Geography: Blackbird Forest

Blackbird Forest

Blackbird Forest is the southern sister of the great Culverwood. It too is a magical forest, though less powerful and less aware than its big brother to the north.

On the borders of the forest

The southeast border of Aisildur is the Southern Peaseblossom River after it leaves the Culverwood. On the eastern bank of the river is West Izen. On the western bank is Blackbird Forest. The forest lies between the river and the massive Blackbird Lake. The South Peaseblossom runs from the Culverwood to the sea.

It is said that the Wolf Regiment of the Mailed Fist, commanded by the dashing Pavillon Nuterius, is housed in the sprawling fortress complex of Ranashir on the Western border of Izen and overlooking Blackbird Lake. The Wolf Regiment are predominantly a cavalry unit, universally feared for its peerless martial equine skills.

The two easternmost outposts of Aisildur proper are Adorus in the south (at the mouth of the Peaseblossom Bay) and Aceleus in the north (where the Peaseblossum leaves the Culverwood). (The Swords of Redemption got their start in Adorus Outpost.) Both outposts are on the western bank of the river, since the forest grows right up to the eastern bank. These two places are more forts than towns, since they exist mostly as waystations and garrisons. There is a trail on the western bank of the Peaseblossum that connects the two outposts. Halfway between on this trail is the Tears of the Wood Inn.

Town of Abus, known for hardwoods felling, is on Blackbird Lake in the northern corner of the forest. For many years, humans waged war against the forest there; now the forest pays a tribute of a hundred trees a year and the humans no longer seek to cut more.

The heart of the forest

Technically, the Blackbird Forest is in Aisildur, which is to say, Aisildur claims the woods. But in fact there is no Aisildurian influence in the wood proper, because the wood is hostile to those with two legs and no wings, unless under the protection of those with black feathers.

But if you are bonded to a black bird, you and your bird will find the Forest much more accepting of your presence. But even then, they say that it is dangerous to fall alseep in the forest. Elves say if you let the forest go to sleep while you are in it, you might not get out or you might end up in a different place. Keep the forest awake with songs when you are in it.

Birds with black feathers seem to know their way through. A strange sense of well-being assails black birds who come close.

The middle of the Blackbird Forest has big marshy patches.

There's a path that leads from the Tears of the Wood Inn through Blackbird Forest to the lake beyond. It's a path not taken very often, because of the dangers in the forest.

There is only one person known to have lived in Blackbird Forest for any length of time: Priscilla the Witch. She is a human woman, in her late thirties, perhaps. She wears a robe made up of scraps of fabric, tied at the waist with string. The long cloak over her shoulders is constructed in similar fashion. Her red hair shows strands of grey, and is loosely braided. Two of the fingers on her right hand are missing.

Her spirit familiar is Warwick (pronounced Warrick), a large, unkempt bird, bigger than an eagle, black-feathered up to its neck, and completely bald above. Bright pink mottled skin surrounds beady eyes and what looks like a very sharp beak. It speak in well articulated common. Warwick has descibed himself as "The most brilliant mage of all time, locked in the body of a vulture."

Her house is a large, hollow wooden horse, covered in black feathers. It's big -- standing about 20ft high! But it looks to have a door and windows carved into its belly. Hanging from the head, are sets of wind chimes, which tinkle gently in the breeze. The interior is the size of a small hut. It's a tangle of knotted rugs, old pots and herbs hung up to dry. Windchimes are strung up everywhere, each one having a slightly different sound than the next. the entire horse-like structure is almost completely covered with black feathers, giving it a very weird appearance. The structure of the legs give the impression that they're capable of moving, by the way.