Tawar-Nur
Contents
Tawar-Nur
Also Known As: The Forest of Living Waters
Region Type: Primeval Jungle / Rainforest
Location: Southern Elwindil, west of the Great Lake Asha’Tor
Inhabitants: Elves of Tawar-Nur, Beastfolk (fox-folk, cat-folk, rat-folk, others)
Human Presence: None (trespass forbidden)
Overview
Tawar-Nur is a vast, ancient jungle rainforest occupying the western and southwestern shores of the Great Lake Asha’Tor. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited regions in Elwindil and predates all human settlement in the south. The forest is dense, humid, and alive with sound, water, and movement, shaped as much by rivers and wetlands as by trees.
The name Tawar-Nur is elven in origin and is commonly interpreted as “Forest of Living Waters” or “The Water-Rooted Wood,” reflecting the deep interconnection between the jungle, its rivers, and the Great Lake itself.
Tawar-Nur is not part of the Kingdom of Yngoldis. Its people maintain strict boundaries, and permanent human settlement is not permitted. Those who enter without invitation are considered trespassers and may be misled, driven away, or quietly removed.
Geography and Environment
Tawar-Nur is a true rainforest: lush, layered, and difficult to traverse. Towering canopy trees filter sunlight into shifting patterns, while vines, mosses, and flowering plants crowd every available surface.
The region is defined by water:
- Numerous rivers and streams descend from northern hills and forested regions
- Waterfalls and marshlands are common
- Flooded groves and reed-choked shorelines line the western edge of Asha’Tor
- Seasonal rains reshape paths and clearings
The forest floor is rarely dry, and sound carries strangely through the humid air.
Flora and Fauna
Tawar-Nur hosts extraordinary biodiversity.
Commonly encountered creatures include:
- Giant spiders and web-nesting insects
- Great apes and jungle monkeys
- Massive birds and gliding predators
- Reptiles and amphibians adapted to wet environments
These creatures are dangerous to the unprepared, but they are also integral to the forest’s balance. Hunting and gathering are practiced carefully by the inhabitants, with strict cultural limits to prevent overharvesting.
The jungle contains rare plants, medicinal herbs, and exotic woods, but extraction is tightly controlled. Attempts at logging or mining by outsiders are met with swift resistance.
Inhabitants
Elves of Tawar-Nur
The elves of Tawar-Nur represent one of the oldest surviving elven cultures in Elwindil. They live in small, dispersed communities integrated into the forest rather than imposed upon it.
Key traits include:
- Deep animistic beliefs
- Strong oral traditions
- Ritual-centered daily life
- Minimal centralized authority
They consider the land itself to be alive, intelligent, and aware.
Beastfolk
Numerous beastfolk peoples live alongside the elves, including fox-folk, cat-folk, rat-folk, and other woodland and marsh-adapted kin.
These groups are not subjects or servants, but kin-peoples, bound by ancient agreements and shared reverence for the forest and lake.
Culture and Practices
The peoples of Tawar-Nur are skilled hunters, fishers, and farmers, relying on intimate ecological knowledge rather than large-scale cultivation. Magic is widely practiced, but it is subtle, ritual-based, and tied closely to land and water.
Fire is used sparingly and with great care. Large burns are taboo.
Music, chant, and rhythm play a central role in spiritual life, especially along the shores of the Great Lake, where sound is believed to carry into the depths.
Spiritual Life
Tawar-Nur is closely tied to the Cult of Sha’taurë, the ancient shamanic tradition centered on the Great Lake. While not all inhabitants are cult practitioners, the belief that the lake and forest are sentient presences is universal.
The forest is not worshiped as a god — it is listened to.
Outsiders and Dangers
Tawar-Nur is not a frontier or wilderness in the conventional sense. It is a sanctuary.
Those who enter without permission may experience:
- Disorientation
- Illusory paths
- Sudden loss of direction
- Silent observation
- Escorted removal — or disappearance
The forest is defended not only by its inhabitants, but by its terrain, wildlife, and subtle magic.
Summary
Tawar-Nur is:
- An ancient jungle bound to water and sound
- Entirely non-human in habitation
- Culturally and spiritually cohesive
- Closely linked to the Great Lake Asha’Tor
- A place of listening rather than conquest
It is not a land to be claimed.
It is a land to be understood — or left alone.
