Blackwitch Timberland

Overview
The Blackwitch Timberland is a wood that one steers clear from. Dark, dense and assailed by light snow, cold winds and dense fog with overgrown pathways where nature has taken hold. It is home to equally grim inhabitants such as vengeful spectres, wandering blights, aggressive predators, cursed commoners and dare say even vampire thralls. Small scattered villages where hardy and superstitious commoners dwell in their hovels. The largest among them, Blackbriar, right in the centre of this woodland along the River Harbinger.

Economy and Resources
Not known for its resources and thriving economy, the Timberlands are a dreary and dark place. Why choose to live in such a place? Well, that's the thing with the Blackwitch Timberlands, you don't choose to live there, it forces you to live there, never allowing you to leave either. Therefore most of its inhabitants make do by hunting, subsistence farming and bartering, but they struggle in all three. For they don't have to contend with the neighboring villages, but the creatures that stalk the night here.

Culture and Climate
Superstition of ill-luck, bad omens and black magic are rampant among the inhabitants of the Timberland. Villages are quiet during the day, and dead silent when dusk sets. The people have stopped praying to any gods, for they have surely abandoned them. Instead they resort to giving offerings to witches and spirits of the wood. It's their best option to appease these entities in this cold and mucky land. And the people here believe words have power, where are Korinthian sailor may curse out of frustration with a knot, a Timberlander will curse another out of vengeance and anger. Most of the time, their wish is granted, for a price unknown to them.

Politics and Government
There have been a few occasions where Birmingham and Bordeaux have attempted to liberate this cursed wood but to no avail. The Blackwitch Timberland does not take invasion kindly and will sink its lycanthrope and vampire fangs into its invaders. Or send forth its host of spectres to claim more inhabitants that foolishly wander too close. Some ambitious fools, however, have convinced their populace of their noble heritage and right to rule them. If their claims are legitimate or not doesn't matter, for some take up the leadership role by force. Calling themselves barons, dukes or whatever other titles they wish to state their ego with. Some under the influence of darker powers of the wood or by bargains with witches.