Mystics of the Forest

The thick woodlands of southern Togarmah are known to be confounding and impenetrable. Deep in the forest, the brush and the tree trunks form obstructive hedges, while roots and moss make for rocky and uneven ground. The trails are narrow and twisting, and many a traveler has gotten lost there. In the furthest depths of the forest, when foliage is in full bloom, the sun's light never reaches the ground, and the canopies above shroud the forest floor in darkness. Whispered stories tell of wild beasts, elves, and things even worse. But there are still people who make these woods their home.

Of the many Togarman peoples, the Leshes are the most at home in the dense forests. They make their villages in the clearings, trails, and glades where there is enough space for men to thrive. Like the other tribes, their lives are influenced by the geography - obviously, wood plays an important role in their material culture, and many of them make a living as woodcutters. They export many finely made wooden crafts, which are known throughout Togarmah, and their halls and temples - intricately carved and often brightly painted - boast some of the finest wooden construction, achieving feats rivaling even those of the greatest masons. Due to the limited amount of space, they do not farm as much as their neighbors, though whatever land is available for grazing and planting is fertile, and they are fiercely defensive of it against invaders. Instead, they sustain themselves through hunting game and gathering roots, berries, and mushrooms in the forest - the latter of which plays an important role in their spiritual traditions.

Mushrooms form a key part of Lesh cuisine. They have mastered many ways of preparing them - roasting them, stewing them, and even brewing them into tea. But they also harvest certain kinds of mushrooms for their hallucinogenic properties, which are highly prized and allowed to be handled only by the priestly class, who consume them to inspire visions. For some villages, the mere harvest of these mushrooms is an undertaking of great importance, involving making journeys to far-flung places and braving all the dangers that entails.

Many Leshes adhere to the Old Faith, worshiping nature, fey spirits, and the ancestors; like the Zelskys, even those who practice Pantheonism do so with the same rites and rituals. To this end, those in search of guidance often turn to druids. Some of these mystics live alongside huntsmen and woodcutters in the villages, but others live solitary existences as hermits, needing to be sought out by those who need their aid for interpreting omens or conferring blessings. Often times, a Lesh noble court will have a druid or two close at hand to confer with for matters beyond the reach of worldly authority.

The Leshes largely live in isolation from the rest of Togarmah, owing to the inhospitable woodlands and their strange traditions; it is said that not even the King knows how many Leshic villages there are. Before the conquests of Ghammorz, they were never united under a single crown. Nevertheless, they rarely attack outsiders and are content to follow their own path as long as they aren't bothered. Under the Golden Peace, they are legally not considered barbarians, and their clan leaders (traditionally, a role filled by women) are considered nobles with all the rights and privileges as a Polavian lord or a Myrov count. The Myrovs to the west and the Stalozi mountaineers to the east maintain relations with the Leshes for trade, and the Leshes benefit from the access this brings them to metal tools, grains, and other goods hard to come by in the woods. Furthermore, the Leshes are known for their archery, a skill in which every man trains in from a young age, and this has led to their bowmen being hired into many a general's warband. The neighboring nobles also value maintaining good relations with the Leshes because they make for good scouts and guides, knowing the right trails to get through forests that baffle outsiders. For those who need to cross such woodlands, be it for trade or diplomatic endeavors to the court assemblies, or even simply on hunting expeditions, one is often completely lost without a Lesh guide - though many mark their trails with different colored ribbons tied to trees or stripes of paint on their bark, the meanings behind this system of signals is often comprehensible only to those raised in the forest.

Overall, the ways of the Leshes might seem inscrutable to outsiders, and perhaps even intimidating. But every Togarman who knows the Leshes knows they can be counted on in times of need - and they have no interests in disturbing that peace.