In Curse Of Strahd, Arbor joined his family fort dinner when Ylyana made another prophecy. He forbade Ghalwin from joining his adopted daughter Shakti of the Wildhunt on her appointed quest. Ghalwin then stole Arbor's Horse Snickerdoodle and road off to the Vanishing Grove, with only a short note left behind, causing him and Ylyana to scramble at the disappearance of both their children.
Born in the Astralwood deep within the Sea of Trees, Arbor Forrester was the father of Ghalwin Forrester, and the on-again off-again partner of Ylyana the Starseer. He spent his youth stoically training to be a Keeper of the Forest in the Astralwood Enclave, and became a Paladin following the teachings of Elteos. At 40 he achieved status as the head Keeper, the Guardian of the Astralwood, and was dubbed the "Woodswatcher," charged with protection of the entire clan. However, despite his achievements as a paladin, steward, and leader, Arbor was frosty and awkward in his personal life.
Arbor often butted heads with the free-spirited Ylyana's other partners, but particularly was combative with the Werewolf Jaghr of the Longtooth. Jaghr lived with Ylyana for a short time and had a child, Shakti of the Wildhunt, but their love was tumultuous, in part due to her feelings for Arbor. On 15 Gloomdawn, 120 of the Common Calendar, Jaghr was reported dead, though his body was nowhere to be found. Rumors said that Arbor slayed Jaghr in the Vanishing Grove, but the truth of the matter was thought to be unknown to all but the paladin himself, as Arbor denied any wrongdoing.
In truth, even Arbor had not known what happened to Jaghr; the two did indeed fight on the full moon, when the werewolf's emotions were high, but mists had enveloped him and he disappeared mid-combat. Wracked with guilt and confusion, he took in Shakti as a half-daughter, but struggled as much with raising her as he did his biological son. He felt could not raise Ghalwin as a soldier while providing paternal care, and could not raise Shakti due to his different relationship with magic.
Arbor's intimidating and awkward parenting style resulted in them both mockingly him as the "Branch Manager."