Branchwarden

Since the earliest days of Creation, certain members of the Fae race have had a particular interest in nurturing and protecting the natural places of the Mortal Realm, with the Branchwardens being the most notable among them. Resembling large humanoid trees, the Branchwardens serve as the self-appointed guardians of Taevas forests, as well as the creatures that dwell there. While there are other beings throughout Taeva who share their goal of safeguarding the natural world, both Mortal and Fae, the Branchwardens are considered to be the most powerful and zealous among them, with few daring to incur the wrath of these forest sentinels.

Basic Information

Anatomy

It's unknown what the Branchwardens originally looked like before they crossed over into the Mortal Realm. As a whole, Branchwardens resemble large trees molded into a roughly humanoid shape (though other variations on this body shape aren't uncommon), with trunk-like legs, small leaf covered branches sprouting from their bodies, and skin of hardened bark. Interestingly, despite supposedly having been formless spirits in the past, any Branchwardens that are forced to reform in the Fae Realm still retain the appearance of their vessel from the Mortal Realm (likely the result of them associating their vessel so closely with their own identity).

Biological Traits

The appearance of the Branchwardens reflects the environment they inhabit (for example, those who inhabit the northern wilderness have traits of pine trees, those found in the rainforests of southern Vraelia have traits resembling kapok trees, and some Branchwardens within Xuria have traits of cherry blossom trees).

Ecology and Habitats

The Branchwardens prefer to live in places of unspoiled nature, particularly large, old forests.

Behaviour

As powerful nature-aligned spirits, Branchwardens are focused on nurturing the growth of nature in their domain, and to protect it from anyone they believe to be a threat to it. If an outsider doesn't pose any immediate threat to their domain, Branchwardens are indifferent to their presence, although they are more welcoming of, and friendly towards, those who align with their desire to protect the natural world (including Druids, the Wood Elves, the Cernai, and their fellow Fae).

Additional Information

Social Structure

Due to most Branchwardens being fairly solitary beings, there is no formal hierarchy among them, though any groups that do form, even briefly, will always defer to the leadership of the oldest and most experienced among them.

Facial characteristics

The Branchwardens have varied facial characteristics, with some having fully articulated facial features, others having faces more akin to wooden masks, and branches growing in a variety of shapes, often representing antlers or crowns.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Branchwardens can be found in large, old forests throughout Taeva. Interestingly, despite originating within the Fae Realm, Branchwardens are rarely ever seen there.

Average Intelligence

Branchwardens are considered to be highly intelligent, with centuries of experience to their name, as well as near boundless knowledge on Druidic magic, their home forest, and any events that have occured there.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

It's believed that the Branchwardens, being powerful nature spirits, have some awareness of what happens in their domain. They are also considered to be the most powerful users of Druidic magic, with a few legendary Archdruids being said to have gained their formidable power training under a Branchwarden.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Due to resembling large, mobile trees, it's not uncommon for various tree dwelling animals (such as birds and squirrels) to use Branchwardens as their homes the same way they would any ordinary tree.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Branchwardens use many of the same names used by other Fae beings, though they've also been known to go by nicknames or titles, based on unique traits and/or noteworthy events they've been involved in.
Titles/Nicknames: "The Oaken Strider", "Ironbark", "The Verdant Lord"

Common Taboos

The Branchwardens are highly averse towards any actions that they consider disruptive to the cycle of nature within their domain, such as clear-cutting and overhunting.

History

In the earliest days of Creation, when the Realms were still new, the beings that would come to be known as the Branchwardens were little more than sapient, formless masses of nature-aligned magic. As the world of Taeva took shape, these beings, perhaps driven by the magic that formed their very essence, became fascinated by the many natural features that began to appear throughout the world, particularly the forests, and felt a strong urge to leave the Fae Realm to witness them for themselves. However, while the Fae Realm, a place made almost entirely from magic, could sustain their Aetheric forms, these beings soon found that they could not stay in the Mortal Realm, a place with a much weaker connection to magic, for very long. To remedy this, they sough out the oldest and strongest trees in their forests, and, using their Fae magics, molded them into vessels to contain their essence, allowing them to explore the natural places of the Mortal World as they pleased. After bearing witness to the destructive conflict between the Dragons and the Giants, the newly formed Branchwardens realised just how vulnerable the forests and glades they've become so attached to could be to outside forces, and vowed from that day on to stand as sentinels of the natural world, nurturing its growth and defending it from all that would threaten it.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

The Branchwardens are mostly indifferent towards the Mortal Races, unless they're doing something to despoil the area they've claimed as their domain. However, they are more welcoming to the Wood Elves and the Cernai, due to sharing their desire to protect the forests they call home.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Fae

Average Height

Branchwardens stand around 25ft tall on average.

Average Physique

All Branchwardens have strong, powerful builds (thanks to their magically strengthened wooden bodies), regardless of their physical appearance (a Branchwarden resembling a willow tree appears leaner than one based on an oak tree).

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Branchwardens have colourings that match the natural enironment they're found inincluding leavesflowers that change colour, wilt, and bloom in time with the changing of the seasons. Additionally, Branchwardens have glowing, light green markings across their bodies, and solid, glowing eyes of the same colour.