THE
THAELON
FOREST
("SANCTUARY
WOOD") |
The Thaelon Forest (lit. "tae lón", Styrásh for "Covered Wood", "Secret Wood" or more freely translated "Sanctuary Wood") is Santharia's largest forest, and may even be the biggest on Caelereth, comparable in size only to forests like the Shaded Forest in Northern Sarvonia or the Drifting Woods of Nybelmar. It is located in the northernmost province of the United Kingdom, Vardýnn, and stretches for sure over a 1000 strals from east to west and at least an estimated 300 strals from north to south. The enormous size becomes especially evident if you consider travelling times: It takes a fast courier no less 12 days to pass through on a secure route when on his way to Nyermersys to New-Santhala, and at least 15 days when riding along the southern border along the Vandrina to go from Voldar to Ephirn's Lake! The Thaelon is a tranquil and serene place, sacred to all elven tribes of Sarvonia. They are believed to have their mythological roots in these woods, and thus it is surrounded in mystery to all but the elves. However, how much the elves themselves understand of this forest remains unknown. Many elves believe it to be the centre of the world where the ancient Tree of Life, Eu'reóll, has its roots and thus it is supposed to be the place of origin of many things.
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Indeed the inexplicable mysteries that surround parts of the forest are
manifold. Some areas emanate an aura of magic
that is beyond the comprehension of any human.
The innermost places are even said to be guarded by plant-beings and protected
by eerie phenomenons like wisps and phantasms that make it impossible to enter
the heart of the sanctuary. The Thaelon is also rumoured to still be the home
of the enigmatic and numinous light
elves, but their sightings are rare; they usually appear to selected
elves only.
Throughout the forest there is also a vast diversity of flora and fauna which
is uncompared to any other forest in the known world. - Travellers beware: To
travel in the Thaelon without a guide is for all but
elves quite a risk to take.
Description. The
Thaelon is vast and endless, and vast and endless is what it contains - or at least so it seems once
one has taken a
journey through it. After having covered hundreds of
strals one still will not see
the forest's confines, but one will become witness of how the character of the forest
changes as does the vegetation throughout the long ride. The Thaelon is
a world of its own, with its own laws as the elves are
known to say themselves in a proverb, "ránn tae lón" (loosly translated meaning
"the sovereign is the Thaelon" or "the Thaelon commands"). There are tales of
elves who are said to have lived their long
lives in the forest solely, never venturing out. Yet, despite
its vastness the Thaelon forest of today - unlike other
elven woods - is only inhabited in parts. In
general it is important to differentiate between the various forest sections,
as depending on where one looks at the Thaelon a different picture presents
itself to the eye with different history to
tell, or which tales and myths lie within.
There are at least four major sections to discern at the Thaelon: The most
important is the sanctuary
of the Ó'phyría to the east with the heart and most mystical place of the
forest, the Sálen'seiá. The Aelle'lón lies to the northwest, named after the
Aellenrhim elves, the keepers of
the Thaelon, who reside there.
Then there is the Aviariáth, southwest of the Ó'phyría, harbouring many a
shrine of the Santharian and
elven Gods, and also featuring graves of
famous people who accompanied the elves
through the centuries as friends, thus including a whole plethora of
druidic groves. And finally we
have the Már'cál'ethrón, consisting mainly of forested moorland between the
river arms of the Vandrina in the west.
The four now very distinct sections are said to have once formed one large
forest entity, which the woes of time like wars, earthquakes and floods have brought appart. The
elves on the other hand would argue that the
Thaelon might have changed its appearance over the years, but that its spirit
is still the same. The Aellenrhim
guardian Raug'thuóc once was quoted: "Wherever you are listening to the
[Thaelon] forest, it speaks with the same voice - if you only accept it." The
elves are indeed convinced that as the Tree of
Life is just a reflection of the Thoughts of Avá,
so the forest of the Thaelon is a reflection of the Tree of Life, and thus
subject to change, and in the process of that represents the realization of
divinity in this world. Thus the Thaelon's diversity, which it has developed
since its creation millenia ag,o also reminds us how it once was one - and how
perhaps, one day, things will return again to their origins, to the Thoughts of
the High Goddess.
Let's have a closer look now at the four main forest sections we've just
mentioned:
The Ó'phyría ("Everlasting High Woods") and the Sálen'seiá ("Silent Heaven")
The main part of the Thaelon is the easternmost, which is called the "Ó'phyría" (Styrásh
for "Everlasting High Woods") by the
elves, centering around the heart of the
forest and sanctuary of the
elves, the "Sálen'seiá" ("Silent Heaven"),
which supposedly harbours the mysterious light elves and
according to mythology still offers secret access to Eu'reóll, the Tree of
Life. The Ó'phyría stretches approximately 425
strals from north to south
and 360 strals from east to
west.
