Almost two thousand years ago the Andoras came to Riverwood. The first five choose this place for the beauty of its trees and the isolation of its location. At the meeting of the two rivers, the Sowbryn and the Easterly (which the Andoras called the Onyx and the Islac), the first Andoras built a magical circle through which they teleported the rest of their clan. Their new dwelling was named Silver Gate, after the magic circle they invoked to their exodus.
In those days the forest was more dense and the trees smallers but the magical presense of the Andoras has fused with all the living creatures so that the trees grow much taller as though fertilized by the magic energy. Strange herbs grow at the roots of the trees, their growth as well catylized by the magic.
Before the Andoras the forest was a place of good, living in a wholesome balance with few monsters and numerous faeries and spirits of the forest. The mystic energy of the Andoras, however, has now attracted the lower classes of monsters who are unconiously drawn to the Andoras mystic power. As the Andoras lose their power to balance these forces the forest is slowly falling into decay.
Thus northern Riverwood is fast becoming a place of darkness and evil. Great spiders, toadies, and jellies multiply there and consume the very life of the forest.
Halfway between Silver Gate and the boarders of the forest is the eastern elf settlement of Elvenshrine. It was founded at the time of Silver Gate when the priests of Lizon recieved visions of the coming of the Andoras. All the Elves are sworn to secercy and will tell no traveller of their knowlage of the great beings. All the elves would die to protect the Andoras who have given them great knowlage over the years. They are currently troubled by the decay of the forest and are fearful of a possible threat to the Andoras.