at its heart. The Stoneturn waters well up from a deep take of the Underdark known as Asmaeringlol ("Giantgout"), and many monsters come up into the House of Stone from the Underdark to feed on adventurers.

The Hall of Four Ghosts

This ruined dwarfhold draws its name from its sole standing building, the great hall of the lord’s palace. The hall is haunted by four ghosts, tragic lovers who caused each other’s deaths.

The citadel here was a lumbering town, harvesting mighty trees from the High Forest for dwarves throughout the North. The everpresent dwarven mine tunnels burrow deep beneath the High Forest. Giant trolls are known to lair here along with their normal relatives.

GAME INFORMATION: The Hall of Four Ghosts connects with a vast tunnel complex that extends for tens of miles beneath the western High Forest. This complex is mostly unexplored, but is known to connect with caves in the Dessarin and Unicorn Run river valleys.
Hall of Four Ghosts
Its name long lost to all but the most learned of historians, this ruined dwarfhold was once a logging town, where dwarves harvested mighty trees from the High Forest for the clans throughout the North. It now draws its title and reputation from its last remaining building, the decrepit great hall of the city’s former lord. The hall, abandoned for the past centuries since the fall of Ascalhorn, is still haunted by four ghosts.
This quartet of dwarven spirits shares a common link—they were all tragic lovers who caused each other’s deaths. While a number of dwarven adventurers have sought to free the ghosts from their torment, something holds them here against all attempts to turn them or bring them peace. Unlike many ghosts of the Realms, they also all seem oblivious to anyone or anything aside from each other. If there is any knowledge about the four ghosts’ identities and the reason for their post-mortem plight, it is so rare that no one speaks of it in the lands of the Savage Frontier.
Curiously enough, the ghosts of the Hall instantly converge around an entrance if a dwarf comes within 10 yards of it. They then appear to beckon and plead silently with the dwarf for something. No dwarf has entered these ruins or the tunnels in nearly a century, so this tale is long forgotten among the tavern tales. Tunnels burrow deep from the former dwarven town’s location to caverns and tunnel networks far beneath the western
High Forest. Their upper entrances are nearly all blocked by rocks, but it is possible to shift some rock and enter individually.
These tunnels eventually make some connections to the Underdark and have in the past been places for drow and illithid slavers to bring new slaves down to the Underearth.

Stump Bog (Black Dragon)
This vast, sprawling bog is named for the numerous rotting stumps that rise from the still, green waters like blackened teeth; the dead trees were cut by an enterprising woodcutter long ago. Frog-fishermen are the only humans who have entered in the years since. The bog’s algae-covered, muddy waters drain into this marsh from the River Dessarin just south of Goldenfields and are home to many unpleasant creatures.
The waters of the Stump Bog may hide many small treasures.
Countless corpses have been dumped in the Bog over the years of fighting in the North; many wounded victims met death in the bog by getting lost, falling into the sticky morass, and drowning. Today, the bog remains a favorite corpse disposal site for brigands, thieves, and those who find it more convenient for someone to disappear than to be found dead— more corpses of political enemies of Waterdhavian nobles can be found here than any other specific group of people.
There are many rumors of sunken treasure in its murky waters, but those who plunge into them would do well to remember that danger is never very far away. The bog is rife with will o’ wisps, mudmen, and various undead creatures after dark, though they don’t stray from the bog. They haven’t been discovered due to the bog’s size and one simple fact: No one goes there after dark.

Crumbling Stair

Crumbling Stair: This broken marble spiral staircase rises out of overgrown foundations on a ridge in the Sword Hills east of Waterdeep, between Ardeep Forest and Uluvin. It was once the mansion of Taeros, home to the sorcerer Ybrithe, who founded a wizards' school for young women here. Their fading spells hold aloft the fragmentary stair (which apparently leads up to nothing), where a will-o'-wisp lurks. The staircase is also haunted by a murderous ghost: a floating, glowing sword, helm, or human form.

Its other end descends into extensive underways, haunted by such apparitions as a disembodied human hand cupping a glowing selection of (sometimes whirling) gems; a dark, shadowy, and swift-gliding cowled human figure that points, beckons, or waves a sword; and a wild-eyed, finely gowned lady elf in chains, who screams soundlessly and gestures imploringly to be rescued. Their origins and purposes are unknown, but some of them lure intruders into deadly traps. The cellars are prone to ceiling collapses, and may harbor beholders.

Eaerlann

This elven realm once controlled the eastern High Forest (see chapter 8). When the elves chose to leave the North and travel to Evermeet, their works quickly disappeared, leaving only places like the Old Road and a ruined port in the High Forest to mark the passing of Eaerlann, while a mysterious ruin called the Crumbling Stair may be the last remnant of fabled Illefarn.

This elven kingdom’s name is lost to all but a few in the North. Once it encompassed the eastern forest from Turnstone Pass in the north to the Shining Falls in the south, controlling the upper valley of the River Shining. Long ago, the elven folk of Eaerlann sailed over the sea to Evermeet. Today, only a crumbling old road and a ruined port mark that any civilization existed here at all. Other ruins, remnants of cities and lost treasures are yet to be found. The forest’s Tall Trees region may yet hold remnants of Eaerlann, but the druids there repel both the forces of Hellgate Keep and adventurers. Some of the folk of Eaerlann joined with the dwarves and men from the west to form the ill-fated Fallen Kingdom along the Sword Coast.

Eaerlann is yet one more of the lost civilizations of the North that fell before time and the blades of orcs and tanar’ri alike. Situated along the western banks of the upper Delimbiyr, elves of old built a realm comparable to Myth Drannor in the eastern High Forest called Eaerlann. Its works were rare but wondrous, and only hints of the achingly beautiful songs written there remain alive today (Many bards say that to find a true song of Eaerlann is worth more than your weight in purest mithral!).
Eaerlann and its holdings were abandoned when their fair city of Ascalhorn fell to tanar’ri hordes, becoming fell Hellgate Keep. Many, if not all, of the elves joined the migration to the west to Evermeet. Still, the works and some of the sites of Eaerlann remain evident today, but only to those who know where to look. Tall Trees, the Nameless Dungeon, and the Old Road are the most noted of the ruins of Eaerlann, but others exist. The Stronghold of the Nine, long held to be a former dwarven hold, was an outpost, smithy, and armory created by dwarven allies of Eaerlann, abandoned only scant centuries after the elves left as well.
Mhiilamniir is one of the best-kept secrets of the High Forest, and it is one of the most complete remnants of Eaerlann’s civilization outside of Tall Trees. One and a half day’s travel heading west-northwest from the western end of the Old Road (or three day’s travel east from the Lost Peaks) places travelers among the long-overgrown ruins of the lost temple city of Eaerlann. Various artifacts, personal treasure holds, and sundry carvings and statues dot the eastern expanse of the High Forest, constantly reminding inhabitants of what trod this land before them.

Tall Trees

Leader: Uthgang Jyarl—Great Druid of the North (14th level druid) Base of Operations: Tall Trees in the High Forest.