"Enter the Thaelon [i.e. the Ò'phyría] and meet the wonders of life, of whence
it came and where it goes," the
Aellenrhim librarian Baianác Téthelías wrote when he described the forest
to the Santharian King Tiandor in an encounter on the
Day of Avis not too long ago. "Step into the
sanctum that holds ancient times as if they were never forgotten, breathe past
and future fresh as a breeze, take it all in and feel the very moment become
intense. Smell the forest, sense its everlasting presence, hear other
existences echoing in it. Walk in it as if you have become the center of the
world and you will see that you gain insights in your being and a prospect into
the unknown that lies beyond. With other words: Dream!" -
Indeed Téthelías's account of how the Ó'phyría welcomes its visitors is hardly
exaggerated. The Ó'phyría is ancient,
magical
as some say for the lack of a better word,
"enchanted" as the poets call it. It lets everyone stepping into it feel its
power and incredibly elevating aura instantly, and the consciousness gains an
unknown awareness. "Enter the Ó'phyría the first time in your life and you will
know that you've finally come home," a famed elven
poet expresses it, alluding to the notion that the wood engulfs the visitor
with a strange kind of intimacy, that sometimes even might be interpreted as
frightening due to the suddenness of finding something unexplainably dear in an
altogether alien forest.
While the outer boundary of the
forest appears playful and inviting with a huge variety of flora, in the inner
parts of the Ó'phyría the floor receives only very little direct light. Mosses
and fungi are plentiful on the forest floor and along with this trees and other
plant life is also abundant. Trees such as the
silkel, the magnificent
mahood-euwen, the overhanging
cam'trah and many more common trees grow strong and tall. The cam'trah trees
often have climbers on them like the glittering vine of the ounashria or the
spiralingly growing whirlvine that make them appear like plants that were
decorated by hand, adding to their fascinating appearance. It is furthermore
known that the ounashria vines are preferred places for
spiders to weave their
silk, so don't be surprised to find whole spooky areas full with cobwebbed
trees in the deeper recesses. One will also come across a plethora of bushes in
the Ó'phyría, among them
allia,
wizardleaf,
zifel or the rare but wonderfully
flowering macadan bush along with sawleaf shrubs and the bright Quimron's
daggers. It has to be noted
however that bush growth is limited in this part of the Thaelon compared to the
dense Aviariáth for example, as the Ó'phyría features mostly tall proud trees
that give the forest a very ordered and thus distinct look. Especially
euwen groves within the Ó'phyría
leave a hard to forget impression,
for it is like unto entering a vast, extended hall, whose ceiling seems to be
carried by numerous imposing wooden pillars, and whose ground is so soft it
could easily be mistaken for a velvet carpet. For it is one of the unusual
habits of the Euwen to sink their roots, thirsting for
water, deeply into the ground, so that the
grown trunks look like artificial posts rammed into the
earth, the more so
since for the inattentive observer they seem to sprout upward into the sky
without any means of support.
The deeper one ventures into the forest, the more eerie it gets: Among the
magical trees growing in the
Ó'phyría
one might chance upon phenomenons like the
famous
wisps, mysterious glowing balls that are said to be spiritual in nature
and who might guide or fool one, one might never know. Other mysterious
happenings include the injuchanía, odd
sunbeams that seem to
get a life of their own when observed for several minutes, or the "quáraváshín"
("time winds"), powerful gusts spiraling
through the canopy, said to come out of nowhere and stirring up long forgotten
memories in any passers-by. Notorious is also the cór'pharín, the "travelling blackness", that makes the visitor feel
as if the part of the forest that has just been crossed now appears completely
different, as if an invisible hand from time to time draws a curtain in the
distance, with entirely
different, unrecognizable trees. Watcher
phantasms, distant observing humanoid
shapes, are also said to be spotted from time to time, but seem to be more of an
exception. Even very obvious landmarks like standing
stones sometimes are said to disappear, or one might suddenly find one's self
at the edge of the forest for no apparent reason. Most of these
apparitions are believed to be associated with the
Astyrhim, the
light elves, who are invisible to
the eye of the regular mortal and if at all can only turn corporeal in the
presence of elves (with a few exceptions
perhaps). They are said to protect their territory along with other
plant-beings like the pendrowe, which
are used as guardians to prevent people from penetrating to the heart of the
forest, the
Sálen'seiá (Styrásh for "Silent
Heaven"). It is also possible that drasil,
or "history trees", grow in the innermost
areas, yet it is impossible to venture to the core of the forest without
getting hopelessly lost. Expeditions in this regard are frowned upon by the
Aellenrhim keepers, who had to
take adventurous explorers out of the forest more than once, saving their
lives. There are rumours however that druids are allowed to
enter the Sálen'seiá from time to time under guidance of the
Aellenrhim keepers, yet under
which conditions and circumstances is not being revealed.
