Ardent Woods
Nestled along the eastern coast of Eldervast, the Ardent Woods is a vast, enchanted forest bathed in perpetual autumn. Towering trees with gold and copper leaves form a radiant canopy that glows with soft, otherworldly light.
During this early-access phase, the content that will comprise the world of Gaiathrae is reserved exclusively for our top supporters on the 'Heroes of the Realm' tier.
Many images are still in the 'concept art' stage and updates will come after initial releases of zones. Content is subject to change as the world evolves, but we strongly encourage you to play test and offer feedback!
Downloadable content found at the bottom of this post include the fully-developed Arden Woods Zone Chapter of the Gaiathrae Campaign Sourcebook in PDF format, high resolution versions of all images represented in this post, fully fleshed our NPCs of the zone, and VTT battle maps that allow you to begin play testing this content immediately!
Introduction
The Ardent Woods is a sprawling forest of ancient, autumn-hued trees and lush undergrowth where an ethereal light forever filters through the dense canopy. Located along Eldervast’s eastern coast, this enchanted woodland is renowned for trees whose leaves shimmer gold and copper year-round, giving the forest a perpetual autumnal glow. Every dawn and dusk, beams of sunlight slant through the boughs in radiant shafts, illuminating moss-carpeted glades and sparkling streams. The air is alive with the whispers of leaves and the distant calls of birds, creating a serene yet mystical ambiance. Home to elusive wood elves and other forest folk, the Ardent Woods exudes an aura of deep magic and ancient secrets, inviting travelers to lose themselves among its whispering paths and hidden groves.
Beneath the canopy, life thrives in abundance. Gentle deer sprint through twilight clearings, foxes dart between ferns, and brilliant plumage of rare birds flash in the undergrowth. More fantastical creatures make their home here as well – one may catch a glimpse of a unicorn moving like a white ghost between the trees or hear the laughter of woodland spirits echoing in moonlit hollows. The very forest seems alive and aware. It is said that in certain secluded glens, the trees themselves might awaken to watch over those who wander under their eaves. There is a sense that every rustle of leaves and shift of light carries meaning, as if the woods are softly speaking to those who know how to listen.
Adventurers venturing into the Ardent Woods find a living, breathing entity of untold stories – a place where nature’s magic runs deep and the boundary between the material world and the Feywild grows thin.
Geography and Climate of the Ardent Woods
The Ardent Woods stretches across Eldervast’s eastern coastline, a vast expanse of forest bordered by the Briarthorn Bluffs to the north, Vastwyn Valley to the west, and Gloomshade to the south. Rolling hills and sheltered valleys weave through the woodlands, creating a mosaic of terrain that alternates between dense groves of towering trees and open meadow glades. The forest’s most remarkable feature is its foliage: oaks, beeches, birches, and trumpet trees that retain fiery red, orange, and golden leaves throughout the year. Whether in spring bloom or winter frost, the canopy remains a riot of autumn colors, an enchanted phenomenon that lends the woods its name.
The climate here is temperate and gentle. Summers are mild and dappled with warm green-gold light, and winters bring a crisp chill but rarely harsh snow. Rainfall is frequent but comes as soft drizzles or misty showers that blanket the woods in dew, rather than violent storms. Early mornings often find the forest veiled in silvery mist that clings to the mossy ground and curls around ancient trunks. When the sun breaks through, it scatters the mist into glittering dew and paints the air in ethereal rays. Streams fed by mountain run-off lace through the terrain, their waters crystal-clear and faintly glowing at night due to traces of ambient magic. These gentle brooks converge into placid ponds hidden in the depths of the woods, reflecting the multicolored canopy above.
