Blue Orb Forest

With such thick canopies, it is hard to use the stars for direction and the forest grows very dark off the main paths, which are lined with lit torches by the rangers, offering the perfect opportunity for animal attacks, thieves, or worse. If you do wander off the main paths, be aware that you can find blackberries, fungi, roots, and small game to eat until you find your way again. Many streams snake through the deeper areas of the forest and will eventually lead to a bridge or town, so it is wise to follow these for the best chance at finding civilization. If you are not used to traveling the forest, you may want to hire a guide first.

The blue orb forest was named for the rare blue roses that grow in its depths and the strange orbs of light that no one has been able to accurately discover the nature of. Some rumor the orbs are the Quietus or Fae, lost on their journey to the spirit world and destined to light the way of lost travelers at night.

It is the main connection to the Capital from other lands, so it has well travelled paths that are easy to find as long as you do not stray too far off them. The forest is the same one described in the human territory wars, and is known for its massive expanse. So it is no surprise that some who enter, are never seen alive again.

No person has been able to determine exactly how big the forest is, or what all lies within it. A few landmarks have been discovered and are recorded here for the travelers use, but be cautious and aware that not everything in the forest is as it seems.

Man Made Paths

Natural Paths

Off The Path

Distant View w/ Moons

Fallen Tears River

The forest doesn’t hold any particular type of rare plants, trees or animals, said to be the place with one of the largest variety of all living things around. Mythical creatures are spotted in this forest quite a bit, leading hunters, and those who want to protect the creatures, right to the core of the forest to find them.

Mythical creature’s can get a person quite a bit of gold, dead or alive. Yet many know that without those creatures in the forest, it will eventually lose it’s life giving wonders. A constant battle ensues between the ‘right’ to hunt, and the ‘right’ to protect. Elves, Fae, Quietus, Lycanthropes, Shapeshifters, Unicorns, Nightmares, Gryphons, Sirens and more have been recorded by Sages as roaming the Blue Orb forest. So Druids and Rangers have often joined together to scout in shifts in order to protect these creatures and races from Hunters. If they were to be lost to the
world... it is likely the forest could die and cultures all around would follow.

The common resources collected from the Blue Orb forest are various types of lumber, plants with a variety of properties (healing, nutrition, building, potions), foliage for the market (flora, leaves, rocks), clean water, and food.

There are some who live in the forest, but they are very secluded and hard to find. If you do not have a map or guide, most often you will not be able to find them. The Centaur and Dire Wolves are not easily found here either, since the Humans and Elves frequent the forest... but if you searched hard enough you might be able to run into one.

In Spring, flowers will be abundant as the greenery returns to full health. Summer brings with it many Fae and animals who use the forest as their mating grounds. Fall is a quieter time when things have settled and many of the trees and plants are changing for the cold. Winter will not hinder people with the cold here, as the canopy is still thick enough to keep the snow off the ground.

About a days walk from the Capital, you will find a forked path. If you take the left path and travel two more hours, you will eventually see a stoned
path that winds through a wall of trees and opens up into a small clearing. In this clearing is a very tiny hut that always has firelight glowing in its windows and a sweet smoke coming up through the roof. This is the hut of “The Old Shaman” and a location many will take the journey to visit. Inside is a small elven man with a long silver beard and deep wrinkled face. His age is unknown, but his appearance alone tells of his experience, since most elves considered “aged” do not typically show it as much as this one seems to.

His healing techniques and knowledge are well worth the travel, and some say that he is the easiest source of history available to any who want to learn.

Thirty minutes from the Capital if one is walking, you can take a hidden path that isn’t marked but is well walked for those who know where to look.

Down the path will take you through a windy path soon opening up to a glassy lake.

The lake is large enough that you wouldn’t be able to swim across it, but small enough to be able to see the lining of trees on the other side. If you look to the side, you will see Pearl Falls falling gloriously down a rocky hillside and into Lucid Lake.

Mermaids have been seen near these waterfalls, but do not appear often. Evidence of their visits are left behind though when colorful shells typically only from the ocean shores are left on the lake edges to catch the sun’s rays. Oysters are also abundant at the base of the waterfall, leading to its name .