Goal: Protect the ancient elven wood of the Tall Trees from harm.

Allies: The Harpers, and the treants of Turlang Wood.

Chief Foe: Hellgate Keep.
Druids: These followers of Mielikki have a stronghold in the eastern reaches of The High Forest, an area known as the Tall Trees. Another holy grove exists in Silverymoon, where the druids maintain a shrine and sacred college. Although the North is heavily forested, there are no other known druid holy areas. Though druids are rare, they are respected by civilized and barbarian folk alike.

The druids of the Tall Trees are quite secretive and allow few other than druids (and vouched-for companions) into this part of the wood. The Great Druid is the leader here, but former Grand Druid (now an 18th level Hierophant Adept) Sinklayr Greenstroke resides here, as does the mysterious Gildenfire (a gold dragon in human guise).
Tall Trees
The Tall Trees, a small northeastern section of the forest, is
thus called because it probably has the oldest trees in the forest.
They tower over the rest of the forest like hill giants to
human youth, and their trunks are the width of most northern
villages.
The tree homes of Tall Trees are home to nearly two dozen
druids who inhabit only a handful of the more than 30 tree
homes present. They care for the trees like a farmer watches
over his fields, carefully tending to the health of the trees and
removing excess animals from their branches.
The leader of the community, Uthgang Jyarl (TN hm D14
[Mielikki]), has been worrying over two of the oldest oaks located
in the center of Tall Trees. Apparently, these two trees
are dying, and he’s planning to transform himself a replacement
for one of them upon his death, though no one’s sure
how he can accomplish this feat.
Tall Trees has proven itself immune to fire on many occasions,
ignoring the effects of both fireball and similar spells.
Likewise, it has withstood a few concentrated orc attacks, as
the druids have both the advantage of high ground and spellcasting
when dealing with the troublesome orcs (who have become
much less dangerous since the sylvan elves’ campaign
against them).

TREANTS OF TURLANG WOOD

Leader: Turlang the Thoughtful Base of Operations: Woods of Turlang (High Forest) Goal: Protect the High Forest from harm, cultivate and expand forests in the North.

Allies: The druids of the Tall Trees Chief Foes: Orcs and trolls.

SHIALLIA (SHE-al-YUH) Sister Goddess, Dancer in the Glades, Daughter of the High Forest Goddess of Glades and woodland fertility NG Demipower Twin Paradises Symbol: A golden acorn NOTES: Shiallia appears as a voluptuously beautiful female korred whose long blond hair is festooned with garlands of oak leaves and golden acorns.

She said to be a sister or daughter to the Tree Ghost (collective forest spirit) of the High Forest and is an ally of Silvanus and Mielikki, served by clerics not druids. She is patron and caretaker of pregnant forest creatures, a planter of trees and a nurturer of seedlings. She rejoices in life and shields against death.

She has been known to bestow acorns of desire on favored worshippers, which grant them the powers of a limited or full wish. Her worship is limited to the proximity of the High Forest.

The High Forest Orcs

These orcs dwell in tunnels and small villages about two days’ journey into the wood. They are arch-foes of rangers and are suspected to possess for- estry skills. They worship a demipower called the Wild Hunter, a lawful evil variant of the Master of the Hunt (as described in the Celtic Mythos section of the Legends and Lore cyclopedia).

Orc tribes in the High Forest include the Tanglethorn, Sharpspike, Bloody Eye, and Horned Lord tribes.

Due to their woodland habitat, orcs of the High Forest have the non-magical abilities of rangers (but gain no pluses in battle against goblin class creatures). Wild Hunter shamans actually grow stag antlers from their heads and may substitute druidical spells for clerical spells.

The Skortchclaw Orc tribe, under King Ugra Ngarl, is forcing goblin slaves to mine mithril beneath Fortress Eyegad. The mithril is apparently being sold in great quantity to someone in the High Forest.

Dire Wood:

A ring of completely albino oak trees surrounds these mysterious hills in the eastern High Forest, Inside the outer ring of pale oaks stands a thicker ring of blackened and petrified trees.

Within the rings, normal trees and heavy undergrowth are mixed with petrified trees, all sprouting from reddish soil.

Those who pace around the outside of the Dire Wood find that it measures only four miles in circumference. Those who enter the Wood find that it expands as they travel deeper inside the rings, seemingly going on for miles of broken hills. The only break in the wild terrain occurs at the very center, where the remains of the ancient deity Karsus endure as a single red stone butte at the base of a high cliff.

A circle of magical chaos emanates from the butte, contained within the ring of sentinel trees. Aberrations that have been eradicated throughout the rest of Faerun seem to find refuge in the Dire Wood, haunting its tortured terrain but incapable of passing beyond the outer ring.

"Wizard weather," the Dire Wood's major supernatural effect, occasionally roars out of the Wood and into the rest of the forest, blasting the forest and its inhabitants with weird magical phenomena ranging from red snow that smells like blood to rains of fireballs.

Tianna Skyflower High Forest (Dire Wood) 8th level thief/magic-user CE, Malar Elf female, IN 15, DEX 18, CN 16 Tianna is of mixed elven, drow and human bloodlines. She is duskyskinned and dark-haired with the crown a blaze of purest white through the crown. She is able to disguise her distinctive appearance by using a magical item called the ring of five visages, which produces an illusion of another appearance. Her followers are dusky half-drows, drow-human half breeds.

A ring of completely albino oak trees surrounds these mysterious hills in the eastern High Forest, Inside the outer ring of pale oaks stands a thicker ring of blackened and petrified trees.

Within the rings, normal trees and heavy undergrowth are mixed with petrified trees, all sprouting from reddish soil.

Those who pace around the outside of the Dire Wood find that it measures only four miles in circumference. Those who enter the Wood find that it expands as they travel deeper inside the rings, seemingly going on for miles of broken hills. The only break in the wild terrain occurs at the very center, where the remains of the ancient deity Karsus endure as a single red stone butte at the base of a high cliff.

A circle of magical chaos emanates from the butte, contained within the ring of sentinel trees. Aberrations that have been eradicated throughout the rest of Faerun seem to find refuge in the Dire Wood, haunting its tortured terrain but incapable of passing beyond the outer ring.

The Dire Wood Deep within the eastern wood, somewhere along the Heartblood river lies the Dire Wood, a small grove of unkillable, black trees, apparently no greater than a mile across.

Also known as the Enchanted Wood, this intensely magical area may actually be an access point to an alternate Prime Material Plane. Whatever the truth may be, the Dire Wood is much larger inside than out. The intense arcane effect of the wood has created a strange land of magic and mystery. Weather here bears no resemblance to the outer world and is itself highly magical. Creatures long extinct elsewhere are found here in abundance (but die upon leaving).

Magical sites appear at random, then disappear without a trace.

Somewhere within the Dire Wood are the lost ruins of Karse, an outpost of the latter days of the ancient Netheril.

GAME INFORMATION: As of this writing, the Dire Wood is 150 miles across (its inside dimension). Each year it broadens by about 80 feet as another ring of black trees surrounds the forest.

