Repulsive Woods

A forest where the trees slowly die as acidic water floods the terrain spoiling the land.

Once a strong vibrant forest, it was the main source of lumber in Bosh for years. Yet about fifty years ago the acidic waters began to spring, creating a swampy terrain. The trees in this forest are not tolerant of the acidic water, thus over time the trees in the forest will die. The kingdom is doing whatever it can to reverse the rising of the acidic water, but each year it seems they are only just able to hold it back from taking the entire forest.

One must be careful though, as the forest has become the perfect environment for monsters that bathe in muck and trudge through mire. Ogres, gnolls, and goblins have easily adjusted to acidic conditions of the forest. Though of all the monsters to settle into the forest since its change in terrain, it is the hydra's that have become the biggest threats. They swim through muddy waters, lumbering onto land to prey on whatever individuals they find.

Forest

The population of the area is around 7,300 people, all of which live in . Few dare to live outside of the settlement as the swampy conditions grow worse. Additionally the threat of monsters has risen since the shift of terrain. Monsters who can ignore the acidic hazards of the swamp have moved in droves. Hydras, ogres, ghouls, and worse have made their dwellings in the forest.

The law remains strong in this land, though in recent times the guard have been more focused on evacuating people from sinking houses, and warding off monsters that get to close to settlements. The appearance of a guard in these parts is a welcomed sight. The Wood Eye dwarfs are known to work closely with the guards of this land to help the locals.

Once a lush forest land now choking in the rising acid water that threatens to spread throughout the rest of Bosh. Few of the trees in the Repulsive Woods remain above the tide. The ones that have been taken have either become accustom to the high acid levels, or are slowly being eaten away until they are claimed by the waters. Moving through the muddy terrain is difficult. Anyone moving through the Repulsive Woods should anticipate the drag that comes from moving through ankle high mud and water. Wagons tend to become trapped in the mud. The only vehicle that is best suited for the swamps are small rafts that can maneuver around sunken trees and the ruins of buildings. Though even boast specifically made to withstand the acid waters will break down to the prolonged exposure to the acid water.

Most crops die in the toxic soil before budding anything edible. The only crops successful crop to grow from the tainted soil has been onions, and cucumbers. The soil has a unique magical effect of making the cucumbers taste like they have been sitting in pickle brine. Another plant that has begun cropping up in the swampy areas are wild peppers that have been warped by the magics of the swamp. These new variant of peppers have become known as Scream Peppers, and their so volatile that consumption of unprepared peppers will result in the acid of the pepper eating away at the insides of the consumer. Burning holes straight through the digestion track. Additionally these peppers have the unique quirk of exploding when coming in contact with fire.

The forest is located in the western side of the kingdom, on the western shore of the The Crystal Sky and east of the Prosperous Mountains 's foothill.

The acid has increased in humidity since the rising of the acid water. There are signs that the humidity has long term negative effects. Residence have reported going blind after years of exposure. The forest has been known to become foggy at times creating a thick vapor that stings the eyes.

The Verda Forest. Long ago it was home to many of the tribes that roamed the valley. When the Old Kingdom conquered the valley they made outposts here to enforce their rule over the tribes people. After they vanished the tribes people raided the outposts and took the left behind war gear to use in the Battle of Crystal Sky. Many of these ruins have been either forgotten or picked clean, though there is always a chance of finding new dungeons yet to be claimed by nature.

In the year 1608, an Adventurer by the name Edith Soil explored a dungeon and found a treasure horde left behind by the Old Kingdom. Using that wealth she was able to build her own city which she named Velva, and founded a magic academy which produced the majority of mages in Bosh's army. For her accomplishments Edith was awkward the title "Lord of Velva" and made an official sovereign. Her time as a sovereign was mostly spent entertaining her fellow sovereigns through jest and jokes. She had become known for playing pranks which were all in good fun. Though as time went on the pranks began to only amuse her while everyone else ended up the butt of them. Her pranks went to far when she decided to prank the Tyrant with a gift rigged with a illusion spell meant to give the old Tyrant a fright. When the Tyrant received the gift and triggered the prank, he was not amused. He sent out his most loyal knight, Fjord Hyron, to punish the arrogant lord. So in the dead of night, Fjord raced to Eidth's estate, broke down the door to her bedroom, and ended the life of Edith Soil. When Edith died she took the location of her wealth with her. It's believed she still had a great sum of it before she died. Many speculated that she left it back in the dungeon she found it. Much like Edith herself, her treasure has become a myth tied heavily with the Verda Forest.

