Urlingwood
This forest north of the Sunrise Mountains is dense and wild. It could be considered the mystical heart of Rashemen, for the Witches hold their most secret meetings in this place and allow no person to enter who is not part of their sisterhood. The penalty for violating this prohibition is death, and the Witches are not lenient to anyone, even first offenders, the lost, or the ignorant. Because of this extreme law, warriors and scouts of the Iron Lord patrol the perimeter of the forest to warn away those who might brave its dangers. The Witches are not cruel; after questioning (not torturing) violators, they put them to death in a quick and humane manner (often using sleep spells or drugs first). They confiscate any property and then take the bodies to the edge of the forest for disposal by the perimeter guardians.
Normally, the Witches do not have to slay intruders themselves. All the native telthors are absolutely loyal to the hathrans and either attack those who cannot prove themselves to be Witches or inform larger telthors or the hathrans about them. In the cold season, the telthors are aided by orglashes. Large sections of the forest are warded by alarm spells enhanced by circle magic, and particularly secret areas are guarded with dangerous glyphs, similarly enhanced. In addition to their private councils, the Witches come here to commune with the guardians of the land, make offerings, bind and control excessively hostile spirits, and brew the famous Rashemi firewine. In meetings, they discuss happenings within Rashemen, receive reports from hathrans returning from abroad, use scrying magic on the Red Wizards, and plan for the needs of the people in the upcoming season.
Young ethrans who have come of age are ordained within the Urlingwood before taking their first journey outside of Rashemen, and young men who are to join the Old Ones are brought here to receive the blessing of the spirits before going into isolation in the Running Rocks. When not in council or traveling, most of the Witches live in the nearby town of Urling.
