Blights

“He led the way in under the huge branches of the trees. Old beyond guessing, they seemed. Out of the shadows, the hobbits peeped... like elf-children in the deeps of time, peering out of the Wild Wood in wonder at their first Dawn.” -- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers





The great tree looms over the forest, shrouded in dark myth and guarded by living effigies of wood and thorns. A sage dispenses wisdom from the depths of his woodland home, bark-rough skin hidden behind thick robes. Bandits launch deadly ambushes from an overgrown castle, born from the very vines that clutch at it battlements.

Root and Branch

When ancient power rots beneath the soil, imprisoned in rune-sealed tombs or left to decay in a shallow grave, its immortal might seeps into the land around it. The plants that feed on such tainted earth gain a measure of that being's soul and twisted sapience.

The seeds of these mad trees grow to be blights, awakened offshoots born from the lingering traces of long-dead druids, foul vampires, and conquered fey.

Many of these savage, humanoid plants have no greater drive than to spread their kin far and wide, or are outright wielded as puppet-soldiers by their slumbering master.

Often, however, a grove of blights will literally grow beyond their origins, becoming independent beings in their own right... for better or worse.

Bad Seed

Known by most as cruel plantfolk filled with bloodthirsty trickery, the truth behind the behaviour of the blights is far more complex. Each sprouts from the lingering ego of a fallen titan, born with personalities, goals, and even a few fragmented memories drawn directly from their ancient seed.

This gives even those blights who outgrow their shambling origins a poor reputation: those who live near the swampy grave of a green dragon seldom appreciate the appearance of sneering mangrove-men with scale-like leaves.

Nevertheless, the treekin are not rooted down. Some come to view their ancient seed with puzzlement, contempt, or regret. Such cursewoods try to make up for the sins of a past that is not theirs, or simply try to make their own way in the world, forging an identity of their own.

Groves of the Heart

The culture of a given grove of blights varies wildly, largely derived from its ancient seed and the nature of the cursed tree at its heart. Some form cults dedicated to their origin, or to sealing it away forever. Others simply claim the forest as their territory, spreading with creeping speed.

Whatever the case, the ego and common origin of each blight makes competition a constant in each grove. Every cursewood must prove itself the better of its fellows, watching the achievements of their fellows with envy and interest. The weak must flee or rot.

A blight is a core of animated vegetation, around which further plantlife is drawn or grown into a tightly-wound mass of pseudo-flesh shaped into humanoid form. Blights can discard this excess, but do so only in times of need.

Wandering Woods

Those groves which develop a positive relationship with the outside world are often born from less malevolent entities, such as summer fey or powerful giants. Others are allies of convenience, trading partners or members of a military pact.

Blights can become adventurers for many reasons. Some are simply out to prove themselves, following in the footsteps of their ancient seed. Others seek power in their own right, or abandon their grove to carve a new identity of their own from old and tainted wood. A rare few hold more than mere fragments of memory, and seek out their originator's legacy.

Blight Names

Infused with the ego and drive of their ancient seed, blights eagerly seek formal titles from civilized lands, bearing them as true rewards or simple vanities.

Blights have little need for gendered names, as sex is largely cosmetic for them. Indeed, most groves roughly model their appearance after their originator, resulting in seemingly monogendered communities of treekin.

Branch Blight Names: Master Mn'drok, Prince G'root, Lady P'clolo, Laird Mn'gabo, Minister Z'etoos, Graf Sk'ogora

Needle Blight Names: Sultan Al'roon, Duchess Aa'droor, Ser Vool'frd, Raja Ol'doori, Baronet Pa'ola, Emir Us'poko

Vine Blight Names: Palatiness Css'odo, Archbishop Pci'nonos, Sage Zs'losio, Franklin Gh'soni, Marshal Ghs'oran