The Blackwoods is one of the three great remaining forests of the Ytarria continent of Yrth, which belonged to one massive forest which used to cover the continent. The Blackwoods are the second largest forest after the Great Forest. Recently, something corrupt has made its way there. It takes the form of a giant tree with slimy fungal growths. It is sentient, magically powerful, and relentlessly hostile. Its venom forces the forest to expand while the entity reshapes its center into something unpleasant. The dark elves make the Blackwoods their home, but they too are horrified of the creature. The world at large believe they are the reason of the forest's expansion, and attempts to warn outsiders has been thwarted by the dark elves' negative reputation, as well as their own paranoid, xenophobic outlook on the world.
The Megalos Empire first discovered inconsistencies in the 1980s, when tax collectors noticed that the forest had expanded. This was compounded by the fact that while some locals noticed this, others were certain the woods had always been this large. In 1987, the Emperor sent a full Legion to clear the forest, but only 10 survived in the first foray. In 1993, a veritable army of woodcutters, guarded by another legion, was sent, but unnerving events eventually scared off the workers. In 2002, the Emperor sent yet another stronger expedition of two legions with many mages this time. They found an elven villages, looted all writings, and threw the blame onto the dark elves.
The Duchy of Hyrnan now blames all elves for the evil expanding the forest.
References[]
- GURPS Banestorm, p. 98-99.