Zerif Forest

South of the Gatakenak Hills and north of the River Bian is the Zerif Forest. At its heart it can be so dense you cannot see the sky through the treetops. Scattered throughout are a series of villages which are home to the wood elves. They welcome visitors, and do not mind how long you stay so long as you work for your keep.

The villages are small. When there are too many people, some leave to build a new village. There are no roads. The remote, scattered population creates a strange combination of isolation and intimacy. I think that is by design.

As such it is hard to say much about major landmarks in the forest. There are different kinds of forest throughout. To the north, near the hills, are more pine and fir. The eastern area rises into the mountains, and the trees there are twisted and cropped by the constant wind. Near the river there are areas that are almost a bog, but when I think of the forest I remember the giant oak, hazel, hickory, and elm trees that dominate most of the broad valley. There is one settlement to note. Somewhat north of center is Seekerhome. It is where the elders of the wood elves’ religion gather. They have a small library and places for monks and priests to study and pray. It is not grand like the temples of Yang-hui or Karm Lema, but it has grown larger than most wood elf villages. Unlike them, they are not eager to entertain visitors who do not follow their faith--though if you wish to stay and become a convert they would be happy to teach you their ways.