Mistwood

"Where the winding river drains,

and where the mournful swallow cries,

over bridge and under fog the town of Mistwood lies.

Where the phantom trout does swim,

where cloud does cover earth and sky,

and in the wood things lurk unseen,

the lonely town of Mistwood lies."

-Ernest Travers

Overview
Mistwood Forest is a large area of dense, fog-covered woodlands and swamps west of the Trollspine Mountains. The Mistwood Township is located near the southern edge of the forest, on the banks of a small lake created by the Trollspine river. Though it isn't the most desirable place to live, the town has grown over the centuries as travel between Central and Southern Spauria increased. Now, people passing through Mistwood Forest will often find themselves at the Golden Eel Inn, Mistwood's proudest establishment.

The township itself is surrounded by dense marsh and rows of thick log walls, but a handful of bridges creep over the swamp and through the gates to allow travelers, lumberjacks, and other wanderers entrance. Inside the walls, most of the sagging buildings are riddled with mildew, leaking roofs, and fading colors, though the townsfolk hardly seem to notice as they mull about their daily lives.

History
The location where the Mistwood Township now stands was settled post Goblin Wars by Feflian explorers headed northward, seeking safe passage between the orc-ridden Trollspines and the basilisk-infested plains of the east. There in the wooded swamps they constructed a camp, which, due to the human migrations northward, was quickly transformed into a small settlement. However, as decades passed, destructive orc raids became all too frequent, and the town was quickly dismantled and abandoned.

Guilds & Factions
Notable factions within Mistwood would include the Foresters Union, Mistwood's reputable guild of lumberjacks, as well as the Church of Selune. The Spaurian Rangers can also frequently be seen lingering in Mistwood between hunts.

The Golden Eel Inn
The Golden Eel Inn is one of Mistwood's larger and more appealing buildings, and a popular stop for travelers of the Mistwood Road, renowned for it's cozy lodging and fine cuisine. The inn has drawn it's title and inspiration from the local legendry of the Golden Eel; a shimmering aquatic beast that no mortal waterman has ever been able to catch.

Church of Selune
The only religious establishment worth mentioning in Mistwood is the Church of Selune, the goddess of moonlight, starlight, and safe navigation. Inhabitants of the township advise travelers to make a stop at the church to make an offering to Selune's shrine beneath the moonlight. This custom is believed to grant a blessing for safe travels through the mist.

Trivia
In Mey of FA 163, the Foresters Union shared disturbing tales of a hideous monstrosity roaming the forests and eating everything in it's path. This was later discovered to be the ravaging construct of a mad druid, corrupted by the Switch. In early Joone the beast was destroyed by a small band of adventurers that would later be known as the Bois.