Herne's Wood was a forested area in the Utter East,[1] lying on the northern edge of the great Sempadan Forest.[note 1]
Description[]
An area of Herne's Wood.
Described as an enchanted forest,[2] it was a rough, wooded area of scattered firs and pines. There was a creek that ran down from a hill and a river that together fed a small lake.[3]
In the south stood a ruined settlement of wood and stone, ringed by a thick stone wall. This was penetrated by a gatehouse flanked by large pots holding fires.[3]
Here there were cottages built of stone with wooden beams and supports and bearing thatched roofs. There were also treetop communities, with treehouses built around the trunks of tall trees and linked by bridges.[3]
Reputation[]
Local people warned travelers to stay away from Herne's Wood.[4]
History[]
During the time of the Bloodforge Wars (648–657 DR),[5][note 2] Herne's Wood was the site of a bloodforge battle fought between Roxanna, princess of Edenvale, and Bryan the Bold, one of the suitors who sought to win her hand in marriage in the conflict known as Matchmaker Mayhem. At one point, Roxanna camped deep in Herne's Wood to avoid her suitors until she could be crowned queen alone, but her suitors allied and struck together from the ruins.[3]
Some time after, a squatter and bloodforge mage called Sean Mulhaven made his camp close to Herne's Wood, but harassed and insulted everyone who came past. Finally, the leader of the Legendary Campaign arrived and demanded Sean give it up. When Sean only hurled abuses, the leader decided to teach him courtesy, through bloodforge battle.[4]
Although warned to avoid Herne's Wood, the Legendary Campaign leader was forced to camp by its edge. The mage Darah Thorne marshaled bloodforged forces against them, insisting on being given tribute, but the leader chose to fight instead.[4]
At last, an itinerant bard told the leader that a great mage known as Tyranis Shagal, whose achievements were impressive, had laid claim to Herne's Wood. Seeking to win glory by defeating a worthy opponent, the Legendary Campaign leader issued a challenge to Shagal to fight a bloodforge battle.[4]
Notable Locations[]
A map of the Utter East showing the Mead-Hall of the Northmen.
A site known as the Mead-Hall of the Northmen stood somewhere amidst the woods here.[6]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Comparing the game map in Blood & Magic with standard maps of the region shows that Herne's Wood lies in the Sempadan Forest, though the game map only encompasses the northern edge of the forest. Although lore for Herne's Wood might encompass the whole of the forest, for simplicity and clarity, it is treated as a distinct location within the Sempadan Forest.
- ↑ The events of Blood & Magic are only dated to "before the Time of Troubles" (1358 DR) in game. It is assumed these are a part of the Bloodforge Wars described in Faces of Deception and dated in The Grand History of the Realms.
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
- Video Games
- Blood & Magic
References[]
- ↑ Tachyon Studios (November 1996). Designed by Brian Fargo. Blood & Magic. Interplay.
- ↑ Interplay “Blood & Magic game advertising”. Dragon #236 (TSR, Inc.), p. 27.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Tachyon Studios (November 1996). Designed by Brian Fargo. Blood & Magic. Interplay.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Tachyon Studios (November 1996). Designed by Brian Fargo. Blood & Magic. Interplay.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 94. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (February 1998). The Mercenaries. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 1. ISBN 0-7869-0866-1.