Latest posts of: Drúadan

OK, I promised, so here it is. Now, I know that I was more than a little, er, harsh. The concepts here are sound on a basic level, but it just needs some careful tuning on some finer points, and some filler/extra description/stuff. This is a pretty major places entry in Santharia, possibily second only to Marcogg, and I think it needs a tad more than 3 pages in a word processor. Not that I usually am one to be a pain in the arse on length, but this is a lil underdoing it.

So enough flaming.

Not one of your gold medal entries Mira, but it's not your focus either, just a favor to all us Sarvonians. Which means we won't imprison you for sub-quality writing in Talia's dungeons... this time... *dum dum dummmmmmmmm*

On to the comments!

Overview
The ancient Auturian woods, located in the central region of Manthria slightly east of Marcogg, are the realm of the Tethinrhim elves. Their presence is obvious in these woods, as many well-kept paths and small steads can be found in the shade of magnificent Urban trees and enormous oaks. This looks pretty good, ‘cept that I don’t think “steads” is a word. At least none of my dictionaries recognize it.

Appearance

The Auturian Woods are, despite harboring a fairly large population of both elves as large game, a remarkably dense place. Unless you mean to say that the elves are good eating, I suggest you change “as large” to “and large”. And I seriously hope you don’t mean the former… With hundreds of different shrubs, bushes, herbs and small trees, the forest floor is hard to navigate when one strays from the clear paths. The whole area carries about an air of secret, yet abundant life. Small rustling sounds can be heard in the undergrowth, and the distant song of birds is only silenced in the darkest hours of the night. Even at these times, the calls of the owls echo solemnly between the trees. As it is almost impossible to see for more than a few peds away from the path in most of the forest, many visitors feel stalked when walking the twisting paths through the woods.

The middle layer of the forest is a dazzling maze of tree trunks, drooping vines, and those few plants that are able to grow on the limbs of other trees. This is the realm of the forest's birds of which there are many more than one might think. Here and there small decks have been made in, on, or around trees at this level, providing a pleasant place to rest, or a good vantage point for a hunter.

The canopy then composes the final layer of the Auturian Woods. Here you can find the majority of Tethinrhim dwellings, which can vary between a simple, open platform to entire wooden houses built in the strongest trees. The Elves are, as all of their kind, careful not to disturb the natural flow of life in the woods too much, and never cluster in large enough groups that the local fauna would be scared away indefinitely.

Almost in the centre of the Auturian Woods is its capital, the Riá, which is also the name of their Rònn's or Ava'rànn's living quarters, and the enormous Urban Tree (the largest in its kind) the whole structure is built in and on. Strategically located around the outskirts of the woods are small settlements, which are bases to keep an eye on who and what enters, and who or what leaves the woods. The Riá however, is easily the most populated and guarded place within the entire woods.

OK, here you have the essentials. Now, there’s more detail needed. In this section as well as later ones, not once do you mention Sillena or the Archery School! Both are key for human-elven relations and at least need mention. Being a Nybelmar man I realize you might not be confident enough or have the time to create the descriptions of the small mountain ranges, rivers, but this entry seems incomplete IMHO if mini-descriptions such as those found in the Rahaz-Dath entry aren’t included. I’m talking about the Euvathon mountains and the Marshdal river, etc. Perhaps you and I and others who wanted to could work through some mini descriptions for these that could go not only on site, but could help to spruce up the detail here. Also, we have to talk with Arti, maybe, to figure out whether the Lower and Upper lower Ria Woods are going to have the same mini description as this entry or, the other extreme, are they going to have their own entry.

Location
Located in the middle of the Santharian province of Manthria the Auturian Woods are home to the Tethinrhim Elves. To the east lies the grand city of Marcogg, while the west border of the Woods follows the coastline from Ravenport to Rhénós Castle at a few strals distance. On the south the farming village of Greywold marks the end of the Auturian Woods and their transition into the lush meadows that feed Greywold's cattle. The Northern border of the Woods ~~lists~~ (not really the word you want here. “lists” is more for the movement of a ship, rocking in the water. “lies? close to the path from Northhem to Zaeddem that winds through the Kenerun Downs. The woods and the small outlying areas that belong to it form the so-called Auturian Sty'cal, the independent Elven realm of Manthria.

