Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Locales: The Lonely Oak and the Grey Lady

In Evandar's sub-kingdom of Dakon-Bar (which translates to Dragon Wood in the ancient language of this sub-kingdom's people) is the forest of Dragonwood that covers the majority of the kingdom. In the center of the forest is a hill with a cavern entrance. This cavern stretches beneath much of the hill with a cleverly built and long forgotten second entrance at a gnarled and ancient oak tree known only as the Lonely Oak. The natural entrance of the caves is where a stream flows forth to a bog before winding away to meet with the larger Wyeck river that runs past the villages of Aldstone and Wyeck-on-the-Hill. (Both villages are well known for their mills. Wyeck-on-the-Hill is the site of one of Dakon-Bar's two substantial waterfalls.)

The Lonely Oak is featured in many stories of the region. It is said to be where Freyr Greenwood, lord of the forest host of elves, courted his bride GerĂ°a. It is also said to be the tree where he laid to rest after being wounded in combat before mysteriously disappearing never to be seen again by his people or those of men. The Lonely Oak is also said to be the tree of the Grey Lady of the Forest, a benevolent spirit who lays claim upon the clanless folk of the forest and comes forth to advise the High King during times of great distress for the land. Some argue that the Grey Lady is a mortal woman and others argue the Grey Lady is some manner of magical being. Tales of the Grey Lady have seen a resurgence over the last several years since the rise of King Askemb.

The most prominent folk tale being shared is of how the Grey Lady brings a feast to the lost and the deserted before claiming them as her people. There are rumors of a powerful being within the forest that can be found within the cavern or at the Lonely Oak but none who have gone searching for them has returned.

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