The sprawling forest of Par Allanón are home to a number of free city-states, recently broken away from the control of the crumbling Hesperian Empire. Known colloquially as The Wynderwood, this region has a reputation abroad as something of a wild frontier; a fiercely independent and lawless place where a man or woman can make anything of themselves, provided their wits and blade are sharp enough. Around every corner, the opportunity for adventure awaits. Whether it's a note in the hand of a cloaked figure in some dark tavern or a turn off the beaten path in a winding wood, those who seek a life of discovery and excitment will find no shortage of either under the emerald canopy of The Wynderwood.
LAND OF THE WILD BREEZEPar Allanón is a land of great sprawling forests, temperate lowlands, and gentle, rolling hills. Cooled by the sea and watered by regular rainfall, the region is lush and rich with life. The Wynderwood enjoys a moderate climate year-round, with neither its winters nor its summers reaching temperatures too extreme for comfort.
The region is watered by five great rivers and their distributaries; Amthalas, Sedreine, Theine, Em Deldras, and Emlear. There are also a number of smaller lakes throughout the region, providing plenty of water for the trees to grow tall and the region's wildlife to grow in number. Because of its cool climate and abundant sources of water, the vast forests of The Wynderwood have grown tall and beautiful. Many of the smaller towns and villages of The Wynderwood are, in fact, carved from the living wood of the forest's trees, their architecture blending into the forest itself as a single entity, one with nature. Yet for all their wonder, these great woodlands are both dangerous and difficult to traverse. To make travel through The Wynderwood more manageable, the Hesperian Empire built and maintained a number of roads and highways to connect its cities, fortresses, and trading posts throughout the region. |
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Though once dotted with watchtowers and garrisons to keep the roads safe, these thoroughfares have fallen into neglect and disrepair with the decline of the Empire. The further one ventures from major population centers, the more dangerous travel becomes.
Regions
click on the images below for more information on each region
The wild coast which claims the southeastern shores of The Wynderwood is an untamed land full of prosperous trade and plentiful adventure. The port cities of Beren Ya abound with ships, each laden with an abundance of tales, travelers, and exotic goods imported from Sundar and even further east. Here in the ports of Beren Ya, one can find anything the heart desires...even the unexpected.
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The northern stretch of forest was once home to the main force of the Hesperian Empire which controlled The Wynderwood hundreds of years ago. Remnants of their influence can still be felt here, from fallen fortresses to the manners and speech of those who live here. Some of the largest and most important cities in The Wynderwood can be found here, built alongside and on top of the ruins of an older age.
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A hilly forest situation betwixt the heartland of The Wynderwood, the foothills of the Hemnyspek Mountains, and the borders of Hesperia, Par Ridden is a land of transitions, full of adventurous travelers and enterprising traders. Though the dangers of the forest are many, an unexpected wealth of minerals found in the foothills has led to an economic boom in the area and the interest of powerful guilds from Hemnyspek.
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The heartland of The Wynderwood stretches from the central hills all the way down to the southwestern coast. The region is green and fertile, teeming with life, resources, and magic. The Medicon of Visterath are especially active and involved in the ebb and flow of life throughout the forest. It was here that the ancient Elves who first settled Par Allanón built their kingdoms and echoes of the past can still be felt within the ancient wood.
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The Delsian Accord established The Wynderwood as a free land, acting as a buffer between Hesperia and Sundar and a check on the power of each.
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HISTORY OF THE WYNDERWOODIt has been said that the first Elves to settle in The Wynderwood were deeply connected to the land and its Spirits, tending to the groves which were ancient even before the first Elves were born. Here in the Wynderwood, these ancient Elves grew cities among the trees, living at peace with the forest and its host of Medicon.