Where and if the entrance to the Sálen'seiá can be found at all and what this
"heart of the forest" actually
contains, nobody can say, maybe not even the
Aellenrhim keepers. It is believed by many
elves though that it still exists in the Thaelon, this tree so old and
wonderful, the Eu'reóll, the Tree of Life, which - according to
elven myth - was responsible for the creation
of the races as we know them (see Myth/Lore).
According to the common interpretation of that myth many
elves think that the Tree lives on beyond time
and space, and that it therefore can still be found in the Thaelon's innermost
sanctuary. Whether it is physically there or can be reached only via a portal
or through magical means will probably remain
a mystery forever.
The Aelle'lón ("Forest of the
Aellenrhim")
Somewhat seperated from the Ó'phyría is the second larger section of the
Thaelon, the "Aelle'lón" (short for "Forest of the
Aellenrhim"). It is
practically adjacent to the provincal capital of Voldar,
located northeast of it, and in relation to the Ó'phyría it lies northwest. The
Aelle'lón stretches approximately 120
strals from north to south
and 280 strals from east to
west.
In between these
forest sections there is only scantily growing forest-like vegetation, a place which is used
partly for
cultivation of crops and vegetables by the elves. As can be already
gathered by its name the Aelle'lón
harbours the caretakers
of the Thaelon, the highly literate and tradition-oriented
Aellenrhim elves, who have their
typical ophá homes on natural clearings with the Aelle'lón. While the majority of the
Aellenrhim lives in the
Bolder to
the north, the selected people living in the Thaelon see it as an honour and
duty to tend to the Ó'phyría and Aviariáth woods of the Thaelon.
Compared to the other forest sections, the Aelle'lón is less diverse and much
more like other woods across Southern Sarvonia,
especially like the original home of the
Aellenrhim, the
Bolder, that lies just to the north.
Oak trees,
ashwudes and
baych trees as well as some
euwen (smaller versions of the
notorious
mahood-euwen that grow in the
Ó'phyría) can can be found in the Aelle'lón. The border regions of this forest
sections contain a variety of birches of a
multitude of colours. Shaded by these lofty trees grow plants such as
allia,
doch nut, goldenbell,
rosemint,
shade grass,
tareptail weed, and
wizardleaf.
The Aviariáth ("Place of Spirits")
The Aviariáth is full of rolling hills stretching until the Vandrina river in
the south, where this large forest finds its end. It stretches approximately
135 strals from north to
south and 335 strals from
east to west. It is the part of the Thaelon where the
elves revere their ancestors and the Gods, and tribute to the spirits is
given, a concept which is difficult for humans
to graps however. The
elves, as the Children of the
Wind (see the
Cárpa'dosía), believe that upon their
death the individual spirit returns from where it has come, to its divine
source that is beyond the comprehension of the mortals. In a traditional rite a
dead elf's body undergoes the elemental
cleansing - it is washed, then burned and eventually strewn into the
wind to fall back on the
earth to nurture the the ground again that
represents the realization of the High Goddess
Avá's Dream. The ashes of few selected elves
are scattered in the Aviariáth, which is a very special honour, the same
applies for ashes of dead people of other races, who were close to the
elves and agreed to undergo the ritual
cleansing as well.
The Aviariáth definitely is not a burial grove as one finds it in various other places of
Sarvonia. There exist only a few traditional graves in this part of
the Thaelon, for example those belonging to legendary heroes and wizards of
other races who
helped to defend the Thaelon with their lives during the great Sarvonian Wars.
What there is to find however in these woods are shrines decdicated to the
Aviaría, the Twelve Gods as the Santharian
humans call them, all of them well integrated
into the canopy, which are sought out often by travellers,
elf or human
alike. Aside from the worship of the Twelve there's also worship of nature
itself or of the "Primal Spirits" taking place in this part of the forest, as
various druidic orders have their
bases here. Especially green and brown
druids have their own groves, which are tolerated by the
elves tending the Thaelon.
But actually the Aviariáth is not so much a consistent forest, but more an agglomeration of
patches of rather common trees and bushes that grow pretty dispersed around the
hills dominating this area. There are exceptions to this of course, as here and
there a whole grove spreads over several
strals, many of those are
druidic bases or are at least
temporarily inhabited by druid.
However, the large majority of the Aviariáth resembles more a densly overgrown
lanscape than an actual forest. Some hills and smaller mountains found there are actually quite high and provide a
magnificent view on the complete Thaelon.
Ashwude,
birch and
baych are the most common trees found
here, along with a plethora of fruit bearing trees and berry bushes that make a
journey through this pure and intense nature a real treat. The Aviariáth, right
after the Ó'phyría, is also the second best place in
Santharia where plants that lean towards
magical properties can be harvested best, like for example the
zifel,
wizardweed or even the fascinating
canthalman - not that this is advised to a great degree, mind you, as the
forest wardens are prone to ban one from their holy sites if one enters their
territory with purely selfish intentions.
