Dire Wood

The Dire Wood was a part of the High Forest.

Geography
It was defined by a ring of completely albino oak trees surrounding the hills in the eastern High Forest. Inside the outer ring of pale oaks stood a thicker ring of blackened and petrified trees. Within the rings, normal trees and heavy undergrowth were mixed with petrified trees, all sprouting from reddish soil.

History
A single red stone butte at the base of a high cliff was all that remained of the fallen body of Karsus, made gigantic by the divine energy he stole. Cultists founded the city of Karse at this location after Karsus's Folly, but it fell into ruin shortly thereafter due to internal religious strife. Around a thousand years later a wizard from Ascalhorn named Wulgreth came to the ruins to raise an undead army. His spell was interrupted however by his henchman, Jhingleshod the Axeman. The release of the necromantic energy caused Wulgreth to become a lich and the nearby forest was transformed into the Dire Wood.

Notable locations
Contained within the Dire Wood was the ruins of Karse, a former Netherese settlement.