On the northern shores of Lake Kareghest lies the Suliawa1, the Twisted Forest. Some say it is the heart of Suliawa and not just the trees that have become twisted.
Once the forest was home to elves that nurtured and protected it, but now it has become touched by the chaos of the outer planes and twisted into an aberration of life. Surface elves blame the corruption of their traditional homeland on their dark skinned cousins who court with demons and seek to enslave the other races of the world.
The grass is brown throughout the forest regardless of the season, the limbs of the trees twist at unnatural angles and branches that once held broad leaves now lay empty. Still the trees pulse with an unnatural life and are almost warm to the touch.
Inhabitants
The forest is said to be haunted by the spirits of murdered elves, twisthorns and other chaos-twisted creatures known collectively as the aszevara. The unnatural nature of the forest pervades the area making it offensive to all natural creatures, so the appearance of any natural animal is extremely race. The woods are silent and perpetually shrouded in a cloying mist.
The chaotic nature of the twisted forest has attracted the attention of a number of savage centaur tribes seeking to escape the encroachment of civilization. For now the numbers in these tribes are small. Their constant infighting and wars with the twistborn have stopped the tribes from becoming a dominant force in the region. If the centaurs, do manage find a permanent foothold and become further corrupted by the chaos vents, it could spell disaster for the entire region.
Sites and People of Interest
There are no permanent settlements of any size within the twisted forest. Some treasure hunters explore the haunt treetop villages that the elves fled as the forest was consumed by chaotic forces. Most adventurers suspect anything forgotten by the elves in their exodus was likely taken by demonic forces and this is simply a fool’s errand. Other travellers venture into the forest seeking natural portals to the chaotic planes of existence as there are thought to be several liked to different layers of the abyss and others to the home of the chaospawn. Still anarchists seek to locate and harvest wood from within the forest nearest the chaos portals and conduit, for it is felt that the wood of those trees can be strongly enchanted with chaos energy to being swift death to their autocratic enemies.
A gnomish oracle known as Mibbimil is said to have a secure home hidden within the twisted forest. It is said she predicted the fall of Suliawa to chaotic forces but that the elves ignored hers.
