So... with the caveat that I am biased (having just spent 600+% moves and 40 minutes of real time typing random sequences of n, w, e, s) I was curious about the rationale behind the 'mist-shrouded-forests' outside of Barovia.

I understand the appeal of someplace where the geography is a little quirky, but:

If navigation in the mist shrouded forest is random, would it not be just as cute (and less outright infuriating) for the chance of finding something other than the same two squares of forest to be increased to a reasonable amount?

Alternatively, if navigation does follow some pattern (time of day, lunar phase, whatever), it would seem preferable to place some indicator of this pattern inside the forest. Of course, if such a pattern exists, and there is a clue in the forest, I'll be rather embarrased.