The terrain over which the forest grows is hilly and entirely forested.

There are no mountains within the Wood, only a single towering red stone butte, and few normal creatures—even the usual forest animals are gigantic or otherwise magically modified.

Tianna Skyflower, Jhingleshod, “The Iron Axeman,” and Wulgreth (see pp.56-64) call the Dire Wood home.
 Dire Woods
This strange, hilly land within the eastern High Forest is
named the Dire Woods because of a legendary massacre of humans
that caused the soil to redden. This epic predates even
the hoary tales of Netheril, though folk today have other reasons
to label this place as dire. Once a frenzied and ever-expanding
area of unexplained magic, the chaos has stabilized
and remained stable since the Time of Troubles.
During its expansions, the Dire Wood’s boundaries were
marked by black, petrified trees; now, its outer boundaries are
delineated by the same black trees surrounded by an outer ring
of albino oaks—ancient oak trees bleached white in bark,
wood, and leaves by some bizarre magic. While its outer ring
can be paced out to measure a four-mile circumference of ivory
trees, its interior dimensions are far more expansive and appear
to measure 100-150 miles within the perimeter.
Whether inside or out, the terrain of the Dire Wood consists
of uneven hills and undergrowth. The terrain changes
only once, with a single, towering, red stone butte jutting out
from the forest floor; this simply marks the location of the
now-abandoned ruins of Karse, a former outpost dating from
the latter days of ancient Netheril.
Weather here bears no resemblance to the outer world and
is highly magical (see Deeper Secrets below for wizard
weather). Creatures long extinct elsewhere are found here in
abundance, though they die if forced out beyond the Dire
Woods’ boundaries. Wild magic sites are almost commonplace
herein, appearing at random then disappearing without a
trace. A few druids report the natural existence of deepspawn
within one part of the Dire Wood, and rangers have documented
proof of giant forest animals emerging from the wood
and remaining altered. One particular displacer beast was
doubled in size and its tentacles were felling small trees before
the creature was brought low

Grandfather Tree:

The Uthgardt barbarians, druids, wood elves, and other nonevil denizens of the High Forest hold this stupendous oak tree sacred. Members of the Tree Ghost Uthgardt tribe guard the tree, though the Grandfather is defended by its own powerful magic. An effect similar to a permanent consecrate spell encompasses the two-square-mile area within the shadow of Grandfather Tree's branches. Worshipers of Mielikki, Silvanus, Lurue, and other nature deities are affected as if by a bless spell when in Grandfather Tree's shadow.

This is the other of the two abandoned ancestor mounds, a gnarled oak tree of gigantic proportions towering above the surrounding trees of the High Forest.

Its location is not marked for it is not known. The giant oak on the altar mound is the altar itself. The shamans would climb up steps carved in the gnarled bark to perform their rituals.

The menhirs on the inner cairn ring are lesser oak trees. There is little evidence of the works of man here and a few rotted logs are all that remain of the tribal totem poles. In summer, the foliage of the great oak shadows the entire ancestor mound. Those brave enough to climb the tree to its uppermost branches can see almost the length and breadth of the High Forest.

Long ago, the mound’s champion spirits drove the Blue Bear tribe away for unknown reasons. The tribal sha- man carried away a cutting from this tree to become the now-ancient oak at the Stone Stand ancestor mound. When the arrival of Tanta Hagara and her corrupting influence caused the Tree Ghosts to splinter away from the Blue Bears, both tribes set upon a single goal... find Grandfather Tree.

Grandfather Tree An oak tree of titanic proportions, that towers above the rest of the forest but whose location is not known, other than “Somewhere in the northern High Forest.” It is sacred ground to the Uthgardt barbarians, but its existence predates the human presence in the North (see p. 54).

Grandfather in Green Looking dreadfully out of place in the city, a gnarled old man in green, barbaric clothes makes a nightly appearance at a local tavern. He approaches each group of likely heroes and tells them a strange story.

“Beneath Grandfather Tree in the High Forest lies an ancient shrine with doors that lay open onto evil worlds.

Close those doors for me and the ancient treasures that surround them are yours to keep.” Although the old man will not say so, he is the Tree Ghost of a small section of the High Forest, a guardian spirit worshipped by the Tree Ghost tribe of the Uthgardt barbarians. If the PCs accept his quest, he gives them a wish-boneshaped branch from the ancient tree. If used like a divining rod, this branch always points directly towards Grandfather Tree.

The Grandfather Tree map on page 64 shows the general layout of the giant ant tunnels, the location of the Hall of Mists (temple), and an enlarged view of the temple shrine itself. The entrance to the warren is up in the crotch of the tree trunk. The gates from the shrine lead to the Abyss and the Negative Material Plane. The lizard-like golems will leave the Hall of Mists stalk foes throughout the temple, but not in the ant tunnels. The giant ants here have been magically warped (see Grandfather Tree description in chapter 9). The treasure of the shrine includes much gold and platinum in the form of statuary, religious ornaments and decoration (no coins) and several odd magical items of a clerical nature (the DM may wish to use standard magical items from the DMG, but give them a unique, possibly confusing form: such as a staff of curing in the form of a hideous reptilian statue or a book of vile darkness in the form of a crystal ball which projects its contents into the mind of the reader).

This is one place to put a few pages of the Nether Scrolls. At least one item should be sacred to the Tree Ghost tribe. They will unerringly seek out the PCs and ask for the item back. Another item (possibly the crystal ball book) is craved by Tanta Hagara, who will stop at nothing to get her hands on it. If she does, she takes it directly to Hellgate Keep and Grintharke. Whatever deities the PCs may worship (good or evil) will charge the PCs to recover and or destroy the item (the deities will not make personal appearances, only