The Már'cál'ethrón ("Swamp Extension")
The Már'cál'ethrón (Styrásh for
"Swamp Extension [of the Thaelon]") is the westernmost part of the giantic
Thaelon forest, consisting mainly of marshland between the arms of the river
Vandrina. It occupies a large portion of land that reaches until the Darksea
and the Peninsula of Paragonj, bordering Voldar in the
north and Cemphiria in the south. All in all Már'cál'ethrón stretches approximately 125
strals from north to south
and 390 strals from east to
west, which alone is still much larger than most other major forests in
Santharia.
While still a forest, the dense vegetation of the easternmost parts of the
Thaelon slowly dissipates here in the west, where the land more and more
succumbs to the waters of the Vandrina,
which spreads between the river's arms to the north and south. With the
decreasing vegetation also the hilly landscape prevalent in the Aviariáth
flattens out, and the scenery becomes gloomier and more obscure and
melancholic, but as well more dangerous for the occasional traveller who seeks
passage from Voldar to Cemphiria or the other way
round. Especially the central part of the Már'cál'ethrón is hazardous territory
and should be avoided at rainy days or when fog roams the lands. There are a
few secured roads crossing Már'cál'ethrón, which are used by couriers and
traders, but when it can be avoided detours should be preferred.
Some passages still represent whole forest patches that are pretty intact, at
other sections large ponds have developed, where rotting trees are slowly
drowning, stretching their branches out of the murky
waters which appear like
skeletal arms of giants having suffered their demise there. Getting lost at night in the Már'cál'ethrón at one such section
can send shivers down one's spine... Especially the ominous
wisps, perhaps as straying
remnants of the Ó'phyría wisps, can be found in these swamps as well and have
been made responsible for many a disappearance that happened in the region.
Others link such incidents to eerie and evil to the core moor creatures like
the ugly swamphags, in whom the
inhabitants of Voldar have a very strong belief. While
their existence is disputed among scholars of renown, many a
Voldarian will urge you to move on immediately once
you hear a somewhat trusted melody in the Thaelon swamps, which one might
mistake for the soughing of the wind. Because
the story goes that once you contemplate already seriously on whether its the
wind playing tricks on you or someone's
really singing out there, it's already too late...
Several tragic deaths have also led some people to assume that the swamps are
cursed and that therefore ghosts still linger in these
waters for the one or the other reason -
human superstition claims that if the good
souls end up as spirits in the eastern parts of the Thaelon (as the twsited
human interpretation of
elven lore goes), then the western half must
be reserved for those that failed their ultimate test once their life has
ended.
Location. The Thaelon is
situated in one of the northernmost Santharian
provinces, Vardýnn. The forest surrounds nearly the
whole town of the province's capital, Voldar,
stretching up more than 1000 strals
from west to east at parts and an estimated 300
strals from north to south.
While the density of the forest varies considerably and there are larger spaces
between some sections of the forest, the Thaelon is still a whole gigantic
entity and fascinating magical atmosphere can
be felt in any part of it. It is said however that the time needed to pass
through the forest is relative, especially if one tries to go another route than
the regular path. Couriers have gotten lost for fortnights in the Thaelon,
others ended up at the outskirts on the other side of the forest within a day
lacking any reasonable explanation how they got there.
The borders of the gigantic Thaelon Forest constitute the
Silvermarshes and the town of Weyring to the
north. To the
south the forest reaches until the river Vandrina stretching until Cemphiria,
occupying the majority of land between the upper and the lower parts of the
river leading into the Dark Sea.
In the extreme east of the forest lies the town of Holm, and at the very west the
Thaelon spreads in his spurs until the Peninsula of Paragonj and its
southernmost settlement, Accam.
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People. Though all - at least Southern Sarvonian - elves call the Thaelon their "home to which they will return some day" few actually live there. The native people of the Thaelon, or more precisely of the Ó'phyría ("Everlasting Woods"), are thought to be the fabled Astyrhim, or light elves, who are said to exist mainly in their spiritual forms, yet they retain the ability to manifest into a corporeal shape if needed. They are said to be the fairest of all elven tribes, but their existence and purpose is hardly understood and what is known about them stems from vague sources, of tales and legends. Some even doubt that they actually walk these woods, but are unreal and mere thoughts and dreams. At any rate they don't seem to interfere directly in Caelerethian history, and the few times the Thaelon became part of conflicts of historical proportions, the light elves never showed up, yet the otherwordly sanctuary miraculously was kept clean of enemies. As a consequence of non-existing confirmed sightings of these people they are assumed myth to all but the elves, but have a solid place in all kinds of lore surrounding these woods. Even if only half of what is told about them has a grain of truth, the Astyrhim are the most remarkable tribe on the Sarvonian continent, if not the entire world.
