Argoth was a vast rainforest on the continent of Terisiare on the world of Dominaria. It was a storehouse of natural wealth - towering forests grown over rich veins of ore. It was a lush, hidden paradise.
The crown of Argoth's trees tower 30 to 70 meters above the forest floor; narrow cylinders splitting into broad, flat fans of branches in the most common varieties. Some of Argoth's stranger and more determined fungi are known to work their way from the forest floor through the heartwood or bark to release their spores from this great height.
The actual forest canopy is 10 to 25 meters off the ground, and ranges from 5 to 30 meters in depth, depending on the underlying terrain and the relative density of trunk support. The canopy is supported by a huge system of interleaved, fused roots; this network of branches forms the living heart of Argoth's trees. Epiphytes and a range of other flora create a veil covering the branches. Soil and water are caught in crooks and notches, creating a treacherous tangle of wild growth. Many creatures, no larger than a deer or cougar, make the canopy their home.
Below the canopy, the ground level of the forest is a sauna. The thick mass of foliage restricts airflow so much that it renders the air stagnant and humid. Many large herbivores subsist on the steady rain of vegetable matter that falls from above. Insects are plentiful. The ground is usually boggy between the tree trunks, in some places reaching a depth of 12-15 meters. In some areas, breeding fungi create clouds of toxic spores.
The elves of Argoth lived a peaceful existence in their tropical forest. They lived high in the trees, in the canopy level of the rainforest. Argoth provided them with ample food and building materials, and their culture centers around their connection to the living heart of the forest. Without external threat, the isolated elves developed a rich culture with increasing embellishment around a religious core. This has led to an extraordinary bond with their deity and highly expressive art.
Elven tree-houses are an epitome of graceful design, clinging to the forest canopy and creating sprawling villages that float above the forest floor.
Dangerous predators and giant insects were kept to the forest floor, as were the forest's militant druids who zealously chose their harsher environment as part of their monastic lifestyle of trial and readiness. Overseeing it all was Titania, the spiritual manifestation of Argoth itself, who embodied the forest's natural beauty, its innocence, and its folly.
Isolated, Argoth was unprepared when Urza and his brother Mishra discovered the land and its rich natural resources. They razed huge tracts of their land to fuel their war efforts and to clear a theater for battle. The elves and forest itself fought against both brothers, leading to a catastrophic three-way conflict. The elves' homeland was devastated, leaving behind few remains of a once-graceful and artistic culture.
After the rape of Argoth Forest during the rule of the artificers, the Pixies of Argoth bent their magic to more practical ends. (Argothian Pixies)
Haunting cries we hear in our dreams As the forest dies, a death from machines. (Argothian Treefolk)
Driven mad by the fall of Argoth, the Citanul Druids found peace only in battle. (Citanul Druids)
The Forest of Argoth has developed a resistance to mechanical intrusion. (Powerleech)