The Uthgardt barbarians, druids, wood elves, and other nonevil denizens of the High Forest hold this stupendous oak tree sacred. Members of the Tree Ghost Uthgardt tribe guard the tree, though the Grandfather is defended by its own powerful magic. An effect similar to a permanent consecrate spell encompasses the two-square-mile area within the shadow of Grandfather Tree's branches. Worshipers of Mielikki, Silvanus, Lurue, and other nature deities are affected as if by a bless spell when in Grandfather Tree's shadow.
Grandfather Tree
Somewhere within the heart of the High Forest, a gnarled oak
tree of monstrous proportions towers above the surrounding
trees. This is the much-fabled ancestor mound called Grandfather
Tree, and it is considered holy ground to a number of
Northern barbarian tribes as well as most of the natives of the
forest. Four lesser oak trees, dwarfed by the spread of Grandfather
Tree’s branches, mark the quarters around its base and
act as monolithic boundary marks for the inner cairn and ancestor
mound. Only a few rotted stumps and fallen logs remain
of any man- or elf-made works here, former tribal totem poles
of the Blue Bear tribe.
Long ago, the mound’s champion spirits drove the Blue
Bear tribe away for reasons known only to the gods and the
spirits themselves. The tribal shaman brought a cutting from
Grandfather Tree and planted the now-ancient oak at the
Stone Stand ancestor mound to serve as the tribe’s new ancestor
mound. When the tribe split between the Blue Bears and
the Tree Ghosts with the advent of Tanta Hagara’s corruption,
both tribes began single-minded quests to find the long-lost
Grandfather Tree, hoping to restore the tribe’s might with a return
to its roots. After long centuries apart, the Tree Ghost
tribe finally rediscovered the Grandfather Tree and have built
a settlement within the forest near it.
The colossal oak tree and its guardian spirits project what is
akin to a natural ward. It negates any detection or location
magics trained on anyone within 100 yards of its branches, just
as the tree itself is immune to location magics and scrying. It
also prevents anyone from teleporting or gating within a mile of
its central trunk; said magics can be used to move away from
Grandfather Tree, but any attempts to teleport or magically
move closer to the tree are negated. Allies of the Tree Ghost
tribe, and especially worshipers of Mielikki, Silvanus, Eldath,
or Rillifane Rallathil, heal at twice the normal amount (via
spells or natural healing) when under the spread of Grandfather
Tree’s branches.
Finally, the wards surrounding Grandfather Tree allow
those of neutral and good morals to approach it; those of evil
morals must make morale checks (or saving throws versus paralyzation,
as applicable) every hour to approach within a mile
of Grandfather Tree. Those who fail experience bad omens
that cause them to decide on another path that leads them
away from Grandfather Tree.
Beneath the tree and the mound, the Hall of Mists is
guarded by giant ants with regenerative and phasing abilities.
The hall is rumored to contain gates and portals to other
planes, looking like far more ancient temples than any others
in the High Forest, including the ancient ruined temples of
Mhiilamniir. Grandfather Tree’s natural wards prevent anything
from breaching these gates from their opposite sides, but
those who brave the depths might find they lead to various locations
among the Outer Planes.

Lost Peaks:

These two small mountains at the northwest corner of the forest are home to centaurs, satyrs, and other fey. The Fountains of Memory located on the high plateaus reflect views of the past instead of their normal surroundings. As far as anyone can tell, beings who enter the pools in an attempt to return to those past times instead teleport to random destinations.

The Lost Peaks These two small mountains in the northwestern wood are the source of the River Dessarin. Here, so legend says can be found the Fountains of Memory, magical pools which one can use to peer into Faerun’s past. The waters allow instantaneous travel to travel to places viewed (though whether the times viewed can be reached is not clear).

However, legend also says the Fountains are located within a glade sacred to Tappan, god of the korred who dwell here in quite large numbers.
Lost Peaks
These two small mountains in the northwestern wood are the
source of the River Dessarin, as well as home to Korred and
satyrs on the lower slopes and in the woods. Rumors and legends
place the Fountains of Memory here, on high plateaus
and in small caves near the zenith of one of the Lost Peaks.
The Fountains are magical pools that reflect views of
Faerûn’s past, whether it is the recent past, long-past history, or
a personal past of the viewer. The waters also allegedly form
gates that allow instantaneous travel to the places viewed,
however it is unclear whether the exact time periods viewed
can be reached rather than just the place. Some legends link
the Fountains to the powers of Tappan, the dancing god of the
korred, but his magical Fountains are said to be in a peaceful
glade rather than a mountain plateau or cave.
Within the slopes of the easternmost Lost Peak, a longdead
dwarven hold lies undisturbed as it has for 12 centuries.
Should anyone discover its entrance, they discover a dwarven
mining facility still filled with the forms of dwarves. Mysteriously,
the entire place is dead as are its inhabitants, but some
fell magics hold every dwarf upright and in place performing
the action the corpse was doing when it died. Whatever destroyed
this place killed everyone unawares and instantly, as
most of the skeletal dwarves work at mining or smelting at
dusty, long-dead forges or pounding out metal for weapons. It is
truly eerie to walk through the halls, finding dwarven skeletal
forms still hard at work long after death.

The Star Mounts:

These soaring mountains at the heart of the High Forest have been landmarks and mysterious places of legend to humans of the North for centuries. They rise high above the trees, their heights usually cloaked in clouds, and minstrels and woodsfolk have been spinning wild tales about the mountains for as long as humans have stared at their distant slopes and wondered who—or what—lairs there.

The Star Mounts were named for stars in the northern heavens' by the elves of fallen Eaerlann. The names Y'tellarien, or "Far Peak" to humans; Y'landrothiel, or "Mount Journey"; and N'landorshien, or "Shadowpeak," survive today, accompanied by later human names for the other outer peaks: Bard's Hill, Hunterhorn, and Mount Vision. These names hint at some lost and forgotten elven understanding of the peaks.

The thickly forested lands north of the Star Mounts are flat and smooth, whereas the lands to the south are gnarled, broken by ridges and gullies. The Unicorn Run and the Hartblood River both spring from these peaks, and high valleys hide in the heart of the Star Mounts. The fierce winds prevent all creatures less powerful than dragons from flying to the peaks, except that aarakocras seem to do so with ease.
Aarakocra The aarakocra, the bird men of the Star Mounts, are the extremely secretive descendants of one of the ancient creator races. Were it not for an occasional sighting made of manlike forms flying above the High Forest, mankind would be totally unaware of their presence here. They dwell in six small villages on the upper slopes of the central mountains.

In recent years, the ancient green wyrm Elaacrimalicros awakened in his lair among the highest Star Mounts and devoured most of the aarakocras. He also delights in raking intruding adventurers off mountainsides, protecting his privacy as if great treasure lies at the heart of the Star Mounts.

It well may. Elven adventurers report that huge crystals (some the size of human cottages) sprout on the Star Mount slopes. These could be dwellings or fortresses, though none look inhabited. All of these crystals create webworks of reflected light when moonlight strikes them. When the moon is full, a certain small central peak (hidden from observers outside the Star Mounts) is covered by patterns of light. These full-moon radiances are said to either open a portal to another plane, or to have the power to resurrect any creature laid within the spire-shaped ring of standing stones at the top of this hidden peak.

Radoc (The One, Doc of New Empyrea) Star Mounts, High Forest 20/25th level cleric/magic-user LE, Tangg (an other-planar power) Human male IN 18, WIS 18, CHA 17 Doc, also known as “The One,” has been exiled here from another Prime Plane. He now calls himself Radoc, and dwells in the Star Mounts in the depths of the High Forest. He is purchasing mithril from the orcs in the Spine of the World. His goal is to return to New Empyrea as its master. He bears a glowing mark (placed by the titan Sylla) that can be seen, regardless of any magic, disguise or makeup used to cover it. He possesses bracers of defense AC2, a cloak of protection +5, a ring of protection +2, a ring of fire resistance, and a double-duty mace +4/wand of lightning bolts (10 charges). For further details see module I12, The Egg of the Phoenix.

The Star Mounts Located in the heart of the High Forest, this steep-sloped cluster of mountains ascends higher than even the tallest peaks in the Spine of the World. It is possible to see the snowcapped mountain tops, and the slopes which sparkle like cut diamonds, from as far away as the Stone Bridge, or the mountains north of Loudwater.

