Beyond the bounds of the village and its outlying farms the Wild beckons with tales of forgotten treasures, fearsome foes and fame and glory for those brave enough or foolhardy enough to face the challenges. Some few travelers may journey from Berador to the nearby towns and villages or even far beyond to the great city of Roth, but they stay to the roads and well known paths, and even then they must beware of great dangers. But for those willing to take even greater risks adventure waits off the beaten paths in the forests and hills and mountains of the land. The lucky few will return from their exploits with wealth and tales and glory . . . most will never return at all.
Unfriendly Neighbors
Some dangers come easy to the mind. Goblins and their kin infest the foothills of the White Mist Mountains all about Berador. They fear to tread in the immediate environs of civilized lands, but woe to the unprepared who wanders too far from the shelter of town or village. Sometimes even the outlying farms will fall victim to goblin raiding parties, warg hunts or hobgoblin pillagers. Mostly the goblins stick to their own lands and avoid stirring up too mischief among the villagers, but they will not hesitate to capture, kill or steal from any who wander from the road or take their rest out of doors at night.
Recent rumors speak of a gnoll enclave that lies not too far north of Berador. It has been many years since the gnolls attacked the villages of men, but recent tales of assaults on the Road and the Wash speak to a potential danger that people cannot ignore. Should the gnolls rearm themselves and decide to attack the civilized lands Berador seems a likely starting point. Any who would wander north should be prepared to contend with these bestial creatures.
Farther afield, but still in the neighborhood, lies the dreary wood of the Silverine Forest. Hundreds of years ago the elves fled a terror in the wood. None would speak its name, and tales diverge wildly regarding its nature. They speak in turn of a demon lord or a fairy prince or a foul beast from the heart of the earth. All of the stories agree on one thing: the elves abandoned their mighty towers in the Silverine Forest and have never returned. What force could drive an entire nation from its haven? What wonders did the elves leave behind in their haste?
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