barrier forests

around the very limits of the swamp, where the greenery meets the city, the forest grows dense and crowded, until at the very edges it's so thickly wooded that it's almost like a natural wall. a few gaps amongst the trees afford entry into the swamp, but lots of creatures make these forests their home, die to the drier ground and innate shelter. some of these are dangerous, but the majority are just making a living out here. take for instance the spiders, who really just think humans are perfectly charming.

nonetheless, the chance of crossing something more powerful and strange than yourself makes this the riskier route into the swamp.