Overview:
The Great Dividing Forest forms the natural northwestern boundary of New Birania, standing as both a geographical and symbolic barrier between the sprawling plains of the Pilliga and the more developed territories of the east. On its eastern side, large sections have been cleared for settlement and agriculture, though pockets of untouched forest remain, home to reclusive druids and scattered elven enclaves who work to preserve the natural balance. One notable exception is the dense, sacred forest that surrounds Kastelli, the ancestral home of the Bacchins, expansion into this region being strictly forbidden. In stark contrast, the western expanse of the forest is wild and untamed, dominated by feral beasts and mysteries that deter would be explorers.
Description:
Although significant clearing has occurred on its eastern fringes, the Great Dividing Forest still lives up to its name. Even in its thinnest, most disrupted areas, it remains a vast, imposing woodland separating the plains of Pilliga from the heartlands of New Birania. Toward its northern boundary, where the forest tapers into the arid expanse of the Pilliga plains, the landscape becomes sparser and drier. However, even this more open region retains a wild, untamed character, with groves of hearty trees and resilient flora. The majority of the forest, by contrast, is breathtakingly lush, with conditions that verge on rainforest-like intensity. Towering, ancient trees dominate the canopy, their roots twisting and curling through moss-covered ground like living sculptures. Beneath their sprawling branches, shafts of sunlight pierce the dense foliage, illuminating verdant undergrowth teeming with life. The forest is a realm of serene beauty and raw power, a living reminder of the untamed wilderness that once stretched across Siar’Morrin.
History:
In ages past, humans, driven by ambition, delved too deeply into the Great Dividing Forest’s abundant resources, disrupting its delicate balance and provoking the ire of its native inhabitants. The natives who called the forest home, unwilling to see its sacred expanse further diminished, confronted the intruders. However, desiring peace and cooperation rather than conflict, an agreement was reached between the various species.
Under this pact, certain areas of the forest were granted to humanity for settlement and resource use, while vast portions were designated as protected lands, preserved under the stewardship of the native species. Over the centuries, this arrangement has endured, with both sides honouring the boundaries established long ago. While tensions have occasionally flared, particularly during times of hardship, the pact has largely remained.
Significance:
The Great Dividing Forest serves multiple roles in the fabric of New Birania. As the empire seeks to expand its influence and resources, the forest provides valuable timber, rare flora, and other natural bounty critical to its ambitions. At the same time, its dense expanse acts as a natural border, limiting New Birania’s expansion into the northwest. However, the forest’s seclusion and size have also made it a haven for those seeking refuge from society. Bandits, outlaws, and other fugitives often vanish into its depths, using the forest as a base from which to operate or simply to escape the reach of the law. Beyond these human threats, the forest is home to primal dangers, feral beasts, ancient guardians, and other wild entities that remind even the boldest settlers of its untamed heart.
Notable Features:
- Kastelli: The ancestral homeland of the Bacchins, Kastelli is a city shrouded in mystery and tradition. Hidden deep within the forest, it remains largely isolated from the outside world, with outsiders exceptionally rarely granted entry. Those fortunate enough to visit speak of a city seamlessly integrated into the natural environment, a verdant expanse of agricultural paradise.
- The Deep Forest: Located in the forest’s untamed western expanse, the Deep Forest is a region that remains virtually unexplored. Thick with towering trees, labyrinthine undergrowth, and an eerie, perpetual twilight, it resists all but the most determined efforts to penetrate its depths. Stories abound of what might lurk within, beasts of immense size, forgotten ruins, or even magical phenomena, but none can say for certain.
- Oikos Valley: A legendary stretch of the forest known for its stunning beauty, Oikos Valley is said to be where the druids of the forest hold their most sacred rituals. Ancient trees with glowing leaves, shimmering waterfalls, and ethereal mists make this valley feel otherworldly, and many believe it is imbued with powerful magic.
Local Legends or Stories:
Folktales tell of of an ancient dragon said to slumber in a shallow cave within the depths of the Deep Forest. According to legend, the dragon rests atop a veritable sea of gold, treasures, and artifacts, hoarded over countless ages. The creature is said to have retreated to the forest centuries ago, seeking solitude during the Age of Darkness (AoD). Some say the dragon is in a magical slumber, bound by the forest’s ancient druids to protect the region from its wrath. Others believe it lies dormant by choice, awakening only when its treasure is threatened or when the forest itself is in peril.
Visitors’ Experience:
For those venturing into the Great Dividing Forest, the experience is both awe-inspiring and perilous. On the eastern edges, cleared pathways and small settlements offer relatively safe exploration, while encounters with druids or elves provide glimpses into the forest’s guardianship. Deeper within, the dense canopy, ancient trees, and labyrinthine trails create a sense of otherworldly beauty and isolation. The western reaches, however, remain shrouded in mystery and danger, with tales of feral beasts and uncharted wonders discouraging all but the bravest. The forest’s grandeur and mystique captivate travelers, but its untamed heart serves as a constant reminder of the risks that come with stepping too far into its depths.