Bramblewood Forest

The Bramblewood Forest, or simply the Bramblewood, is a thick forest, surrounding Westruun in a crescent shape along the northern, western, and southern sides. To the northwest, the Bramblewood also skirts the base of the Cliffkeep Mountains, including the formidable Gatshadow Mountain. The trees range from gargantuan willows to a family of hardwood, thorn-covered oak-like trees (hence the name).

Description
Bramblewood has streams of snowmelt from the Cliffkeeps, spiderwebbing under impenetrable canopy of trees, across the thick, gnarled roots of the forest and into the plains beyond. However despite its overgrow, Bramblewood has two well-tread paths — one leads west to the iron-rich Murdoon Mines at the base of the Cliffkeeps, while the other winds north to Gatshadow's peak.

The forest is the only source of the wood for Westruun and the main trading product for the city.

Points of interest
The Trickfoot family have made the Bramblewood their home for generations.

On the western side, a sacred grove is tended to by three solitary druids who, As of 812 PD, claim to keep the spirits of the forest at peace. However, extensive logging led to the tree uprising and attacks on woodcutters.

Around 836 PD, one branch of the Ravagers, led by the elf Kalydria Darkeye, has created a fort within the Bramblewood Forest. There they performed a ritual to transform the local giant spiders into demon-feed spiders.

Safety
Travelling through the heart of the Bramblewood off the often pre-cut paths can prove dangerous, as the forest tends to contract and swallow unused trails rather quickly. Some rather dangerous beasts do reside within and occasionally wander beyond the borders of the forest, and most folks know better than to enter the Bramblewood unless absolutely necessary.

Around 812 PD, a spectral young woman, resembling a specter or a banshee, started to sometimes appear along the road, sobbing and leading men deeper into the Bramblewood to never be seen again. Still present in 836 PD.

However, the Bramblewood does seem relatively safe in comparison to, for example, the Frostweald. After Vox Machina slew Umbrasyl, Kerrek sent a few townsfolk with carts through the forest to retrieve the town's treasure from the dragon's lair at the peak of Gatshadow. The townsfolk successfully made the round-trip journey without the need of an escort.