Forsten

Forsten exists almost entirely within the Old Forest. With mild summers and cold winters that often bring snow, the folk of Forsten are a tough lot. Most treat the forest with deep respect and a little fear.

Once a single kingdom along with Constel and Kendaria, Forsten has only seceded from Constel within the past couple generations. The oldest folk of Forsten would remember the days when it was the northern half of a larger kingdom, though virtually none living today would recall it being one with Kendaria, which split away after a civil war several hundred years hence.

Academic.

Most Forsteners place more stock in one’s ability to chop timber or skin game than in their ability to recite poetry. Formal education is uncommon, but entertainers do hold a special place in society as they spin fanciful tales long after the sun has set.

Aristocratic and Political.

Forsten is a troubled nation. Having only been its own autonomous country for a few score years, many burgomasters of middling towns feel that they are qualified to manage the entire nation. Although the young dwarf Janice Magillory is nominally the queen of Forsten, she commands little respect and has been unable to cajole other political figures into following her leadership.

Mercantile and Trade.

Although its relationship with Constel is still quite tender, Forsten maintains a trade relationship with its neighbor. Many Forsten merchants are also sailors and trade with Kendaria to the south and Derk to the north. Brusch Clydesden, a renowned urkou explorer in his early life and skilled long-distance trader now that he is getting on in years, will occasionally guide a merchant vessel as far north as Yodvan.

Forsten primarily exports timber, although some of the locals fear that deforestation will anger the ancient gods of the Old Forest, as they believe happened in Constel.

Militant.

Forsteners tend to be a strong, sturdy lot and make competent fighters. Many hunters, lumberjacks, fishers, and long-distance merchants have had to fight off numerous monstrosities from the untamed stretches of the

Old Forest.

Janice Magillory wants to establish a national army, but has been unable to rally support for such a movement.

Religious.

Forsteners are quite spiritual and often superstitious. Many believe that small actions will have unforeseen consequences and worry about the wrath of the old gods. Most will pray to multiple pantheons, but especially the Shibmar Conclave of the Archfae.

Social.

Forsten is not a particularly hospitable region. Fear of the forest has led many to treat strangers with suspicion or outright hostility, even if the strangers are just from another town in Forsten.

Underworld.

Due to Janice Magillory’s utter failure to unite her country, crime syndicates flourish in the underbellies of all major cities in Forsten. Smugglers traffic weapons, gems, and drugs in and out of their nation, and mercenaries will take any protection or assassination job for the right price.

Wolden

Overlooking a port city at the base of the craggy cliffs, Wolden is an expansive fortress that could house a small army and enough merchants and craftsfolk to keep the army well-supplied and entertained. Built of stone and wood, Wolden is an impressive fortress and besieging it would certainly be a protracted affair, especially given that it can easily access both the land and sea with roads that are well- maintained within a day’s ride of the fortress.

Points of Interest

Dreamhaze Mountains. See Constel for more information. The folk of Forsten are generally wary of going anywhere near these strange crests.

The Old Forest. See Constel for more information. Forsteners get most of their food and raw materials from the forest, but they also worry that they will awaken the forest’s wrath.

Quest Ideas

• Janice Magillory asks the heroes to help her bring the mayors and town spokespeople into line so that she can unite the country.

• An entire town’s worth of people is missing, so a worried mayor of a neighboring town calls on the heroes to investigate.

• Brusch Clydesden was last seen heading towards the Dreamhaze Mountains with a strange, haunted look in his eye. He hasn’t been heard from in over a month.