The Encyclopedia Boaxia

 Enjoy this collection of ancient woodland spells, relics, and more for use in the Cairn rpg and other rules light NSR games. If you like this article, try some of my other location based articles. 

The Encyclopedia Boaxia

A Collection of the history, magic, and legends of the Forest of Boax compiled by the Venerable Jodinius the Lesser of Kelest

 

Compiled from the collected works of Lizadrus of Fostineg, Kostafolos Kolmbabi, Zagni the Greater, Tutani Magister, and Pseudo Narchaus Amoulius.

 

What you see before you is the culmination of a long an arduous task - to collect all knowledge pertaining to the ancient and little explored Forest of Boax. Before the forest of Boax came under the rule of the Glorious Empire, the people of the wood were seldom recorded, and their history and magic was almost lost but for a few brave souls who worked to illuminate this far-flung corner of the world. Now that the imperial peace reigns in Boax, our most wise emperor has commissioned this grimoire to set down the knowledge of the forest for all posterity. With the works of previous scholars and my own extensive notes taken on my many journeys through the wood, I have completed the tome you now read. May the Emperor reign for a thousand years!

-High Lictor Luden of Tamrite, Blessed of the Temple of the Emperor

 

 

The Forest of Boax:

The Forest of Boax is an ancient and seldom-trod woodland. It is bounded on its eastern and northeastern sides by the Grutar and Tanglefall mountains, on its northwestern side by the high plains of Andladosh, to the west by the Fangrock Hills, and to the south by the great rolling plains of Separtra and Goeasha. It is part of what was once called the Great Forest, for it stretched the length of the whole continent in ancient times. Though it is now much diminished, it still occupies a massive area, roughly 3.6 million hectares of forest. To this day, the Forest of Boax contains many giant old-growth trees, including massive oaks, pines, and black alders. Herds of red deer and forest oxen move back and forth across the forest, depending on the seasons. Foxes, eagles, hawks, wolves, and small forest cats are also known inhabit the dark realm under the canopy.

There is only one road that traverses the woodland, known as the Forest Road,  or sometimes the “new road” by the locals. Most trade is done by river. The drifting waters of the Liganore and Hilsen rivers eventually meet to form the mighty Bruilsenore that wends its way south before exiting the forest and eventually meeting the sea. Merchants haul lumber, hides, giant-bee’s wax, medicinal herbs, and gems from the mines down the Bruilsenore to the trading centers of the empire. Boax is ruled from Cutter, a logging town deep in the forest that straddles the Liganore River and stands as a staging area for loggers and others collecting goods for trade. Cutter is the seat of House Wend, whose duke rules the Forest of Boax in the name of his majesty, the Emperor.

 

A Forest of Plenty

The Forest of Boax is filled with unique fungus, fruit, and other botanicals. Players usually have a 1-in-6 chance of successfully foraging, which takes d6 hours each attempt. Tools such as a magnifying glass may add 1 or 2 to the likelihood of success.  Much of the knowledge of these edible wonders has been lost over the years. Below you will find a few tables filled with the botanical bounty of the forest.

D6	Mushrooms & Fungus
1	Nether Caps: Small thin stalks with bone-white caps and mustard-yellow gills. If consumed, save vs. Will or fall unconscious for 10 x target’s Will score in minutes.
2	Manticore’s Mane: An orange shaggy fungus that resembles a manticore’s mane. Tastes like snails when cooked. If consumed, it will produce soothing deep sleep that fortifies the body. Once the consumer has awakened from their slumber, they heal d4 Str immediately.
3	Blue Celia: Translucent blue sheets of fungus that grow on the eastern side of walnut trees. If consumed, the Blue Celia will elicit feelings of euphoria and uncontrollable laughter.
4	Faerie’s Ear: This speckled green and red ear-like fungus grows near faerie nests. If dried and burned as incense, the smoke can deter fey creatures.
5	Likesop: A spongey, light brown puffball fungus. When crushed up into a powder and added to water, the Likesop will pull out toxins and poisons, rendering the liquid drinkable.
6	Wanderer’s Torch: This lichen is mottled brown, red, and dark green. When lit, it burns twice as bright as normal light sources.