There are also Aellenrhim
inhabiting the Thaelon, but their numbers are few. The tribe has always had a
presence in the Aellen'lón part of the gigantic forest to the northwest.
The Bolder’s proximity to the Thaelon and their
relation to Daltelár, one of the Four (the
elder elves, sent by
the High Avá'ránn to take knowledge to
the races), means
they have a deep respect and feeling of responsibility towards this place. They
protect it and care for the sacred woods.
In general the
Aellenrhim have to be seen as a
quite withdrawn tribe, as their interests lie mainly in preserving the
knowledge of their ancestors, in documenting current events and reinterpreting
history - their exceptionally long life span helps them to maintain an unbiased
perspective. History and belief are closely connected in the eyes of these elves,
and thus it makes sense for them to be chosen as the watchers over the most
sacred place the elves know, the Thaelon,
and particularly the Ó'phyría, sanctuary of Avá.
Humans speculate whether there is much more to that relationship between the
Aellenrhim and the forest than
meets the eye. What is fact is that various groups of
elves enter the sacred Ó'phyría every few
months or so, staying on their own in the forest until their replacements arrive. It is
believed that aside from protecting the forest, planting seeds after disasters and such, they
also decipher the meanings of the standing stones found therein, draw charts
that make the forest's magic predictable and
let them pass certain gateways or
even have means to communicate - directly or indirectly - with the
light elves
at certain times of the year.
A third group of people that call the Thaelon, or at least the part called the
"Aviariáth", their home, are the druids.
They are in good terms with the wardens of the woods, the
Aellenrhim, and are allowed to
have bases - some temporary, some permanent - in the groves found in the
southern part. Similar to the elves the
druids aren't looking for company,
but stay to themselves. Yet how much there is communication and mutual
assistance in their duties between the
Aellenrhim and the
druids, is unclear. That there is
some can hardly be denied, though, as there are reports from independent sources
that druids are actually admitted
from time to time into the Sálen'seiá, the holiest part of the forest.
Every other tribe or race that once sought refuge in the confines of these
woods, has left again after a short while - it seems that the forest is very
selective on the matter whom it allows to stay and whom not: As we know from
ancient sources even Tiraelhon
(Sand Elves), explorers from the
southern continent of Aeruillin, were once reported to have dwelt in the Thaelon for
a while, but this did not last long. A band of
Brownies, the westerward sent division of the
Brownie hero
Keekoo the Deliverer, once lived in the forest during the fourth millenium
b.S., but like many others they soon moved on. They reached the Thaelon thinking
it a wonderful place and settled there. Yet they were never able to shake the
feeling of uneasiness that they had while they were living there, however, and
eventually they continued their journey wandering further north.
Climate. Speaking
about the climate of the Thaelon is tricky, as one cannot easily summarize a
forest of that size, and one that has its unpredicatable caprices regarding the
weather. In general one could say that the forest atmosphere tends towards cool
in summer in most parts of the forest where there is a lot of vegetation, as is
common in the woods of central and northern Santharia.
The swamps in the very west are often muggy and sometimes hot though, while the
weather is even cooler in the Ó'phyría, the hotter it is elsewhere. What is for
sure is that much
rain falls upon this grand forest, necessary to feed the immense amount of
vegetation, the flora is also fed by the river Vandrina and its many off-shoots.
On the edge of the forest the trees offer little protection from the westward
blowing winds, on their way to
Milkengrad, or the cold, harsh
winds coming from
Northern Sarvonia. As one journeys further
into the forest the higher concentration of various vegetation adds protection,
but there are other perils located there.
The Ó'phyría however, the magical
and mysterious northwestern part of the Thaelon, doesn't seem to follow regular
schemes. The
euwen trees that obscure the sky
there and thus are responsible for the name "covering woods" (Styrásh
"thae'lón"), make sure that the strong Injèrá
doesn't penetrate to the forest floor, which keeps the Ó'phyría cool and fresh
most of the time. In winter it isn't uncommon to see
mahood euwen all covered with a
thick layer of ice. An observed, enchanted by the fascinating
magic of such a miraculous sight tells us: "It
may be well several
nailsbredth thick,
coating every branch, every sprig, every pine-needle. Sometimes the
wind has blown at a certain direction,
then the ice has strange, crystal-like forms, often a
fore long. And all is
glinting and sparkling like a forest of jewels." (Talia Sturmwind) The euwen however
are not the only natural phenomenon that make the Ó'phyría somewhat different
compared to the rest of the forest: Strong gusts of
winds with no apparent source roam the
northeastern Thaelon, chilly coldness might be experienced in the hottest summer
along with unexplainable visions, sounds or memories. Tales tell of even
extremely fierce storms that took off all of a sudden, seemingly having their
source solely inside the forest itself. Such storms can last
blinks, minutes or hours and
turn the usual calmness of the Ó'phyría into a shocking experience for someone
who got lost in it. As with so many things regarding this part of the forest,
the causes are uncertain.
