Defenders of the Forest CREDITS Writing: Steven Lewis and Jude Hornborg Additional Material: Ovid, Ben Scerri, Nathan Dowdell, Dawn Lewis, Robin Low, jackdays, John-Paul Temple, Alexander Bateman, Aleksander Temkin, Orbis Proszynski Development Lead: Steven Lewis Lead Editor: Jude Hornborg Editing: Wayde Zalken, Dawn Lewis, Orbis Proszynski, Ovid Cover Artwork: Jussi Alarauhio Interior Artwork: Michael Prescott, Brian Wasson, Arwen Savage, Robert Freeman Maps and Graphics: Thomas Detko, Robert Altbauer and Arwen Savage Additional Artwork: Clipart.com Proofreading: Ralph Seller, Orbis Proszynski, Pete Goodman, Aleksander Temkin, Ovid, Stuart Kerrigan Playtesting: Jean-Paul Temple, Ben Raynes, Simon Blakemore, Parker, Stuart Kerrigan, Naomi Banks, Chris Clarkson, Emma Conlin and Tim the Widgetman Layout: Jude Hornborg © Copyright Games Workshop Limited 2013. All Rights Reserved. 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All rights reserved. 1 Defenders of the Forest TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I: PLAYING WOOD ELF CHAPTER VIII: THE LAURËLORN CHARA C TERS .........................3 FOREST ..............................75 Corruption..............................8 Navigation and Magic................76 Laurëlorn Gazetteer..................77 CHAPTER II: KINDREDS .............9 Sample Laurëlorn Settlement........84 Honorific Titles.......................12 CHAPTER IX: CHAPTER III: WOOD ELF THE HINTERGLADES ...............87 RELIGION .......................15 The Lost Kindred.....................88 Lore of Isha............................20 Indigenous Kinbands.................90 The Otherworld.......................27 The Doomed Kindred................92 CHAPTER IV: WOOD ELF CHAPTER X: FRIENDS OF THE MAGI C ...............................29 FOREST ..............................94 Lore of Athel Loren...................32 Animal Bonding.......................94 The Shadow Walk.....................33 Befriending Forest Spirits...........94 Shadow Dances of Loec..............35 Forest Spirit Corruption.............95 Talismanic Warpaint & Tattoos....36 Bestiary Expansions...................96 CHAPTER XI: FLORA , FAUNA AND CHAPTER V: AR M OURY AND FOES OF THE FOREST .............108 QUIP M ENT E .........................37 Elven Herbalism......................108 Heirlooms of the Forest..............39 Flora Corruption....................109 Fauna Corruption....................114 CHAPTER VI: CAREERS ............41 Wild Chaos...........................115 Existing Careers.......................45 Foes of the Forest.....................116 CHAPTER VII: THE FOREST OF CHAPTER XII: RE V OLUTIONS IN ATHEL LOREN .....................52 PROGRESS .........................122 Navigating the Loren Forest.........53 Halls of Anaereth.....................123 Magic of Athel Loren.................56 Encounters...........................127 Adventure Seeds........................58 Athel Loren Gazetteer................62 INDE X ...............................136 2 Chapter I: Playing Wood Elf Characters CHAPTER I: PLAYING WOOD ELF CHARA C TERS “The deepest parts of the forest belong to the spirits, lad. Ma and Pa, Sigmar bless their souls, would say they were once children, but they became lost between the trees and turned wild by Taal himself. No one knows for sure, but I warn you now, do not go beyond the stone marker by the old oak tree, that area of the forest belongs to them and none that entered have ever returned.” Joseph Hockbehn, Charcoal-Burner While the woodlands of the Old World provide necessities such Wood Elf PCs come from one of three woodland regions: Athel as timber, game and medicinal herbs, few are willing to stray Loren, the Laurëlorn Forest or the Hinterglades. Although Athel far from the forest’s edge. It’s said that beasts and other warped Loren contains the largest concentration of Asrai, the majority perversions dwell within shadowy dales and even deadlier mon- of Wood Elves have scattered to far-flung Hinterglades across strosities prowl the hearts of the ancient woods. Tavern-house the Old World. These Hinterglades include unspoilt regions whispers also speak of unnaturally beautiful glades, guarded by of the Reikwald Forest, or secret groves deep within the Great fey creatures of capricious spirit. They are creatures that are as Forest. likely to protect, as they are to destroy those who intrude upon their domain. OPTIONAL RA C IAL FEATURES : WOOD ELF The few brave folk who have actually ventured into the deeper The Elven Racial Features in the core rulebook do not encom- woods and returned, know that these “defenders of the forest” pass the full range of Elven cultures and traditions. The follow- are in fact a secretive group known as the Wood Elves. The ing substitutions can be used, at GMs discretion, to replace the forest-dwelling Elves share ancestry with the High Elves, but Racial Features found in the rulebook (WFRP pg. 19) for Wood decided against joining their kin in the abandonment of the Old Elf PCs. World at the conclusion of the War of the Beard. Instead these Elves retreated into the ancient forests and began a simpler life, Skills: Charm Animal, Common Knowledge (Elves), Common eschewing the trappings of civilisation and decadence. Knowledge (relevant Woodland Realm), Outdoor Survival, Per- former (Dancer/Musician/Singer) or Trade (Bowyer/Fletcher), This simpler life reminded the Elves of the Golden Time, an age Speak Language (Elthárin). before the coming of Chaos, when their kind lived peacefully under the Everqueen, the spiritual leader of the High Elves. Talents: Aethyric Attunement or Specialist Weapon Group These forest dwellers took for themselves the name Asrai, which (Longbow), Coolheaded or Savvy, Excellent Vision, Rover. means Blessed Ones in their tongue. Traits: Night Vision ATHEL LOREN Nestled in the shadows of the mountains in the southeast of HILDREN OF LTHUAN C U Bretonnia, Athel Loren is the spiritual home of the Asrai. It is here that Orion and Ariel preside as King and Queen of the Elves from the Kingdoms of Ulthuan in the Great Western Forest. The Elves of this woodland realm are very reclusive. Ocean landed in the Old World during the time of Aenarion Loren’s defenders are regarded as the wildest and most fickle of and the first Chaos incursion. After the Chaos hordes were the Asrai. Everyone who has crossed paths with the Wood Elves driven into the north, the Elves colonised the Old World and of Athel Loren will warn you not to offend them, as these Elves called it Elthin-Arvan. They met the Dwarfs, and a great alli- view outsiders – even their kin from other woodland settlements ance was formed between the races. Tragically, civil war erupted – as lesser beings or misguided fools. across Ulthuan and the Dark Elves used sorcery to shatter the Elven homelands in a time known as The Sundering. The alli- ance between Elves and Dwarfs was broken by Dark Elf treach- LAURËLORN FOREST ery, and ensuing hostilities escalated into the War of the Beard. Ultimately, the Dwarfs won the War of the Beard and forced the The northwest of the Empire is home to the second largest Elven colonists back to Ulthuan, or drove them into hiding in woodland realm, the Laurëlorn Forest. The Elves residing the Old World’s forests. in Laurëlorn are seen as the most ‘civilised’ of the Asrai. It is 3 Chapter I: Playing Wood Elf Characters rumored that an ancient city from a time before Man lies at the ROLEPLAY TIP : PRIDE AND PASSION heart of the forest. Only the Laurëlorn Asrai truly know if the city exists, but humans in the region speak of the Witch’s Wood Wood Elves appear cold and aloof to outside observers. Their and a fabled City of Glass where the Elf Queen resides. culture is sophisticated and challenging for outsiders to compre- hend. Most Wood Elves would prefer not to communicate at all Elves who live within the Laurëlorn appear more refined than than to explain their way of life to strangers. At heart though, their kin from Athel Loren. Many of the Laurëlorn Elves dwell they are an intensely passionate and emotional people, subject in settlements within the tree canopy, although there are also to love, mirth, deep introspection as well as incendiary rage. those who live a nomadic lifestyle, moving from glade to glade People are often surprised by the Wood Elves’ sudden change of according to the availability of forage. demeanour in the company of kindred spirits. HINTERGLADES WAY OF THE BO W Scattered throughout the forests of the Old World are numerous Wood Elves are outstanding archers, capable of feats well beyond smaller Asrai settlements. The most notable ones are located in the abilities of their Ulthuan kin. Almost all Wood Elves train the Great Forest and Reikwald Forest within the Empire, but with the bow allowing them to defend their forest homes at a many others have been documented in places such as Kharnos safe distance. PC Wood Elves may choose to begin with a bow Forest in the Border Princes and Pina Wood in Estalia. The instead of a Hand Weapon (see WFRP pg. 20). At the GM’s Wood Elves from these smaller settlements are perhaps the most discretion, PCs that choose to train as archers by selecting likely to be found