The Forest of Kryd
Dispatch #5: Wherein We Visit Kryd's Sanctuary In The Meldûn Borderlands
Greetings!
Welcome to The Known World, where I post about the characters, places, and things pertaining to the world setting of the same name, which will eventually be featured in a future book to be titled The Other Side of the Sun.
TL;DR: An overview of the Forest of Kryd, home to a certain Archmage of great power.
Reading Time: ~ 14 Minutes
Prologue
Hello, friends! Today’s Dispatch is a rewrite of an article I originally published back on 27 January 2023. This story takes a look at the Forest of Kryd, that mysterious yet private woodland domain belonging to the great Archmage Kryd [pronounced Creed]. The Forest occupies roughly the eastern half of the riverine Isle of Meldûn, in the far northwestern corner of the Kingdom of Bryn. Lord Kryd has called the Forest home for about 430 years so far, and he’s been crafting it to his liking ever since.
We’ll briefly discuss the Forest’s more interesting flora and fauna, its mysterious Glimmering Spring, and the wonderous treehouse in which the Archmage resides.
Let’s dive in.
About The Forest of Kryd
The Forest of Kryd is an old, wooded forest reserve located on the Isle of Meldûn in the Meldûn Borderlands. It is bounded on the north by the River Adaravel, on the east by the narrower tributary River Garmindel, on the south by the Treva Road, and on the west by the other half of the Isle of Meldûn. The Meldûn Chantry, a sort of monastery for Mages, sits immediately adjacent to the western boundary and guards the only road leading into the Forest. In addition to that road, the Forest is laced with a few game trails and footpaths. Meanwhile, the bustling frontier town of Meldûn is located a bit further to the west, down the Treva Road.
The Forest of Kryd is not particularly big as forests go, as the reserve measures about one league square ~ 9.65 square miles ~ 25 km2. It is a mixed temperate forest, containing a variety of foliage but dominated by large, Douglas Fir-like trees known as Meldûn Pines. These coniferous trees can be quite large: Typical specimens measure 35–50 m (131–164 ft) in height and 1 to 1.6 m (3 ft 3 in to 5 ft 3 in) in diameter, but some of them can be as much as 67 m (220 ft) tall. These massive trees stand in contrast with the Borderland Pines more commonly seen elsewhere around the region, which measure a more modest 15-24 m (50-80 ft) in height on average.
Kryd originally visited the forest reserve during the wintertime of the year 17 JE - about 473 years ago, in story-time - back when he was but a middle-aged journeyman Mage still learning the ways of the Other Sight. At the time, locals considered the Forest a cursed place best avoided, as attempts to harvest its trees were inevitably met with disastrous results. Furthermore, people attempting to enter the Forest found themselves suddenly exiting it somewhere else entirely, while some intruders simply disappeared without a trace - beyond doubt a very strange thing, we must concede.
Yet Kryd found he was able to visit and explore the entire forest unimpeded, which he continued doing off and on for many years thereafter. By the year 60 JE the future Archmage took up permanent residence within its midst, and the forest reserve has ever since been known as the Forest of Kryd. Over the centuries since, Kryd has carefully cultivated the forest and its contents to suit him in various and sundry ways.
Let’s have a look at a few of the things one might find dwelling within the confines of the Forest of Kryd.
Local Fauna
Forested areas all across the Meldûn Borderlands draw their own fair share of perennial, firefly-like insects known as Emberflies, but the Forest of Kryd attracts an exceptionally high number of them, as seen in the image above. Luckily these Emberflies don’t bite, but they do like to occasionally “kiss” one’s flesh as they go, especially when one’s skin is a bit sweaty or moist from recent rainfall. While they typically flutter about the treetops along the woodland's edges, they usually gather closer to the forest floor as one ventures deeper into the woods.
Anyone entering the Forest uninvited will quickly find themselves swarmed by literally thousands of these insects, who surround and harass intruders until they turn about leave its bounds. Once they leave the forest, they might find themselves back where they started… or they may instead find themselves somewhere else entirely. Nobody knows for sure if this occurs because of the Emberflies, or because of some kind of enchantment Kryd might have cast upon the place. (Kryd, of course, does know…)
The forest is also home to a cluster of Long-eared Foxes who endeavor tirelessly to keep the forest mostly free of vermin. It’s not unusual to spot one or two of them scrutinizing visitors as they enter or leave. While these foxes always keep a respectful distance from humaniforms such as yourselves, Kryd can readily walk up to one and pet them at will.
Nonetheless, there is one particular sort of critter that do occasionally outfox the Long-eared Foxes: Borderland Rabbits. They are a favorite source of meat for folk of lesser means living around the Borderlands, should they be able to snare or pick one off with a well placed arrowshot. These long-eared burrow dwellers can be seen darting from cover or crossing one's path as one ventures through the Forest of Kryd, where they are beyond the reach of ravenous metahuman hunters.
