¶ Notes
¶ Overview
Whisperwood is the easternmost of Cheliax's great forests, known for its haunting presence and dangerous reputation. This vast and ancient forest has largely remained untouched despite centuries of settlement around it. The forest predates the Taldan Empire, with some of its oldest trees alive when Cheliax was declared part of Taldor in 3007 AR.
¶ Key Features and Landmarks
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Scar Thicket: Known as the most sinister part of Whisperwood, Scar Thicket is a gloomy region where the dense canopy blocks out sunlight, creating a perpetual twilight. It is home to fiendish creatures like imps and fiendish bats, as well as tribes of vegepygmies, cave giants, and drow. The area is infamous for its gigantic fungi and darklands tunnels.
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Inferno Gate: A portal to Hell located within Whisperwood. Despite efforts by both the Knights of Iomedae and Hellknights of the Order of the Gate to close the portal, all attempts have failed. The reasons behind House Thrune's interest in closing this gate remain a mystery.
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Pillar of Palamia: A basalt obelisk located on the northeast edge of Whisperwood. It is a site of dark rituals conducted by cultists worshiping Shub-Niggurath. The pillar is believed to trap a shoggoth beneath it, and efforts to free the creature have caused madness and aberrations in the surrounding area.
¶ Inhabitants and Creatures
- Devils and Evil Fey: The forest is known for its population of devils, evil fey, and other unnatural creatures that prey on travelers and outlaws who seek refuge within its depths.
- Vegepygmies and Giants: The vegepygmies of Scar Thicket cultivate russet mold and live in harmony with the forest's fungal ecosystem. Cave giants also inhabit the area, forming brutal communities and occasionally clashing with other inhabitants.
- Cultists and Aberrations: The cult of Shub-Niggurath, led by Vediss Halurexis, conducts dark rituals at the Pillar of Palamia, creating a dangerous environment filled with twisted aberrations.
¶ Economic and Social Aspects
- Logging and Timber: While the edges of Whisperwood are logged for timber, the interior remains largely untouched due to its dangerous reputation. The forest's timber is a valuable resource, but logging is limited to avoid provoking the forest's dark inhabitants.
- Bandits and Outlaws: The forest provides a refuge for bandits and malcontents. However, the dangers of the forest often prove too great, with many camps found abandoned or drenched in blood.
¶ Strategic Importance
Several Hellknight orders, particularly the Order of the Pike, maintain a presence in and around Whisperwood to combat banditry and contain the forest's monstrous threats. Their citadel, Citadel Ordeial, is located at the forest's northeastern edge.