This thread will be for excursions and events into the broader forest area.

The forest north of Yenth is old and often quite dense.  It can be hilly in places and there are several streams and small rivers that cut through it, mostly running (eventually) to the north, where the greater river holds back the march of the trees.  As will all forests in the 9th world, this one is not without its dangers and its wonders.

Joat took a last look around his cabin and walked out the arch that served as the doorway. "Rusky come on, Mom and Dad have been gone for years now, there is nothing for us here." He walked into the small clearing that served as his front lawn as the reddish-yellow crystal scaled dog like creature known as a Seskii came bounding out after him.

"Are you ready Mourne? Its time to go." Here in the middle of the clearing stood a tall green Aneen, a large bipedal reptile often domesticated and used as mounts, leaning over on its tiny front hands as it ate the tall blue grass. It slowly raised its head and walked over to Joat. Joat tied his bags on the beast, checked his knife to make sure it was on his left hip where it should be and fixed his bow to the beasts right saddle bag. "The lumberjacks said there are people to the south, that's where we'll head and see how this goes okay boys? He looked his companions in there eyes to reassure them everything would be fine, then with a smile he climbed atop the Aneen and started heading roughly south through the trees.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:19, Thu 16 Jan 2020.

The seskii and the aneen, both accustomed to Joat's voice and commands, prepare for travel.  The forest already surrounds them, so the path southward is more of the same.  Joat's familiarity with the woods allows him to plot an easy path around the murden hive and other known dangers.

The going is slow, but not taxing.  The hills seem to create a path leading roughly southwest.  Having no particular destination in mind, Joat finds it easier to follow.  By late afternoon, the trio has found themselves in part of the forest they've seldom explored before, if ever.  Not long afterward, they emerge from the tree line into an odd scar across the forest.  A wide space in nearly a straight line crosses their path at a bit of an angle.  It cuts across northwest to southeast.  Only new growth is seen in this strange zone.

Joat pats Mourne on the neck, "Whoa, slow down boy." He slows and slips down to the ground on the edge of the clearing. He squints and looks up and down the odd line of new growth. He reaches out and rubs his fingers on the plant growth ahead. He plucks a small leaf and raises it to his eye to give it closer inspection. "Now what do we make of this boys? he asks his companions and looks over to them as if he expected an answer.

The plants in this odd section of the woods seem to be young, one or two years of growth for the most part.  The soil itself seems rich and loaded with organic material.

Joat nods to himself. "Seems safe enough, this is an odd scar but pretty sure the growth is at least a couple years old. How do you boys feel about taking an easier route? He smiles at Rusky and Mourne, both sitting just a few yards behind him. He walks over and climbs back onto Mourne.

With that they start out into the clearing heading southeast. "Stay close to the treeline, we may need to pop back in for safety, and keep a lookout Rusky, hard to tell what may be in this part of the forest."

Joat's beast companions alter course as he directs, although the path isn't exactly easier.  Densely packed growth up past Rusky's shoulder's keeps him at the edges of the "trail".  The scar of younger growth continues, perhaps bending a bit more to the south as they travel.  After a few miles, Rusky seems to be walking slower.  The seskii is stopping to sniff more often and occasionally whine.