The Great Oak

The Great Oak refers to an area at the center of the Mortal Realm, in the middle of which stands an oak as old as time. It is said that the Laochran were born from this tree, as one of Lyra's first creations. Today, the area serves as their ancestral homeland, undisturbed by the tribulations across the rest of the Mortal Realm.

Environment
The Great Oak is incredibly lush compared to the rest of the Mortal Realm. Great forests cover the area like a thick blanket, covered in moss and plant life. In the more open areas, Laochran towns have sprung forth, often built around the great trees. The wildlife is also abundant, and woe to the unwary traveler who goes there unprepared for the beasts that roam the woods.

Inhabitants
In the days of old, almost all the Laochran clans were situated around The Great Oak. Sometimes they would war, and sometimes they would have peace, as decided and agreed on at The Great Moot. As time passed however, the Laochran race would continue to grow and spread all over the Mortal Realm, and in their expansion the great wars of old became as petty squabbles. Their largest, oldest clans still by and large make their dwellings within The Great Oak, although there are often Laochran from lands far beyond who attend the Moot in their clans' name.

Though the Laochran guard their lands well, they have curiously allowed a rather sizeable population of leprechauns to inhabit The Great Oak with them. These are wandering groups of forest leprechauns, who maintain the serenity of the area by setting up shrines to local gods, and helping to fend off Wild Things.