Brynwood Brynwood was a forest located in the Vast , covering a large area between the Earthfast Mountains and the North Road , lying north of the towns of Maerstar and Sevenecho . It was infamous for holding a number of monsters and legends . Description . The terrain under Brynwood was tumbled and uneven , going up and down with many outcroppings of rock and ravines with steep sides , and the forest spread chaotically across this . There were no tracks through it , and the Brynwood was said to be as difficult to traverse as the Stonelands of Cormyr . Fauna . The sage Elminster heard tales of a kind of rabbit living in the Brynwood that was capable of whistling like a canary . It could even be taught a surprising number of tunes . History . Korred s and satyr s once dwelt in Brynwood , but the two fey races came into conflict over territory . In the ensuing strife , both races fell before monstrous creatures whose numbers steadily grew more plentiful . Afterwards , few of the original inhabitants remained . Though human settlers cleared much of the forested areas in the southern Vast between the Earthfast Mountains and the coast , Brynwood was a fierce deep - woods area that few dared attempt to cut down , and so it remained intact . At some point , a small dead - magic zone appeared in Brynwood . Through the 1360s DR , no less than three adventuring companies of note vanished after venturing into Brynwood . These were The Company of the Talking Shield , The Men of the Purple Sash , and The Skullsword Reavers . Rangers of the Harpers came to seriously suspect the place ; to quote one , " something evil lurks in that wood . " By 1370 DR , the sage Elminster theorized that some unknown person or force was spreading or maintaining the tale of the Bryndar to lure adventurers into the forest for some reason . In the Year of the Banner , 1368 DR , a minor noble hired the Red Brigade mercenaries to make a routine scouting expedition in Brynwood . Two Brigade scouts discovered the dead - magic zone and reported the find to their leader , Cedric Ravajar , who kept it secret . Later that year , he and the newly formed Vipers bandits moved into Brynwood , constructing their base , the Vipers ' Nest , in the zone . From there , they raided merchant caravans traveling through nearby Glorming Pass . Inhabitants . A number of legends surrounded Brynwood and monsters were said to dwell there . The tale of the Bryndar was unproven but popular and took many forms , telling of shapechanging women , or creatures who took the form of women , who dwelt in the wood and either lured in male victims or traveled far to abduct wizard s . Other inhabitants were fey creatures , such as the remaining satyrs and korreds . A clan of sprites also inhabited Misty Vale . A few naturalists made Brynwood their home in the 1360s DR , such as the ranger Dura Gerathu and The Green Lady , a druid devoted to Eldath . From late 1368 DR and 1369 DR , the Vipers bandits were also based in Brynwood . Locations . Stories told of an ancient castle with many spires lying at the heart of Brynwood . This was said to be the home of the Bryndar . Also in Brynwood was Misty Vale , a site holy to Eldath and home of The Green Lady . Dura ' s Vale held the log - cabin home of Dura Gerathu . The Vipers ' Nest was the secret hideout of the Vipers bandits . It was located within a dead - magic zone to give it extra security and concealment .