Old Forest

Old Forest

The Old Forest was a dense woodland region situated beyond the battle lines, to the west of the crash site of The Liliana (Airship). It was notable for its thick canopy and size, which made it a natural hiding place capable of concealing even a creature of giant proportions. The forest figured prominently in the conflict between Rislandia and the Wyranth Empire during the events chronicled in The Fight For Rislandia.

Description

The Old Forest was characterized by its dense, thick trees—referred to at times simply as "the thick trees"—which provided substantial concealment from aerial and ground observation. A large oak within the forest was struck by a cannonball during the battle, cracking under the impact. When Zaira von Monocle exited The Liliana (Airship) after it crashed, she observed the forest to the west with the red sun setting over the horizon, as she later recalled: "to the west I could see the thick trees of the Old Forest, with the red sun setting over the horizon."

Its size and density were such that, as Zaira noted, a giant would not have been easily found within it.

Role in The Fight for Rislandia

Scout Reports and Early Warning

Private Forster Hudson reported that there was "something in the Old Forest," describing it as a location where something was driving the Wyranth military insane with rage. Hudson was unable to penetrate farther into the forest, and the Wyranth forces slaughtered the rest of the Rislandian scouts there. His account provided an early warning that the forest concealed something of significant military consequence.

The Giant and Wyranth Activity

In The Fight for Rislandia, The Giants played a central role in the conflict, and the Old Forest was directly connected to this threat. A giant creature emerged from the Old Forest during the battle, described as "something was making its way through the troops, which seemed to be coming from the Old Forest beyond." Wyranth scientists had located a second giant's resting place within the forest, and army scouts also independently discovered this location there. The forest's density made it an ideal site for concealing such a find from Rislandian forces.

Zaira von Monocle suspected that a third giant creature might be buried somewhere within the Old Forest, though this remained unconfirmed at the time.

Military Operations

The Grand Rislandian Army used the forest route through the Old Forest to avoid detection by Wyranth forces, taking advantage of its cover to move troops without being spotted. Following the battle, Zaira's father regrouped Rislandian forces within the Old Forest.

In the short stories

In The Neverending War, the forest road between Greenhorne and Loveridge is described as less thick than the Old Forest "to the north".

In A History of Rislandia

According to A History of Rislandia, the Old Forest is a vast, ancient woodland covering much of central Rislandia, stretching from near Rislandia City westward toward the coast of the Iberanth Peninsula. The sourcebook describes it as one of the oldest landscapes on the peninsula, with trees centuries old — some possibly predating human settlement entirely, and the deepest portions possibly thousands of years old.

The bible also gives the Old Forest an additional alias not recorded in the novels: the Deep Woods, used specifically to refer to its densest, oldest interior region (see below).

Geography and Extent

According to A History of Rislandia, the Old Forest is far larger in scope than the novels suggest, covering much of central Rislandia rather than being a localised woodland beyond the battle lines. It contains several distinct internal regions, including Hunter's Trails and the Whispering Grove. The Northern Forest Route passes around the northern end of the Westerly Spine through the forest. Settlements on its edges include Bridgefield on the western edge and Makersville on the northern edge. The bible also notes that a forest road between Greenhorne and Loveridge lies to the south of the Old Forest — consistent with the short story The Neverending War, which describes that road as less thick than the Old Forest "to the north."

Inhabitants

According to A History of Rislandia, the Old Forest is home to the Forest Dwellers, a hunter-gatherer indigenous people, as well as the broader category of peoples the sourcebook calls the indigenous peoples of the Iberanth Peninsula. The bible also records that were-rats inhabit the forest, and that were-creatures more generally are associated with villages near it. Other fauna include deer, wolves, bears, giant bats, and creatures described only as "stranger."

The Hill Folk — described as an indigenous group — are recorded as claiming the Old Forest "had always been cursed." Local legends speak of Fae, ghosts, were-creatures, and other dangers. The saying "Gone to the Old Forest" is recorded as a common expression meaning someone has disappeared or been lost.

The Deep Woods

The Deep Woods are described by A History of Rislandia as the densest, oldest part of the Old Forest — rarely explored and considered especially dangerous. The canopy is so thick it blocks sunlight, and strange sounds and phenomena are reported within. Few who venture deep into the woods return. Hunters and loggers are said to stay to the edges, and the military has considered exploring the Deep Woods but lacks the resources to do so. A logging camp that ventured into the deep woods went silent. The bible notes the Deep Woods contain legends of Fae, ghosts, and ancient ruins.

Ruins of the Age of Giants

According to A History of Rislandia, the Old Forest contains ruins from the Age of Giants, mostly overgrown and dangerous, including at least one collapsed Giant tower cited as a notable feature. This provides historical context for the walking giant that emerged from the forest during the Battle of Rislandia City — an event the sourcebook confirms, stating explicitly that the walking giant emerged from the Old Forest during that battle.

The Were-Rat Purge

The sourcebook records that following the Were-Rat Purge, the Old Forest "remained dangerous but no longer actively hostile," implying a prior period of organised or aggressive supernatural threat emanating from the forest.

The Cottage in the Woods