 

D6	Fruits of Boax
1	Crimson Forest Apples: These dappled blood-red and crimson apples are about the size of a cherry and taste tart and sweet. They can be found all around the forest. The Boaxians collect them and make cider for their religious festivals out of them.
2	Lemma Berries: These are musky blue berries about the size of a pinky nail. They grow in large bushes and are usually found in the low-lying valleys of Boax. The berries are musky and sweet and can be dried and steeped to make an invigoratingly bracing tea.
3	Sidereal Pears: These silver-gold pears grow in sacred groves hidden within the forest. They bloom and ripen only in starlight and are highly sought for their exceptional flavor and texture. If turned into cider, a swig will restore d4 points of Dex.
4	Duck Berries: These large, oblong green berries are incredibly tart and can be made into a wonderful jam. Duck Berries are the favorite food of Sedgelings and Cockatrices.
5	Dwarf Plums: These are thumb-sized deep purple plums with an earthy sweetness and honey-like aroma. A handful of Dwarf Plums can satisfy a person’s dietary needs for an entire day.
6	Creeping Lemon: These strangling vines bear lemon-like fruits with notes of sour and bitter. The peels of the Creeping Lemon can be used to make a poultice that can cure fever and help sooth toothaches.

 

D6	Other Botanicals
1	Red-Threaded Berl Leaf: These tightly packed leaf buds are green with red threads growing from the stem. If dried and smoked, it makes a soothing evening pipe weed. Those who partake are filled with pleasant thoughts of home.
2	Labram Grass: This is a long, broad-leafed grass that can often be found in forest clearings. If chewed and left between the lips and gums it will fill the user with energy and aid in their alertness.
3	Wolf’s Moss: This grey and green moss can be applied to wounds to quickly stop bleeding and allow an injured person to stabilize quickly.
4	Witchleaf: This red/green three-pointed leaf has a silvery sheen to it. If steeped, the Witchleaf makes a potent psychedelic tea that is often used by the native Boaxians in their religious ceremonies.
5	Silver Walnuts: These walnuts come from a dark gray-barked tree that bears silver leaves. The nuts are said to sharpen the mind and calm the nerves. The walnuts often horded by the wood-wise scholars of the forest realm to aid in their research of magical knowledge.
6	Fanlon Pine Needles: These deep green pine needles are approximately eight inches long and grow in clusters of six. Brewing the needles in hot water yields a restorative tea that allows those who drink it to heal d4 Str damage.

 

Beasts of the Wild Woods

Boax is a dangerous and uncivilized place. Wild beasts, dangerous humanoid tribes, and magical creatures red in tooth and claw inhabit the forested wild. Below you’ll find a small collection of creatures who inhabit the primaeval forest. These are but a short list of the many beasts and monsters that a party may encounter in the deep wood.

Red Deer

8 HP, 12 Str, 14 Dex, 5 Wil

Antler Gouge (d8)

-These large deer are considered the kings of the forest. They travel back and forth across the forest over the course of the year, and a sighting of one is considered very lucky. The pelts and antlers of Red Deer are sought after by both Boaxian and imperial merchants.

-Critical Damage: A buck will throw a combatant with their large rack of antlers, dealing an additional d4 damage and throwing the target 15’ away.

 

Blue Forest Oxen

6 HP, 16 Str, 8 Dex, 3 Wil

Horn Gouge (d6)

-The oxen that inhabit Boax have bluish hides due to the prevalence of certain strains of moss that grow naturally in their fur. They are very large, almost as large as a wagon, and have bad tempers.

-Forest Oxen are often worshiped by small local cults as protectors and bringers of the spring rains.

 

Leopard Serpent

4 HP, 16 Str, 11 Dex, 3 Wil,

Bite (d6)

-Leopard Serpents can grow up to 12 feet long. Their ferocious leopard-like heads and fuzzy spots make for a formidable sight.

-Leopard Serpents use their spots as natural camouflage in the undergrowth and as a result can be very hard to spot.

-Critical Damage: The Serpent wraps itself around the target, immobilizing them.

 

Woodwyrd

8 HP, 1 Armor, 13 Str, 5 Dex, 8 Wil,

Strangle (d6)

-Woodwyrds resemble twisted trees with wicked faces growing out of the trunks. Legends say that Woodwyrds were benevolent tree folk before they were corrupted by a black meteor that fell upon the forest over half a millennium ago.

-Woodwyrds hate humans and see them as trespassers in their forest. They often work with evil fey to entrap and kill humans.

-Critical Damage: The Target must succeed at a Str save or be bound up in the Woodwyrd’s branches, unable to do anything but struggle to escape. (They may make further saves to free themselves on their subsequent rounds.)

