The worlds of the Old Ring are the most ancient known to the folk of the Labyrinth. They’re known by the names of their primary flora and sometimes the place where they first linked to the Labyrinth. Not surprisingly, these worlds are generally wooded, and they were either discovered or created by the Grand Druid of the Old Ring. The type of tree in their name refers to the grove where the world tree of each world was first grown. Ancient Alder. Populated by humans and minotaurs, this world of druids maintains richly woven connections to the World Tree. Its climate supports woodlands from birches and alders to olive trees and cedars. The rocky and poor soil hinders farming, but small villages or settlements subsist at its river mouths. Autumn Ash. Ruled by forest drakes and smallfolk gnomes, this world’s inhabitants are believed to be among the most greedy and rapacious of the Old Ring, valued as assassins for their skills. Maple Leaf. Featuring a chill climate characterized by small lakes and expansive bogs, the world of Maple Leaf is primarily elvish, and humans are not welcome. Gnomes and beastkin work the orchards and trim the hedges of the strange, fey houses built along the lakes. For reasons known only to the elves and their allies, the houses of Maple Leaf are always built along lakes and river shores. Oakroot. With its stone towers and ancient, living forests as aware as the Margreve in Midgard, wood woses, treants, and children of the briar are more at home in Oakroot than humans or elves (who live here in smaller numbers.) Mossbeard’s Throne is the largest tower here, built on a great mountain just above the tree line. This is considered the throne of the Great Druid Oberic, though he wanders through the worlds as often as he stays in one place. Redwood Haven. With deep fogs and sharp cliffs and canyons, Redwood Haven consists of two great islands and a wide ocean of whales, dolphins, and kraken. Its people make fishing for salmon and whaling the foundation of their small cities.
Rowanheart. Primarily home to grove elves and halfling smallfolk, Rowanheart is a world of brambles, berries, and cities of woven wood. Lady Hawthorne often visits. Seven Pines. Sometimes called Winter Pines, this world is cold and glacial, with craggy peaks and more giants, ogres, and trolls than humans or elves. Yew, birch, and reindeer are all common, and bearfolk visit from time to time. Summer Birch. A long-settled place of plenty with vineyards and barley fields between well-loved forests of alder, birch, laurel, and pine. Mossbeard the Elder was said to have wooed a birch-maiden here in his youth, and some believe he still visits her grave each spring. Twisted Cedar. This land of cedars and pines on a cold and foggy ocean is populated primarily by humans, though they share the land and sea with ravenfolk, elves, owl beastkin, and selkies. Foggy moors and deep-cut river valleys make travel difficult.
Twin Hawthorns. Named for the two trees near its famous druidic College of Thorns, humans and bearfolk settled this world. Elves appear only as visitors; they have no communities here. The Great Druid Oberic spends hours here teaching senior druids and inspiring the young. Willow Shore. A mangrove world of islands and low- lying coastal land, this world’s first world tree is at its coldest region. The rest tends toward desert or jungle, with long rivers and cenotes providing places for human and catfolk settlements and nomadic gnoll, jinnborn, and air elemental tribes.
Created by Wolfgang Baur
