The Forest
‘‘We said, this our world and we are it’s masters. We said, it is our duty and right to shape and lead it. We said, none may stand against our skill and might.
The wild disagreed.’’
Were you to ask anybody in world about woods, they would tell you there are two kinds: forests and the Forest(s). First are relatively small pieces of land filled with trees, that are cut when needed, and only sometimes left alone to preserve wildlife, whether for sake of hunt or to protect endemic species.
Forests, on the other hand are not meant to be talked about, which means everybody knows thousands of tales and grimly warnings about them. They are remnants of days before mankind knew fire, crawling and running and hiding from greater predators. They are deep dark woods of tales, hiding monsters and treasures and threats legends will feature one day. They are hungry wilderness, lands and blood and dreams that will never be tamed.
Geography
The Forests cover every continent,are present in every country, and can even be found at the Moon and other planets. It is estimated they cover approximately half of planet’s surface. These include islands, deserts, poles and any surface covered by ice. There are also theories, currently unproven, that they are also present at bottom of oceans.
It is difficult to ascertain size of Forests. While people are aware of amount of land they take up, multiple accounts claim they are even bigger from inside. Whether that is true or result of half-starved wanderings remains to be researched.
Height of trees also remains to be determined. When viewed by eye, trees appear to be tall. Just how tall is question-no human has been able to give answer other then taller then me. Cameras tend to produce mixed results, usually amusing but never accurate. people who went inside claim that trees can be as tall as mountains, and block sky.
It is common for two countries to share same Forest. It has been theorized-though jury is still out on that issue- that all Forests on each continent are one. Some go even further, proposing idea that there is only one true Forest, and that men can enter Forest on one continent and end up on the other.
Commonly, Forests at first glance contain trees native and common to country-even if that particular soil has been tested and proven unsustaible for those species to grow. Inside, however, uncommon species-such as cactus in middle of Siberian wastes-are known to flourish, alongside impossible things like trees of gold and diamonds. As well as different climates, seasons and times of day then usual world.
Magic
First magical trait of Forests, unknown to most people, is that they are melding places of layers of dimension- Upper, or as humans know it, real world, Middle, it’s reflection filled with magical creatures and organisms, and Under, ‘’place’’ inhabited by gods, elementals and other immortals, containing fundamental truth of reality, allowing person to slip through one to other, or to travel through time and space-not always voluntary.
Second, one most famous to world, is that neither magic or technology can function there. It is that factor that prevents sustained human life there, as well as utilizing it as natural resource. Entering inside cuts one off from modern world, returning man to state of prehistory. Wood taken from Forests retains those properties, being invulnerable to all sorts of technology and magic. Taking it out isn’t recommended as it will try to grow to true tree and spread.
At outskirts, places closest to human world, all electrical technology fails, vehicles cannot move, weapons are useless (guns fail to fire, knives cannot cut even a thread, which is why trees haven’t been cut long ago), medicines have no effect, and written word becomes unreadable or rots away. Spells, amulets and potions cannot be utilized, though Gifts-magical powers sorcerer is born with can be used.
Deeper, any sort of container, whether those be boxes or pots will fail to contain items, letting them fall out as if they are incorporeal. Locks won’t be able to close, and neither will buttons or buckles, as if prevented by some force. Ropes will not tie in knots, and blankets will let through cold, and pillows won’t provide any comfort. Only strongest curses or blessings will manage to be mantained.
In heart of Forest, magic won’t be able to be used, foods of outside world will provide no nourishment, clothes will let through anything and disappear, and humans will even be unable to start fire, reducing them to level of a beast.
Third is fact that Forests, being melding places of layers contain many creatures usually found only in Middle, such as undead, giants,centaurs,dragons,hags, sea serpents and like. Not to mentions that most animals can speak and understand men, and that both animal and plant life have at least higher sentience then creatures outside of Forests. Many bodies of water and fruits contain magical properties too. There is possibility that all creatures inhabiting Forests, or at least all plant life, are joined in one single sentient ecosystem that can think, communicate and coordinate it’s defenses.
Cultural impact
First major influence of Forests on human culture is well known as The War of Trees or Wild War (sometimes poetically referred as The Green Battle, though every culture has their own names for it). 3031 years ago, Forests all over world marched against humanity, destroying everything in their path, and almost bringing civilization to it’s knees. While most legends claim humanity gathered and fought trees until they gave up for tree days and nights, simple truth is that men mostly run in fear until Forests stopped for their own reason. Because of this, general calendar used by whole world takes it as starting point, as it is single event every nation felt, though native calendars of each culture are still prevalent.
Most of wars have had fear of Forests as one of main reasons, because overpopulation and lack of farming land land led to numerous armed conflicts.There have been numerous attempts to carve out nations from spaces that don’t contain Forests, mostly by pushing neighbors to their edges. Despite this, there has never been anything similar to World War(s) or massive colonialisation (all attempts to do such thing have been prevented by native populations) .
Forests have also made travel, trade and international communication much harder. It is practically unheard for mass immigration to other continents, and even for work purposes it is very rare. Aerial traffic is also much rarer then in our world, as influence of Forests permeates atmospheres above them, leading to complicated sky routed to prevent fall of planes (same goes for satellites, and we don’t talk about time humanity tried nuking Forests). Internet also required help of sorcerers to be set up, though how much is still question.
Human population is significantly smaller then that of our world, though not nearly half. It also struggles with overpopulation, though world hunger is smaller problem, due to lesser divide between poor and rich.
Most of cities, at least older ones, tend to have battlements and walls, or be surrounded by rivers, though that didn’t stop Forests first time. There was period when towns got rid of any plant life inside and around them them, but advance of industrialization has caused many of them to have (avoided) green areas, though as renewable energy has started being more and more used some thing them obsolete. Nonetheless, typically only cities on edges of country or agricultural communities have prominent plant life.
Most of religions have explanation for existence of Forests, and New Year is international holiday meant to celebrate union and strength of human bravery and endurance. Talking about them is considered taboo, creepy topic, like murders or cannibalism, and mentioned in only most profane curses.Floral motifs and gardening are considered signs of edgy phases, and most comic books and media of sci-fi and fantasy proposes theory for their existence and ends with forests being destroyed by heroes.
Forests themselves don’t care much for humanity. They grow, and wait, and live.