In 1929 the Verda Forest became overrun with hermsters. These pesky monsters stole food and treasures from across the forest. Food became scarce in the forest, causing an artificial famine. The local cities put up a bounty to reward hunters with cash for each hermster kill they made, for proof they asked the hunters to bring a pair of hermster ears as evidence of their kill. Though this did nothing to lower the hermster population as some hunters simply cut the ears from the hermsters they caught before letting them go. In some instances the problem was only made worse when some individuals were found farming hermsters only to cut off their ears for the reward. The food shortage was eventually solved with the help of Specktrow and his new invention the Nutritious Pellet Ration Meals (or specks for short). These processed kibble bits, while edible, were so bland to eat that the hermsters refused to eat them. Making it the only food they wouldn't steal.

In the year 1940 a clan of dwarfs migrated to Bosh, they pleaded with the Tyrant. Explaining that their home was wiped out by the Tarrasque, and they had no where else to go. The Tyrant showed mercy to the dwarves plight, and stated that the Verda Forest would be their new home. But the Tyrant demanded the dwarfs make a oath of eternally loyalty. That the dwarves must obey the Tyrant no matter who might that be. Thus the Wood Eye Clan was formed. Since than the Wood Eyes have always been loyal to Bosh. Whenever a conflict arose their warriors could always be found on the battlefield, fighting for the Tyrant. They also have been a great aid in controlling the hermster population, making traps specifically made to catch the thieving critters or making deter them from stealing.

The first reports of the acid waters came in the year 1970. At first the flooding was only minor, with the acid levels being low enough that it was still safe to expose ones skin to it. Today the waters have flooded all over the forest. Leaving huge areas of the forest submerged in water. The acid levels in the water have also risen to a point which will burn flesh over prolonged exposure, making it unusable for any purpose. Dams and barriers have been erected to hold back the rising waters, though this is only a temporary solution. No one knows where the waters came from. Some speculate it to be some witchcraft from a mage of Krill, or the malfunctioning of some Old Kingdom weapon. But for the more superstitious members of Bosh, they believe this is a curse. A final prank from the Lord Edith Soil to inflict on all of Bosh.

The Inquisitorial Uprising.
One of Bosh's shortest conflicts, yet still impactful. During the Quiet Age the Inquisition made it their priority to purge all information and relics they deemed heretical. Even after the Quiet Age the Inquisition made it a habit to cleanse a society of all heresy they could find. So when the Inquisition came to Bosh in the year 1616, they demanded the Tyrant relinquish all items they deemed heretical. The Tyrant refused to bend to the will of any organization, even one in service of a god. In response the Inquisition began sending preachers into settlements who would denounce the Tyrant's rule to the people. Calling him a heretic and demanding his abdication. The Tyrant saw this as treason and had every preacher arrested. In some cases the preachers were sentenced to death and publicly executed. The Inquisition declared the preachers as martyrs who died standing up to the cruel Tyrant. A now infuriated Inquisition dispatched a company of acolytes and zealots to ransack the settlements of Bosh in retaliation. Those who held faith in Dayhime began siding with the Inquisition's actions, some even joined in with the Inquisitions raids. Seeing the situation escalate drastically, the Tyrant dispatched a company of guardsmen led by his greatest knight, Fjord Hyron. Fjord was ordered to put an end to the Inquisition's uprising, so it was assumed that he would confront the warring company of acolytes and zealots first before moving on to confront the rest of the Inquisition. Instead Fjord traveled with his army to Lakkham (a settlement the Inquisition had made their base). With great speed he managed to reach Lakkham before the Inquisition was able to properly mount a defensive. As Fjord entered the city the priest there tried to surrender to Fjord and his army which all went ignored by the knight. Fjord wanted to make it clear that all that awaits those who oppose the Tyrant, is death. Every man, woman, and child at Lakkham was put to death. Buildings were burned and whatever objects of faith were there were destroyed. Lakkham's destruction sent shockwaves throughout Bosh. Those citizens that originally vocalized their support of the Inquisitions actions were so terrified by what befell Lakkham that their voices fell silent, and the Inquisition quickly lost the support of the people. The last of the acolytes and zealots tried to avenge Lakkham by directly attacking Fjord and his company while they were still in the Verda Forest. The Battle of Verda Forest was a quick battle. Without the support of the people and the loss of their base the Inquisition had no one else to rely on. Thus they were no match for Fjord or his forces which outnumbered the acolytes and zealots. Much like Lakkham, there would be no mercy. Days later the Inquisition would send representatives to speak with the Tyrant once again making the same demands as before. This time however the Tyrant had the representatives see what happened last time. Upon seeing the ruined remains of the Inquisitions previous battle with Bosh, the representatives quickly realized that a war with the Tyrant is not one they could win. At least not without egregious losses. One Inquisitor stated "The only accomplishment we could make with a war with Bosh is the creation of a mountain with the bodies of the dead". The Inquisition sued for peace, swearing loyalty to the Tyrant if they would be forgiven for the crimes of their predecessors. The Tyrant agreed but made sure to limit what authority the Inquisition has. To this day the Inquisition obeys the laws set in place for them, else they may once again find themselves faced with the ire of the Tyrant.