Hollow Elder
Hollow Elders are a mysterious and ancient species of sentient tree that dwell deep within the Withered Wilds. Towering high above the canopy, they are among the oldest living beings in Noctavia—guardians, judges, and wardens of the Wilds’ grim balance of life and death. Their massive, twisted trunks are hollowed from within, yet they persist in a half-living, half-spiritual state, connected by a web of roots and whispers that defies natural explanation.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Hollow Elders stand 40–70 feet tall, with bark that resembles charred bone and gray ash, gnarled and cracked as if scarred by time and fire. Their canopies are sparse, draped in black-veined leaves, spore-fronds, or wispy moss, depending on the region.
From afar, their trunks appear solid, but up close, large cavities and knotholes form arched mouths and hollow eyes, giving the trees an eerie, anthropomorphic look. Their internal hollows are lined with fungal growths, bone-embedded roots, and luminescent lichen.
Ecology and Habitats
Hollow Elders are the keystones of the Withered Wilds’ life-death cycle. They:
- Nourish and anchor Corpse Blossoms, Mawroot Vines, and spore colonies.
- Emit pheromonal mists that draw the dying toward them.
- Serve as burial trees, absorbing the corpses and memories of fallen creatures.
- Act as guardians of ancient paths, sacred groves, and forgotten altars.
They often mark the borders of cursed lands, ancient battlefields, or areas touched by old, necrotic magic.
Behaviour
Hollow Elders are semi-sapient to fully sentient, depending on age. They do not move in the traditional sense, but their roots travel miles underground, allowing them to share thoughts, memories, and warnings through subterranean signals or telepathic murmurs carried on the wind.
They are known to:
- Whisper warnings or riddles to those who enter their domain.
- Shift paths, warp terrain, or direct plant life to aid or hinder travelers.
- Pass judgment on those who disturb the balance of the Wilds.
- Offer protection to druids, necromancers, or “green-bonded” wanderers.
- Absorb souls or memories of those who die nearby, enriching their ancient wisdom.
They do not kill out of malice—but may sacrifice travelers to sustain the Wilds, especially if those travelers are deemed tainted, greedy, or violent.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Due to their power and danger, harvesting from a Hollow Elder is rare and risky. When it can be done, their remains yield:
- Hollowheart Wood: Nearly weightless, unnaturally durable wood used in ritual implements, necromantic staves, or reliquaries.
- Memory Sap: A glowing, silver sap said to contain whispers of the past; used in spells of divination, binding, or mind-alteration.
- Whisper Spores: Inhaled or brewed, these allow temporary communion with the dead—or hallucinations of what the tree remembers.
Civilization and Culture
Common Myths and Legends
- The Watchers of the Wilds: Hollow Elders are believed to be the first guardians planted by the world itself after a great death swept the continent. Some say they were once druids or gods who gave their forms to the forest.
- The Silent Gatekeepers: Locals and necromancers believe each Hollow Elder contains a gate to the underworld, accessible only by those who pass their judgment.
- Whisper Trials: Some cults seek audience with a Hollow Elder to atone, confess, or bargain for forgotten secrets—but most who enter never return, their bodies nourishing the forest instead.
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