A detailed history of The Wynderwood's Second Age has been lost to time and the ravages of The Apocalpyse. But if it's myriad of ancient ruins tell any tale, it is that of a powerful and prosperous land, replete with magic and intrigue. Those who have explored the bone-white ruins in the darkest depths of the forests (and returned to tell the tale) speak of murals depicting the rule of sage-kings and the creation of world-shaking magical treasures which may still lay buried somewhere in the forest. Following the end of the Apocalypse and the rise of the modern age, the Hesperian Empire would rise to power and subdue the peaceful Elves of Par Allanón, subjugating them and bringing the region under Imperial control. Under the influence of Hesperia, The Wynderwood would become an affluent cultural and economic center in the northern regions of Narin and Par Ridden, and a mighty military bastion against the Sundari Dominion in the southern reaches of Visterath and Beren Ya. |
This prosperity was not to last, however. The Wynderwood was under constant attack from the Sundari Dominion, especially the province of Beren Ya, which sat just on the other side of the Seldring Strait and endured constant attacks by Dominion warships and Sundari pirates. As the Hesperian Empire suffered losses elsewhere on the continent and the royal family fell to madness and in-fighting, The Wynderwood rebelled against Imperial control and declared itself a free land. A treaty of peace called the Delsian Accord was signed by the rulers of the Dominion and the Empire that The Wynderwood should remain unaligned with either nation, acting as a buffer between them and a check on the other's power.
The Wynderwood has maintained its independence for over two hundred years now, a land of freedom and adventure ruled by a loose alliance of self-governing city-states. Time will tell if the Hesperian Empire or the Sundari Dominion should continue to uphold the Delsian Accord or break their oath and seek to bring The Wynderwood under their control.
The Wynderwood has maintained its independence for over two hundred years now, a land of freedom and adventure ruled by a loose alliance of self-governing city-states. Time will tell if the Hesperian Empire or the Sundari Dominion should continue to uphold the Delsian Accord or break their oath and seek to bring The Wynderwood under their control.
A NATION OF CITIESEach city in The Wynderwood is a state all its own, self-governing with its own set of laws and customs. To describe each one here would be like trying to describe each leaf on a grand and ancient tree; each is similar, yet unique and beautiful it's own way.
The city-states of The Wynderwood share many cultural values in common, including a love of freedom, adventure, and a healthy respect for the wild world around them. In ancient times, the Elves of Par Allanón lived in unanimity with the land and its many spirits. While the modern world brings its own challenges to such an endeavor, the people of The Wynderwood still strive to be at peace with the land and the Courts of the Medicon who govern the deep wood. |
Cities in The Wynderwood were once grown like trees using nature magic and later carved into living trees. Modern architecture in many cities still reflects this heritage.
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Each of The Wynderwood's city-states maintains its own standing army, which serves at the command of the local government to protect the city from danger, both within and without. In addition to defending from outside threats, city guards patrol the streets, catch criminals, and uphold the law to the best of their ability. An intricate web of contracts and treaties between allied city-states also guarantees military aid should one city fall under attack or require assistance in an emergency.
Because of its lack of a unified government, The Wynderwood is a politically neutral territory. This works in the interest of not only The Wynderwood (since it mostly stays out of the disputes of its more powerful neighbors), but for the benefit of The Sundari Dominion to the east and the Hesperian Empire to the north. The longstanding grudge between these two powerful entities is somewhat softened by their inability to war with one another across the peaks of the Hemnyspek Mountains and the neutral forests of The Wynderwood. As such, both nations have a vested interest in maintaining The Wynderwood's neutrality to serve as a check against the aggression of their rival.
It's politcal status, geographic position, and abundance of resources make The Wynderwood a fairly prosperous place, with ample opportunity for enterprising individuals to make a living for themselves off the land or for business interests to trade with the eastern or northern empires as well as the industrious cities of the mountains. The Wynderwood trades primarily in timber, fur, and metals mined in the northeast, as well as profiting from the sea trade within the Seldring Strait.
