Chitterwood

Location overview

The Chitterwood is the largest forest in Isger, a sprawling old-growth woodland in the south of the country and the ancestral home of its many goblin tribes. It was at the heart of the Goblinblood Wars — Cheliax's attempt to seize the forest helped spark the conflict, and when the war was broken, the allied armies set its edges ablaze, burning away much of the wood and driving its goblin inhabitants into hiding in the caves beneath. Kuippana mentioned that Cheliax destroyed parts of the Chitterwood. Trees cut or burned during the wars still stand along the outskirts. Farther in, old-growth trees have swallowed signs of farmland; their canopy blocks much of the daylight, and birds, rustling underbrush, and passing animals can be heard. In the decades since, both the forest and its people have slowly recovered: the trees have begun to return, Goblins have crept back out to reclaim their territory, and relations with their human and gnomish neighbors have warmed enough that Goblins now visit nearby towns to trade and grumble about their shared Chelaxian oppressors. Even so, the Chitterwood remains a wild and dangerous place, where far worse things than Goblins lurk among the shadowed trees — and where old wounds from the war still run deep.
The country between the river and the Chitterwood includes Wolf Point, Vordia, Stumpfield, Fernsby, and Umok. Wolf Point serves as a military outpost, while Stumpfield is a recent goblin-and-human settlement located to the north of the Chitterwood. Fernsby supplies Stumpfield but resents its presence. Umok lies between the Chitterwood and the Aspodell Mountains, enforcing a ban on open flame and relying on magic and alchemy for heat and cooking. The town of Umok was founded to live in harmony with the forest. However, nearby goblin camps have clashed with Umok over resources, and Hobgoblin Raiders attempted to burn the town during the Goblinblood Wars. Signs marking Umok’s Fire Free Zone are present throughout the Chitterwood. Recently, small fires broke out in the woods southwest of Umok; woodland animals assisted in locating and containing them, but the cause remains unknown. A badly Burned Goblin arrived in Umok, claiming a “Fire Dog” was responsible before collapsing.
The Hellbreakers League were assigned to the region and traveled first to Vordia, where they aided travelers and locals while advocating for Isgeran Independence. In Vordia, they investigated the Bright Embers Orphanate, overcame haunts in its mess hall and playroom, and fought an attic whisperer in an upstairs bedroom. After destroying it, the corridor doors to the west slammed open.
After Sister Endreah mentioned that Viro Ahala planned a ritual near the forest’s eastern border, The Party entered the Chitterwood seeking it. Local hunters directed them toward a figure they had seen, leading them to a clearing with a petrified stump, discarded ritual candles, Crystal Pendant shards, and a crack leading into a hollow. Devils attacked there. Afterward, The Group found ritual supplies and an imposing shield; week-old human-sized boot prints could not be followed from the clearing. Lexx judged the work smaller than the planned ritual, perhaps a practice attempt. Six pairs of red eyes watched from east of the clearing before Zagnub of the Thorngrip Goblins emerged. He led The Group through the forest to Thorngrip, hidden behind a thorn wall around a sequoia, where the goblins’ elder asked them to drive away the Isgeri Slayers. The Group found the Slayers’ camp and fought four of them. As Kracka began searching the fallen, Kuippana heard at least two people and several wolves approaching from the northwest.
Three nearby sites of subtle power lie within the Chitterwood: Little Tree, The Hungry Hole, and Moss Pond. Viro Ahala’s ritual had disturbed them, making them more dangerous to approach. Goblin oracle Braknap gave the party a cloudy crystal talisman to expose to all three sites to locate Viro Ahala. At Little Tree, the tree’s apparent size shifted, changing the size of those nearby. A bear attacked, and Mielikki killed it. Kuippana and Khar’gan ended the tree’s corrupted effect, restoring the party and the tree to their normal sizes; a Spacious Pouch lay among the roots. At The Hungry Hole, a circular clearing surrounded a hole that inhaled and pulled people toward it. The crystal did not change there, and the party withdrew. At Moss Pond, sloths attacked among the undulating moss. Lexx Rennde weakened the corrupted portal’s connection, then Kuippana ended its disturbance. The moss settled over a portal to the Plane of Wood, and the crystal turned bright green. The party later returned to The Hungry Hole, where Samantha’s Dispel Magic stopped its breathing. The hole vomited valuables mixed with bones, lizard pieces, and branches.