Crowbriar Deep

Crowbriar Deep

Crowbriar Deep lies in the northeast interior of Oblivion Vale. It is an elven border forest built for denial, not welcome. The Crowbriar Dominion shaped the forest to stop movement, slow threats, and break raids before they reach the interior. Entry is limited, controlled, and often refused. Outsiders are held at the edge or turned away. Anyone showing signs of sickness is rejected without debate.

Terrain and Structure

The forest is dense and hostile by design. Thorn growth is trained into walls, bends, and dead ends. Paths are narrow and force sharp turns that slow groups and break formations. Many routes lead into traps or choke points with no retreat. Open ground is rare and watched.

Elven structures sit low under the canopy. They are built from dark wood and stone pressed shallow into the soil. Doors, vents, and watch points are hidden behind layered brush and thorn screens. Light barely reaches the ground, even at midday.

Movement Control

Nothing moves freely in Crowbriar Deep. Travel is restricted to known lanes that can be closed or redirected without warning. Patrols watch crossings, bends, and clearings at all times. Anyone found off-route is detained or killed. The Dominion believes that uncontrolled movement leads to collapse.

Law and Service

Most adults owe mandatory service. Duties include patrol work, trap upkeep, thorn shaping, and escort duty. Failure is punished fast. The Dominion does not tolerate delay or excuse. Repeated failure leads to confinement or expulsion to the outer belts.

Outsiders are placed under long probation. Even old families are not fully trusted. Long service can earn access, but never safety from suspicion.

Trade and Outsiders

Trade exists, but only under strict control. Goods move through fixed gates during limited windows. The Dominion prefers compact trade that does not require frequent contact. Timber trade is tightly restricted and treated as a risk.

Humans are kept outside the inner forest. All deals are watched. Corruption exists at the edge, but discovery brings severe punishment. The Dominion will sever all contact with a partner over a single suspected breach near protected sites.

Magic Control

Magic is rare and feared. The Dominion treats it as a tool that can also destroy its defenses. Casters are tested and watched. Unstable magic users are expelled or contained.

Dominion mages are used for concealment, trap renewal, and boundary maintenance. Anyone suspected of plague influence is isolated immediately. The Dominion fears sabotage more than open attack.

Border Pressure

Old roads still pass near the forest. Raiding camps move along these routes and test the borders constantly. This pressure keeps patrols active and traps in use.

The Dominion remembers the Thornbound War, when united raiders nearly broke the outer belts. Since then, defenses have thickened and entry rules tightened. The Dominion prefers slow control over expansion.

What Crowbriar Deep Protects

Crowbriar Deep protects its interior above all else. It produces limited timber, resin, and hardened thornwood used for traps and barriers. Its greatest strength is that its defenses are grown, not built. Its greatest weakness is that any breach causes immediate panic and violent internal response.

Once trust breaks, the forest turns inward faster than outsiders expect.