World Trees

Written by Pookas Kreations

World Trees are enormous trees from the Plane of Faerie. Four were summoned to close the dimensional tears that were torn open during the Chaos Wars. There are four trees located in different parts of the world of Aquatica.

Skylands

This is the realm of the World Tree Aria. It is a kingdom of floating isles, some call it the Aeriasta. Aeriana is the capital city of the Skylands. She appears to be a cross between a weeping willow and a sequoia with many vines dangling from her branches.

The Skylands mostly float over parts of the equator that is too hot for humanoid habitation, here most life is in one of the floating cities. They are kept afloat by the gravitic effects of the Chaos Wars, magic, technology, or skytrees. Most life here has evolved many ways to stay afloat, some include wings and float bags (even plants). There are many wind currents because of their location above nearby aquatic volcanoes (the lack of gravity and a high magnetic repulsor field are also attributed to the wind patterns). The gravity here is almost non-existent.

To reach the elevation of the cities you must be able to fly. The gravity change is usually gradual, so ships are able to catch the wind and flare their sails into wings to reach the Skylands. Many cities within the kingdom were built from shaped cloud-stuff or air, both were hardened by magic. This kingdoms' fauna is very diverse, many normal animals have adapted from the Chaos Wars into many new forms. Some types of propulsion include airbags, wings, magic, psionics, or glide planes (to use the thermal currents).

Feylands

This is the realm of the World Tree Gaia, she is a primordial forest with giant trees and a low level of gravity. Many of the older trees are awakened beings and all trees have a psychic link with each other (druids and elves as well as the tree-linked use this as a communications net).

This land is populated by many arboreal races, both humanoid and animal. The children of many of these races learn how to glide at an early age. Most animals and humanoid races that live here are either excellent climbers, have wings or gliding membranes. Some have webbing between their appendages to allow them to control their gliding. Many of the climbers have an extra set of limbs, along with prehensile appendages (fingers, toes, and tail).

The Mother Tree (World Tree) is at the center of the forest, she is the heart of society, and also a nexus for the Ley Lines that connect all the trees together. In this land, the many different races have a true communal society; everyone is linked by the Mother Tree so all know what needs to be done and do it without complaint. Most money and supplies are shared by all.

Sick or old animals go to certain trees to share their life force with whoever is in need of food. When population expansion is too high the same thing happens (some sacrifice themselves so others can live). If no one needs food, it is absorbed by the trees. these trees are called Funeral Groves. Since all the plants and animals are linked to the Mother Tree, their intelligence has been enhanced. In some instances, the smaller they are, the smarter. Although, this isn't always the case.

The Feylands is a high magic area; magic is an integral part of their society. Everyone has at least a wild talent, while many take a couple of levels in an arcane or divine class. The Gaians build with living plants, and their technology is based on biomancy or tree singing.

Each World Tree has their own linked kin and guardians. They mostly have the same abilities, tweaked towards their terrain type and the personalities the of perspective World Trees. Aquarius and Aeria are both mobile Trees, one travels on the ocean currents, the other floats on air currents. The other two trees are stationary; they can all communicate with each other through their telempathic links.

Aeria is in the Skylands, Aquarius is in Oceania, Gaia on Avalonia and Teran on Terranus.

Oceania

This is the Realm of Aquarius, the World Tree that guards over the port to the Plane of Water. She is the aquatic elves' capital. The city is both within and around the World Tree. From above she looks likes like a many-legged starfish with a tree growing out of the center.

Terranus

This is the kingdom of Teran; he guards a portal that leads to the Plane of Earth and of Fire. He swings between neutral and evil alignments, and doesn't restrain any of his peoples' excesses, he often encourages them.

Earth Dwarves are the racial majority in this kingdom. They are one of the many humanoid races with the earth subtype that live here. Their technology is based on the many uses of growing crystals (like the Kryptonians and the To'kra). They build with both minerals and contained fire.