The Primal Forests
Towering trees fill the landscape between the Prince’s lands stretching from the centre of the region to the North-East, known as the Primal Forests. Filled with diverse plant and animal life, The Primal Forests are a go-to place for brave collectors willing to risk their heads for valuable ingredients. But it is no place for the faint hearted, as there are myriad of dangerous beasts that lurk under the canopies, not to mention the native peoples, the Jakarak, who do not take kindly to trespassers on their lands.
The Jakarak exist in two tribes, the Vit Onsta (Treestriders) of the North, and the Kyrp Inni (Groundwalkers) of the South. Each has several established towns, those to the North high in the trees upon their branches, and those to the South burrowed under the earth in intricate tunnels. The Vit Onsta call these places: Willowpoint, Waystone, Dragonville, and Ivyleaf Garrison. The Kyrp Inni call these places: Forests Cradle, Whistlepine, Shardspire, Frostleaf Burrow, and Flutelet.
There is no clear singular leader amongst either tribe, as each town has their own spiritual leader who acts as the voice of their people. To the Vit Onsta, these ambassadors are known as Sturrus (Earth Speakers); to the Kyrp Inni, these ambassadors are known as Hjafgars (Snow Whisperers). Essentially, they are shaman who are believed to have a deep spiritual connection with Tarak (The Primordial Earth), and use Dream Moss and Sermillion to enter trances that let them communicate with them. Both of these plants are in high demand in hidden market circuits across the world and go for high prices due to the near impossible task of acquiring them.