Dark Briar Grove
The Dark Grove
The Dark Briar Grove is rumored to be a dangerous, dark forest of the north. Monster sightings of all types are common within the thick trees and outcroppings. However, past the threat, the forest is abundant with peaceful wildlife, plants of many uses, and is a quiet, unpopulated place that many daring creatures call home to stay away from the cities and their territories.
Thorn Alcove
The northern area of the grove, the Thorn Alcove is a grassland-covered area burdened by the holes of a once-massive briar hive that has since died out and moved elsewhere. Wanderers must be careful when walking through the dry grass to not trip into a tunnel that goes nowhere but straight down.
The Verge
A massive trench on dry land, the Verge is an ancient topological fault that has been a part of Ptitheros since the start of early records. Said to be the entrance to the Beginning Kingdom; a rumored original kingdom of the gods, yet no one has concluded such. The Verge has a sheer drop from all sides, bringing waterfalls into a misty abyss that seems to continue forever. Although no longer feared as the entrance to a dangerous new world, it is now veered away from due to inexplicable activities hosted deep within. At the bottom of the Verge are caverns inhabited by groups and cults that nobody dares go near. The misty clouds halfway from the drop shield their faces and activities from the rest of the world. It is mostly accepted that the main cult that lives in the Verge are those with The Fifth Cardinal or lindost related things.
The Abscond
Where the Meldra Desert, Dark Briar Grove, and Ulhar Caesin converge... is the Abscond. This massive waterfall is the point recognized as the near-center of the Ptitheros continent. A large lake meets at its foot and mist covers the landscape throughout the morning and afternoon. Sometimes the sun hits the mist at a perfect angle, resulting in a rainbow forming over the towering waterfall.
Any weary traveler who comes to view the natural beauty of the verge may stumble upon the bleak monuments rising out of the fog and water spray. A maze of tents and crude settlements sits near the base of this massive waterfall, home to the 5th Cardinal Cult. A large Altar sits at the center of the encampment, where a number of fanatics can be seen performing rituals and prayers. The entrance to the camp is marked by dark obelisks, presumably attempting to imitate the shadowy dimension of Lindoss. A bustle of activity reveals the dark adornments worn by members attempting to connect to their so-called “5th Cardinal”. The encampment is completely self sufficient; within can be found sleeping and living quarters, food stores, a kitchen and dining hall of sorts, small gardens, and places of “worship”. Draust Hive
A dozen miles south of Braeyc, slightly within the thinner north section of the grove, is a menacing location. Holes the size of 2 full grown dragons dot the landscape and travel deep into the dark underground. They burrow into a massive underground hive of connecting tunnels and nests, where bones litter the floor and thorns are shed everywhere. It is empty now, but it was once a bustling briar hive. Many fear the brood that once lived here might come back. Skull Circle Grotto
A strange natural landmark hidden within the grove. A group of trees, one large one centered in the midst of all the others, its branches extending outwards in an umbrella-manner to connect with the other trees that surround it. Its scattered leaves filter gentle sunlight through and grow the ground beneath it into a rich, flower-covered area. It is common for passersby to leave any animal skulls they’ve hunted/gathered at the base of the central tree, as the encircled area is believed to be a safe space amongst the dark grove. Sometimes the skulls of family members are brought to the grotto if the individual believes in its sacredness enough. Caraway's Radio Watchtower The Basalt Fen
Where the woods and mountains shroud even afternoon daylight, the ghost of a large fen appears just as the sun strikes the ocean horizon. Nearby, a small statue of a fen carved purely from basalt stone sits. Many decaying flowers sit at its feet, once old offerings to it from an unknown person. Forgotten Alehouse
And old, decripit alehouse rests upon the side of a mountain. Lonely staircases, covered in moss, dot the woods near it, that are so out of place that they cause a sense of dread. The alehouse is said to once belong to a dragon with the most ghostly of scales, long, long ago. The Crossing
Not many roads go through Briar Grove, but quite a few of said active roads intersect here in order to cross the rivers.
Settlements
CAPITAL CITY | Braeyc City
Braeyc City is the largest settlement within the Braeyc territories. It is located on the south tip of the Thorn Alcove, bordering dangerously to the start of what is truly the Dark Briar Grove. Architecture here resembles medieval Europe, with most buildings built out of heavy wooden planks and uneven stone. Rain is common here, the atmosphere is quiet throughout most of the city, but many sporadic markets pop up and artisans are found all over. What was once a trading port between Tucruitora and Sequ’Manko, Braeyc has evolved into a place full of diversity and mixed families, along with cultural exports and creations that can’t be found anywhere else. The only thing stopping Braeyc from claiming proper kingdom ownership is its lack of natural resources and the looming threat of Nox owning its only beaches.
TOWN | Falhalt
Falhalt is a beautiful town situated near the shores of the North Ocean. Surrounded by water and the simplistic elegance of the Thorn Alcove, Falhalt is blessed with quiet seas and open fields far beyond the view from the town’s windows. It’s buildings are a mix of stone and Nox architecture, meaning old (really old) meets the newest technology often. Many rubasyns live in Falhalt but the population is a good mix of everything. Lavender fields sprawl across the landscape and mills dot the horizon as a fuzzy blur.
VILLAGE | Bolden
Bolden is a lonesome village. Old fortresses stand melancholy against the rushing waves blowing down from the tundra above. Fog covers the place, the mild warmth coming from the grove meets the cold from Pselle, giving Bolden an eerie blanket that covers the entire area. Homes made of old stone stand the test of time against the elements. If not for the thinning Manko Mountains that stretch into the north, Bolden would have been washed away a long time ago. The people who still live there have been there for generations, and their cultural identities are a mystery to historians. They don’t allow outsiders, making the study of the village and it’s past difficult to research.
VILLAGE | Thistleweed
Thistle is a small village deep within the Dark Briar Grove. It rests inside a shallow valley, the forest encases them from all angles and filters sunlight through the dark canopy. It is a beautiful place, but not a safe one. The people here are highly aware of the danger the grove poses but their search for solitude and a city-less life is not stopped by this threat. Rumors make Thistle out to be some sort of hovel for the insane and the cursed, making the public light beyond Thistle not a good one. Although some citizens could be such, they are far from the majority. Most citizens of Thistle are just there for a quiet life. (Nobody in Thistle denies there’s probably some black market happenings occurring here though.)
CAMP | 5th-Cardinal Camp
Any weary traveler who comes to view the natural beauty of the verge may stumble upon the bleak monuments rising out of the fog and water spray. A maze of tents and crude settlements sits near the base of this massive waterfall, home to the 5th Cardinal Cult. A large Altar sits at the center of the encampment, where a number of fanatics can be seen performing rituals and prayers. The entrance to the camp is marked by dark obelisks, presumably attempting to imitate the shadowy dimension of Lindoss. A bustle of activity reveals the dark adornments worn by members attempting to connect to their so-called “5th Cardinal”. The encampment is completely self sufficient; within can be found sleeping and living quarters, food stores, a kitchen and dining hall of sorts, small gardens, and places of “worship”.