Esper Forest

From SCross

Situated two weeks' travel from the Imperial Capitol of New Junonsburg and a week's travel from Drominham ( despite being only a day's crossing as the crow flies, the terrain between Drominham and the Esper Forest is extremely difficult ), the Esper Forest is generally considered to be the homeland of the Esper race. This is due to the fact that although there are many differing and largely independent enclaves scattered about the face of Gaia, the site that was to become the Esper Forest was according to legend also the birthplace of the first Esper, Thraxius Thistleborne. Not to mention, though nobody has ever made a count, the Esper Forest is probably the largest of all the faerie enclaves.

Sometimes also known as the 'Fae Forest' or 'Faerie Forest', as well as on occasion the 'Fae/Faerie Kingdom' or 'Esper Kingdom', the forest, although clearly magical in the abnormal vibrance of its flora and fauna, can to an outsider be a very forbidding place indeed, at times quite dark and filled with strange sights and sounds. To the unwary or disrespectful, a few hidden dangers lurk there also. Its kingdom name of course comes from the land's being an independent country within the Empire, its borders the nigh impenetrable limits of the magically abundant forest, having been left largely alone after an attacking army was completely obliterated with little to no Esper losses a little over a decade past.

To the forest's residents of course, all of the 'strange and disturbing' things to be encountered are quite commonplace, even in many ways a comfort, and the slight darkness of the deep but vibrantly alive forest more an embrace than a worry. To the outside world however, the forest remains a place of mystery to be respected, and generally left to its own devices unless one happens to have somehow befriended or be well-regarded by the inhabitants. And even then, one ought show appropriate respect..

Defences

After the Emperor Elliot's assault on the forest and attempted genocide of its residents, the Esper Court was driven from their native land and forced to reside in the Barbarian lands for a time. However, on their eventual return to the forest, the Espers set about completing the defences they had begun to prepare even before the assault by the empire, in addition to the natural strengths of the forest itself. These defences were created at as little expense as possible to the forest, and while many still felt the need for them a shame, all recognise the need for them in light of the attacks in the past by Imperial and rogue armies and the harm that might have been wrought were it not for these proven wards.

Natural

The forest itself has long proven to be almost impenetrable but for the single area known as 'Forest Gate' to the locals. While the tree line surrounding the forest is far too thick to pass through without resorting to slowly cutting a route in over an inordinate amount of time, Forest gate is a space between the dense trees and foliage that leads into the less densely packed body of the forest. Even within the forest, however, the trees themselves may act in defence, from the normal trees blocking of paths or inconveniencing invaders, albeit discretely and generally at the call of a dryad or similar spirit of shaman, to the far less subtle Burning, the screaming avengers created by the flame-thrower-wielding soldiers of the first Imperial assault.

Also of note, are certain 'dangerous' areas of the forest, such as the lair of the Viscountess' children, a dark and treacherous area inhabited by swarms of monstrous spiders. Woe betide any invader stumbling into one of these yet wilder spaces.

Underground

A simple but comprehensive network of underground tunnels and spaces, dug by contracts with Earth-aligned, Gaia-bound spirits, spans the earth beneath the forest, providing sleeping space and support for the forest's military (and more, given it was built during a time when significant numbers of mercenaries were employed by the Court), as well as a significant number of places from which ambushers can spring only to retreat before a response can be mustered, should the forest itself be penetrated.

Standing Army

The forest's standing military is small, and mostly comprised of Rangers that patrol the local area for any sign of trouble, however thanks to the large number of monsters, retainers, Burning, and minor, Gaia-bound spirits resident within the forest, along with past-contracts with Barbarian mercenaries ready to be renewed, mustering a significant military force takes very little time, and the underground provides support for an army of comparatively significant size.

Watchtowers

Four towers, disguised amidst the high canopy of the Esper Forest, stand watch over the forest borders in the North-East, South-East, South-West, and North-West.

Walls

Again, with the help of Earth-aligned spirits contracted during the run-up to the Imperial assault, large ridges were raised from the ground itself, and while not sheer, they are easily high, steep, and thick enough to act as significant fortifications to rival city walls as they surround a little outside the forest proper.

Castle

While hardly a presence in the battle proper, due to its existing in a pocket of the Spirit Realm, the Esper Castle has acted as an invulnerable shelter for those unable to fight during every significant battle in the Forest's history, even prior to the proper fortification of the Forest. When the Court was temporarily driven from their home, it even proved possible, albeit a significant endeavour, to disconnect the Castle entrance, and reconnect it in the Barbarian lands, where the displaced residents of the forest took shelter, returning the connection to the forest come the time to return.

Air

Due to proven concerns that the Empire would attempt to land forces directly into the forest by airship, a standing contract was mustered with Gaia-bound spirits of the air to protect the forest from high above, destroying any threat that might approach, be it a troop transport or some sort of aerial bombardment, long before it should come close enough to threaten.

Note: These defences were proven both during the Imperial assault, while they were yet incomplete and still inflicted significant harm before retreat was required, and then after their repair and completion on the Court's return to the forest, against an attacking army of technology-equipped heretics, which suffered almost total annihilation against the now complete defences with almost no harm to the forest or its denizens. Substantiation can be found both in epilogue of the past Esper Queen, Silence, and the roleplay log of the Imperial attack.

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