Finhorn Forest

Finhorn Forest covers hundreds of miles of massive, unbridled woods that shrouds the landscape in mystery and shadow. It covers much of the western banks of Long Lake and stretches into the lower reaches of the Iron Range. This dense timberland is traversed by few beside the native wood elves of the region, known as the Wood Walkers.. The enchanted nature of this wood held the decay of the seasons at bay, allowing the trees to bloom evergreen year-round.

History
The woods originally covered almost all of the Iluskan valley and was home to the Wood Walkers and the Children of the Forest (primitive halflings). During this time the boundaries between the Feywild and the Material Plane were much more blurred, resulting in a string magical presence in the region that remains to this day.

When the Iluskans arrived in the Iluskan Valley conflict erupted between the woodland creatures and the foreign invaders. The war was long and bloody, and in that time large swathes of forest were cut down or burned. It is believed that Long Lake was created by woodland spellcasters as a defense against the advancing Iluskan armies.

A truce was finally settled when the Iluskan Invaders, Children of the Forest, and Wood Walkers signed a pact on the Godless Isle granting all the open lands to the Iluskans and the forests to the woodland peoples. This pact was strengthened when all three factions fought together against the orcish scourge led by Uthrak the Bold.

Sindarin Dynasty
With the arrival of the Sindarin Dynasty and their fearsome dragons in 792BD the entire valley fell under their control. However, a strong resistance remained amongst the inhabitants of Finhorn Forest who were angered by the wanton destruction of the woods. Sindarin outposts on the edges of the forest were frequently raided, angering the opressors and resulting in harsh retribution.

A famous song tells of how Finhorn, a legendary hero for who the forest is named, slew a dragon and its rider with a single shot from his magic long bow, Yew Heart. The bow itself is said to have been gifted to him by the Arch Heart, supreme ruler of the Feywild, and is an object much desired by scholars and treasure hunters alike.

Post Divergence
Since the fall of the Sindarin Dynasty and the cataclysmic Divergence, Finhorn forest has reclaimed some of the land that was lost, swallowing up Sindarin ruins amongst the trees and vines. Many of the halfing Children of the Forest and some wood elves assimilated themsleves into Iluskan culture, while others remained in their woodland dwellings. A peace has remained between the inhabitants of the valley since then.