Dire Wood

Dire Wood
Geography [1][2][3][4]
Aliases
Enchanted Wood

Type
Forest

Region
High Forest, Northwest Faerûn

Size
Circumference:
4 mi (6.4 km) outside its borders, 60 mi (97 km) from within
Diameter:
1 mi (1.6 km) outside, 150 mi (240 km) from within[note 1]

Largest city
Karse ( in Ruins as of -339DR )

Society [3][5]
Religions
Cult of Karsus
History [2][6][7]
883 DR
Dire Wood formed

1358 DR
Outward growth ceased

The Dire Wood, also known as the Enchanted Wood,[1] was an ancient and supernatural area within
the High Forest found in the North.[3][4]

“
It is not cold you are feeling, it is death. Death ancient and mad and mighty, death sorrowful and
ashamed.
”
— Melegaunt Tanthul on the Dire

Description
The Dire Wood was made of black, petrified trees that appeared to be dead,[9] but were actually
entirely unkillable.[1] The soil of the forest floor was red in hue,[4] and gave way to uneven hills and
peaty bogs. Much of the landscape was covered in wild and decaying overgrowth.[2] While it appeared
normal from outside its borders, once within the woods became freezing cold[8] and began to reek of
death and decay.[10]
Wild magic permeated the woods, emanating from the arcane landmark within its center.[2][3] The
geographically-morphic traits of its existence within the surrounding forest[1] played tricks on the
senses of anyone that dared travel within.[11]

Climate
Strange weather patterns including "wizard weather" were reported throughout the Dire Wood. These
phenomena included falling snow the color and smell of blood, rain as hot as boiling water, and hail
that would explode when striking the earth.[1][2][3][12]

Geography
The Dire Wood was situated in the eastern reaches of the High Forest,[2] surrounding the source of the
Heartblood River.[1]
The space it occupied within changed depending on the observer. Anyone walking the circumfrence of
the woods outside its border would continue for approximatley 4 mi (6.4 km),[3] whereas someone
doing the same from within would go on for 60 mi (97 km).[4] Essentially the Dire Wood was similar to
a bag of holding, the space within the woods were much larger than it was from outside.[1]

Geographical Features
The outer border of the woods that designated its change of dimensions were marked by a ring of
massive albino oak trees[9] known as the Pale Ring.[2][10]
History
Cultists founded the city of Karse at this location after Karsus's Folly in Year of Sundered Webs, −339
DR, but it fell into ruin shortly thereafter due to internal religious strife.[13]
Around a thousand years later in the Year of the Giant's Oath, 883 DR,[6][7] a wizard from Ascalhorn
named Wulgreth came to the ruins to raise an undead army using epic magic. His spell was interrupted
however by his henchman, Jhingleshod the Axeman. The release of the necromantic energy caused
Wulgreth to become a lich and the nearby forest was transformed into the Dire Wood.[13]
For centuries after its formation, the Dire Wood continued to expand at a rate of approximately 80 ft
(24 m) each year.[1] This growth stopped during the Time of Troubles in the Year of Shadows, 1358
DR, when magic across the Realms ceased functioning as expected.[2]
Just prior to the Rage of Dragons in the Year of Rogue Dragons, 1373 DR, the gold dragon
Aerosclughpalar retired to the Dire Wood to prepare for the madness that would inevitibly consume
him. When he succummbed to the King-Killer Star's magical effects, he annihilated much of the
petrified woods and the monstrosities that dwelled within.[14]
Rumors & Legends
Legend said that the Dire Wood was so named for a horrific massacre of humans many years before the
age of ancient Netheril. It was said this mass-killing led to the red soil that covered the forest floor.[2]
Yet others believe it was the actions of Karsus that imbued the wood with its eldritch evil.[8]
Stories of the Dire Wood's peculiar nature spread as far away as Loudwater.[15]
It was speculated by some sages that the woods could be a point from which travel to an alternate
Prime Material plane was possible.[1]
Notable Locations
•Karse, the ruins of a former Netherese settlement.[16][2]
•Karsus Butte, the remains of the fallen body of Karsus, made gigantic by the divine energy he
stole,[4][17] which lay in the exact center of the woods.[3]
Inhabitants
Due to its supernatural origins and nature, the Dire Wood was home to many aberrations,[9] such as
deepspawn,[2] long-lost creatures that were believed to have been extinct,[1][2] along with some
demons such as manes and barlgura that migrated from Hellgate Keep.[18]
The evil and strange goings-on of the forest were closely monitored by the elves of Reitheillaethor.[19]
Notable Inhabitants
•Jhingleshod, the Iron Axeman and undead hunter of the lich Wulgreth of Ascalhorn.[20]
•Lossarwyn, a lich and druid of the Twisted Rune that remained trapped in the woods, and was to
blame by many for the woods' "wizard weather".[9][21]
•Tianna Skyflower, "princess" of and leader of the band of elves that descended from ancient
Eaerlann.[22]
Appendix
Notes
1. ↑ The discrepancy between these seeminhly impossible dimensions can be attributed to the information being
provided over the span of several editions of Dungeons & Dragons or the overall peculiar nature of the location.