Bushes and plants might
grow and blossom in winter as if it were during the year, but one cannot make a
rule out of it. It is impossible to predict how Ó'phyrían vegetation behaves and
why. In general the Ó'phyría doesn't seem to be as affected by the seasons as
the rest of the forest, and always manages to surprise with conditions one
wouldn't expect to be possible at certain times of years.
Flora.
Within the Thaelon you will find many different kinds of vegetation. The
majority of trees are deciduous, with a modicum of evergreens throughout. The
wood is a true omnium gatherum of trees and herbs of various kinds and is an
extraordinary example of healthy nature. Yes, some even claim that the forest
purifies the soul and that it can make physical wounds heal faster. This might
have magical reasons as prominent
Ximaxian mages suggest, but some herbwomen claim that
the scent of the plants and the atmosphere created thereof are mainly
responsible why body and mind react so strongly to healing efforts.
The most famous trees you will find at the Thaelon are the
mahood-euwen which
grows only deep inside the Ó'phyría. From the appearance of these trees also the name
of the forest derives: "Táe'lón" (lit. "tae lón") is Styrásh
for "Covered Wood". While the stems of the trees are completely even and smooth,
the branches of the mahood-euwen cover the complete sky and they lock with the
branches of other trees nearby. Therefore the forest also is called the famous
"cloud-soft darkwood" as the poet Meowin puts it, or not so poetically said:
Often one can get the impression to wander through an enormous natural hall,
laid out with hundreds of peds of carpet. This has its reasons in the fact that
the forest allows only very few sunlight to penetrate to the ground, so that the
ground is nearly completely covered with mosses. The few rays of light shining
on the mosses add a fantastic, indescribable atmosphere to the scene one will
not so easily forget, because it fills heart and soul with a feeling of
well-balance and contentment.
Silkel trees are another kind
of tree that grow in abundance throughout the Ó'phyría. They are commonly
associated with Thaelon's fabled inhabitants, the
light elves. The little light
that manages to penetrate the covering canopy of the
mahood-euwen seems to be
drawn to these trees. In such and dark and mysterious place they shine with a
silver light, a representation of the Astyrhim. The Astyrhim are thought to be
the reason that these trees grow here, as their ethereality and obscure
magic are
thought to be the means of the creation of this tree, some say that they changed
unicorns into these trees.
One of the most unusual plants to dwell within Ó'phyría is of course the
pendrowe.
Pendrowe are supposed to
serve as a guardian of the inner core of the forest, protecting its plant and animal life. It is
them that keep the forest so untouched. If one were to look at Thaelon very
closely they may notice that though it looks natural and unchanged, it actually isn't.
The pendrowe are constantly influencing the forest ever so slightly to grow how
they want it. Amazingly they all seem to agree on how the forest should look and
work harmoniously. Pendrowe are also
known to grow in combination with ounashria vines, that hang like decoration
from the tree, which furthermore invite
spiders to weave their silk, often resulting in a rather eerie sight to
behold.
Various sources confirm the existence of drasil
("history trees") as well in the
Sálen'seiá, the heart of the
Ó'phyría. Possibly arranged in
a ring, mingled with pendrowe they act as guardians to everything inside
the innermost sanctuary. However, this is mere speculation. It is said that whereas the
pendrowe simply steer intruders away the
drasil are much harsher. Some tales say that all who try a
pass them are never seen again, and their fate in unknown. The
drasil living there are said to be
some of the most ancient ones, and their fruit is of a yellow/golden shine
instead of green, which is just another mystery of Thaelon. Few touch their
bark, and receive visions of their memories. Some
elves, and the occasional Brownie, have
claimed to have seen these visions, and speak of the wonders that they held.
The Ó'phyría also features magical plants like
wizardleaf,
zifel or the rare but wonderfully
flowering macadan bush along with sawleaf shrubs and the bright Quimron's
daggers. Especially
wizardleaf is known to grow in many
elven forests, but most notably of them is the Thaelon. The ground of great
parts of the forest is covered with a carpet of this most intriguing plant.
These areas are thought to be where the magical
aura that surrounds Thaelon is most concentrated. It has been rumoured that the
leaves of some
wizardleaves change colour depending
on surrounding elements without magical
manipulation. This plant is but another sign of the deep, underlying
magic in and around Thaelon.
Outside of the Ó'phyría more common plants can be found like the
ashwude, various kinds of
birch and the
baych tree grow for example primarily
in the Aviariáth.
The Thaelon also holds less unusual trees in the western parts, such as the
yellow birch, the
Arvins cedar, the
ashwude and the
fragrans. Along the edge of Thaelon grow the
infamous deadly nightshade as well as
the poisonous allia, but these plants do
not actually grow in the forest.
