The Elder Wood
Beyond the Northwoods of Oð lies an ancient forest where mortal feet have rarely tred. The Dekàlic name for the forest is Grim Drūden, which means the Elder Woods. The Northwoods of Oð are believed to have once been the southern tip of the of the great Grim Drūden. Even in gentler times when the lands of Yrūn and Eylfāe were not at war, the region north of the Telàbra Run was forbidden to Mortals. Those Yrūn who dared venture into the giant trees were never seen again.
Far older than the second-growth Nar Drūden, the Elder Wood rises along the northern shores of the Nyr Durjin like an impenetrable wall against any that would dare trespass into the Immortal realm. A shard of the original Great Forest, the Grim Drūden extends from the deciduous Yrūn-marred southern coast to the pristine coniferous arcades of north Ardùwū. Few travel through the ancient stand for no roads have ever crossed the forest floor, with its roots like the trunks of lesser trees. The ground is peppered with all varieties of mushrooms and morels, for the knitted ceiling of branches high above never allow the eyes of Arzámarádð to see what it is they hide.
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Or Drannah
The Or Drannah is believed by the Anàhlāe to be a fragment of the ancient world forest. The trees here are very old and tall. The area is sacred to the Anàhlāe Eylfārehl and guarded vigilantly against the pain of Mortal footsteps. The vale of Mith ter Lederreh lays along the southern edge of Or Drannah. The wooded valley is fed by slender waterfalls which plummet into rainbow-crossed pools. Towering ancient pines fill the valley from wall to wall, standing like giants in the ever-present mist. This tranquil setting was once home to three Eylfāe armies, but now consists of only one; a ragtag collection of surviving troops. The state of the army is one of melancholy, for the fact that they have not passed to the next elehral can only mean that there is more fighting to come.
Near the face of the west valley wall, between two shimmering showers of water, the Adlaramalarra Dalerramad lies amid its grand brothers. Nestled among the giant roots of the fallen tree an elaborate wooden throne sits among radiating roots. The throne is formed from the wood, pulled and shaped in Anàhlāe fashion with each arm of the throne holding an orb of Eylfāe mythrul. The tree, once the eldest standing in this valley now serves as Mitharad’s throne and greeting area. Some have speculated that the tree was a child of the great Dru Irigrìm. Those that come seeking audience with the Silver King, sit or stand on the roots that curl and turn out from the throne.
Or Drannah Leder’eh Mith is an old clan of the Elder Wood, even by Eylfāe standards. Their lances snap with the pennants of many ancient battles. The Or Drannah Leder’eh Mith is a warrior clan, led by an elder called the Mitharad, or Silver King, who commands an army of riders, swordsmen, and archers. The Or Drannah Leder’eh Mith have been honored for the last several centuries, having been asked to provide the honor guard for the Ormarad (Forest King). Or Drannah Leder’eh Mith are most noteworthy for their hippogriff riders. The choice of warrior style is largely familial, with both sons and daughters usually following in the footsteps of their parents. Since children are not very common among the Anàhlāe, a child that chooses a path other than his parents, looks badly on the parents. One does not leave an army in good standing, without someone to take their place.