Sometimes referred to as the Drakewood, the Sharawood sits between Azulduth, Lake of Salt to the northwest and the Toadsquat Mountains to the south. Thick and overgrown with tropical vines and flowering creepers, the Sharawood holds many secrets, since few sentient beings have ventured into its murky interior. The nomads of the plains occasionally come to the edge of this forest to gather herbs, hunt for food, or hide from their enemies, but they rarely venture deeper into the woods because of the many Sword Spiders that dwell there.
As if the spiders didn't present enough danger, a traditional story says that a terrible undead creature that steals people's bodies and turns them into zombie slaves haunts the Sharawood. In fact, this tale is not far removed from the truth. An extremely old and powerful Dracolich known only as the Everlasting Wyrm inhabits the darkest, deepest part of the Sharawood, ruminating on its nefarious plots and slowly collecting a brood of minions. Though it keeps to itself and tries to remain unnoticed by the nomads of the plains, it does not hesitate to enslave any tribesfolk who discover its existence. The Dracolich's worst enemies are the Knights of the Eternal Dragon, a group of undead stalwarts hidden away in the ruins of the Castle Al'hanar, just south of the Sharawood. Once every century, the knights arise and charge into the woods to do battle with the Dracolich and its horde of living spawn. Though the knights always destroy the Dracolich and all its minions, this battle seems doomed to play out over and over until the end of time because true to its name, the Everlasting Wyrm simply reforms over a decade or two and begins its machinations again.
Since the Spellplague, hidden deep inside it is a city ruled over by Xavarathimius, the Everlasting Wyrm, an Ancient Green Dracolich. The city is largely populated by Lizardfolk, who revere the Everlasting Wyrm, as well as the Dracolich's numerous undead slaves.
Geography (Topography, Environment, Climate)
While many characterize Sharawood as a "Jungle", it is actually a Tropical Rainforest. The specifics of the origin of rainforests remain uncertain due to an incomplete fossil record, but it is suspected that Sharawood used to be much larger. With the Ruins of Okoth nearby, it is possible that this rainforest surrounded the long lost Sarrukh Empire.
Climate
Tropical rainforests are characterized by two words: hot and wet. Mean monthly temperatures exceed 64 °F during all months of the year. Average annual rainfall is no less than 66in and can exceed 390in. Tropical forests are classified by the amount of rainfall received each year, which has allowed ecologists to define differences in these forests that look so similar in structure. This high level of precipitation often results in poor soils due to leaching of soluble nutrients in the ground. The last major climatic parameter is the dry season intensity, with ecology being sensitive to changes in climate.
Ecology (Flora and Fauna)
Sharawood exhibits high levels of biodiversity and could be a suitable home to half of all the living animal and flowering plant species on the planet. Though the constant hunger and infestation of arachnids of all kinds severely cuts down the biodiversity. What the arachnids don't disturb, the undead does. A single hectare of a rainforest of this type may contain 42,000 different species of insect, up to 807 trees of 313 species and 1,500 species of higher plants. Tropical rainforests have been called the "world's largest medicinal", because over one quarter of natural medicines have been discovered within them.
There is distinct buttress roots of trees. Instead of penetrating to deeper soil layers, buttress roots create a widespread root network at the surface for more efficient uptake of nutrients in a very nutrient poor and plant competitive environment. These sprawling roots provide stability to the trees, which grow to significant heights and often have to withstand the impacts of severe storms. While these roots reduce soil erosion and maximize nutrient acquisition during heavy rains much of the leached soil runs off into the nearby Blood Lake.
Tropical Rainforests are divided into different strata, or layers, with vegetation organized into a vertical pattern from the top of the soil to the canopy. Each layer is a unique biotic community containing different plants and animals adapted for life in that particular strata. The emergent layer is unique to tropical rainforests, while the others are also found in temperate rainforests.
Forest Floor
The forest floor, the bottom-most layer, receives only 2% of the sunlight. Only plants adapted to low light can grow in this region. Away from riverbanks, swamps and clearings, where dense undergrowth is found, the forest floor is relatively clear of vegetation because of the low sunlight penetration. It is so densely packed with vegetation that a drop of rain falling from the forest’s top layer can take ten minutes to reach the forest floor. Sugarcane grows in certain spots.
This more open quality permits the easy movement of larger animals such as: Okapi, Tapir, Rhinoceros, and Gorilla, as well as many species of reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Since it’s so damp and hot on a rainforest floor, things decompose super quickly down there; a leaf that might take a year to decompose in another environment will break down in only six weeks. Many forms of fungi growing here help decay the animal and plant waste and yam tubers can be found.
Understory Layer
The understory layer lies between the canopy and the forest floor. The understory is home to a number of birds, small mammals, insects, reptiles, and predators. Examples include Leopards, Poison Dart Frogs, Ring-tailed Coati, Boa Constrictors, and many species of Beetles.
The vegetation at this layer consists of shade-tolerant shrubs, herbs (such as bananas), small trees, (such as the chocolate and papaya trees), and large woody vines which climb into the trees to capture sunlight. Only about 5% of sunlight breaches the canopy to arrive at the understory. As an adaptation to these low light levels, understory plants have often evolved much larger leaves. Many seedlings that will grow to the canopy level are in the understory.
