The Great Northern Forest
North of the city lays a thick, primeval forest. The trees grow to immense heights, all at least over 100 meters(350 feet) tall, with some being much taller. The trees are all proportionally thick, with some growing as thick as large houses. There is a large logging company that provides most of the wood in the Nexus with timber from these great and majestic trees, and seeing them is considered an absolutely breathtaking experience to newcomers, a must see on any tour of Nexus city. There are busses that go to the outskirts, and any child that has grown up in the Nexus will remember their field trip to this place. It gives off an otherworldly feel, calming even the most stressed out person’s nerves and making them feel relaxed. Scientists claim that this is a result of chemicals the trees exude to talk to each other, warning each other of danger, famine, and other such simple messages. Religious leaders call them a gift from god, and some radical extremists even occasionally issue terroristic threats against the logging company, claiming that they’re desecrating holy land.
However, this great forest also holds dangers within its depths. The outer layer is fairly normal, if much larger than usual. One will find the chirping of birds that one might usually expect, the familiar buzz of insects, pumas, large cats, bears, and other such animals. As long as a person comes prepared with the right weaponry and a trained guide, one could have a good time going camping for a weekend without incident. However, as one treads deeper within this forest, more supernatural elements begin to become apparent. A vine might suddenly reach down to grab you, pulling you into the maw of a carnivorous plant. Large, gigantic versions of mundane animals with pelts as tough as steel stake territories as hunting grounds. Militant tribes of orcs and goblins set up houses within the tree canopies, fighting off large birds and snakes. Spirts of the land wander freely which one could easily make an enemy, or make a contract with and gain powers one could scarcely dream of-for a price.
Furthermore, the deeper one explores, the thicker the tree canopy seems to get. It gets dark. Stupid dark. Anyone who doesn’t have some form of low-light vision would be ill advised to invade the forest, but tales of forgotten knowledge and riches still occasionally draw innocent people to their deaths, their souls reclaimed by the Nexus and consigned to wander within the forest endlessly.
Locations
The Hot Springs in the ForestThe definitive spa experience in the Nexus! Come here to wind down, spend a week away from work, and relax! Experience the majesty of the forest, and the scientifically proven calming effects that coming here provides you! Reserve your dream vacation today!This enormous spa sits next to the mountain range to the west, where the forest ends. It is a well known destination, and lays just within the boundary of the forest within a walled complex, completely cut off from the rest of society. People come to soak in the hot springs, taking in the soothing and definitely not addictive chemicals the trees release, allowing them to forget the stresses of their work and home life, simply living a short life of luxury within what many describe as heaven.
The spa is protected by towers on all four corners, where armachan mercenaries defend it from the occasional incursion by the denizens of the deeper forest.
Eruraviel’s HomeAbout a mile deep into the forest lays a clearing, where the sun penetrates the canopy and a small lakeside house, forgotten by time, lays overgrown by vines.
Underneath this house, there is an immense laboratory complex, built up over a few years by Eruraviel. Pristine stone walls intertwined with thick roots, carved to be aesthetically pleasing, line the hallways. Vials line the walls, and the entire house is woven with magical traps designed to attack and kill intruders without prejudice. Within these walls Eru’s golems and homunculi crafting facilities lie, staffed by them as she slowly creates more.