Then there are the Miniursos, a native species seen around the Central Valleys of the continent of Glosa. Despite their name and appearance (miniurso means small bear in the Common Tongue), Miniursos are not bears; they are somewhat related to raccoons but are slightly larger than a cocker spaniel. Their paws are quite dexterous, a trait that comes in handy whenever they climb trees, pillage campsites or ransack one’s unattended belongings.
But much worse than Miniursos are the Koleranos [Koh-leh-rah-nohs], sometimes also known as Gilravagers [Gill-rah-vah-gurs]. Koleranos are usually the first creatures one will see after entering the Forest of Kryd, albeit from a fair distance away. Naive travelers might think they are cute little beggars, but Koleranos are in fact notorious little scofflaws who like to nick stuff from unsuspecting travelers. Some of the Manikinfolk have domesticated them as innocent pets, but there are roguish humans who have taken undue advantage of the Kolerano’s attraction to shiny objects so as to train them to pick pockets.
The Glimmering Spring
The Forest of Kryd is shrouded year round in fog or mist, which becomes especially thick during cooler weather and sometimes spills over into surrounding terrain. Many folk around the Borderlands assume this fog is due to some kind of magic cast by Kryd or some previous Mage - or perhaps even by the Manikins who once lived in the area. In reality, the forest remains cloaked in fog because of the Glimmering Spring, a mythical spring located near the center of the forest.
The Glimmering Spring is a perennial hot spring whose waters stay in the 100-113° F (38-45° C) range year round. The spring has been mentioned in regional folklore for centuries, and has a reputation for being the source from which Kryd gains his power. In truth, it was the spring’s apparent curative properties that originally attracted Kryd to the Forest, and indeed the spring does have possess certain unique, even supernatural properties… which we will get into further on another day. 😉
Kryd’s Homestead
Kryd’s home lies within the center of the Forest, next to the Glimmering Spring. Here are some brief notes about a few items to be found therein.
Kryd’s Chair
Facing the Glimmering Spring is a large, wooden chair known as Kryd’s Chair. (The Band of Five and a few others like to call it Kryd’s Throne, a term Kryd does not like much.) The elaborately carved chair, which indeed resembles a throne, was made centuries ago by a Manikin friend and master woodcrafter who used the remains of a nearby tree that had been struck by lightning. It seems to glow softly whether in daylight or darkness, and despite being centuries old the chair is remarkably well preserved and quite resilient in appearance.
The chair appears to be uncomfortable to sit in, but it is actually a most agreeable place to perch should one ensconce themselves in it. One may find Kryd lounging in it day or night, usually reading some large book, looking at one of his mysterious scrying-slates, or simply pondering whatever might be on his mind that day.
Kryd’s Treehouse
Also facing the Glimmering Spring nearby is Kryd’s home, a 3 story treehouse named Delarbos [Deh-lahr-bohs].
The house is built of nice, warm-colored woods and is actually a set of multiple structures arranged into three distinct levels, built around a cluster of large trees and interconnected by internal and external staircases.
The 1st level contains an anteroom where Kryd initially receives visitors, a comfortable study where he conducts most meetings, and a nicely arrayed kitchen and adjacent dining area. Few visitors are ever invited to visit any part of the treehouse above this level. The 2nd level contains sleeping quarters for the caretakers, as well as two other bedrooms usually reserved for Kryd’s closer friends or perhaps Journeymen-Mages. The 3rd level, which sits much higher up, holds Kryd’s private quarters and his study, which is overstuffed with books, manuscripts, scrolls, and other objects of interest.
Visiting Mages and other guests are accommodated in a cottage located nearby, known simply as the Guesthouse. It, too, is quite comfortable. Its 2nd story loft is usually reserved for Mage-Apprentices under Kryd’s tutelage.
Myko and Nolecina Tarkên
The treehouse and surrounding grounds are currently overseen and maintained by a couple of humans of middle years who are married to each other, namely Myko and Nolecina Tarkên [last name pronounced Tahr-cane].
We will discuss Myko and Nolecina more in some future Dispatch, but for today we will merely note that Myko, a retired member of Bryn’s Royal Low Guard, often appears seemingly out of nowhere to escort arriving visitors through the Forest. Meanwhile Nolecina, one of Kryd’s former understudy who never became a Journeyman Mage but is clearly more skilled than even a late stage Mage-Apprentice, possesses an exceptionally keen ability to sense intruders to the Forest. She alerts her husband - oftentimes nonverbally - any time she senses the presence of strangers entering the vicinity. Along with being a great cook, Nolecina is also very good at reading other people's intentions, two qualities that Kryd no doubt greatly appreciates.
This concludes today’s Dispatch. Thanks for reading!
You may use the Leave A Comment button below to leave a comment, or email me directly at me@beturpin.com to share comments.
If you would like to share this post with others, you may click the Share button below to expedite this.
You may click the Subscribe button below to receive these Posts in your email inbox as they are published, as well as at http://www.beturpin.com.
Until next time, safe journeys to you and yours!
— B.E. Turpin
Very nicely written Barry. Thank you for sharing.