Forest Shadow City was once a small but prosperous seaside town of the Phoenix, known for the nearby forest where trees grew taller than any of the buildings, keeping them in a pleasant shade. A maritime trade center, exchanging ships with Otosan Uchi and the Crane lands, it was one of the gems of the Shiba Provinces. Alas, the city’s luck failed in the eighth century when the Governor of the town broke his engagement with the daughter of the Agasha daimyo (at the time, of course, the Agasha were still a Dragon family). The daimyo laid a curse upon the city.
Soon the forest grew ever taller, ever darker, and vines crept over the Governor’s castle. A mysterious fog drifted through the streets and shadows could be seen moving through it. Soon the inhabitants had disappeared without a trace, and the castle and other buildings quickly fell into ruin. Although the vengeful daimyo was later summed for judgment by the Dragon Clan Champion (and never seen again after that day), the city’s dark fate could not be easily altered. Even the Elemental Masters could not save the city, finding themselves confounded by the bizarre nature of the curse.
Since then the ruined city has been avoided by almost everyone, shrouded in rumors of ghosts, Shadowlands creatures, and yet stranger things lurking there. The fog around the city twists perception and seems to have a will of its own; even those brave enough to attempt a visit are often unable to find their way there… or unable to leave once they arrive.