Thirsting Tree

Basic Information

Anatomy

Perceiving a thirsting tree is difficult. In the middle realm of thought and life they appear as normal trees or sometimes bushes. Usually a blemish can be seen clearly upon them, such as the exposed rotten heart of the tree, or a gnarled weeping gash across the surface. Gaining a view into the realm of death provides a clearer image of a writhing bundle of roots. Constantly in motion they wiggle around each other and out towards any source of life that comes near.

Growth Rate & Stages

A young thirsting tree will only appear as a small ball of densely writhing roots. As the tree ages and feeds upon the living that ball will expand to hold the blood of the living beings it has consumed. Depending on how often it is fed the tree may wither and blacken, or may flourish with leaves a crimson red all year round.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Should a living being make its presence known to the thirsting trees the tree will latch onto it. The roots that it has grown into the realm of death will burrow into the being draining its energy and presence away to feed the thirst of the tree. This will be hidden from most beings and only manifest itself in an ever rapidly growing apathy that will overtake the being. Eventually as the tree reaches the end of the beings life it will draw the very blood of the behind into the realm of death, cocooning it in its nest of roots, leaving in the middle realm a lifeless and bloodless corpse with the pattern of roots imprinted into its dried flesh.

Origin/Ancestry

The Thirsting Trees as they are known in folklore are plans that lived too near a source of undeath. Caught up in the deathly magics their essence changes to feed upon the living.