Canopy Layer
The canopy is the primary layer of the forest, forming a roof over the two remaining layers. It contains the majority of the largest trees. Tall, broad-leaved evergreen trees are the dominant plants. Example of these evergreen trees are the Macadamia, Mango, Avocado and Coffee trees that grow in this rainforest. The densest areas of biodiversity are found in the forest canopy, as it supports a rich flora of plants that attach to trunks and branches and obtain water and minerals from rain and debris that collects on the supporting plants, (Including Orchids, Bromeliads, mosses and lichens).
The fauna is similar to that found in the emergent layer, but more diverse, even including exotic Butterflies. Habituating this layer is many avian species such as Hornbill, Sunbird, Parrot, Toucan, Macaw as well as other animals like the Spider Monkey, Sloth, Kinkajou, and Anteater.
Emergent Layer
The emergent layer contains a small number of very large trees which grow above the general canopy, reaching immense heights. An example of an emergent tree is the Kapok tree, which Castle Al'hanar had many uses for, such as to make coffins, padding and gather honey from. These trees need to be able to withstand the hot temperatures and strong winds that occur above the canopy in some areas. Several unique fauna inhabit this layer such as the Crowned Eagle, the King Colobus Monkey, and the Large Flying Fox. With the Arachnid issue, more fauna from the layers below have escaped into this layer that gets sunlight to survive.
Rainforests are dynamic and many changes affect the structure of the forest. Emergent or canopy trees collapse, for example, causing gaps to form. Openings in the forest canopy are widely recognized as important for the establishment and growth of rainforest trees. 75% of the tree species are dependent on canopy opening for seed germination or for growth beyond sapling size.
Regional Effects
Thickets form labyrinthine passages. The thickets act as 10-foot-high, 10-foot-thick walls that block line of sight. Creatures can move through the thickets, with every 1 foot a creature moves costing it 4 feet of movement. A creature in the thickets must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw once each round it’s in contact with the thickets or take 3 (1d6) piercing damage from thorns.
Each 10-foot-cube of thickets has AC 5, 30 hit points, resistance to bludgeoning and piercing damage, vulnerability to fire damage, and immunity to psychic and thunder damage.
Xavarathimius leaves no physical evidence of its passage unless it wishes to. Tracking it there is impossible except by magical means. In addition, it ignores movement impediments and damage from plants in this area that are neither magical nor creatures, including the thickets described above. The plants remove themselves from his path.
Rodents, reptiles and birds serve as Xavarathimius' eyes and ears.
This region is incredibly Unknown.
This region is incredibly Unknown.
Government (Politics, Laws, Order, Crime)
Xavarathimius rules here, though in his absence, his dominion may be waning.
Society (Culture, Fashion, Religion, Education, Festivals, Holidays, Entertainment)
The Undying Wyrm has never been organized in the past - current reports have shown that he has not only joined the Beast Lords, but that he has attained followers.
Since the Spellplague, hidden deep inside it is a city ruled over by Xavarathimius, the Everlasting Wyrm, an Ancient Green Dracolich. The city is largely populated by Lizardfolk, who revere the Everlasting Wyrm, as well as the Dracolich's numerous undead slaves.
Relationships (Trade, Food and Drink, Transportation, Defenses)
The dangerous Sword Spider predators hunt any creature that enters the forest, and occasionally they come out as far as the edge of the woods to prey on herd animals that stray too close to the trees.
There have been mercenary groups sent from neighboring settlements that periodically are sent to cut down the Sword Spider population, but so far none return and thus it has become difficult to secure a mercenary company that is willing to take the risk.
Legends (Rumors, Myths, Tall Tales)
When the Toadsquat Mountains reappeared from Abeir, neighboring settlements and nomadic tribes have begun telling news of the return of the Order of the Undying Dragon. That cloaked Riders in the Night travel the plains with blue flame lanterns. Durpar, the Beastlands and Unknown have taken keen interest in these tales.
At the start of each day while traveling in Sharawood, have each party member chooses the activity they will be focusing on for the day, (grants average 10). The chosen activity will determine the "Role" they will be using for the day. The activity chosen must somehow aid in the party's travels, (must be proficient). A skill not listed here may be chosen with description of the activity to the DM as well for their consideration. This will be used to determine what immediate information is provided, ("unlocked") for each area, (information might also be unlocked per Player Character background) players may make additional rolls as they explore further into a location, (such as disable trap).
Foraging
Gathering Information
Keeping Watch
Navigation
Raising Morale
Scouting
The Survival skill can be used to forage for food, water, or other natural supplies.
The History / Nature / Arcana / Religion (Pick 2) skills can be used to gather information that is directly useful.
The Perception skill can be used to watch for any incoming threats.
The Survival skill can be used for navigation.
The Performance / Medicine skill can be used to raise morale among the party.
The Investigation, (+Stealth) skills can be used to scout for upcoming locations or conflicts.