The Scarlet Woods is a forest inhabited by a tribe of centaurs, lead by Malwin the Strong, who are rivals with the centaurs of the valley. Every year, the centaurs burn a magical apple as a sacrifice to the Spirit of the Scarlet Woods, who blesses the tribe with good weather and hunting for the next year if they are pleased.
In a clearing in the woods, there is a ceremonial fire pit with a stone bowl about six feet wide. Generations of burning apples has lead to a thick layer of char building up on the bowl, and the soil around the pit has darkened due to ash.