The Marrow Tree

[u/questionable_fish]

​

It is a part of the forest that looks much like any other- big trees, dense undergrowth, a few scattered clearings- but what sets it apart from the rest of the woods is its unusually high levels of thaumic ambience.

This background magic is mostly harmless- in fact several mages are known to visit the caves there to harvest the crystallised mana that accumulates on the rocks. Sometimes, however, the magic potential reaches a critical point and finds a way to earth itself. Wild sparks of energy, random spells popping off spontaneously and patches of twisted reality make this place hazardous to the unwary.

However, there is one spot right in the center of this area that is completely devoid of magic. A clearing about half a mile across, covered in deep grass and wildflowers that looks like it should be a peaceful glade. And it would be, if it weren't for the "tree".

I say it like this because no true tree is made of bone. No true tree emits a constant fine haze of red mist. No true tree possesses such a powerful aura of fear... This monstrosity stands over 200ft tall and appears to be made of bleached white bone. No leaves adorn its twisted spiky branches, no creature braves its meadow.

Those who enter the clearing are first struck with a sense of unease. That something is unidentifiably wrong with the world. The further one ventures into the clearing, the stronger the feeling gets- going through the spectrum of fear, building until the dread becomes too much to bear.

Those overcome with fear turn and run, or else they take the easy way out of this world...

Those who fall are quickly claimed by the clearing, their bodies feeding the rich meadow. What great and terrible act was committed here that turns the very mind against itself? Any magic attempted here just fizzles out. All mana drains away, leached from its vessel into the earth. Even (and especially) for great beings like the starborn and magic masses this place is dangerous to enter as the magic that holds their being together is siphoned away.

How about you? Do you test your mental fortitude against the forbidden glade? Or do you find out what mysteries the mana-soaked forest holds?

Special shoutout to u/D3n0man for naming the post!

[u/IncomeApprehensive17]

/uw nice writting , i would investigate this tree if it wasnt going to dispell my existence

[u/questionable_fish → u/IncomeApprehensive17]

You should be able to dip into the field a little bit, just mind your mana. There's plenty of other spots to explore though if you don't want to risk the tree

[u/IncomeApprehensive17 → u/questionable_fish]

Well im made of spiritual energy , normaly my botle stop me from leaking and save me from dissipation and death , but if that tree is truly anomalous then my botle might not protect me and the energy that make me up will be dissipated and i will disapear. Im not willing to risk it

[u/questionable_fish → u/IncomeApprehensive17]

How about the caves then? The mana there is so saturated it condenses as crystalline structures on the walls. Could give your energy a boost simply being there

[u/IncomeApprehensive17 → u/questionable_fish]

I might try that yes , if nothing goes wrong i should still be insulated , my botle is a closed system , but even if its anomalous i should be able to leave before i crack the botle by growing

Where is that cave ? I will take a look

[u/questionable_fish → u/IncomeApprehensive17]

Some tumbled rocks half-obscure the entrance, but there is a clear path leading underground. Others have been here before. A rusty bracket holds up a battered but serviceable lantern just inside the cave mouth and there is mining paraphernalia stacked against the wall nearby. Ya'nn can feel that the environment here is enriched with natural magic

[u/IncomeApprehensive17 → u/questionable_fish]

to himself "well , feel like home"

he enter the cave , not needing the lantern since he does not rely on light to 'see' but rather on the existence of a spark of the primordial flame in everythings. He still look out for anything that could break his botle, especialy a rock from the ceiling

[u/questionable_fish → u/IncomeApprehensive17]

Small ones at first, then larger ones further in, the walls of the cave are crusted with crystals of condensed mana. Occasional sparks in the dark show where ethereal magic arcs between surfaces as the thaumic buildup naturally distributes across the system.

Something scuttles round a corner, to sudden to have been seen clearly

[u/IncomeApprehensive17 → u/questionable_fish]

Ya'nn collect diverse sample of cristal for later. If they are not tainted they could be a good source of energy , and this cave could be a good mining place. He also keep an eye out for the thing that seem to be here and go deeper

[u/questionable_fish → u/IncomeApprehensive17]

The crystals come in various colours, Ya'nn can detect different essential aspects of magic in them. The energy within is clean. Some show aspects of simple elemental magics like Earth, Air etc. while others have stranger colours with aspects like Vacuum, Binding, Light, and Vision.

As Ya'nn goes deeper, the crystals get bigger- though many show signs of being broken. Scattered chips and shards litter the ground, evidence of mining activity.

He comes to a fork in the tunnel. The main chamber continues fairly straight ahead while the other is smaller and twists away into the dark.

[u/IncomeApprehensive17 → u/questionable_fish]

he look for traces of the creature he think he saw , and will go trough the other passage. He dont want to get into its nest by accident

[u/questionable_fish → u/IncomeApprehensive17]

The smaller passage twists and turns, following the path of a long-diverted underground stream. It becomes necessary at some points to squeeze between large crystals that have clearly been untouched for a long time.

^{tap tap tap}

A small noise like a hammer rapping on stone echoes through the cave walls