The Cinnamomum Forest

The Cinnamomum Forest borders the Cinnamon Sea and is populated primarily by the cinamomum tree, aka the cinnamon tree. It is rumored that the Forest used to cover almost the entire land mass until a great battle broke out. Each army began cutting down sections to build their defensive walls and forts, then clearing more trees to create roads. Their explosives leveled off a great portion of the Cinnamomum Forest, but it was was the slow burning aftermath of the battle that finally killed off the majority of the Forest. Over centuries, the bark decomposed into a red, sand-like substance, along with the bones of those that had fought and destroyed the once-great habitat. Now we have the Cinnamon Sea in its place, with the Cinnamomum Forest left on the edge to overlook the graveyard of its ancestors.

Now, the Cinnamomum Forest is a protected habitat, for the most part. Cinnas consider it a badge of honor to plant a tree on the edge of the forest in hopes of reforesting the land. Only a handful of cinnas have been permitted to make their home there, and those that do must follow a very strict lifestyle that integrates them beneficially into the ecosystem. These cinnas normally take it upon themselves to tend the forest, guard its borders from tree poachers, or educate cinnas to und and old about the importance of the trees. It isn’t uncommon for young cinnas to leave with a cinnamon-inspired flavor after a talk with one of the caregivers.

Outside the forest is a combination education and wellness center, called The Centrex. Trees that have fallen naturally are brought into the center so cinnas can see where their cinnamon comes from and so healers can extract the oils. The oldest trees produce oils with the strongest potency, and cinnas can purchase it to help with things like gas or spams. Those who grow plants also seek out this potent oil to prevent or treat fungal issues with their crops. Payment for the education or products that come from the forest are given in the form of labor or trade. Young cinnas maybe be tasked with planting new seedlings while bigger, stronger cinnas are often asked to assist with clearing brush to avoid future fires.

On the boundary of the Forest and Sea are a series of towers, each around 80 yards apart. They are made as simple fire look outs, and every 25 years or so, a new one is built as the forest edge slowly reclaims the Sea. Any cinna is allowed on the towers, and official fire-lookout is a position of great importance during the hot summer months. From the towers, you can sometimes see the land ships caravanning across the Cinnamon Sea. Fires are forbidden, and sometimes ships will crash into the Forest or towers, causing great damage. Cinnas are still working to find a resolution to this.

In the South East section of the forest is a massive Cinnamomum tree that is actually a dozen or more trees that grew together, winding taller and wider as it aged. The traditional belief is that these trees sprouted from the pouch of a fallen cinna that crossed the Cinnamon Sea to try and revive the Forest. Some believe their bones are still nestled within the center of the beastly “tree”. This is the second most visited spot. Each year, a memorial is held with jarred fireflies and bright banners. Although the colors are festive, the mood is often somber. Cinnas use this time to reflect of the disasters of the past, reminding themselves and their young of their ancestors’ mistakes in hopes of not repeating them. Some bring gifts for the tree itself to remember a fallen cinna. Even the birds that take residency in the Great Tree remain silent for the the ceremony.

Baobab trees (called Bobas) had been imported from other part of the Cinnaverse to provide the growing Cinnamomum Forest with the water it needed. The Boba trees do a fantastic job of holding water, and the most common thing to bring as a gift or payment is clean water. The caregivers will add it to the Forest for the cinnas, or cinnas can request they be directed to a Boba tree to present the water themselves, along with a quick prayer for good luck and success. The Centrex has cultivated a half acre of Boba trees outside that edge of the forest, specifically for the visitors. Due to the high concentration of spices from the neighboring desert, the water from the Boba trees is infused with crazy, sometimes forbidden flavors. A cinna is allowed to harvest as much liquid as they bring in water, to keep the balance in the area. Caregivers will put a yellow ribbon around Boba trees that need a rest from harvesting. This is a fun activity for families with small children and acts much like a pick-your-own-flower field, which they can also do. Many types of flowers are planted at the base of the trees to promote the pollination of the entire Cinnamomum Forest. Cinnas are highly discouraged from swatting at the bees and butterflies.

Lastly, cinnas who make a significant donation of their time are allowed to walk the Memory Path. This is a foot-worn path that goes deep into the heart of the original trees that are believed to have seen the battle itself. The path isn’t easily identified, and if you enter the Forest without a guide, you are just as likely to get lost as if you were to stray into the neighboring desert. Each caregiver knows the Memory Path, but only a few of the full-time inhabitants were taught the secret paths. They are responsible for their upkeep and for keeping the history alive. Some people believe they hide the bejeweled armor from the forgotten armies along those paths, but they won’t risk getting lost to look for the treasure themselves. The native caregivers don’t come out of the forest long enough to be questioned, as they have chosen to dedicate their lives to the forest’s upkeep.