Vluxyhm Forest

== Overview ==
The Vluxyhm Forest is the massive sprawling stretch of forest on the southern border of L'keill. Along the northern edge the trees are densely packed, and harsh undergrowth makes travel difficult. The forest is also brimming with Grimm, containing many older and more dangerous variants otherwise found only in Deadzones. Further in, if one brave enough made it beyond the stiflingly thick outer edge, the trees are spaced out but far larger, some dating back thousands of years.
It is rumoured that the mythic city of Spira is located on the far side of the forest, but only Huntsmen have been able to traverse it safely thus far, and even they do not go in too deeply.
== Topography ==
Vluxyhm Forest is full of gentle hills and sudden hidden ravines, making the already difficult to traverse area downright treacherous. There have been reports of entire patrols dropping off the edge of seemingly bottomless ravines while following deceptively clear paths on the thick borders of the forest. The dangerous terrain is frequently home to predators and highly aggressive Grimm, making it downright deadly to travel through without years of experience and training, and a good amount of resources.
Deeper in, beyond the border bands of the forest, the dangerous ravines and narrow crevasses thin out to become sweeping valleys and gentle hills, peppered with massive trees and sparse undergrowth. The relatively safe terrain, however, is offset by the wildlife.
== Flora/Fauna ==
The outskirts of the forest are home to a vast number of different types of trees and bushes, and a shockingly high percentage of them bear either razor sharp thorns or deadly poisonous berries. Some of the thorn bushes are even known to have poison on their thorns that can cause hallucinations and eventually total degradation of all mental faculties. The poison of such flora is often used by assassins, or in certain addictive recreational drugs and painkillers, making forays into the edge of the forest very rewarding to those who can make it back out alive. Further in, the gnarled trees and undergrowth give way to massive Redwoods and huge Living Oaks large enough to build entire towns among the branches, if one could climb them or reach them via airship.
Unfortunately, the plants and terrain are not the only things one must face if attempting to traverse the Vluxyhm Forest. A number of predatory beasts make their home in the jungle-like thickets, such as the viciously cunning Shadowcats found in other places throughout Atherion, a number of highly venomous snakes, aggressive lizard-like amphibians in the water sources, and even the Dragons' vastly inferior cousin, the Drake. Massive hulking beasts of unknown origin and type have been spotted among the towering trees further in; Hunters refer to them as Giant Killers, but what they really are is either unknown or highly classified. Most of the creatures mentioned above are aggressive, and normally peaceful creatures have been known to attack travelers with little or no provocation, possibly as a result of the high numbers of Grimm in the area.
== Grimm ==
Beowolves are common on the very outer edges of the forest, but one need not go in very far before coming across higher level Grimm such as Wargs, Snake-like Grimm of great size, Grimm bearing a disturbing resemblance to Apes with a penchant for throwing heavy objects, and worse. It is rumored that one of the incredibly powerful dragon-type Grimm known as Templar has been spotted in the forest as well, though there has been no confirmation of this.
Exactly why so many Grimm of high levels are to be found outside of a Deadzone is unknown, though it is rumored to be caused by the large number of deaths that happened in the forest during the old war.
Category:Locations