Located to the north and east of the great city state of
Quitak Dearthwood was long considered impenetrable by the inhabitants
of that city not least because it was home to the fearsome Orcs of the Purple Claw. About
seventy years ago, however, the then Warlord, wishing to build up his navy authorised the
local loggers to drive a great trackway into the forest which was guarded by
defended military camps. Fifteen years ago the Amazon Queen of the Orcs declared a crusade
against the camps which were all destroyed in a sudden uprising. The warlord retaliated and
drove back the orcs but only one of the camps and a small castle, the Tirthon, near the
furthest end of the trackway were re-occupied.
The Orcs are not the only inhabitants of the great forest,
Dunael tribesmen also live in
small villages deep in its vastness and it is rumoured that a powerful group of treants look
after the wellbeing of the trees. Small communities of druids have also surfaced sometimes
to protest against the depredations of the loggers. The wood also has much dangerous fauna,
notably mountain lions and smilodons. The Warlord would dearly love to keep permanent bases
within the forest to subdue the orcs but lost the Tirthon yet again last year to Orcs.