Heartwood Treefolk
| Status | <img src="https://www.zd10.net/images/planar_council.svg" style="width: 64px; height: 64px;" class="tooltip" title="Member of the Planar Council" /> |
| Xenonym | Heartwood Treefolk |
| Autonym | Dirame Zameta |
| Home Plane | Verdavent |
| Morphology | {{{morphology}}} |
| Typoid | {{{typoid}}} |
| Lifespan | Pregnancy: 2 Months |
| Height Data | 5'75" Average
6'0" |
| Weight Data | 240lbs Average
290lbs |
| Bark Colors | Dark Brown, Light Brown, Dark Gray, Red-Brown, Black, Silver-Pink, Mountbatten Pink |
| Leaves Colors | Red, Dark Red, Pink, Purple, Mauve, Orange, Yellow |
| Eye Colors | Pink, Orange, Red, White |
| Physical Distinctions | Bioluminescent Veins, Slightly Acidic Bloodsap |
| Properties | {{{properties}}} |
Heed the dreamers. Some walk the world as you and I, influencing the dreamscape. Others exist there, shaping our world. Walk with the knowledge that you are never alone and hope that your path, dreamed of, is filled with pleasantness and not with the restlessness of nightmares.
The world exists in these two states, then, whether you know it or not. We do our part to make sure those of us who came before and those yet to arrive only have the best of dreams. Living a good life, finding inner peace and helping others do the same will shape the world in turn. Hurting others and accepting inner turmoil only brings about chaos.
Is is sad to know that there are many who don't wish to sleep for fear of nightmares and there are many who don't wish to wake for the same fear. We do our part to walk a path, the one presented to you now.
Peace for the dreamer. Calm for the awake. Serenity for those yet to come, recognition for those who have gone. That is who we must be for everyone. That is what we must be for ourselves.
Lesson from the Bushi Bunjida Nyukuti to his student Jarlika Yindiko
Being the first species of plantfolk that the Planar Council encountered, contact with the Heartwood Treefolk initially caused some shock amongst its member species of the time. Myths from various other worlds contained intelligent trees and their existence had been speculated upon but the initial explorers had no idea what they would encounter. Luckily the inhabitants of Verdavent proved to be peaceful and welcoming. Their presence in the Planar Council would help ease future encounters with more alien species found across the planes.
The Dirame Zameta are an older species, their civilization having collapsed due to conflicts centuries ago. After suffering through a period of decline, eventually a new era of stability was reached. Previously warlike, society would shift to replacing military leaders with ones who focused on philosophy and knowledge. As they rebuilt they took a deeper look at their past and their surroundings and started to build the cultural cornerstones that make up the foundations of the current cultures of Verdavent. Known for being a voice of reason within the Planar Council, the Heartwood gladly take their place amongst the planes as they think of themselves as members of a dream shared by millions.
Physiology
Anatomy
Though they have an evolutionary path far different than other species of the Planar Council, the Heartwood's physiology is similar to that found amongst other bipdeds. Their body consists of the legs, the torso, the arms, the neck, and the head.
Many parts of the Heartwood's body are incredibly similar to their animal counterparts, functioning as plantlike analogs. A thin layer of flexible bark covers a layer of contracting soft tissues, fats, and organs. These are in turn protected by a "skeleton" of hardened wood material, functioning like bones in non-plantfolk species. They also have blood, similar to both sap found in trees and blood found in animals. This is sometimes called "bloodsap".
Bark colors vary between individuals and are interlaced by a network of external auxiliary vein-like structures that will glow through a biological form of bioluminescence. Some of the reagent for this reaction is contained in the blood of the Heartwood which causes it to slightly acidic. Though it isn't enough to burn through materials, it can act as a severe irritant to organic matter. The belief amongst their kind was that this was more of a side effect for the development of bioluminescence than one developed for a defensive purpose.
Being bipedal gives the Heartwood far more mobility than normal plants and even on their world not all plants are capable of it. Given that the mobile plants of Verdavent need to consume additional energy beyond what their leaves can produce, locomotion can be seen as an important development that allowed their evolutionary ancestors to survive easier and have more opportunities to spread.
Heartwood leaves to this point function similarly to hair on other non-plantfolk species, being arranged or styled in aesthetically pleasing ways with their photosynthetic properties generally being ignored. They have a number of branches that sprout from their head that are called "headbranches" which is where the leaves reside. A fully developed digestive system exists which has replaced photosynthesis of being the primary means of nutrient acquisition.
Their organic makeup being slightly denser than their animal counterparts leads to Heartwood being heavier with an average weight of 290lbs and heights ranging from 4 feet 8 inches to 6 feet.
Life Cycle
Heartwood reproduction requires a male and a female, a trait not found in most immobile plants but common with mobile ones. Males produce a pollen-infused liquid that females use to produce a single large seed, though sometimes 2 or even 3 can develop similarly to twins or triplets found in other non-plantfolk species. These seeds develop internally for two months before being planted and care for by the parents. Once planted, the seed requires around a year before it starts to germinate into a newborn. At this stage in development the Heartwood is fully immobile, being kept in place by a root structure to help with development. It is not uncommon for Heartwood to carry their young during this period.
