The Bleachwood

Tucked away in the northwestern corner of Kovarik is the Bleachwood, an expanse of grey mottled forest inhabited by barbaric tribes and horrific creatures alike. Even during the height of the Elven empire’s prominence the Bleachwood was viewed as a cursed land where no crops would grow and no man should tread. Lumber taken from the forest would crumble to ash as soon as it was carried beyond its borders, hunters found the wildlife of the forest almost impossible to hunt, as if they knew of the approach of outsiders, and expeditions into the Bleachwood would seldom return.

Despite this the Bleachwood is and always has been occupied, inhabited by what many would consider barbaric people subsiding off the rot and wicked creatures found within their lands. Tribalistic the primarily human population within Bleachwood forest ascribe their ability to survive within this otherwise inhospitable region to the strength of their Tribal Leader’s magic and connection to the land. Still the people of Bleachwood by no means have an easy life, their lands are often attacked by horrific beasts, unnatural abominations, and the undead. However, these threats are nothing compared to the danger posed by the most cunning creatures found within the Bleachwood, Hags. These evil creatures are known to worm their way into otherwise self-sufficient tribes only to slowly strangle them from the inside, often turning the people against one another or bringing the whole of the populace under their control.

As a result the people of Bleachwood fear hags almost as much as they revere their tribal leaders. A strange thing considering how most successful tribes are headed by shamans, spiritualists, and witches that call upon the same dark magic as hags.