The doch nut is a plant however that
thrives everywhere in the area. This tasty little treat is favoured by both
elves and
animals, as are many other bushes that grow berries. Such bushes, along with
goldenbells and the
rosemints are
spread throughout the Thaelon, feeding deer
and rodent alike. The Aelle'lón is furthermore beset with
shade grass, or
"woodsweed", as it is sometimes
called. Preferring little or no sunlight it grows
in the deeper parts of the Aelle'lón, and as well in the Ó'phyría as
mahood-euwen provide perfect
conditions for this grass. Shade grass provides nourishment for most of the
forests herbivores. In the Aviariáth and the southern rim of the Thaelon grows a plant hated by gardeners,
the tareptail weed. It prospers in the south, but not a single
tareptail has
been seen in the northern or the eastern section, because of their loath of cold.
Fauna. In terms of
creatures inhabiting the forest the Thaelon of course is better known for its
good share of featuring phantasm phenomenons and apparitions than wildlife, as
the latter can be found in similar form at nearby woods. This especially applies
for the Ó'phyría, the most mythical section of the forest. Phantasms that are
said to exist in the Thaelon include
watchers,
wisps,
injuchanía, which are odd
sunbeams that seem to get a life of their
own when observed for several minutes, quáraváshín ("time winds"),
representing powerful gusts spiraling through the canopy that evoke distant
memories - to name just a few such phenomenons. No phantasms, but beings of
major mythical relevance are the
drasil ("history trees")
and pendrowe that are said to inhabit
the Sálen'seiá, the very heart of the Thaelon (read more on
those creatures under Flora), or the
swamphags that are supposed to
live in the Már'cál'ethrón.
It is even rumoured - if one
would like to believe the more fantastical stories - that
unicorns still roam through this forest,
though they are seen as rarely as light
elves to the eye of the common mortal, which is practically never. Legend
has it anyway that these unicorns are
still watching over those of their brethren who were turned into the magnificent
silkel trees by the
elves in order to prevent
humans with their beauty from cutting down the
forest.
Aside from these creatures and
phenomenons the Thaelon Forest holds a variety of animals common in Southern
Sarvonia, mainly in the Aelle'lón section, among them
deer, rabbits,
kuatu, arshir
and raoshir, and birds such as the
cuuloo,
aelirel,
coa-coa and
haloen. Also the majestic death dance butterflies live strictly within the
limits of the Thaelon, and then mostly in the shady parts of the Ó'phyría or the
Aviariáth. The aggressive flunki rodents
are very common in the northern part of the wood and the surrounding area.
Another quilled animal that dwells in Thaelon is the
riccio, though in comparison they are a
much gentler creature. Apart from these are much more rare, and often beautiful,
creatures. The majestic taedrius bird, cousin of the
caladrius, are only found in this
forest. The whistling beetle is a
major food supply for the taedrius, and also dwell deep within the forest. The
main predator of the prior animals and a main hunting interest of the
Aellenrhim guardians is the
horned wolf, another creature that has
only one mate. They spend much of their time in the deeper, denser centre of the
forest, and so are often unseen, yet at
Sundrown their songs can be
heard.
For further details on the Thaelon's fauna, please refer to the
Description section, details on phantasms and the
like can be found especially in the paragraphs dealing with the
Ó'phyría.
Resources. The
Thaelon, as a place of sanctuary for the elves,
is hardly a territory to look extensively for minerals, to collect wood on a
grand scale or to hunt for game in order to make a fortune with selling some
pelts. The Thaelon is protected and restricted for travellers in some parts, and the few resources that are available
especially in the northwestern section, at the Aelle'lón, are used by the
Aellenrhim guardians to ensure
their own living. Everything the forest - or more precisely the Aelle'lón -
cannot provide, the Aellenrhim get
from their sisters and brothers in the Bolder
further north, who do regular business with other races, unlike the Aelle'lón
inhabitants, who prefer to keep to themselves. One of the few exceptions however
where people are allowed to gather resources is during the
silkel harvest in the offshots of the
eastern Ó'phyría. This event takes place once a year and is done mostly by
Caltharians under supervision of
the forest guardians, in exchange for other goods the
Aellenrhim need.
The Aelle'lón obviously harbours wood, from the
fire-resistant and fresh-scented yellow
birch, to the soft and rot-resistant
deer tree, to the hard
ashwude. The ranging variety of
timber available in this forest thus is its prime resource, and there is enough
supply of supple woods suitable for making bows
and such like, which the elves use to hunt.
Minerals or gems are practically non-existent in the whole region the Thaelon
covers, at least not in the parts that are accessible to most people.