Because of its lack of a unified government, The Wynderwood is a politically neutral territory. This works in the interest of not only The Wynderwood (since it mostly stays out of the disputes of its more powerful neighbors), but for the benefit of The Sundari Dominion to the east and the Hesperian Empire to the north. The longstanding grudge between these two powerful entities is somewhat softened by their inability to war with one another across the peaks of the Hemnyspek Mountains and the neutral forests of The Wynderwood. As such, both nations have a vested interest in maintaining The Wynderwood's neutrality to serve as a check against the aggression of their rival.
It's politcal status, geographic position, and abundance of resources make The Wynderwood a fairly prosperous place, with ample opportunity for enterprising individuals to make a living for themselves off the land or for business interests to trade with the eastern or northern empires as well as the industrious cities of the mountains. The Wynderwood trades primarily in timber, fur, and metals mined in the northeast, as well as profiting from the sea trade within the Seldring Strait.
PEOPLE OF THE WYNDERWOOD
The Wynderwood is a melting pot, home to many different
people and cultures |
Once ravaged by war and strife, the Delsian Accord established The Wynderwood as a free, neutral ground between two great empires. As such, the region is home to an incredible mixture of people and cultures. While Deunquendi (commonly known as Wood Elves) make up the bulk of The Wynderwood's population, the region is home to Dwarves, Humans, Drow, Halflings, and a host of other races from all walks of life. In the largest city-states of The Wynderwood, one can find an incredible diversity of cultures; representatives from nearly every race and nation of The Sphere, all living side by side in the tall buildings that crowd the bustling streets.
The Wynderwood is also home to a large number of adventurers, heroic wanderers who travel the region in search of treasure, excitement, and a great story to tell. There is no shortagee of adventure to be found throughout The Wynderwood, and any hero who ventures into this region is sure to find danger and discovery at every bend in the road. |
The region has no official language and no city-state seeks to impose one. Thanks to the region's great diversity, speaking in the Common tongue is the easiest way to communicate when dealing with travelers, customers, and individuals of uncertain nationality. Outside Common, Quille is the most widely spoken language throughout the region, though many people in Narin and Par Ridden speak Faella due to proximity with the Hesperian Empire.
A wide array of religions and beliefs can be found scattered throughout the region as well. While the more rural folk hold to the ancient traditions of ancestor worship and veneration of local Spirits, those closer to Hesperia hold to more mainstream Elven religions like Thestrala and Emertia. The influx of off-worlders has also made Aventism a popular religion in the large, cosmopolitan city-states where Humans and other adherants to this belief system live and work.
Above all else, the people of The Wynderwood are a fiercely independent and frontier-minded folk who prefer to forge their own path in life. They do not like to receive charity and resent feeling like they are indebted to a person or institution. Most city-states are quite relaxed when it comes to making and enforcing laws, doing so only when absolutely necessary to the stability of the community. Out in the frontier, folks are more likely to go seeking justice on their own rather than waiting for the local government to take action. The lawless nature of the region and the independent nature of her people make The Wynderwood an enterprising adventurer's dream...but one should be wary and watch for the ever-present potential for danger, lest the dream become a nightmare.
A wide array of religions and beliefs can be found scattered throughout the region as well. While the more rural folk hold to the ancient traditions of ancestor worship and veneration of local Spirits, those closer to Hesperia hold to more mainstream Elven religions like Thestrala and Emertia. The influx of off-worlders has also made Aventism a popular religion in the large, cosmopolitan city-states where Humans and other adherants to this belief system live and work.
Above all else, the people of The Wynderwood are a fiercely independent and frontier-minded folk who prefer to forge their own path in life. They do not like to receive charity and resent feeling like they are indebted to a person or institution. Most city-states are quite relaxed when it comes to making and enforcing laws, doing so only when absolutely necessary to the stability of the community. Out in the frontier, folks are more likely to go seeking justice on their own rather than waiting for the local government to take action. The lawless nature of the region and the independent nature of her people make The Wynderwood an enterprising adventurer's dream...but one should be wary and watch for the ever-present potential for danger, lest the dream become a nightmare.
