Silverwood Tree

Silverwood Trees

''An ancient race of brilliant flora, the Silverwoods provide a delicate balance to the world. Wizened from years spent learning the secrets of the forests, these woody fellows have attuned to the ebbs and flows of the energies around them, becoming more attuned to the world in doing so.''

Origin: The Silverwood Grove beneath Lirokof's Flame.

Progenitor: Lirokof, Gatekeeper of the Planes.

Other Settlements: None, for the moment. They are dispersed through the Ashen Thickets and Azure Blooms, though none have left that continent as of yet.

Natural lifespan: 30'000 years

Traits:

Resistant To Change: These trees have a restricting effect on magic and energy - Large amounts of ambient power are rapidly absorbed by the tree, providing safety from natural disasters (such as eruptions) as well as dampening non-physical damage.

Watchers of the Aeons: ''Silverwoods reproduce asexually, producing a seed when a large enough amount of ambient energy. They prefer hot places for this reason, as the slow absorption of ambient heat is still much faster than channeling photosynthesis for all of its needs. A silverwood seed blossoms after 100 years, whereupon a sapling forms. It takes an additional 500 years to reach adulthood, and sentience.''

Heart of the Forest: ''Ancient (10000 yr old) Silverwood trees can animate nearby trees in times of great need. This may only be used to keep the balance of the realm, or protect their Grove.''

Society:

Due to their form of communication to one another being so efficient over long distances, Silverwood communities tend to include the *entire forest*. Each member can "hear" each of the others, all joined in their eternal vigil over the Grove as if they had been planted right beside the Thirteen. "Power" and "status", what little of both exist within their society, is determined by one's age and accomplishments - Maintaining a section of the forest in perfect equilibrium on one's own, for example, is enough to garner a form of respect among the commune. The Silverwoods are also great philosophers and astronomers, having nothing more to occupy their time with other than to wonder the mysteries of the cosmos, and what may lie beyond.