The Great Forest

The Mysterious Wood

The Great Forest is a major location in Fantasia, positioned in the east and saddled by Ulstead.

## History

The oldest forest in all of Fantasia, The Great Forest has hundreds of secrets no one but the Tennesley's know about. The Women of the Forest, they brought men into their family to keep the line going. Their ways of life were far different that anyone else's and the way they took charge of situations could make the man of any other clan angry to see a woman leading others into battle. They were the First to settle the Great Forest and the Spirit of the Forest allowed them the gifts of magic to be imbued into them so they could protect it with all of their hearts. The Women of the Forest would soon make permanent residence within the Forest to protect it from those who wished to destroy it.

Two hundred years later a rogue man by the name of Olgard decided he did not want to be ruled by women. He wanted to be the leader of his own clan and thus created the Mortar's. A savage race of people who hated the Tennesley family clan. Their goal in life was to kill them all and rule over the Great Forest even if it meant burning the Forest down around them to choke them out. This began the war between the Tennesley's and the Mortar Clan and it would never be stopped, not as long as the Mortar's wanted to eradicate them from this world.

Man became more prominent in the picture of the Tennesley's Family as women needed them more and more to populate the Great Forest. From Illiad, the Mother of the Tennesley Clan came Roya, the one to hold fast against the Mortar Clan. Roya would extend the Great Forest all around for more area to cover.The Mortar's were then subjugated to living in a small area they had been given. Hating the Tennesley's more and more, the Mortar Clan rallied others around them to fight against the Tennesley's calling them nothing but names and making the people see them as the enemy.

### The First Battle

The First Battle was Lady Roya leading the Tennesley forces not even halfway from Snow Maple. She saw it as playing in the enemy's territory as the Mortar's would occasionally cross into their territory to press the Tennesley's forward. Bringing the Mortar's out of their comfort zone with scouts that would lead them further and further into the Great Forest towards Snow Maple was easy. The Mortar's had no tactics and thus created an easy battle as their barbaric ways would be the deaths of them. Finally reaching the massive forces of the Tennesley Family, battle soon broke out. The Tennesley held the upper and as archers would easily take out those on horseback and the foot soldiers ran through Mortar lines and killed generals and leaders alike. Retreat was before night fall. The First Battle was a taste of what the Mortar's could actually bring and the Tennesley's laughed it off as nothing of a challenge.

During this small time of peace, Roya fell in love with a common man. Now men had to be of royal caliber to be accepted into the family as it had been for the past two hundred years, but she had only wanted him, none of the suitors brought to her. Her mother seeing this had put the young man through various tests to see if he would fail or succeed. If he had succeeded he would be accepted into the family and able to marry their daughter. Hearing of the impossible tasks her mother was to set for him, Roya had secretly helped the male through the them all just to be with him. It didn't last for long. Her help had the male questioning everything that a woman was far more superior than him and with that, he left, not wanting her anymore. Heart broken, the soon to be Leader of the Tennesley Family had locked herself away.

### The Assassination

Four years had gone by with peace and no one had crossed each other's line. The Mortar's had other plans though. Hiring someone of a much higher place in the world, they would attempt to kill Illiad, the Mother. It was a beautiful summer night at Snow Maple and the people were enjoying the summer festivities within the small village outside of Snow Maple. When the night died, the assassin rose from the shadows of the trees and made his way in over the small wall. No one had ever thought about assassinations attempts to the Mortar Clan and even the guards had fallen asleep due to too much drink leaving the Tennesley family vulnerable. Through the castle and towards the main room of the Tennesley family, the assassin made his way in and now stared down at Illiad. Knife in hand and above his head, the roar of a beast outside in the forest caught his attention. The scream so blood curling that it made the blood in the assassin run cold. Illiad, waking up quickly and seeing the man at her bedside caused her to spring into action and take him out quickly and gain information. The next morning he had been killed in front of the Estate for the people to see and for the guards to have a good lesson of what could happen to them next.

A much thicker and taller wall was erected because of the assassination attempt. The Tennesley's had once been a loving people, but from the moment Olgard had wanted control they had to be defensive. A wall for their town and guards stationed everywhere, Iliad was sure to keep her people safe. Warriors were trained in different combative ways to fend off berserkers, assassins and others who wished to destroy them. Times were troubling with a new clan forming, breeding rapidly and closing in on the Tennesley's.

### The Forest Spirit

Tales have been told to children since the beginning of time and the Tennesley's retained their own tales. The Great Forest Spirit was a tale told to children to keep them from wandering into the forest alone. Docile by itself but when provoked the beast could tear you apart in one swift movement. Those pure at heart or those who have gained favor with the Spirit were said to be blessed until their souls left their bodies to ascend to the Heavens.

Many families state the Tennesley line contains the silver blood of the beast and gives them luck within their lives. Although luck comes with a price. This luck was given to the women of the forest and the men who wanted it would kill them until the end of time. From all sides of the world they would come one by one seeking for their blood, for their strength and for the Great Spirit. Thousands of years this had happened and even to the present they were attacked, stolen and used for their magical purposes. The Spirit would suffer likewise from the treatments, but it was a blessing to have those who wanted to save and protect the forest.

It is said that one day the Spirit would show itself to one pure of heart to protect their homeland and to free it of enemy's hands. Even through the hatred one feels deep down their cause for good would be greatly rewarded.

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## Alliances

Previously
bound to the royalty of Ulstead through the Tennesley family and its ties, the Great Forest has had a longstanding alliance with Phillip and his ancestors. In recent years however its grand castle has fallen into the hands of the despot Kurik. Now under Mortar command, it supplies Maleficent and others with its prominent ironwood.

## Points of Interest

Snow Maple is the capital of the Great Forest, and the singular hold within the otherwise natural province. It is supplied by towns and villages scattered throughout the brush, but its outstanding stone design makes it a spectacular and unique addition to the environment.

## The Tennesley Estate

Situated on top of high ground, Snow Maple remains steadfast as ever. Even through the barrage of Hades' attacks Snow Maple withstood without ever going down. The area of choice was made hundreds of years ago and now still stands with the strongest stones. It's high ground gives it an advantage over its enemy as arrows can rain down upon the enemies and through the highest tower a Watcher can stand watch for movements within the forest down below. Under the control of the Mortar Clan at the moment, none of the secrets have ever been found so far.