The Dark Tree

According to legend, the Dark Tree was originally planted by Fortis' greatest warrior, Roth Barsinog, after the campaign of the Twin Cities. Around the time of his death, a volcanic eruption supposedly covered the tree in molten rock.
A far more likely explanation is simply that an igneous intrusion pushed upward through layers of compacted ash, which was later eroded away by acidic rainfall, leaving behind a formation which strongly resembles a broken tree.
Valtaran legend says that the original living tree was planted by Roth Barsinog, a distant ancestor of Gratlin of Sinog-Behind-the-Falls. Roth is honored as the greatest warrior to have ever lived, since his campaign of the Twin Cities made the First Court's establishment possible and ushered in an era of relative peace. He said the seed was harvested from a fallen tree in the great garden that joins the two cities, but never gave any explanation as to the motivation for collecting or planting it.
Due to its legendary origin, and because the tree grew in the harshest of conditions and then maintained its form not only through a volcanic blast, but the innumerable centuries between then and now, it is a symbol of strength of character, endurance in the face of adversity, and bravery as a lone individual.
Ellarum jewelry and miniatures of the Dark Tree are regularly sold in markets across Fortis. They are particularly popular in Valtarus, and jewelry incorporating the figure are among the few exports of Nard that Valtarans will seek out.

Variations & Mutation

If a Ravager is found guilty of cowardice, they are brought to the Dark Tree for punishment. As the ceremony progresses, one of the nearby lava flows is opened with a pickaxe and the Ravager is made to watch as their Talisman of Valta is returned to the depths of Fortis. Towards the end of the ritual, the offender is killed, and their body is left on a slab near the foot of the tree "to await the judgement of Roth". This results in the corpse being torn apart and devoured by slakmars, since it was denied a proper burial.