 

Briarlings

4 HP, 1 Armor, 9 Str, 10 Dex, 6 Wil,

Thorny Punch (d6)

-Briarlings resemble child-sized humanoids made of woven briars.

-Briarlings have excellent camouflage in the thick underbrush and love to ambush their prey if possible.

-Briarlings are the speculated to be the result of some hereunto unseen corruption that lies deep within the forest.

 

Sedgelings

3 HP, 5 Str, 12 Dex, 14 Wil,

Tiny Sword (d3)

- Sedgelings

 are winged faeries that resemble a cross between a humanoid and a daisy puffball. They are wicked vermin who love to inflict mischief and malice on mortals who travel the wood.

-Sedgelings like to nest in the boughs of Woodwyrds, aiding the evil trees in their mischief.

-Once per day, Sedgelings can cast a single spell. (1. Charm 2. Miniaturized 3. Auditory Illusion 4. Shuffle)

 

Dryad

8 HP, 2 Armor, 10 Str, 9 Dex, 14 Wil,

Flesh to Flora (d8)

-Spirits of the old-growth trees, Dryads are sought out for their knowledge and protection. They can make trees and bushes grow at will (as per Control Plants).

-Dryads resemble maidens made of wood and moss with piercing green eyes that glow.

-Critical Damage: The target becomes the focus of attacks from all forest birds in a half mile radius. The target takes an additional d4 damage per turn for the next d4 turns from these attacks.

 

Cockatrice

5 HP, 8 Str, 10 Dex, 6 Wil,

Poisonous Bite (d4 Dex)

-This feared forest beast resembles a long-tailed chicken with the head of a lizard.

-A Cockatrice’s feathers are believed to be useful in anti-paralytic potions.

-Critical Damage: The target is paralyzed for the next five minutes.

 

Giant Stink Beetles

4 HP, 1 Armor, 11 Str, 7 Dex, 3 Wil,

Gnashing Mandibles (d4)

-These large insects are the size of a dog and can release a potent-smelling odor if It feels threatened.

-Giant Stink Beetles are often encountered in the low-lying forest valleys of Boax.

-Critical Damage: The beetle releases a smelly liquid that deals d4 blast damage to the will of the target and anyone surrounding them who can smell.

 

Giant Toads

3 HP, 4 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Wil,

Tongue Lash (d6, range 10’)

-This brown and ochre toad species grows to the size of a large dog.

-Giant Toads use their natural camouflage to ambush their prey and can be found near slow-moving bodies of water.

-Critical Damage: The toad’s tongue sticks to the target and pulls them into its mouth, immobilizing the target until they can take an action to free themselves.  

 

Timber Wolf

6 HP, 14 Str, 12 Dex, 6 Wil,

Vicious Bite (d8)

-The timber wolves of Boax stand almost chest high and are the size of ponies. Their coats are dun brown and black with patches of white on their chests.

-Timber wolves roam in packs of 2d6 wolves and can be heard at night all across the woodlands.

-Critical Damage: The timber wolves manages to get a hold of the target and drag it to the ground.

 

Boaxian Woodfolk

4 HP, 12 Str, 14 Dex, 10 Wil,

Bronze Spear (d8, Bulky)

-The Woodfolk of the Boax are a diminutive race of humans, standing no taller than 5’6” tall. They have ruddy skin and dark brown hair with green or slate gray eyes and soft noses and chins.

-The Boaxians are said to still practice ancient woods magic and have much knowledge of the forest and its dangers.

-For every four Boaxians there will one who has a single spellbook of (1.Hear Whispers 2. Control Plants 3. Control Weather 4. Tree Stride).

 

Giant Honeybees

Detachment, 6 HP, 6 Str, 14 Dex, 2 Wil,

Stingers (d4)

-Giant Honeybees are about the size of a fist and are part of huge hives built inside the trunks of dead trees.

-Giant Honeybee honey is said to be a delicacy, and their wax is highly prized across the empire.

-Giant Honeybees can be lulled into a stupor by wood smoke.

 

Werewolf

8 HP, 2 Armor, 16 Str, 12 Dex, 10 Wil,

Bite or Claw (d6)

-Werewolves are half men, half wolf. They can appear as men but can transform into a hideous amalgam of human and wolf at will.

-It is widely believed that Werewolves are the result of a curse that falls on those who slay their own kin. Silver weapons ignore a werewolf’s armor score when applying damage.

-Critical Damage: The werewolf is so ferocious it causes the target to make a Will save or flee the battle in terror.