People
The Auturian Woods is the realm of the Tethinrhim Elves, often called the Wood Elves by the people of the surrounding human villages. They live scattered throughout the woods in small groups, their homes often located in the well-known Urban Trees that are found almost everywhere in the Auturian Woods. Despite their apparent lack of emotions, they care deeply for the woods, and keep a close eye on the Human visitors that come to the woods to trade.

Resources
The Auturian Woods, being exceptionally rich in flora and fauna, have an abundance of natural products available to the Elves and those humans allowed to harvest from the woods. All manner of fruits can be found within the forest, and game such as deer and wild pigs. While the elves, due to the absence of meat on their menu, rarely actively hunt these animals, human hunters from the neighboring villages are permitted to do so during certain parts of the year.
Urban Tree wood is another valuable resource found in these woods, but it is only sparsely available, as the Elves rarely allow for an Urban Tree to be cut down and the wood used.
Perhaps one main reason they don’t allow this is to protect their own business. If they have a monopoly on the trees, they can sell arrows and spears to the humans at higher prices. Also perhaps mention that the elves are disgusted with the way the humans cannot live with their own resources, they have to beg to be allowed to encroach upon those found in the forest.

Flora
Diverse beyond reckoning, a list of the flora of the Auturian Woods would be many times longer than this relatively brief overview of the area itself. One species worthy of special notice however, is the enormous Urban Tree. This tree is found in several places in Santharia, but nowhere in the numbers that it has in the Auturian Woods, and most certainly not as large. While the largest example of this spectacular tree is quite well known as the Ria, there are hundreds of other gigantic trees of this kind to be found amongst the woods, and nearly all of these are inhabited by the Tethinrhim elves.

Fauna
The Auturian Woods is one of the easiest woods in which to find something to eat, even if you don’t know what you’re looking for. As the woods have very fertile soil, there is a lot of vegetation growing below the trees. Wildlife within the forest is plentiful as the Tethinrhim generally keep to a vegetarian diet to sustain themselves. Such a diet often includes plants like the Doch Nut and the Kies. Arv can also be found within the Auturian Woods, however this is kept under strict control as it tends to flourish to a degree it might suffocate other, slower growing species.
I wonder if this careful cultivation and care of plants is really Tethinrhim style. Whether through human influence or the nature of their tribe, the Tethinrhim, at very least IMO, are a most practical people. Arv is an addictive substance that is dangerous in all but the most skilled hands. They have other plants for healing (Odea Moss etc.) that are less risky, and maybe they would prefer to simply eradicate this plant if it existed at all. In general, the Tethinrhim are very cautious. I think having something like this lying around, especially if it is both potentially lethal and a fast growing plant that could overcome the rest of their food supply, would go against this.
On a similar topic, you mention that they are vegetarian and so wildlife is plentiful. Again, IMO they would not hesitate to kill any creature with practical use, and don’t forget the Auturian Hound. It’s really built to do one thing... hunt. On the other hand, they don’t plant, harvest, or kill more than they need, so there’s a balance in there somewhere. Just not sure you’ve quite hit on the right one yet.

THat's not to say I know what it is... buck

Thirdly, I know your plans for world domination, but I’m sorry, we in Sarvonia restrict our info on plants to the Flora section. I know what you have is kind’ve related cause of the diet, but you have a bit too much I think.
Lastly, bear with me, we have to include the Tam-Rek Demon. I think we can agree though, that it needs some nerfing? It seems a little strong for your average beast IMHO, though not sure…

Myth/Lore
Due to its proximity to the Gulf of Maraja, a thick sea fog often invades the Auturian Woods, especially during spring and fall. Local legend has it that amidst these mists, shadows whisper and move about, singing a wordless lament for their lost lives as they perished at the Burning of the Auturian Woods during the First Sarvonian War. Although the Elves seem unhindered by this knowledge, (and indeed, when asked whether they feel the legend is true, just smile at you knowingly) the village people of the surrounding human villages are often hesitant to enter the fringes of the woods at these times. They don’t exactly rush in and dance in the trees even when there is no fog, do they? Perhaps, “even more” hesitant? Also, might want to at least mention the myth of Na’Pharen’s creation of the Urban Tree.