The Enchanted Forest; The Garden of Dreams. Dreaming Forest as the land is more commonly known is a place of a sad story. It is always dusk there, and the mists flow through the undergrowth thicker than the very roots of this ancient forest. It is said the living cannot tread here, and no man knows its exact location. But everyone knows its tragic story; and why the very trees are heavy with magic..
A young woman lived here many years ago, and she pampered her small land as if she expected a king to visit. Every day she could be found in the gardens; tending the plants with attention much akin to a mother and her children. The local lords soon saw the beauty that was her forest, and sought a way to pave the ways of industry and technology. They sent a man, a knight of great renown; to speak to the lady of the forest; seeking a way to encroach peacefully. Many times had man tried to enter the sacred wood, only to be repelled as if by the trees themselves. While many suspected the woman of being some kind of witch, no one would make an aggressive slur against her due to her kind nature; and great renown to the local peasants as a healer and grove-tender. The times were strange, and people had only recently come to embrace the power of science and reason. Many believed in the old ways of magic; and none wanted to challenge the old ways in open view of their own people. They sent a man, hoping he would either bargain a way; or be the very thing most believe every woman needs.
When the knight laid eyes upon the lady of the wood; he was smitten by her beauty. So entranced was he, that he never returned to the castle to report on his mission. They had both fallen in love at first sight, and for once in the ladies' life; she had a man to share her garden and home with. When the lords sent men to find the knight, they found him tending the garden with the lady of the wood; and thus named him a traitor to the crown. They came with torches, and with steel and rage; but none were prepared for the very forest to fight them away. While the trees tried to keep the men away from their keeper, fire proved the most devastating of weapons against them. The knight was injured, and lay bleeding out his lifes' blood upon the garden when the knights slew the lady of the wood. They cut her head off, and left her to rot in the very gardens she tended her entire life. As he lay dying, the knight promised he would tend to her gardens, and that he would forever keep the force of men from taking her beloved forest.
And so to this day, anyone who enters this forest never returns. Some say the spirit of the knight still haunts the woods; while others say they have heard the clink of steel on steel; and the sounds of battle echo from within the woods. Still today, none have tried to inhabit the forest, and it has lasted through the ages in its own unique glory. But the magic of the forest was not finished, and as man flourished into science and reason; the forest faded away into the mists.. appearing again here, in the forests of the park.
Some travelers come by what seem to be beaten pathways into the forest. Some of these prove to be the very byways the Lady of the Forest and her Knight in arms traveled with their supplies. Some, however.. lead no where, and simply get any intruders well and lost.
But eventually, nearly every traveler that arrives in the forest will find the only structure made by human hands. This can either be a portent of luck, or perhaps even fate. But very few have ever returned from this building.. especially in this day and age. While some find it discouraging that such a beautiful place can lead to both horrific and tragic ends; some would argue that the journey alone is all worth the costs.
The only humans you'll ever encounter in this place are the Knight himself, or the Lady's spirit. For reference their pics are posted below; but the only time one encounters one of these two is if they are specifically looking for them. Or, more specifically, looking for Anyone inside of the forest. This could be your friend you came in with, or perhaps a rescuer from the night itself. Depending on your characters' disposition and actual intent, you'll encounter one or the other.
She is the Lady of the Forest; and her name is Beatrice. Hardly anyone knows her real name, therefore most simply refer to her as the Lady.
He is the Knight; his spirit forever trapped here by his own choice. While he is certainly the most common of the two; he is not the one people usually want to see. He is here to defend his ladys' forest, and he will do just that through various means. His name is Edward, though people usually refer to him as the Knight. He can appear with or without his armor; and the first pic is obviously him without it.
To get to the forest; one simply has to become lost in the park proper. Some have purposefully looked for the forest, but they usually do not find it. One must be well and lost before they can find what cannot be found. I am open for anyone to discover the forest, simply shoot me a whisper; and we'll work out the details.
VerumAeternus