The elves of Eaerlann first named the mountains, giving them the same names as stars in the northern heavens.

Most of the original names are forgotten, only their rough translations survive: Bard’s Hill, Mount Vision, and Hunterhorn. Yet, a few are remembered: Y’tellarien (The Far Star), called Far Peak, Y’landrothiel (Traveler’s Star), called Mount Journey, and N’landroshien (Darkness in Light), called Shadowpeak.

The forest south of the mountains hides a gnarled surface that might be called a badland were it not so densely thicketed. To the north, the land is unusually smooth, as if leveled with a woodworker’s plane.

The mountains are also known to be rich in metals, including remarkably pure iron and nickel. But since the end of Eaerlann, no one mines there.

unapproachable curiosity. The ancient elven names hint at some unfathomable mystery (though most suspect the elves know the truth of it). As far as anyone knows, no flying thing less powerful than a dragon can land there due to constant and usually fierce winds.

GAME INFORMATION: The mountains cannot be approached by flying, other than upon an ancient or larger dragon. Strong gusts of wind (possibly huge air elementals?) will dash weaker beings against the cliffs. Still, aarakocra, the bird-like winged race, seem to have no difficulty in flying to and from the mountains.

Huge crystals dot the surface of the mountains, many as large as small houses. There are several uncharted ruins in the mountains with walls made of fractured crystal shards.
Star Mounts
Near the center of the High Forest, the majestic Star Mounts
rise far above the forest canopy, usually shrouded in clouds or
mist, making the view of the peaks impossible but for a few
days out of the year. Two rivers, the Unicorn Run and Heartblood
River, claim headwaters from these mountains.
The elves of Eaerlann first named the mountains, giving
them the same names as stars in the northern heavens. Most of
the original names are forgotten, only their rough translations
survive: Bard’s Hill, Mount Vision, and Hunterhorn. Yet, a few
are remembered: Y’tellarien (the Far Star), called Far Peak;
Y’landrothiel (Traveler’s Star), called Mount Journey; and
N’landroshien (Darkness in Light), called Shadowpeak.
The forest south of the mountains hides a gnarled surface
that might be called a badland were it not so densely thicketed.
To the north, the land is unusually smooth, as if leveled
with a woodworker’s plane. The mountains are also known to
be rich in metals, including remarkably pure iron and nickel.
But since the end of Eaerlann, no one mines there.
The Star Mounts are an unapproachable curiosity. The ancient
elven names hint at some unfathomable mystery, though
most suspect the elves know the truth of it. As far as anyone
knows, no flying creature less powerful than a dragon can land
there due to constant and usually fierce winds. Strangely
enough, aarakocra, the bird-like winged race, seem to have no
difficulty in flying to and from the mountains (though few dare
do so now since they became a delicacy to a nearby green
dragon).
Huge crystals dot the surface of the mountains, many as
large as small houses. There are several uncharted ruins in the
mountains with walls made of fractured crystal shards. When
moonlight strikes the crystals, it creates webworks of reflected
light across the surface of the mountain. On a small internal
peak at the heart of the Star Mounts during the full moon, the
crystals cover this peak with patterns of light. This is rumored
to either generate a gate to another plane, or the light has the
ability to resurrect anyone laid within the cairn of standing
stones at its top.

Unicorn Run:

Flowing down from the Star Mounts in the High Forest to the valley of the River Delimbiyr, the Unicorn Run is known for its hundreds of waterfalls, its Whitewater rapids, the fey communities that migrate along its banks, and occasional sightings of the creatures that gave the river its name.

IMPORTANT SITES Humans unacquainted with the High Forest could easily wander for weeks in its shaded ways, perishing of starvation or thirst before they find any particular site within its borders.

At least one village is located at the headwaters of The Unicorn Run.

The Unicorn Run This cool, gently-flowing river has its source in the Star Mounts, at the very heart of the High Forest where very few civilized beings have ever been all through the ages (save the elves who do not talk). It tumbles roughly through t h e r o u g h , d e n s e l y f o r e s t e d canyonlands south of the mountains, then slowly meanders southward through the hilly forest to join the Delimbiyr at Secomber. Though few chose to do it, the Run is navigable as far as the first of the “sisters,” the waterfalls which block further upriver travel.

For such a large river, the Unicorn Run is remarkably clear.

The Stronghold of the Nine (see below), lies partway up the run, located on a hill above the valley. Unicorns are known to travel the river’s banks (hence its name), possibly traveling to the crystalline slopes of the Star Mounts. A famous halfling advrenturer, Gaultham Longtoes, is known to have said, after visiting the Run, “I have seen the unicorns, and can die content.” Legends about the Run are many.

One holds that an elven king buried the treasure of his court somewhere along the run while flee orcs and hobgoblins— but was soon slain with all his folk. Another holds that the god Mielikki wanders the wood here (though the Harpers claim this “legend” to be plain truth and often make dangerous pilgrimages upriver). The storyweavers of Secomber claim that if you travel the river to its end, you will find the home of the gods, that the river does not originate in this world, but in another. Other folk claim that water from The Unicorn Run remains eternally pure, that it can never be fouled or poisoned.

“Having been far enough upriver on the Run to see the first ‘sister,’ as it poured like living mist from the verdant canyon forest high above, I know why bards who see this river sing of it for the rest of their lives. It is certainly one of the most beautiful regions of all Faerun.”—Amelior Realms, Ruins & Strongholds Within the forest, there are few markers of civilization, past or present.
Unicorn Run
This clear, pristine river begins at the very heart of the High
Forest, right at the base of the Star Mounts. It’s known for its
purity, excellent fishing, and slow-moving current, as well as
the fact that it’s a gathering place for unicorns. Although the
water does not detect as magical, something draws unicorns to
its banks.

The Stronghold of the Nine

This cavern complex is a former dwarfhold rebuilt by the Nine, a famous adventuring band led by the female archmage Laeral. This group, now mostly retired, makes its home in the seclusion of the High Forest, as far up The Unicorn Run as men dare go.

The Stronghold is known to have strange and powerful magical guardians (including nagas and golems) not to mention their retainers, followers and several mercenary bands. The Nine are known to have gathered much treasure over the years—much of it is undoubtedly in the Stronghold.

GAME INFORMATION: The Nine are now the “Five.” A disagreement over an item in Laeral’s possession began a feud, dividing the once close knit band into three warring factions. The item is an artifact known as the Crown of Horns, a many-horned helm of unknown properties (one property should be obvious, it causes dissension and a desire to possess it). Those who investigate The Stronghold will find its above-ground buildings abandoned and in poor repair. The large underground complex is ill-defended and in constant turmoil as ragged, paranoid warbands gain, lose and regain control of the Crown. To them, everything else in the world pales in comparison to the ugly iron helm.

