In the depths of the feral wildlands known as the Unforgiving Wilderness lie more than a handful of campsites. The sites are often prime picking for hunters and trackers that dare to brave the dangerous terrain in hopes of making a kill or so. One of the most frequented and often fought over sites is that of the Darklit Clearing. The Clearing is just that – A Clearing, only accessible to the Endal of Wind Reach due to the thick foliage and dangers that accompany the location. The floor is littered with jagged rocks and mosses and lichens. There are ferns that stand up to four and five feet tall, each frond spanning nearly two or three feet in length. The trees that surround the clearing grow tall and wide with branches that create a canopy above that blocks out all but the slightest bit of light. The light is soft and casts an eerie green glow reflected from the spring and summer leaves. In the summer, with the buds just blooming, the light is yellow-green, like the soft skin of a caterpillar. In the summer, the green is richer, much darker, and doesn’t allow as much light to part through. The fall heeds the most lovely results, with reds, oranges, yellows, and browns bleeding though and into the clearing. Do not be mistaken, however: Even with the light that feeds into the clearing, it is only a dull glow. There is hardly enough light to see one’s feet at the end of his legs. The winter leaves the clearing nearly entirely barren. Winter allows the clearing to see more light than it will for the rest of the year. If hunters and trackers are willing to brave the winter weather, there is more than enough light to see to set up camp.
From the heart of the clearing, if one looks to the east, there is a thin wall of trees and brush that provide a sheer curtain against the edge of a sparkling creek. The creek, though not flourished with fish, attracts large numbers of bears during the day and night. Unfortunately, the Darklit Clearing also attracts these bears. They often stop by for a drink and catch the smell of the Endals roasting meat for the night’s stew, or they hear the excited commotion of the Endals having scored the sweet hunting grounds for their own. This draws the hungry, vicious animals into the clearing. Though they are not as prone to attacking the hunters, they are prone to swatting at packs filled with provisions hanging from the trees. If the Endal are brave enough to take down these massive creatures, the pelts and meat could certainly be worth
something.
Aside from the multitude of bears, the area surrounding the creek is filled with deer. There is an occasional goat that makes its way down from the mountains, but the deer are the real prize. The elusive creatures are drawn to the crackling stream to quench their thirsts. If the Endal remain quiet, they may peek through that sheer curtain of foliage to snag a shot at a drinking buck. If the hunter misses, the soft ground around the stream is perfect to test and improve his tracking abilities. Prints can be followed up the bank for a good way, depending on the skill of the tracker. Once the prints are less visible, the thick brush leaves clues behind, such as trampled lichen, broken twigs, and scraped bark.
The stream is home to a small plethora of small fish. If willing, an Endal with fishing tackle may test his luck in the creek. It’s sure to be a dissatisfying catch, but a handful of these little critters would make a tasty soup, especially if a bear rummages the camp and eats the spoils of the previous days.
Perhaps one of the most disappointing factors of the Clearing is its thick wooded area. It’s impossible for a Wind Eagle to land safely in the Clearing in any season besides winter, and even then it’s a complicated feat. Those who have tried have often suffered injuries such as scrapes, lacerations, and contusions from the tree branches. The small site does not offer much room for the Eagle mounts to settle and mover around in. It’s up to them to find a more comfortable suited area. If an Endal and his mount ever come alone (which is highly unsuggested) he or she may find there to be just barely enough room for the two of them.
Further west, the woods thin just enough to allow the Eagles to land. It’s a good two or three mile march over craggy rocks as the trees grow closer and closer together, blocking out the light, until the Endal reach the camp. There is no trail, so it is always wise to have one’s Wind Eagle try and scout the land and convey directions, or invest in some land navigation techniques. When returning from the hunt, the Endal must carry his or her kill all the way back up to where the Eagle dropped its rider off in order to load up the spoils and return to Mount Skyinarta. In the summer, the walk is littered with snake nests, some of them venomous, so it is important to wear high-kneed, thick leather boots with socks. The sneaky pests like to take a jab at passersby, but usually do not wander into the campsite.
The Darklit Clearing is a natural habitat that is expected to be kept clean. There is a strict “Leave It as You Found It” policy regarding staying in the Clearing, so that the wildlife will continue to return and meander through the surrounding forest. The campsite is rich with all kinds of wildlife, but unless the campfires are disposed of, and all trash is taken with visitors, the wildlife will inevitably dissipate. Any Endal that is reported as not having left the Clearing in pristine, natural condition will be banned from using the site. Any mistreatment of wildlife or natural habitat is to be reported to one or both of the Inartas that often police the area and report to the Valintar on its condition: Hysara Wesinli (Endal) and/or Resilen Kinna (Avora).
NPC’s:Hysara|Wesinli – And Endal and her Wind Eagle who often police the Darklit Clearing on their frequent hunting sprees to be sure that the Clearing is kept in pristine and natural condition.
Resilen Kinna – An Avora that often accompanies Hysara on her hunting sprees. He is fabled to have a near perfect shot with a longbow.
