Treants

Children of Eonil – Wardens of the Ancient Woods

Origins

Treants are ancient guardians of the oldest groves and wild places of Eonil.

They are not ordinary trees brought to life, nor trees animated by druidic magic. Treants are mythical beings of Eonil herself: tree-shaped wardens of the deep woods, rooted in the living world yet able to walk when the forest has need of them.

If Fauns are the music of the forest, Treants are its strength and memory. They move slowly, but when roused, they are the wrath of the woods itself.

Nature

• Towering, tree-shaped beings, with bark-like skin and root-like feet.
• Eyes glowing like old amber in the hollow of bark, and voices like groaning timbers.
• Solitary guardians, though when great danger threatens, they may gather in terrible force.

Druids and Treants

Druids regard Treants with deep reverence.

A druid may serve as a steward, mediator or friend of the forest, but they would not consider themselves the equal or master of a Treant. To stand before one is to stand before a guardian of Eonil’s wild places.

One old druidic legend claims that the first druids were taught by a Treant. Whether this tale is history, myth or allegory is uncertain, but among druids it remains a reminder of their place in the living world.

They are not rulers of nature.

They are students, stewards and humble allies of its guardians.

Fall

Like many of Eonil’s mythical children, Treants vanished in the early Age of Darkness. Their vast forms became still, and the groves grew silent.

In some places, dead giant trees are said to be the husks of Treants who fell defending their woods.

Wood believed to come from a fallen Treant is never taken lightly. Among druids, such remains are not treated as ordinary timber.

Fifth Era Memory

• Villagers speak of single massive trees as “fallen Treants” and refuse to cut their wood.
• Offerings are left at the base of such trees when passing through old forests.
• Hunters say: “If you hear the groaning of timber in a still forest, turn back.”
• Common folk sometimes confuse tales of Treants with stories of cursed or living wood, though druids regard these as very different things.