Upon leaving the sproutling stage after around two years, the root structure will start to break down and Heartwood's stem will start to function as a locomotive organ. Initially this results in movement similar to a serpent but as the stem starts to split into two separate halves and harden, the wandersprout will be fully capable of ambulatory movement. Once able to walk, the wandersprout is developed mentally similar to a young child in other species and still requires care and education to further develop into maturity. Bioluminescence doesn't begin to develop until adulthood and is seen as a sign of physical maturity.
Diet
As the Heartwood developed evolutionarily past locomotion, the photosynthetic processes found in their leaves was no longer enough to sustain them alone. Initially starting an herbivorous diet as most of the first mobile plants, their ancestors ended up becoming omnivores to increase their odds of surviving.
Due to the recent cultural developments focusing on shifting away from opulence and materialistic tendencies, Heartwood cuisine has also started to become simpler. Though more ornate and complex dishes were common in the past, in the present they are decidedly only served during ritualistic meals, banquets or feasts. Pickles and other fermented foods are very common, as are soups served aside grains. Heartwood are known to have a legendary sweet tooth however, though the lack of any overly decadent desserts betrays this.
Biological Variation
Heartwood have a number of traits that vary from individual to individual, some being passed down to their offspring. Bark color, number of headbranches, leaf and eye colors and the color of their bioluminescent veins make up the primary traits that differ between the Heartwood.
Climate also seems to effect some traits, primarily bark color and the number of headbranches. In colder climates Heartwood lean towards darker bark colors and more headbranches with the opposite being found in warmer ones.
Be as the tree: still, calm, pondering but rigid.
Be as the animal: lively, free, moving but with purpose.
Finding your balance is key to knowing your way.
A Heartwood Treefolk Kensei reflecting on the Heartwood's place in the world
History
Evolutionary History
Animal and plant life developed on Verdavent as it does on many other worlds though a number of events and changes led to mobile plants being the dominant life forms.
An increase in volcanic activity in the plane's past led to a growing amount of ash in the atmosphere which would lead the world to becoming darker, colder and more difficult to survive in. Carnivorous plants already existed with a vineal nature that were capable of spreading across the landscape. In order to survive, a number of these plants evolved their vines to be able to perform basic locomotion which moved the survival strategy away from spreading out in place to being able to reposition themselves. It is believed that the combination of being able to create food from what sunlight still came through and consuming other lifeforms is what allowed the ancestors of the Heartwood to thrive in an otherwise tumultuous period.
As the atmosphere cleared and the plane started to return to normal, animal life found that it had been replaced as the predominant life form on Verdavent. A branch of mobile plants adopted an omnivorous diet, allowing them to increase an ever increasing intelligence. These plants would start to evolve beyond simple animal-like intelligence and exhibit the first signs of tool use.
Over time, a handful of species started to develop a more bipedal form. Familial bonds allowed the plants to adapt a change in their life cycle where their young would be cared for to improve survival rates. At this point, they had evolved to have an immobile period in early life that transitions into development of their limbs as they grow. The first signs of societies and culture would emerge during this period.
Eventually a single intelligent species of mobile plants evolved, securing their place on the top of the food chain in a world of both animals and plants. Capable of surviving in nearly every environment on their plane, it would be just a matter of time until they covered its entire surface.
Pre-History
The proto-Heartwood would begin to form family groups to protect their young that would lead to the first permanent societies coming into existence. Being incredibly territorial would lead them into frequent violent encounters between familial tribes which would heavily dampen the growth and spread of the species and heavily dampen advancement beyond simple stone tools. As generations passed and the proto-Heartwood spread out violence would become less frequent due to an increase in the amount of territory between tribal units.
The tribal nature would continue to exist as societies developed, leading to the formation of the clans found in modern times. Looking back at their prehistoric ancestors, modern Heartwood find no pride with the territorial nature found during this point of their existence.
Finality of Form
For most of their existence, proto-Heartwood seeds would grow into fully mobile forms that would be left to find their own way in the world. Eventually both of these things would change. It is unknown which came first: the change away from fully mobile young or the change to members of the proto-Heartwood staying together. Regardless, one benefited directly into the other. Units of proto-Heartwood staying together would increase their odds of surviving and allowing young further time to develop would eventually lead to the final form of the Heartwood evolutionary path.
This change would lead to their bipedal forms becoming more upright and more balanced. This final body shape would grant the proto-Heartwood an easier time mastering their environment, hunting prey, carrying their young, and traveling longer distances. This fully bipedal shape is unique to the Heartwood as there are no remaining relatives of their evolutionary path that still exist today though there are quite a number in the fossil record. Modern Heartwood accredit this to their ancestor's territorially violent natures.
