The Forest of Ganymeth - The verdant realm

The forest of Ganymeth separates the farmlands of the central plans, along the River Salaine, from the wealthy ports along the southern arid sea.  It is believed by geographers to once be part of the Ancient Elven empire, part of their rumoured control over the land itself.  When their empire fell it is said their magic corrupted Ganymeth. There are many theories, some say a stone of power lies at the heart of the forest controlling it or else the soul of their most powerful wizards provide with a mind or else merely the spirit of magic filling the branches to give the plants some semblance of life. The end result remains the same, a forest that is able to move and interfere with humans living there.  Paths shift, cleared ground is filled and any attempt to cut down the forest ends in misery or worse.  However men have learnt to live in the forest, but only by following a strict code.

The so called Green people are considered cruel and stoic by the travellers that rely upon their advice to cross the shifting forest paths to trade with the southern cities.  This however is to ignore the necessity that lies behind their demeanour.  While the forest supports much plant life, that abundance chokes off most animal life.  Those creatures that live there are tough and lanky.  Even the fruits the forest provide are poisonous or at least bitter to human tastes.  Food is always scarce requiring strict codes and laws to survive off them and maintain an often precarious existence.  Similarly to merely live in Ganymeth requires an understanding of the forest's moods and laws , instilling a nomadic and law bound life.  Little is made and the main source of income is to bring travellers across the sea of trees, though this task is often difficult with the forest dwellers struggling to accept the greed of the merchants and the merchants uncomfortable with the silence of the forest dwellers.

The Setting - First draft

In the Year 654 of the Kingdom of Alurac, the aged King Godfrey sat uneasy upon the throne.  His wide human kingdom, stretching from the inhospitable northern hills of Badrock, through to the fertile plains of Commell, has long been prized by the Orcs.  Stuck in the frozen north for generation upon generation, a severe winter and a poor harvest has allowed a war leader to emerge amongst the fractious orcs.  Lord Gunbar had lead the green hordes in a push south, attacking all towns in his way.  So far the northern trader towns and the Goblin clan villages have been attacked, but each day war came closer to the kingdom.  Displaced goblin clans sought to escape within the kingdoms boundaries, attacking isolated farms and keeping castles on the northern fringe of the kingdom under a state of almost siege.

With the need to collect the royal army from all the retainers and bannermen of the kingdom to face the orcish horde the roads become sparsely patrolled, leading to a vast increase in bandits, fleeing towns starting to starve as the effects of the bad harvest kicked in.  Trade declined and grain sent to feed the starving towns often failed to arrive at its destinations.  Increasingly desperate governors and lords came to rely on adventurers to police the roads and rebellious towns.

The danger to the kingdom came not just from abroad, but from within.  King Godfrey's eldest son Balian was known only for his extreme piety and his failure to join the army or produce an heir has lead many to question his place in the succession.  His younger sister Matilda was known for her ambition, and her marriage to the Lord of Hammerfell only increased this.  Her army picked up many allies while heading to the royal army and many whisper that amongst it are eastern mercenaries who loyalties are to coin and Matilda rather the King.  The youngest child, Ranald, is not well known, having only lately come of age.  He is known at the court for being a wastrel, but a competent jouster but little else is known.