Underwood Submission Contest - Original Locales

[Breaker]

This thread is for all TF submission contest descriptions of original user-created locales, venues, or other kinds of places. For more information see the main thread (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?22676-Underwood-Training-Forum-3.0-Submission-Contest!!!).

[Duffy]

The Ravensloft (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?21178-Hen-Wlad-(Solo)&highlight=hen+wlad)

2440

It took many years for the Ravensloft to rise above the canopy of Underwood, but no sooner than its crescent leaves wove life into the skies above Corone, its roots cracked the earth brought to the surface an ancient creature, foul and fair in equal measure. Many aeons ago, the Fae Ancients buried their brother Dumlaught beneath its bough, and sealed him within the tomb of stone that resides far beneath the tree itself. They bound the tomb glade, and many others like it, with six menhirs of granite, spliced with maniacal runes and hammered into place by the greatest of the Endian, the Fathers of the Tree People.

For a thousand years, whilst Y’edda reigned peacefully over Concordia, long before Underwood existed, the uppermost branches of Ravensloft marked the location of the forest’s greatest enemy, so that the druids and elves and rangers of the primordial forest could avoid its stench and aura without incident. Dumlaught’s name, and indeed, the legacy of the deeds he committed to deserve such cruel and unusual punishment faded from memory, except in the consciousness cycle of the Thayne’s mind, and all was forgotten.

Until one day, a thousand years ago, a young priestess walked into the forest. Born of the Nina tribe, she had been blessed and whispered into divinity by Yedda. Disgusted at the providence of man and the destruction wrought upon her land in the name of enterprise and power, Yedda drove Jennifer Oakley on the promise of a divine quest into the tomb glades of Concordia, and into the shadow of the Ravensloft. There, with staff and Animus to hand, the Fae fought the ancient creature in a battle of wits and revelation, a conflict which scarred the earth around the ancient tree and broke the menhirs in violent explosions of flame, lightning and thunder.

What happened to the priestess, nobody knows except the Nina, who remains elusive and cautious around man and his ways. What happened to Dumlaught , the Raging Tree man, fewer know still. Some whisper tales of moving trees deep in the forest, large enough to carry villages…perhaps he is Yedda’s throne, or a dead soul in the darkest reaches of Underwood’s hollows; it is impossible to know such things. The menhirs slowly became overgrown, and the trunk of the Ravensloft was hollowed out for robber’s, thieves and boyhood dreams to be fulfilled.

The branches still raise high above the rest of the forest, and its roots, protruding in great knotted arcs across the arid circle of soil that surrounds it are laden with autumnal leaves, as if death were part of its life. The children of Underwood have come to treat the tree with great caution, so much so that it is a rite of passage for a child of eleven to sleep for a night until sun’s rise in the Ravenloft’s belly. In time, the earth has started to heal, and the menhirs long forgotten or their shards stolen away for midnight incantation and sacrifice.

To the Circle of Elerdhen, and the Nina, and the elves of Corone, the Ravensloft has become a site of pilgrimage, and many hundreds come through Underwood to see it. They pray by candlelight and recite ancient spells to communicate with the Fae of the lands for the veil between worlds is weakest under the tall crescent plumage of this sad, sorrowful place.

[Yari Rafanas]

Nestled somewhere between Jadet and Underwood is a small lake, tucked away from the busier roads and trade routes connecting the two cities. Some say the lake's circular shape and solitary island are too convenient to have been created naturally, but the magics of the Tap and Thaynes of Concordia are still a mystery to many. The origins of the waters remains mostly unknown.

Extending from the northern, tree-covered shores is a natural bridge connecting the edges of the lake to the rocky island in the middle. The beauty of the island is scarred by the worn and abandoned fortress built over the entire rock formation. The palisade walls extend high enough to shield the tents, huts, and brick buildings within from view, leaving only a single wooden tower in site. Tattered flags and banners remain draped over the windows of the tower, casting haunting images of a mighty base fallen.

In its prime, the Retreat housed a majority of the Bandit Brotherhood's forces. However, with the death of their king and the subsequent schism, the force of thieves were uprooted and removed from Concordia altogether. What remains behind the fortress' walls are the remnants of a group said to change the face of the forest. Its popularity as the clan's hideout was enough to carve roads and paths that lead directly to the fort these days, and most recent maps include it as a landmark for navigating the ever-changing and mystical woods.

Despite its defensive design, the fort has yet to receive permanent residents.

[orphans]

The "Welcome Home" Bakery

The bakery is located near the market center of Underwood on one of the busy side streets. Structurally, it is constructed out of brick and lumber and is a two story building. The second story is where the owner (Jackson Aunders) and his daughter (Willow Aunders) live. The first story is divided into two sections, one being the register with assorted breads and other baked goods on shelves. The second, larger portion of the divided area, is the ovens and where supplies are kept.

The bread is baked fresh ever day, and anything left over is usually donated to the local orphanages and elderly homes in the area. The guards of Underwood can usually be seen nearby in the morning, most starting their day with a fresh loaf or the even popular "Builder's Brick," a heavy and nutritious loaf specifically made for those who wish to "bulk up."

In addition to his creations already in existence, Jackson is constantly experimenting with his breads, some being extremely successful with everyone (Ambrosia Bread) while others have developed a very specific clientele (Bitter Melon Bread).

The bakery is open starting 6am (usually before sunrise) and closes around 6pm (when the last of the market stalls is closing up).

Jackson also takes special requests for special occasions and has never turned anything down.

[blackdog1]

THE BLACK MOORS - The forest of Concordia

The Black Moors are well off the beaten path and hidden by the lack of any roads or reliable trails that lead there. They are located at least one and possible two days of forest travel due west of Underwood, nearly to the banks of the Bradbury River.

The ruins within the Black Moors are that of the small town of Cornucopia, a settlement made up of mostly druids and mages. Initially the*purpose of the settlement was to be a base of learning and a central place for the collection of knowledge, there are no known records as to what the extent this was ever carried out. The town was actively inhabited for about seventy-five years before it was abandoned. It has been uninhabited by any living creature for about seven centuries.

The forest surrounding the Black Moors is dull and quiet, lacking the normal vibrant colors and sounds of Concordia. Most living things that can avoid or flee the area usually do. The aura of corruption from the Black Moors extend well beyond it's borders, effecting the vegetation by distorting its growth, the same is true for any animal life that may remain. Visitors will experience a sense of invasive evil or unexplained fear.

The borders of the Back Moors are marked with large stone cairns covered with magic runes of containment, these were installed by the last of the mages as they fled. They are intended to hold the residents of the Black Moors inside, especially it's oldest resident and original wraith who is now a wraith lord in control of others of his own making. The cairns also serve to obfuscate and hide the location of the Black Moors, this function is slowly degrading making the area accessible for exploration.

The only living things within the borders of the Black Moors are plants. Many are familiar throughout the forest of Concordia, many more are found no where else in the known world. The reasons for the explosion of unique flora is still unknown, as is the useful applications of some of these plants. In either case, nothing grows to its fullest size within the borders, most specimens never reach a height of more that five or six feet.