The five who survive are 15th level or higher and include a fighter, a cleric, two magic-users (Laeral and one other), and a thief. Most of their followers are 2d level or higher.Chapter 8
Stronghold of the Nine
This cavern complex is a former dwarfhold rebuilt by the Nine,
a famous adventuring band led by the female archmage Laeral.
Long-since abandoned by that group of heroes, it has recently
been taken over by a group of sylvan elves who have claimed
the title of “The Nine” as their own—apparently with the
blessing of Laeral.
Some believe that this is the first in a series of steps for the
elves in their effort to reclaim the High Forest. But while many
of the forest denizens appear to be cooperating with the new
“rulers” of the stronghold, it is going to be many years before
the Stronghold of the Nine can attain the level of power necessary
to be a force in the area.

Hellgate Keep:

In the days of Eaerlann, the city of Ascalhorn was a moon elf citadel. Human refugees occupied it after the fall of Netheril. Later the baatezu infiltrated Ascalhorn, secretly gaining control over ruling figures and the populace until 882 DR, when a number of wizards realized what had happened and summoned demons to destroy the baatezu. The warring fiends tore the city apart, and the victorious demons turned the city into the dreaded Hellgate Keep. For nearly five hundred years, Hellgate Keep gave the north end of the High Forest a bad name.

In 1368 DR, after attacks by elves had weakened the baatezu, members of the Harpers used powerful magic to destroy Hellgate Keep, killing most of the baatezu. The great treant leader Turlang moved in to seal off the area and keep the remaining fiends from causing more damage. At the present time, after several expeditions by adventurers who evaded Turlang or bargained for passage, the smoking crater that was Hellgate Keep seems pacified.

Olostin's Hold

(Village, 800): This fortified keep between Everlund and Yartar shelters some two hundred permanent inhabitants and extends protection to another six hundred human farmers and ranchers. The only permanent human settlement of significant size in the High Forest, it survives thanks to the inhabitants' properly respectful attitude for the deities of the wood.

REGIONAL HISTORY Long ago, when the elves truly ruled Faerun, the kingdom of Eaerlann held sway in the High Forest. Eaerlann fell in 882 DR when Ascalhorn became Hellgate Keep. Soon after the elves began to slip away from the High Forest, embarking on their Retreat.

As the elves slowly vanished, the great treant Turlang carefully gathered his strength and took control of much of the northern High Forest, the area most threatened both by ores and by the demons and devils that once resided in Hellgate Keep. Turlang's treants have gradually pushed the boundaries of the wood, moving the tall trees up the side of the Hellgate crater, miles past the former boundaries of the High Forest proper.

Simultaneously, the High Forest near Everlund has crept several miles to the north, coming within a hero's bowshot of the walls of Everlund.

In recent years, many wood elves who moved to Evermeet in the Retreat returned to Faerun through portals into Evereska, then slipped northwest to join the wild elves of the High Forest. They seek nothing less than the reestablishment of the kingdom of Eaerlann.

Thus far, the effort to retake their forest consists of a determination to handle problems with elven skills and elven magic, and to drive the orcs and gnolls from the woods.

Other elves within the great forest have actively evil intent. In ancient Eaerlann, the sun elf mages of House Dlardrageth made pacts with demons. For their crimes they were imprisoned deep beneath what would later become Hellgate Keep. The destruction of the Keep freed them.

While seeking to piece together their former magical arsenal, they rescued other sun elf tieflings who had been imprisoned for centuries by the moon elves. The various demon-spawned sun elves have joined forces under the orders of Countess Sarya Dlardrageth (CE female sun elf/fey'ri Wiz17). They may never become organized enough to pose a serious threat to the settlements of the North, but anyone who discovers their lairs in buried elven ruins outside the High Forest-finds them dangerous foes indeed

PLOTS AND RUMORS The High Forest is not to be traveled lightly. The treant Turlang is not necessarily hostile to humanoid races, but he's not predisposed to be friendly. Adventurers traveling through Turlang's lands need to use extreme caution, excessive speed, or unusual powers of persuasion.

The Memory of Steel: A sage notes that a magic weapon newly acquired (or perhaps long held) by a character was at one point a much more powerful item. It lost many of its powers in a magical battle, but could be restored if dipped into one of the Fountains of Memory atop the Lost Peaks.

Endless Caverns
Endless Caverns: In the High Forest, due south of the Star Mounts, a spring that joins the Unicorn Run river flows out of this large network of limestone caverns (and a few deliberately hewn linking passages) that stretches for many miles underground, ultimately connecting to the Underdark. Older than the fallen elven realm of Eaerlann, it has been home to several now-slain dragons (some of whose hidden treasure hoards may still lie in it), and more recently illithid-led drow slaver bands who mount raids into the surface realms.

The Endless Caverns At the edge of the broken lands south of the Star Mounts, a nameless river flows from a huge opening in the cliff face.

The rangers of the Harpers know this as the Endless cavern, a deep reaching cavern complex which the elves of Eaerlann believed to be a connection point with the deep realms of the underearth.

Here of old dwelt Grax Rekaxx, an ancient green dragon. His mosscovered bones decorate the outermost cave chamber, but no trace was ever found of his vast dragon hoard.

The ranger, Skimmerhorn of Secomber, reported evidence of illithid activity here on his most recent investigation.
Endless Caverns
At the edge of the Sisters, the broken lands south of the Star
Mounts, numerous caverns dot the cliffs, and most are unremarkable.
However, a northern fork of the Unicorn Run flows
from a huge opening in the cliff face, and the cave it creates is
the entrance to what Harper rangers and druids know as the
Endless Caverns. These are a series of deep-reaching cavern
and tunnel complexes that the elves of Eaerlann (as do the
elves and centaurs of the High Forest today) believed had connection
points with the Deep Realms of Underearth.
In the ancient days after the abandonment of Eaerlann,
Grax Rekaxx, an ancient green dragon, made the mouth of the
Endless Caverns his home. His moss-covered bones decorate
the outermost cave chamber, where the river falls a short distance
to join the Unicorn Run. However, no trace was ever
found of his vast dragon hoard after his slaying at the hands of
elven adventurers from Evereska over four centuries ago. This
was due to the fact that some of the hoard went to Evereska,
while the rest was hidden well.
For the past 65 winters, Grimnoshtasdrano, the “Riddling
Dragon,” has made his residence in the ancient lair of Grax.
He has quite an old and substantial hoard for a dragon of his
relative young age; he was simply the first to uncover the remains
of Grax’s hoard and absorb it into his own. Despite some
distaste, Grimnosh leaves the bones of Grax in place simply as
a warning to those who would test his patience.
A ranger, Skimmerhorn of Secomber, reported evidence of
illithid activity here on his investigation there in 1356. Returning
within a year’s time with a band of adventurers and fellow
rangers, they ventured into the Endless Caverns, flushed
out an encampment of illithids and drow slavers, and went
deeper to collapse the tunnels used to reach the surface. No
word of their success—or survival—has ever reached Secomber
in the interim decade or more.