Society
Pre-Civilization
As tribal existence led to moving away from being nomadic to more stationary lifestyles, the Heartwood would maintain a form of hunting and gathering as their numbers increased. It is believed that the large number of both animals and mobile plants provided ample sustenance to the growing tribes. This eased the transition from a nomadic species into a sedentary one, especially as the discovery of agriculture wouldn't happen for quite some time.
Proto-Heartwood tribes would eventually lead to more complex societies being developed, as well as the beginning of laws, culture and politics. As the basics of trade blossomed and tribes started interacting with each other in non-violent ways, the final form of the Heartwood as they are known in modern times would come into existence. It would also start the beginning of moving away from violent interactions so that relationships could develop between different tribes, leading to the formation of larger clans, nations and the emergence of different cultural groups.
Transition to Civilization
As the Heartwood spread out and the distances between tribes increased the amount of violence began to drop between the different tribal groups. This drop in violence would inevitably lead to an increase in overall Heartwood population across Verdavent and as is often the case, the increase of population would lead to new developments in society as the need for cooperation arises. Tribes would eventually grow to a size where it would encompass a large number of Heartwood, with the largest of them becoming clans with multiple tribes worth of Heartfolk under them. During this time the violent tendencies of the Heartwood would diminish and many tribes would begin to have some form of interaction with other tribes, primarily in exchanging resources or information.
As the clans increased in size, so would their dominion. It is around this time, much later than on most other worlds, that agriculture would come into practice and begin to spread. The increase in food availability without having to rely on the large numbers of animals and mobile plants meant that settlements would increase in size with the first cities being formed. This however would lead to territory being even more important which sadly would lead into an inevitable increase in violence between the burgeoning Heartwood nations.
Violence between nations and clans would occur often in this period of their development. Many Heartwood would find themselves forced from their lands as to flee being slaughtered by rivals from other nations or clans. This time period would see an increase in exploration and the settling of unclaimed lands as many of these peoples would find no nations to accept them. This period of intense strife would continue for much of the Heartwood's history and would include many horrendous acts they are now ashamed of, such as burning entire wooded regions and hunting species to extinction to prevent others from being able to make use of the resources they provided.
The level of conflict was not sustainable over thousands of years however, and with the arrival of a potent blight that would affect plants, mobile plants and the Heartwood themselves they would find their civilization collapsing around them. Large areas of land would become unable to sustain life and settlements, even some large cities, would become ghost towns. If it wasn't for a number of highly influential individuals the Heartwood could have easily faded away into nothingness. Instead they suffered this Dark Age and vowed to never let it happen again. Though some outliers exist, a new age of cooperation and unity would usher in a new age of Heartwood civilization that is still present in the modern era.
Ethnicities
<xh3> Tingijiga </xh3>
A broad term used for those Heartwood who don't actively pursue the beliefs and goals of a clan but still are members of it, the Tingijiga is also what Heartwood refer to members of their own kind from other planes until they learn about them. It is not intended to be seen as an insulting term but can be interpreted that way by some. "Hollow" in this sense refers to the hollow of a tree that may either be empty or be lived in by something else, abstractly thought of as a "hole for an idea or purpose".
<xh3> Kowarriasu </xh3>
Known as a clan of poets, architects, and farmers, the Kowarriasu played a major part after the collapse of Heartwood civilization in bringing the survivors together. The Kowarriasu are responsible for the idea and building of granaries across their territory which allowed them to store large amounts of food, a feat other Heartwood hadn't learned of yet. Their refusal to engage in aggressive violence is thought to have sparked the turning point of Heartwood cultures to adapting peaceful ways instead as those of all other clans found themselves engaging with them.
The Kowarriasu peoples tend to be taller than other Heartwood with silver-pink being the most prominent bark color found.
Rolling green hills beneath slumbering mountains are what the Korarriasu lands are known for. The mountains were once volcanic and responsible for the the verdant farmlands in the lands they call home. Agriculture blossomed upon reaching their lands which allowed the clan to grow quickly. This need to build is what allowed the Korarriasu to become adept with architecture which would lead on to other marvels. They are known for constructing temples dedicated to poetry which are known as "Munuta".
<xh3> Warkiriyume </xh3>
Philosophers and spiritualists at the core, it is the Warkiriyume that laid the foundations for the modern beliefs and practices of the Heartwood. Always practicing some form of ancestor belief, after the loss of so much life due to the blight they begin to feel as though their connection to the world was far deeper than they initially thought. The idea of a "shared dream" that they were a part of became popular. It may have been an idea that happened to be at the right place at the right time, but it is a massive part of the modern Heartwood identity.
Dreamshrines can be found extensively across Verdavent but are the most numerous in the lands of the Warkiriyume. These contain links to people "who have dreamed and have yet to dream", monuments to dream beasts or records, laws and proverbs that are relevant to those who follow the Path of the Dream.
Physically, the Warkiriyume tend to be average in size and are known for having additional leaf growths on the sides of their heads, almost looking like beards and mustaches in other planar sophonts. Darker bark colors and yellow leaves are more common amongst their kind.
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Culture
Refer to Cultural Details