Black Forest

The Black Forest is a large, strange and hostile wilderness along Mediterranea's northern coast. Wandering nethermen, packs of andamen (beast-men) and night creatures such as vampires, werewolves and spirits roam it, but real power belongs to the goblin hordes and their feared lord, the Erlking.

The Erlking is certainly the absolute ruler of Mediterranea's goblins, but what he is remains a mystery. Some call him a demon sent by Mephistopheles to torment mankind; the elves think him a druas warlock of great power; the dwarves, who say they know him better than anyone, insist he is just a big, hideous goblin whose life has been stretched by black magic. From a dark fortress somewhere in the forest he rules nearly all the continent's scattered goblin tribes, sending his orders by wolf riders and other foul messengers, and the tribes obey for fear of his own army, said to run into the thousands. Some nethermen, ogres and even humans pay him tribute for protection, and wagons of plunder from their raids roll regularly to his fortress; failing to pay, for any reason, brings swift punishment.

Few travelers dare enter. The gypsies of Oggia sometimes skirt its edge for certain magical herbs but never stay a single night. Bandits, witches and black druid cultists visit either under the Erlking's protection or at great peril, and some say druas clans live inside, though others doubt it.