Eldritch Groves

Some places just don't agree with the laws of physics, geography, and the way we understand the world. The Eldritch Groves is one of these places - myths and legends are the only tales we have of the Groves, unsubstantiated rumour that at times conflicts. Located in the southern reaches of Aundair, between Arcanix, Passage, Ghalt, and Vanguard Keep, the Magi of Arcanix have tried to explore, investigate, and explain the Eldritch Groves to no success. Every couple years, one or two new students get it in their head to solve the riddle the masters couldn't - they are lucky if they come out unchanged.

The Groves were as large as they wanted to be. One could cross them in an hour, a day, or three weeks. They could follow straightforward paths, wander down ancient winding roads, or become lost where no path leads, but the result would be the same. Time passed strangely in the Groves, sometimes rushing by and at others stopping altogether, and magic goes awry, spell results doing unexpected and impossible things. The Gods do not answer their Clerics here.

The trees within the Groves were made of a matte black bark, absorbing light. Some were the white of sunbleached bone, twisted into tortured shapes. Some trees oozed blood so dark as to almost be black. Shadows leaped in the periphery of your vision, crimson eyes gleaming from darkness that seemed to write like a living being. The whispers in the darkness spoke of madness, or betrayal, of doubt and fear.