The Nameless Dungeon Until adventurers from Sundabar brought a glowing suit of mithril chain mail +4 out of the ruins of this elven citadel, the treasures of elven Eaerlann were believed to have disappeared with the elves. The discovery of the Nameless Dungeon has caused a furor among elves in the North. An envoy from Evermeet has gone as far as to ask High Lady Alustriel of Silverymoon to outlaw those known to have trespassed here.

There is something in the ancient crypts that the elves do not want anyone to know about.
Nameless Dungeon
from Evereska) to prevent trespassers from plundering elven
treasures that should remain buried.
Eaerlann’s treasures were believed to have disappeared with
the elves, but this was proven wrong when the elven ruin soon
known as the Nameless Dungeon yielded mithral armor, magical
weapons, and other works of lost elven craft to adventurers
from Sundabar in 1351. The plundered citadel quickly caused
a furor among elves in the North, and envoys from Evermeet
have established some guardians at the site (along with troops
supplied by High Lady Alustriel of Silverymoon and others
In almost two decades, the Nameless Dungeon has produced
only a few artifacts and items, such as two mithral suits
of scale and chain mail armor, an ornately-crafted long sword
with a basket hilt (carved to appear as multiple tongues of
flame), and a helm made of mithral that was shaped like a
hawk’s head complete with beak. This scarcity is due to the
fact that its guardians (2-12 moon-elf warriors of levels 3-8)
have allowed no one to enter for over twelve years without tokens
of free passage granted exclusively by Alustriel (granted
ostensibly to historians and elven scholars).
The elves claim they simply don’t want the holy ground of
an ancient elven burial ground violated by ravaging intruders.
Others claim that there is something powerful in the ancient
crypts that the elves wish to keep secret.

Halls of Four Ghosts: On the western edge of the High Forest in the Sword Coast North stands the crumbling great hall of a ruined, long-abandoned dwarf hold, now haunted by the ghosts of four dwarves who beckon urgently to any dwarves approaching the ruins.

Diligently exploring adventurers found an underground stronghold opening out of one side of a now-dry well shaft that descends from the hall. Home to many trolls (including giants of that race), these chambers connect via many miles of mine tunnels (used by drow and illithid slavers) to the Underdark.

The Hall of Four Ghosts This ruined dwarfhold draws its name from its sole standing building, the great hall of the lord’s palace. The hall is haunted by four ghosts, tragic lovers who caused each other’s deaths.

The citadel here was a lumbering town, harvesting mighty trees from the High Forest for dwarves throughout the North. The everpresent dwarven mine tunnels burrow deep beneath the High Forest. Giant trolls are known to lair here along with their normal relatives.

GAME INFORMATION: The Hall of Four Ghosts connects with a vast tunnel complex that extends for tens of miles beneath the western High Forest. This complex is mostly unexplored, but is known to connect with caves in the Dessarin and Unicorn Run river valleys.

Clusters of rooms were once dwarven camps, but many tunnels predate even the Hall of Four Ghosts.

Treants

The “wood rulers” dwell near the city of Everlund in the part of the forest known as “The Woods of Turlang,” after the Treant’s aeons-old ruler “Turlang the Thoughtful.” Each treant has a stretch of woodland which is carefully maintained in keeping with his or her personality, ranging from immaculately clean tree gardens, to dense, dark and eerie, seemingly haunted forest.

Half-Elven Renegades

The descendants of the folk of Eaerlann inhabit, or infest, much of that lost land’s former woodlands. These halfelven brigands are primarily moonelves, but numerous drow “breeds” are to be found, descendants of elf, drow and human unions long past. Noted among them is their leader, “princess” Tianna Skyflower.

Men Druids serving Silvanus guard Tall Trees (the great tree remnants of the ancient elven land of Eaerlann) near the forest’s eastern edge and occasionally (and with great caution) explore the deeper forest. An adventuring band has a stronghold in the south, and an illusionist one in the north.

Korred

The primary home of these dancehappy forest folk is the wood around the Lost Peaks in the western forest.

Great glades form dance floors large enough to host a thousand dancing korred. These diminuitive, wild-haired, satyr-like creatures worship Tappan, their own god and Shiallia, a female woodland demigod allied with Mielikki.

Drow
This subterranean elven subrace does not dwell here, but it has long been suspected that the forest hides an entrance to Menzoberranzan, one of the dark elves’ Deepearth cities.

Mongrel Men

These mixed breeds have been migrating in numbers to the central forest, apparently being called into the service of a charismatic man who calls himself “The One.” Orcs Numerous orc tribes dwell in the cool darkness of the southwestern forest.

Their crude villages are located about two days’ travel into the woods.

Aarakocra

This winged race dwells only in the central Star Mounts, but occasionally is seen near the western fringe of the forest.
They are reclusive, having little to do with other folk.

Wizard Weather The High Forest and the surrounding countryside experience (or suffer from) occasional exotic weather patterns that can only be of magical origin (and are presumed to be caused by the Dire Wood). This weather appears suddenly, ends suddenly and is often destructive and deadly. Recorded types of wizard weather have included red snow (“it tasted like blood”), hot rain (“it boiled the flesh”), blizzards in summer, exotic (invisible, multi-colored, huge, explosive, glowing and black) hailstones, dense fog (with evil creatures lurking within), razor-sharp sleet (“it drew blood and scored metal”), black, acidic rain, and desert-like blazing heat.

There is a 1% chance each day of encountering wizard weather while within the High Forest.

Heartblood River

This tributary of the Delimbiyr, which flows through the Dire Wood, has its source on the north side of the Star Mounts. Where the Heartblood leaves the Dire Wood, the water has a reddish cast which quickly disappears.

GAME INFORMATION: If the water of the Heartblood is consumed while still reddish, the imbiber is temporarily magically enhanced. For 1d4 hours, spells cast by magic-users and clerics (not by devices) have a +1 chance to succeed, and all imbibers gain a 20% Magic Resistance.

The Citadel of the Mists

This isolated castle lies in the forest’s northern fringes and is home to a powerful illusionist known only as the Mistmaster, reputed to be 26th level. He dwells here with his household retainers who are known to be Iltmul, an 8th level monk, once the White Master of Dragons, now Green Master of Dragons; and Cherissa Mintareil, a 5th level woman warrior who gained great fame in the service of Cormyr. The Mistmaster loves to raise and train pegasi.

The Citadel is rumored to contain great treasure within its vaults, yet few have ever seen the Citadel, let alone passed within.

GAME INFORMATION: The Citadel, which is built upon the foundation of ancient elven fortress (which may itself have been built upon the ruins of something even more ancient), is guarded by both magical and monstrous guardians, and when the Mistmaster wishes, it is cloaked in swirling mists.

A tall tower houses the pegasi eyrie. It is reached by an exposed internal staircase through a single large chamber, reputedly guarded by charmed air and fire elementals.

