Treants

Patron Deity

The patron deity of treants is Daelara, Goddess of Growth

Treants are towering, sentient beings resembling ancient trees, their immense forms standing between 15 and 40 feet tall. Their bark appears aged and weathered, marked with intricate patterns that seem almost runic, as if shaped by time itself. These patterns often take on the appearance of faces, giving them an air of solemnity and wisdom. Branches extend from their forms like arms, adorned with leaves that shift colors with the seasons. The scars of the Sundering have left their mark on many treants, manifesting as jagged cracks or corrupted patches that faintly glow with residual aetheric energy. Their eyes burn with an ancient light, and their voices echo like the rustling of wind through a forest canopy, deep and contemplative. Despite their scarcity, treants are revered as both symbols of nature’s resilience and reminders of its fragility. Treants are deliberate and cautious, embodying patience born of millennia of existence. They are deeply protective of their domains and act as stewards of nature, nurturing the balance of life. When their lands are threatened, they can become formidable defenders, though they much prefer peace to conflict. Their experiences during the Sundering weigh heavily upon them, often giving rise to a deep sense of melancholy for the loss of their kin and the degradation of the natural world. However, treants remain hopeful, believing in the possibility of restoring balance. Their wisdom and compassion frequently draw them into mentorship roles for those who share their reverence for nature.

Civilization and Culture

Culture and Cultural Heritage

The culture of treants is intrinsically tied to their patron deity, Daelara, Goddess of Growth. They see themselves as extensions of her divine will, caretakers of the natural world. Central to their culture are the sacred groves they maintain, known as Heartwoods, which are vibrant sanctuaries where nature’s magic thrives. These groves often attract druids and rangers, who find guidance and solace among the treants.
Treants honor the changing of the seasons through elaborate ceremonies that celebrate renewal and growth, reinforcing their connection to the cycles of nature. They preserve the wisdom of their fallen kin by cultivating Memory Trees, special trees within their groves that store the knowledge of past generations. Following the Sundering, treants have incorporated the flow of aetheric energy into their rituals, using it to heal the land and to redirect the remnants of the Sundering’s chaotic forces away from their sanctuaries.

Common Myths and Legends

The origin of treants is rooted in the mythos of the Age of the Ancients, when Daelara, Goddess of Growth, brought them into being from the sacred roots of the World Tree. In this tale, Daelara imbued the first treants, known as the Verdant Elders, with fragments of her divine essence, granting them the ability to commune with all living things. They were charged with cultivating the fledgling forests and creating harmony between flora and fauna. This sacred duty led to the flourishing of Aethria’s natural world, a symphony of life orchestrated by the treants’ gentle guidance.
The Sundering, however, shattered this harmony. Many treants were consumed or corrupted by the chaotic forces unleashed during this cataclysmic event. Their groves were desecrated, and the balance they had worked to maintain was torn asunder. In the aftermath, the surviving treants vowed to restore what was lost, even as they bore the grief of their decimated kin. This myth, etched into the groves and passed down through generations, serves as both a history and a guiding principle for the treants of Aethria. They are living testaments to Daelara’s enduring will and the fragile balance between creation and destruction.
In the modern Age of Rebuilding, encountering a treant is a profound and rare experience. These ancient beings extend their favor only to those who demonstrate true dedication to preserving nature and aiding in the restoration of the world. To stand in the presence of a treant is to feel the weight of history and the enduring hope for a balanced future.

Related Ethnicities

• The Sentient Races