 

Wicker Man

10 HP, 2 Armor, 13 Str, 8 Dex, 6 Wil,

Swat (d10)

-Wicker men are the magically-animated large wooden sculptures of humans made of woven branches. Wicker men are the result of an evil ritual practiced by the cults that live in the deep woods. An innocent is sacrificed to the wood gods and the corpse is placed inside the wicker man to activate it.

-Wicker men abhor human settlements and farms and will cause havoc if left unchecked.

-Critical Damage: The target is grabbed by the Wicker Man and imprisoned in the creature’s chest where it is slowly drained of its lifeforce, dealing d4 Str damage for every turn spent inside the creature’s chest.

 

Magics of the Great Wood

The Forest of Boax is an ancient woodland, and the all the strange magics that it has been witness to have left an impression on the land and its people. It is said by the Boaxians that they learned their wood magic (called Wood Kenning by them) from the Dryads whose shelter they often sought. This would go along way in explaining the propensity of spells having to do with the forest and trees. Below you will find a collection of spells omitted from standard magical texts - ancient spells of wood, wing, and claw. Practice all magics with due caution lest a horrible fate await you.

Tree Stride: You may enter the trunk of a living tree and exit from the trunk of a different living tree 100 feet or less away.

Dowse: You immediately know the direction of potable water sources, but not the distance to them.

Person to Plant: A living target that is touched will transform into a tree or bush of similar size for the remainder of the day.

Call of the Wolf: You immediately let out a loud howl, attracting all wolves within a two-mile radius.

Camouflage: Your clothes, skin, and hair change color into the colors of the natural world and you can pass through the wilderness without leaving a trace.

Tree Sight: After touching a tree, you can see as though you were standing atop it.

Acorn Boat: An acorn cap dropped into the water will enlarge and transform into a boat that holds four persons.

Aphasia: The target hears and speaks only gibberish for the next hour.

 

Relics of the Forest

The magics of Boax are not kept simply in its spellbooks. Over the last 6,000 years, Boax has seen a flourishing of ancient relic crafters. Boaxian enchanters were once some of the most sought after magicians in the ancient past, and the magical relics found within the forest are remarkable proof of the skills of the ancient Boaxians.

Spear of the Summer Champion: 1 charge. This ornately carved wooden spear has the air of the ancients about it. The Spear of the Summer Champion was once awarded to a commoner who masqueraded as a forest noble to win the heart of the High Chief’s daughter. This spear is considered magical and ignores the first point of armor the opponent is wearing per attack. In addition, you may spend a charge to summon a Red Deer to ride as a mount. The deer will bring you to the next location you state within the wood. Once you’ve arrived, the deer will bound away into the woods. Recharge: Bury the spear on the shore of a sacred forest pool on a full moon and leave it until the subsequent new moon.

Animal Mask: 2 charges. There are as many animal masks as there are varieties of animals in the forest. Each mask resembles the face of a specific type of animal. Those who wear the mask may expend a charge to speak and understand the language of the animal the mask depicts. Once a charge is spent to activate the relic, the ability will last for one hour. Recharge: Anoint the mask with the blood the animal depicted on the mask.

The Horn of Might: 3 charges. The horn is said to be that of a legendary hero who was known for their relentless ferocity.  By blowing a strong report on this ornately gilded signal horn, the wielder regains d4 lost Str. Recharge: Bathe the horn in honey and milk.

Ironwood Ring: 3 charges. The knowledge of the creation of such wonders is a  secret held tightly by the sacred Wise Women of the Boaxians. By expending a charge from the smoothly carved ironwood ring, the bearer can command plants to grow from the earth to create a ladder of living vines. The ladder can be no longer than 50 feet. Recharge: Bathe the ring in the source of the Hilsen River, deep within the wood.

Shimmering Cloak: 2 charges. Legend says that these captivating accessories were found in the ancient ruins that crowd the eastern edge of Boax. This ankle-length cloak is made of a lightweight, sheer reflective fabric. When the wearer expends a charge, the cloak will render them invisible if they are in a woodland environment. Recharge: The cloak must be brought to an open glade and laid out in the summer sun for one week.

Dodge Stone: 2 charges. These beautiful green artifacts are sometimes found in the mines of the northern wood. The hand-sized jade stones are inscribed with intricate magical runes. While holding a stone, the possessor may expend a charge to cast Target Lure. The target of the spell when cast this way is always the Dodge Stone. Recharge: This Stone must be left at the crossing of two leylines for a night and a day.