Hylund Forest is a forested area north of Goldvale¹⁾ that'd take a few days to reach by foot. The greater region it exists in is called Hylund which is a bastardization of the word “Highland”, for this region's base elevation is about 6000 feet above sea level. The forest is known for being adjacent to a pair of volcanoes and monster style orcs to the west of it, and for being a place where animalfolk thrive in seclusion. For the sake of defining how big the forest it, it basically encompasses almost all of the Hylund region that isn't up on the Hylund Plateau or a well defined specific area such as a lake, ridge, town, or whatever else. So the term “Hylund Forest” is almost but not quite interchangeable with “Hylund” as a whole.

The Animalfolk of the Hylund Forest live primarily in a hidden village that isn't directly attached to any main road. Very few who are not Animalfolk know the location of this village.

• A one shot game session consisted of an alternate party formed of Animalfolk here. This led to some details being filled in about the area.
  • A community of mixed race animalfolk live here, mostly in harmony.
  • One human named Patrick attempts to live here in seclusion as well. He has many cats, notably an orange one named “Whiskers” that the alt party saved from kobolds and became fond of them. The locals revere him and he really wishes they'd know it off.
  • The locals have a tavern run by a Chickenfolk named “Chicton”.
  • There's a local healer/lore keeper named “Owlore” who is an Owlfolk.
  • There's a local shop which was described as the Dollar General of the place run by a Dovefolk named “Windy”.
  • A local named “Aldo”, a Foxfolk, turned out to be an assistant to the nearby orcs and their project, ultimately betraying the alt party and getting them captured by turning them over to his boss, leading to their almost death and subsequent escape, without any of their stuff, even clothes.
  • A road go by the edge of the forest dividing it from the orc controlled lands. It is largely used as a merchant route.²⁾
  • Whatever the nearby orcs are up to³⁾ it involves building a dungeon/fortification and ultimately will be a threat to the Hylund Forest.
  • The alt party found an entry that uses a lever to open a cement like circle to enter some sort of “Tomb of the Lich”. They were discouraged from doing this by Patrick though. So that's a detail left untouched.
    • At about the same time in another potential entry point they found an old signet ring by the bones of a deceased knight, who was from some sort of “Order of Knights” and that's all they could determine.
  • Cowfolk exist here but they're considered anti-social jerks and are not part of the community.
• A second game session with Marion, Anderson & Milo resulted in:
  • The phrase “Acorns To Peanuts” being coined, meaning to make change using peanuts as if they were worth a 10th of an acorn. Acorns representing about a gold to the forest creatures locally.
  • The DM creating the abbreviation “AAP” for “Alternate Animal Party” to simplify these notes.
  • Ursavus the “Wine Bear” becoming a cannon entity for the Hylund Forest area.
  • A perpetually annoyed Patrick sending the AAP members active this session on a quest leading out of the forest, resulting in them winding up on another continent entirely.

• Once upon a time the forest was accidentally set on fire by the careless adventurers known as Jules, Urist, Vesper, Jeorge & Sirona. It burned many acres in the eastern part of the forest, until Patrick was forced to intervene. See: Patrick Stops The Hylund Forest Fire.