The Black Forest
"There is a power that resides there, and I rightfully fear it." -Simon Geuder, First Geuder King of Kerkia on the Black Forest
"We found them alright, my Leader. The pirates landed on the north shore and headed south, likely thinking they could raid a few village and be off by the time patrols noticed them. Half were strung up on trees, and the other half I can only describe as 'missing'. Their blood is still there, but we did not hang around to see what manner of clan had done it." -Kerkian Black Captain on a failed Ratik Raid in the Black Forest

Kerkia's eastern land has a large and massive stretch of forest simply known as the Black Forest, a strange and dark place of thick woodlands. The ancient gnolls called the forest 'Yusgal's Palace' in honor of one of their ancient gods, and rightfully feared and avoided it. The Black Forest has many strange qualities, often said to have a mind of it's own at times. It was in the Black Forest that the first paladin of Illumination faced strange trials which saw him arise with great power, and it was in the Black Forest that a lone soldier, taking the forest as his name due to his missing clan, would overthrow the Geudership. Many Kerks believe the forest to be a blessed and holy place, a place where angels visit earth to give advice to their followers. Many other Kerks believe the forest to be cursed, where leaders arise to overthrow the leaders of old.

The Black Forest is important for another reason, being a major source of timber in Kerkia, where trees are considered a delicate and important resource. Despite the needs of it's populace, the Kerks do not touch the Black Forest for mass deforestation, mostly because of the many superstitions and taboos associated with the land. The land is also cultivated by the Forest Kerks, the denizens of the forest itself whose clans live in the interior. Forest Kerks are a simple although also estranged culture which lives far from others, but don't view themselves entirely as unique. Forest Kerks for instance are known to be good fletchers and bowmen, something other Kerkian cultures often avoid. Forest Kerks are also one of the few Kerkian cultures who don't always carry the traditional machete blade that other Kerks keep on them, instead preferring the axe.

The forests of Kerkia are also homes to large number of bandit clans, who are in a constant war as much as complex alliance with other Forest Kerk clans. Bandit clans are a phenomena amongst Kerkian clans, who become so destitute that they turn to banditry for survival, raiding other clans for food and supplies. Bandit clans pray on more successful and less defended clans, and because many are nomadic and have no lands of their own, these clans cannot be reasoned with and are despised deeply. Bandit clans tend to flee into defensive places such as abandoned tomb cities or into the Black Forest, often fighting off or trying to raid the Forest Kerks. Instead, many Bandit Clans over time become assimilated into Forest Kerk clans, often used as levies against other bandit clans or rivals.