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The Thaelon has however a certain reputation for harbouring various powerful
magical reagents, which one isn't likely to
find elsewhere. Among these are plants like the
wizardleaf,
zifel (also known as
"wizard weed"), the
faur'querín ("seven leaf") or the much rarer, but
extremely potent Xeuá reagent macadan. Fungi
like the oumatron or the thán'ac'hár also have to be mentioned in this regard.
All of these plants are said to exist in the Thaelon due to the prevalence of
extraordinary natural
magical sources in the forest, be it explicit
(near standing stones, graves of mages etc.) or hidden. Gathering said reagents however is frowned upon
by the Aellenrhim protectors of the
forest and might result in a life-long ban from the area.
Myth/Lore. The
Thaelon is an ancient forest primarily full with
elven lore, which dates back to the time when the world of
Caelereth came into being. Many of these ancient
myths are guarded mostly by the
Aellenrhim protectors of the wood, but several mythical stories supposedly
related to the Thaelon can be found in the most important religious tome of the
elves, the
"Cárpa'dosía", the "Book of the
Beginnings". There the creation of the Tree of Life out of the Thought of the
High Goddess Avá is the central theme, and
the elves are convinced that said Tree of
Life once grew in the Thaelon. They also believe that the now burning Tree of
Life (after it was inflammed by Coór the Dark
One) still stands in midst of this magnificent wood, yet only a few selected
ones might actually see it, as it is probably hidden to the eyes of the mortals
in time or space and can only be accessed through a secret portal or a spiritual
voyage. It should be noted here that many Sarvonian
Brownies also share the belief that they
sprang from the Tree of Life and thus the Thaelon has a special significance for
them. Sarvonian humans
have their own creation myth, however they accept the
elven insistanee on the Thaelon's importance
and arrange themselves with the
Aellenrhim guardians.
Throughout history there have also been various other miraculous occurrences to
humans reported in
the Thaelon or its direct vicinity, some of them of major significance for
tribes and kingdoms. Other mysterious incidents are of seemingly minor
importance, or at least it isn't entirely clear if the influence of the forest,
be it its inhabitants or native phenomenons, was intentional or just accidental.
Among the most famous stories related to the Thaelon is the one about the young
Katya Ileri, a young girl from Yarrow, who
stumbled into the forest after her home and family had been destroyed in the
Dragonstorm of 1648 b.S. Legend has it
that she was healed in the forest by the
light elves and that she was guided via this fabulous encounter to her
eventual destiny of becoming Queen of
Erpheronia, the unforgotten
"Beggar Queen", Katya the Just. As such she confronted the adamant dragon
Ol'dem'brey and become highly respected among her tribe and Southern
Sarvonia in general. What became of her after the
death of her consort is shrouded in mystery, as it is said that she left
Voldar after her abdication and returned to the
Thaelon, and since then she has never been seen again. - Whether this story is
true or just something the people of
Erpheronia put together to comfort themselves after her unexplainable
disappearance, remains unclear however.
Other tales include couriers, who had to deliver important messages, and seemed
to have skipped several hundred
strals within instants, perhaps due to assistance from forces within the
forest. Yet other messengers got lost when seeking a shortcut, so maybe the same
forces worked against them or they just didn't know the mazelike ways of the
Thaelon enough to be able to escape from it again. In the early 16th century
a.S. it also appears that the Thaelon prevented
goblins actively from passing through the forest and rejoining with other
darkfriends who had made their way to the south from another side. Similar
things are supposed to have happened on several other occasions. Also certain
individuals, especially people inclined to magic
(e.g. macanti, who claim to be "Gifted"
ones), tell of xperiences of clairvoyancy in the confines of the
Thaelon - having seen answers to past events for example to clarify the death of
a loved one or to have seen things which were still to happen. Priestesses of
Seyella and
Baveras Aids therefore also visit the
shrines in the Aviariáth from time to time, for one hoping to strengthen their
belief by being at such a sacred placed, but also sometimes praying for signs
and visions received through a devine encounter, as so many others claim to have
made. Furthermore some
speak of dreams and visions of events that took place at the same time as they
were in the Thaelon, of which they could not have known at that time. Even tales
of resurrection of humble beggars and famous human
captains alike who defended the forest with their lives are not uncommon - the
Aellenrhim guardians would say that
one better believes in these accounts.
The Thaelon has also been the center point of many invented stories, lore based
on loose facts and poems. Humans have always
been intrigued with the unknown and are fascinated by the various phenomenons
prevalent in this large wood, especially as the
elves seem interested not to share these secrets with other races. Since
only the elves probably understand the Thaelon
(to which degree remains to be debated nevertheless),
humans cannot help but wonder about its
mysteries and use this backdrop for original storytelling or to express strong
sentiments like hope, longing and the wish for eternal life in literature
related to the Thaelon. One example of this is the poem by the famous poet
Meowin from his "Voyage to the Clouds":
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