Arborents
An Arborent is a species of sapient tree, who will spend many years of their life as a four-armed serpentine humanoid, after which it will become "Rooted" by planting itself into the ground and pupating into a more traditional tree-like form. Sometimes the Rooted form small copses of trees that are networked together and function like a small village. Due to their unusual life-cycle and utterly alien appearance, many peoples treat the Arborent with fear and awe in equal measure. For their part, most Arborent seek only to learn as much as they can as they work to fulfill their individual spiritual quest called a "Seed Journey" and thereby, increase their collective knowledge and experience.
Basic Information
Anatomy
An Arborent will physically change throughout its life. The form most familiar to outsiders is its questing form. It will resemble a vaguely humanoid serpent with four arms, a long, legless body and a small canopy of foliage on its back. Once an Arborent roots, it will begin to transform, until it largely resembles a typical, albeit larger and obviously magical tree.
All Arborents will share features in common with the trees of their home forest. For instance, those born in the Rajjahid Jungle will have large green leaves and light colored bark while those from the The Howling Woods will have pine needles.
All Arborents will share features in common with the trees of their home forest. For instance, those born in the Rajjahid Jungle will have large green leaves and light colored bark while those from the The Howling Woods will have pine needles.
Growth Rate & Stages
The Arborant life-cycle is peculiar among plant species, even the more exotic of Ur'En. They will begin life as a seed approximately the size of a grapefruit. Once they fall from thier parent tree, a small sprout will spring, which will later become the main body and then the trunk. The sprout gives the seedling some mobility as it begins to push itself around like a caterpillar. As it travels, its body will continue to grow, eventually adopting a more serpentine locomotion and sprouting 4 arm-like branches.
Once it has reached approximately Radashi height, it stops growing, achieving mental maturity around the same time. At this stage, they are referred to as a Questing Arborents, which is the one most commonly encountered by outsiders. Once it reaches this point, the Arborent will meditate for several days in order to receive a special vision. This vision, they believe is granted directly by Sol and represents his will. They will then embark on their "Seed Journey," a quest to fulfill what they interpret as the God's wishes. The quest itself varies substantially. Sometimes it is very specific like "Lift the curse upon the forest" to much more vague missions like "Find beauty in the monsterous."
Once the Seed Journey is fulfilled in the mind of the Arborent, they will find a suitable place to "Root" often in the company of other Rooted Arborents to form a grove. The Arborent then plants itself to begin its transformation. It's body thickens into a proper trunk, its limbs turn to branches and its canopy blossoms until it is nearly indistinguishable from a normal tree. The Arborent will seek to connect it's roots to any other's nearby, allowing them to communicate through signals transmitted through the root systems. The Arborent will lose all mobility, but retains its vocal communication and its mind, though it's speed of thought is drastically slowed. It will then eventually produce seeds, beginning the process anew for the next generation.
Once it has reached approximately Radashi height, it stops growing, achieving mental maturity around the same time. At this stage, they are referred to as a Questing Arborents, which is the one most commonly encountered by outsiders. Once it reaches this point, the Arborent will meditate for several days in order to receive a special vision. This vision, they believe is granted directly by Sol and represents his will. They will then embark on their "Seed Journey," a quest to fulfill what they interpret as the God's wishes. The quest itself varies substantially. Sometimes it is very specific like "Lift the curse upon the forest" to much more vague missions like "Find beauty in the monsterous."
Once the Seed Journey is fulfilled in the mind of the Arborent, they will find a suitable place to "Root" often in the company of other Rooted Arborents to form a grove. The Arborent then plants itself to begin its transformation. It's body thickens into a proper trunk, its limbs turn to branches and its canopy blossoms until it is nearly indistinguishable from a normal tree. The Arborent will seek to connect it's roots to any other's nearby, allowing them to communicate through signals transmitted through the root systems. The Arborent will lose all mobility, but retains its vocal communication and its mind, though it's speed of thought is drastically slowed. It will then eventually produce seeds, beginning the process anew for the next generation.
Ecology and Habitats
Arobrents, unsurprisingly, flourish in conditions that promote tree growth such as regular rainfall and sunlight. They struggle in arid conditions such as deserts as well as biting-cold or underground. Nutrient-poor soil cannot sustain an Arborent so they must seek out more fertile land if necessary.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Arborents, despite their exceptional traits are still plants. They must drink the sun's light to photosynthesize as well as regular water and nutrients. When resting, an arborent will plant it's root-like tail into the ground to absorb water and nutrients.
Biological Cycle
Arborents follow the seasonal changes of regular trees. They will flower in spring, have their leaves by summer, change their colors in the fall and lose them by winter. After this, they will begin the process anew. The exception to this cycle are Arborents that resemble evergreens like pines are firs, who retain their needles year-round.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Arborents lack eyes in any form. They possess rudimentary hearing, however they rely on magical perception of their surroundings, which allows them to navigate the world and avoid danger.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Arborents find the concept of names confusing so they are usually given names by other species.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Arborents communicate with one another through a system of signals transferred through their roots. They have no spoken or written language of their own, instead, a Questing Arborent typically seeks out and learns the language of it's neighbors. Arborents can speak through a series of specialized tubes in their bodies.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Arborents do not have a unified culture. Instead, most questing Arborents adopt the customs and practices of the cultures they spend time with.
Common Taboos
Arborents do not intrinsically oppose the use of wood as a crafting material. However, they find the use of Arborents as timber to be monstrous. They can often tell when the bodies of their kind have been used to construct something and few things will bring out their wrath like such a discovery.
History
The Arborents have existed on Ur'En for as long as history tells. It is theories that they have even existed for far longer than the other sentient species but this is mere speculation. Arborent groves are often older than many of their neighboring settlements. Arborents are rare but not unusual in most communities. They will work to integrate themselves into societies, working as laborers, artisans, and sometimes as agricultural advisors. Most settlements are at least tolerant of the plants and many will have at least one Arborent living among them.
Most Groves are isolated by their nature, experiencing little of the world outside their small domain. There are exceptions to this such as those in the Hakarim Forest who are slowly creating a kingdom of their own.
Arborents rarely take up arms except in self-defense but a rare few will fight to protect special natural sites such as rivers, groves and undisturbed wilderness.
Most Groves are isolated by their nature, experiencing little of the world outside their small domain. There are exceptions to this such as those in the Hakarim Forest who are slowly creating a kingdom of their own.
Arborents rarely take up arms except in self-defense but a rare few will fight to protect special natural sites such as rivers, groves and undisturbed wilderness.
Lifespan
150-300 years
Average Height
Questing: 6-7 ft, Rooted: Varies
Average Weight
200-600 lbs
Average Length
12 ft. head to tail
Related Ethnicities
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