World Trees
Anchors for a World Divided
The World Trees are technically a single living being. Planted by the gods on the day of The Rending as a means of holding the world together, they have since absorbed much of the magic that gave them life and converted it into something more. Over the centuries, they have developed into a singular being with multiple, distinct personas that are maintained by each of the Anchor Trees across the world, with t here being one tree for each major continent. The roots of these trees plunge deep into the planet, protected from the fires of the mantle by divine magic, only to emerge into the open air of the tear and join along either half to form two massive rings, which themselves are joined to each other by additional coils of interconnecting roots. Alone, they likely would not have the strength to keep the shattered planet in one piece, but in conjunction with the ancient enchantments put in place by the dying god Malephesh, they've kept things stable thus far.
World Saplings
Each Anchor Tree is capable of spreading minor versions of themselves across their countries of origin. These are known as 'saplings', and they take root, grow, and die within the span of a week or two. During that time, their purpose is to gather information for the World Tree and, from time to time, interact with mortals in whatever way the parent Anchor sees fit. What knowledge they gather or insights they gain from their short lives is retained entirely within the sapling, but when it dies, its knowledge returns to the branch which made it. This does leave a brief window of time wherein ruthless and knowledgeable magi might be able to cut a sapling off from its parent in order to keep it for themselves, but such a thing is difficult, requires a great deal of power, and risks angering what is essentially one sixth of a slumbering god.
The Anchors
Each of the World Tree's six anchors takes the form of a different, naturally-occurring tree from its environs. While all of the trees may share knowledge and have a base sense of self split between them, the Anchors have developed drastically different personas that determine how they interact with the world. This has left most mortals with no idea whatsoever that the various Trees of Legend are actually all part of a single unit. This suits the Anchors just fine, as it allows them to keep secrets from their 'other selves', up to and including the names they've chosen for themselves.
Dajio
The Mordrekainen Anchor of the World Tree, Dajio is a towering redwood, split open in various places to reveal a colony of bees living inside. They have a special relationship with these bees, housing them in exchange for protection and a portion of their honey, which can then be offered to pilgrims who travel to it for advice or simply to leave offerings.
Daijo is known to be something of a trickster. They hide away in a dense forest of similar-looking redwoods, and with their magic they warp the space between these trees, making getting lost as simple as taking a few steps around one of the massive trunks. In this way, they can prevent themselves from being found when visitors aren't wanted, but also keep guests who do arrive around for however long they desire.
Ives
The Duwallish Anchor of the World Tree, Ives takes the form of a large Marshpear tree. A wide, human-like smile stretches across their trunk, with two knots acting as eyes. Friendly and generous with its rapidly-growing stores of fruit, they have allowed a settlement to grow up around themselves. Ives serves as a sort of unofficial advisor for the town, providing guidance and kind words when sought out.
Ives primarily sends their saplings out to find sources of drama and strife in the area, seeking to be a mediator - or at the very least gather advanced knowledge of upcoming troubles for the township - wherever possible.
Kulim
The Sur'Dhanzan Anchor of the World Tree, Kulim grows in the very center of the Isle of Ibẹru. They were once your typical large, sprawling hawthorn tree, but they have been warped by the corruption of the Roc's influence, and so grown incredibly disjointed from their brethren. They hear very few of the thoughts and messages passed around through their joined roots, and sadly their own thoughts are cloudy at best and horrific at worst. They alternate between a sick fascination with the dark corners of the world and an utter fear of everything around them. They hold many of the World Tree's darker and more repressed memories, but lacks the proper context for them, making them little more than terrifying images with no true meaning.
Saplings formed by Kulim come in a variety of forms, but more often than not they sew discord, fear, and lies. At their most benevolent, they bring dire warnings of thing that will come, or which they believe might come.
Pival
The Mavensreach Anchor of the World Tree, Pival is a sprawling Jordan tree that hangs over a shallow cliff near the main island's northwestern shore. Due to its size and the strength of even its smallest branches, the tree has become the traditional place to hang folks condemned to death. Many of the corpses hang there still, drying in the sun until birds pick them clean or their ropes rot through. Pival has established themself as judge, jury, and means of execution for all those who are brought before them. They dole out wisdom and penalties in equal measure, with those receiving the penalty of death being hung right there, on the spot.
Despite what many claim (and would be right to fear), Pival does not send its Saplings to seek out sinners in order to rat them out to the more official lawfolk around. Rather, they have a keen sense of where potential criminals have already been captured, and so they send saplings to collect the stories from involved parties from a distance, just in case a matter can be resolved without too much fuss or a long journey to Pival's resting place.
Qua
The Tirpazki Anchor of the World Tree, Qua is a massive Baobab that grows at the base of Jabal Al'ustura, the Mountain of Legend. In addition to their tiny eyes and wide, boistrous mouth, the tree is covered in various scars and notches. Alfilant who are seeking to prove themselves sometimes travel to the World Tree and attempt to fell it. To date, none have even come close to succeeding, but a surprising number have managed to chip the tree's bark, which is considered a feat in and of itself. Qua is always encouraging of these attempts, as often the failures drive the individual to try and better themselves, whether that be through strength training for finding another purpose in life.
A fair number of individuals, calling themselves Disciples of Qua, have begun to worship the tree. This is a heretical act in the eyes of most of their kind, so they do so in quiet in subtle ways, acting more officially as stewards of the tree, ensuring that the area does not become overgrown or suffer from pests.
Ziu
The Stirgan Anchor of the World Tree, Ziu is an oversized candelabra tree that branches into three distinct canopies. The supporting branch for each of these canopies has a different eye set into it, but all three share the same mouth, which is a thin, sharp-toothed thing in the center of the main trunk. It is said that each of these sets of eyes views the world in a different way, and that would-be visitors to the World Tree must carefully consider which angle they approach from.
Ziu's various spines branches has the potential to sprout a glowing, golden fruit which is said to quench any thirst and put the sweetness of mortal fruits to shame. They offer it willingly to all who seek them out in Stirge's western badlands, so long as the person seeking it out is willing to brave the spines and height to collect it for themselves. Whether attempts succeed or fail, the tree has wisdom to share with those who make the attempt. Any wounds, however, are left alone - provided they aren't life-threatening - as they provide the more poignant lesson.
Comments