World Trees & Cosmic Pillars
The Axes of Existence
A Treatise by the Arcane Citadel
Since time immemorial, towering trees and colossal pillars have stood as the foundations of reality, binding the heavens, the mortal world, and the underworld in an unbroken cycle. These structures are not mere myths, but divine conduits, shaping the flow of existence and providing passage between realms. Many who seek to transcend mortality, commune with the gods, or plumb the depths of the underworld have done so by walking the paths hidden within their branches, roots, or towering forms.
Some of these great cosmic anchors stand eternally, unchanged by time, while others are fractured, their power waning with the decline of ancient gods and forgotten empires. A rare few remain unseen, hidden in sacred places, waiting for those worthy to discover them.
The following accounts document four of the greatest of these divine structures, whose very existence shapes the order of the cosmos.
1. Yggdrasil, the World Tree
"Its roots drink from the well of death, its trunk binds the worlds, and its branches cradle the heavens."
Nature & Structure
Yggdrasil is the eternal axis of the Nine Realms, a colossal ash tree whose roots, trunk, and branches weave through all existence. It is said to be both a road and a trial, a force of balance that connects the divine, the living, and the dead. Those who climb its branches ascend toward the divine, while those who fall are cast into the abyss of the underworld.
Three great roots anchor Yggdrasil, each burrowing into a different plane:
- The Root of Fate—buried in Asgard, where the well of Urd grants visions of destiny.
- The Root of Wisdom—plunging into Jotunheim, where the well of Mimir bestows knowledge upon those willing to pay its price.
- The Root of Death—piercing the depths of Niflheim, where the dragon Nidhogg gnaws upon the roots, seeking to unravel creation.
Traversing Yggdrasil
The branches of Yggdrasil serve as pathways between realms, though not all who seek them find safe passage. Only those marked by fate may walk them freely. The gods tread its paths with ease, but mortals must contend with:
- Shifting paths—a road leading to one realm today may twist toward another tomorrow.
- Trials of worth—spirits, guardians, and divine entities test those who attempt the ascent.
- The Great Devourer—Nidhogg lurks below, consuming those who fall from its branches.
2. The World Ash
"Older than gods, beyond the reach of time, the World Ash binds the firmament itself."
Nature & Structure
The World Ash is a primordial tree that binds the Outer Planes, predating even the oldest deities. Unlike Yggdrasil, which is the heart of a specific cosmology, the World Ash stands outside any single pantheon, existing as the unbroken spine of creation.
It is said that its bark-bound roads are woven into the very planes themselves, allowing those who step upon them to move between the heavens, the mortal realms, and the underworld. However, its paths are not without danger—time does not flow naturally here, and those who wander may find themselves lost in eras long past or yet to come.
Traversing the World Ash
The World Ash is both a bridge and a labyrinth. Few can navigate it without aid, for its paths shift according to the will of the cosmos. Those who seek to use it for travel must either:
- Follow the Song of the Leaves—an ancient resonance said to guide true travelers.
- Possess the Mark of the Rootborn—a blessing given only by the ancient keepers of the tree.
- Bargain with the Spirits of the Bark—sentient echoes of past travelers who may offer guidance… for a price.
Many who step upon the World Ash never return, their voices joining the whispers of the wind that rustle through its endless canopy.
3. The Mayan Ceiba Tree
"The souls of the dead pass through its roots; the gods walk its branches; the wise seek its trunk to find the path of balance."
Nature & Structure
Among the sacred traditions of the old empires, the Ceiba Tree is revered as the axis of existence, much like the great cosmic trees of other lands. Its structure is threefold:
- The Roots—plunging deep into Xibalba, the underworld of trials and suffering, where souls must endure their penance before reincarnation or ascension.
- The Trunk—rising through the mortal world, serving as a crossroads where the living and the spirits may commune.
- The Branches—stretching into the celestial realm, where the gods reside and where the worthy may ascend to join them.
Traversing the Ceiba Tree
Only those attuned to the cycles of life and death may walk the Ceiba’s paths. Unlike Yggdrasil or the World Ash, which may be reached through physical means, the Ceiba demands a spiritual journey.
- The Shamans and the Rootwalkers—seers and mystics who can descend its roots to guide souls through Xibalba.
- The Dreamers—those whose visions allow them to climb its branches in sleep, gaining wisdom from the gods.
- The Chosen Dead—souls who prove themselves in the trials of Xibalba and ascend the tree to reach paradise.
The Ceiba Tree is not easily found, for it is said to exist simultaneously in the physical and spiritual worlds, revealing itself only to those meant to walk its roads.
4. The Pillars of the Sky
"Not trees, but titanic spires of divine stone, supporting the weight of the firmament itself."
Nature & Structure
Unlike the cosmic trees that serve as living conduits, the Pillars of the Sky are ancient stone monoliths that hold up the heavens, preventing the celestial vault from crashing down upon the world. Legends tell of four, seven, or even an infinite number of these pillars, depending on the culture that reveres them.
Some claim the gods themselves built these pillars in the first days of creation, while others say they were forged from the bones of primordial titans who once sought to overthrow the heavens. In some lands, they are called:
- The Pillars of Shu (Egyptian myth)—four cosmic columns separating the heavens and earth.
- The Pillars of Enki (Mesopotamian myth)—great mountains that tether the sky to the land.
- The Kunlun Pillars (Chinese myth)—mystical mountains where the gods dwell, holding up the sky itself.
Traversing the Pillars
Unlike trees that serve as roads between realms, the Pillars of the Sky are barriers as much as they are gateways. To ascend one is to challenge the very foundation of the world.
- Only the strongest warriors or divine beings may climb them, for they resist mortal passage.
- Each pillar is guarded by celestial beasts, such as dragons, titans, or sacred phoenixes, who test those who attempt the ascent.
- At the summit lies the Firmament, the threshold between the gods and mortals, where only the chosen may pass.
Many have sought to break or bypass these pillars, but to do so is to risk collapsing the sky itself.