Beneath the castle are the cellars of the ancient elven fortress. Passages known to descend deeper have been blocked. . . repeatedly.
Citadel of the Mists
Focal point of myriad magics and intrigues alike, the Citadel of
the Mists is one of the most well-known human dwellings
within the woods. This isolated castle lies in the forest’s northern
fringes and is home to many powerful people. The citadel’s
undisputed lord is known only as the Mistmaster (C19/Ill26), a
human of extremely long life who has reputedly been at least a
mage and a priest of no small power. He dwells here with his
household retainers and allies, among whom number the fighting
priest Iltmul (LN hm P11 [Helm]), Cherissa Mintareil (CG
hf F9 [Tymora]), who gained great fame in the service of
Cormyr, and the enigmatic wizardess from Silverymoon known
only as Azure (NG hf Inv12).
The Citadel of the Mists, if not obscured by its namesake
mists, appears as a slim triangle of three towers jutting from
two large buildings and an enclosed courtyard. The tallest
tower houses the aerie for the Mistmaster’s pegasi, and this (as
well as its egress into the Citadel) is heavily guarded by
charmed air and fire elementals.
The Citadel was built in its current form only 75 years ago,
and it rests upon the foundations of an ancient elven fortress.
Beneath the castle are ancient cellars and passageways belonging
to the stronghold that preceded the Citadel at this location.
These under-tunnels have been blocked repeatedly, and
no one has walked these halls in nearly 3,000 years. Guarded
by both monstrous guardians and mighty magic at all quarters
above and below, the Citadel is cloaked in swirling wardmists
whenever the Mistmaster wishes.

Karse

The center of the mystical Dire Wood is the ancient ruins of Karse. In olden days, religious refugees who had been driven from the ancient land of Netheril built this city at the base of the base of a tall butte of red stone which their legends held to be the remnants of Karsus ’s physical form. Though they originally built without permission from the elves of Eaerlann, an alliance was struck and they mined the rich metal deposits of the Star Mounts. Both normal forest and the black dire oaks have thickly overgrown the ruins.

Here can be found the black glade, a circle of 13 towering dire oaks; the intact, ageless home of the evil archmage Wulgreth; and an eerie black pyramid which oozes evil.

GAME INFORMATION: Karse fell into ruin around the same time as Hellgate Keep was occupied by demons, when the death of the evil wizard Wulgreth caused the creation of the Dire Wood. The wizard yet lives on as an intensely evil, lich-like being within the black pyramid. He seeks pure blood from the heart of Karsus to return to true life. An avatar (minor physical manifestation) of the dying god Karsus dwells in a temple atop the butte, his everflowing blood contributing to the magical nature of the Dire Wood, while deep within the butte, Karsus’s gigantic, living heart beats ponderously.
Karse
In the center of the Dire Wood are the ancient ruins of Karse.
In older days, religious Netherese emigrants built this city at
the base of a tall butte of red stone. Like Eaerlann and many
places, the town of Karse was abandoned after the fall of Ascalhorn
and left to ruin. Both normal forest and black, petrified
oaks have grown throughout the ruins. The only building that
weather the centuries without scars is an eerie, black pyramid
that pulses and flickers with a sickly green radiance.
The lich Wulgreth, whose infamy is legendary as the creator
of the magical Dire Wood and the fool whose summoned tanar’ri
led to the fall of Ascalhorn, made Karse’s ruins its home for the
past millennia. None have seen or heard anything of the lich for
the past seven years, and even the tale-telling Harpers have no
lore to enlighten adventurers as to the fate of Wulgreth. Some
guess he either was destroyed, degenerated into demilich status,
or perhaps he simply left. No one knows for certain, but all know
that they do not want to be the ones to find out

Old Road

From the mouldering ruins of the ancient elven port on the Delimbiyr, this road once traveled to lost Karse, but now literally fades into nothingness as its paving stones crumble into dust about 90 miles into the forest.
The Old Road
This is a 35-foot-wide cobblestone road built by the elves of
Eaerlann long centuries before Waterdeep was even a trading
post. Many of the stones are cracked—if not dislodged or missing
altogether—after years of nonuse and neglect. Still, it provides
one of the easiest paths into the interior of the High Forest,
no matter what shape it’s in. Its roughest treatment lies 10
miles into the forest, where either spells or wizard weather sundered
the road with an earthquake and left a 50-foot-diameter
crater centered on the Old Road, requiring folk to walk into
the forest surrounding it.
There is one manned guardpost at the intersection where
the Old Road splits off and leads to the Nameless Dungeon.
The garrison here consists of moon elves and gold elves from
Silverymoon and Evereska; there are no less than 25 warriors
of varied levels at any given time, and at least four of them are
mid-level priests or wizards as well. If travelers have a token
allowing them passage to the Nameless Dungeon, they are escorted
to it by a small force of at least one elf per party member.
If they simply use the road to travel farther west, the elves
keep a sharp eye on them for at least the next mile (to make
sure they don’t double back and head for the Nameless
Dungeon).
The Old Road ends in stages, gradually switching from its
stone pavement to a well-worn log road for roughly five miles.
After that, the Old Road degenerates into a footpath and finally
dead ends in a small grove. There was once a small stone
marker carved with elvish writing that simply said “This be the
end of the Old Road of Eaerlann’s folk. Attend the silence of
the grove and say a prayer to those who walked before you and
those who follow your footsteps as well.” That marker was destroyed
by lightning or some other explosive force in 1355. At
the site of the blasted marker, though, is the skeletal severed
arm of a gnoll still clutching a rusted and pitted short sword.

The Far Forests”
Once an idyllic fair wood similar to the brightest parts of the
High Forest, the Far Forests suffered a like fate as Ascalhorn
with its fall. Its dryad and treant population abandoned its
trunks centuries ago as more fiendish creatures from Hellgate
Keep invaded its tree line. The trees themselves eventually

mirrored the horrific inhabitants, becoming twisted, sickly
growths that provided gloom rather than shade. Aside from
basic wildlife and the invading fiends, no intelligent sylvan
races remained in the Far Forests.
With the fall of Hellgate Keep, the fiends within the Far
Forests have begun to move south toward the Fallen Lands,
seeking a safe haven from destruction. Currently, the Far
Forests have once again become the home of treants and
dryads, whose ministrations and care have begun to restore the
woods to health. Some of the treants have marched the most
corrupt or twisted of the trees to a new outer tree line closer to
the Delimbiyr, allowing the sunshine to help heal the melancholic
nature that permeated the trees and ground.
Motril the Younger, one of the centaur leaders of Clan
Hoofmight, has discussed plans of moving some of his clan
here both to expand their territory and to fight the fiends that
remain in isolated pockets. As of this writing, the exodus has
not progressed much beyond the idea. Also, the treants under
Turlang and a clan of leprechauns are currently effective at ridding
the Far Forests of fiends.

Hellgate Dell
The former site of Hellgate Keep and lost Ascalhorn is unrecognizable today. The pile of rubble where the main citadel once stood is now an uneven, craggy hill overgrown with moss and small bushes. Surrounding that hill is a ring of 25 huge oak trees. Should any nonnative of the High Forest (and definitely any tanar’ri) approach the dell, five of the trees reveal themselves to be treants keeping watch over the ruins to prevent
anyone from releasing the evil that yet lurks beneath the ruins.