The city closest to Murderwood, Tezina exists in the forest's shadow—sometimes literally, when the afternoon sun falls behind the treeline. The city is smaller than its coastal counterparts and markedly less prosperous. Young halflings from Tezina tend to leave for opportunities elsewhere. Those who remain have their reasons.
Tezina serves as the staging ground for any official business involving the forest—which is to say, almost none. The last "survey expedition" departed fifteen years ago and never returned. The city maintains a token garrison, but the soldiers spend their time drinking and avoiding the forest's edge.
What Tezina does have is information. Travelers, hunters, and those who've glimpsed the forest's secrets pass through here. The city's taverns are full of stories—most of them lies, but occasionally something true slips through. Anyone seriously interested in Murderwood starts their research in Tezina.