• Sea of Sighing [ Threshold ]
The foyer to The Court is covered in drooping purple flowers and tall, thin birchwood-like trees. The ground beneath the bells is all but obscured by the sheer number of them, and their guardians stand in nearly perfect rows with giant canopies to block out the sky; successfully keeping the meadow in a perpetual dim-light. When night falls the flowers go into a 'stasis'. This allows the meadow to be easily traversed without any residual effect. During daylight hours however, a thousand purple flowers reflect off of hundreds of tree barks, like mirrors catching the light. For most who bear witness to this phenomenon, it's either a great trick or the work of the forest spirit, who plays like a child in her own creation. But mother nature, much like the trickster child, has far more up her sleeves when dealing with the purple flower bells. The moment light hits their surfaces, they reawaken, and from their pistils comes a perfume as sweet and intoxicating as any smell can be. Those who are ill-equipped, or simply unaware, will immediately ingest the slumber inducing pollen. Creatures sleep until nightfall, when the flowers and the pollen they spread, go dormant once again. The effects take hold in a matter of minutes after a creature is exposed to the flower.
One known deterrent: If a wolf chews a silk worm and keeps the remains in it's mouth for as long as it is exposed to the bells, they are unaffected by the pollen. Often, military wolves can be seen chewing while out on their patrols.
---
• Hidden Pass [ Entrance ]
Still within the thick of the Sea of Sighing and along the face of a mountain is the narrow passage leading through to The Murkwood Court territory. An enormous divide cuts straight through the giant itself, its entrance obscured by a trick of the eyes, where large rocks have fallen in such a way to mask it almost entirely. One must know it is there first, then one must be able to find it's opening.
---
• Forest of Eternal Death [ Throughway | Hunting Grounds | Patrol Grounds | Training Grounds ]
In the valley there are two forests: The forest of Eternal Death and The forest of Eternal Life. Depending on what time of day you arrive, the forest greets you with spareness of soul and sound or a heavy fog so opaque that it could be eaten through. Usually, you find both. The trees here usually sport red leaves, when they can hold onto their leaves that is. A blanket of an autumnal red covers the entirety of the forest floor, making stealth a near impossibility; for predator and prey alike. Those who can climb do so, utilizing the fog and the trees as leverage over their targets. This lends to scouting and guarding as well, the forest itself an area that is heavily protected, as it is the main entrance into the valley. This is where you will find most of the hunters, the guards, and occasionally the warriors, who train both in and out of trees in order to hone their abilities.
---
• The Graveyard [ Grave Keeper's Den | Memorial | Graveyard ]
Set to the north, in between the Forest of Eternal Death and the Forest of Eternal Life, is The Murkwood Court Graveyard. Intentionally pressing up against the mountain wall, this small plot acts as a memorial for the fallen pre-valley, and will serve as the final resting place for those who should pass long after it. Hidden by the thick foliage of the forest, keeping it secluded and giving the impression of intimacy, the Graveyard has slowly become a well-known and frequented spot for the many who still struggle to move on.
The one known as Roachspeak, Chronicler, newly appointed Grave Keeper, and anomaly extraordinaire, has been at the helm of this project for months... doing so all on his own.
Some have questioned his stability, but have also never gotten so far as to blame him for lacking it either. In his mind, the Graveyard was an inevitability. If not by Roachspeak then by some other Elf wanting a place to remember. A quiet place, beyond the hustle and bustle of pack life. Away from the petty conversations and self-absorbed energy… a space to be vulnerable. To mourn. Visitors are asked to mind the Grave Keeper’s preparedness upon arrival, as several empty graves litter the area; awaiting their corpses. Slightly northeast there are a series of stacked rocks set in intricate spirals of which anyone can approach. These are the "mourning spots", a term Roachspeak has coined, created for the individuals who passed during The Final Stand. Through speaking to their living relatives, he has also begun the gathering of offerings to honor and pay tribute to the sacrifices made. Meats, feathers, colorful stones, and even jewelry, are set not only by the Grave Keeper himself but by those who visit the fallen, and can be seen as one follows the pattern around.
And opposite from that, to the northwest, tucked closer to the mountain face itself is the small den for the Grave Keeper. This is where Roachspeak has taken to residing permanently.
---
• Forest of Eternal Life [ Mother Tree | Military Dens | Social Grounds ]
The transition between the forest of Eternal Life and the forest of Eternal Death is a gradual one, but noticeable all the same. Like stepping through a gradient of color, you find yourself surrounded by the green of life. Small gardens and meadows covered in moss are plentiful, here, with tiny pools of water fed into from waterfalls in the distant peaks. The trees are larger here as well, climbable but only to certain heights and mostly used for housing. A giant one in particular can be found in the center of the forest, and is the hub of all communal activities. This forest is also where the dens are located. Rogue wolves and all military officials sleep on the frontlines in homes made out of the bases of trees. Selecting a den site outside the designated zone is prohibited, as most dens are chosen due to their strategic placement at the base of a mountain. Guarding the Court dens above them. Hunting is prohibited here, as is the way of preserving and giving back to the earth. Creatures chased into the forest of Eternal Death are, however, free game.
---
• Court Dens [ Elven Dens | Elder Dens | Terran Dens ]
There is only one path that leads up the valley wall here, giving elves access to their personal dens. These particular housing arrangements are made out of natural stone built into the mountain itself, and are reserved for the elves and their families alone. Guests are welcomed but only when invited, and questioned unless accompanying an Elf. The Elders and Terran quarters can be found higher still up the incline, but do not stray too far from the eyes and ears of the military forces. Least they risk being assassinated in their sleep.
---
• Hidden Paths [ Multiple entrances and exits to different parts of the valley ]
Entirely up to player interpretation. There is believed to be dozens of hidden entrances and exits littered all across the valley, as well as some which might lead out of it. Because no wolf has had enough time to scout them all out, individuals may find themselves in random tunnels beneath the earth or made out of trees for the very first time! Feel free to get creative, but be reasonable. If it wouldn't fit within the perimeters of the valley's more established zones, or isn't 'realistic' to a greater degree, then it cannot exist. Honor system at it's finest!
---
• Costal Causway [ Off-limits. Entrance |Path Boobytrapped | Later Path | End of Path ]
-Bloop-
---
• Bleeding Earth [ Seer Site ]
Closer to the coast there is a mountain, much smaller than those that surround it. A hidden path leads up to a small plateau, covered in twisted trees barren of leaves, electric green moss, and a spindly, mat-like red vine that has overrun the forest floor. This place has been deemed sacred and reserved for the Terran, the elders, and those invited up upon request. All elven members are aware of it's presence but rarely seek out it's viewing. They respect the wishes of their mystic's. Rogues are kept in the dark unless absolutely necessary, or unless the pups spread gossip like their parents. Additionally, very few have actually seen the site itself, and some speculate it's actual existence. The Terran call this place the "Bleeding Earth", and it is here that they commune with nature and induce visions.
---
• Beach [Southern | Central | Northern ]
-bloop-
