Sapling Of Corruption
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
Title: Sapling of Corruption
Author: Izrem Verin'Vlos
Notes compiled at the behest of Lord Aragothias.
Sapling of Corruption
Etymology: Unknown. Considering the tree has shown no tendencies towards corrupting any sort of object, inanimate or otherwise. It is possible, however, that it has merely yet to reach its full potency.
Nature: Infernal with synergistic abilities with Undeath. It is uncertain where the Infernal nature stems from, considering it was reported as being collected from the Well of the Void. Either some sort of unknown ritual imbued the sapling with power or the artifact was not collected from the Well of the Void at all.
Izrem's personal note- A strange paradox has been found to occur as the sapling was contained within the protective wards of the Sepulcher of Unmaking. The sapling has grown into a full tree, albeit seemingly dead in appearance. However, no nutriets that would be required for a plant to grow have been supplied and the wards serve no double purpose in presenting energy to it.
The idea that an object of Undeath and Infernalism would follow the normal rules of plant growth seems unlikely. However, given that the Sapling grew without any assistance from myself or others, begs the question of where it draws whatever resource it requires to grow. I have yet to find evidence of where it draws its energy from or in what form that energy comes. However, as will be discussed later, the tree, though having the apperance of a dead cyprus tree, has absolutely no normal plant matter characteristics.
Anatomy/Physical Elements:
The sapling, once grown to its current height (18 feet), has all the physical markings of a cyprus tree in the dead of winter. However, one cannot collect branches our boughs from the tree, as all such samples immediately crumble into an inert ash. The branch itself regenerates within the next few days. This act seems to have no affect on the abilities of the tree (discussed later).
When presented with a necromantic focus, such as a soulstone fragment warded with symbols of Unmaking, the branches begin to glow and resonate with other wards in the vicinity. After a certain period of time, the tree begins to produce a series of twinkling necrotic mana apparitions which float about the tree aimlessly.
Mystical Properties:
Once the tree begins to collect its mana essence (through the roots apparently) and has successfully branched into a full, though dead, tree it begins to interact with the wards by resonating at the same field intensity as the wards themselves produce. Once this happens the trees own essence field fluctuates with the natural patterns scribed into the wards and runes it has connected with. Through the creation of a command alter that interacts directly with the tree, I have been able to moniter, repair and even affect the intensity of any ward the tree has connected with. The tree has, thusly, become a focal point for the Entropic energies the wards use to provide protection, occluding or control, depending on their nature.
Key Phenomenon:
The key elements of the Sapling of Corruption are two fold: 1) It is capable of connecting to both the field the wards create, as well as the wards themselves, and 2) Unlike the wards, the amount of power the tree can channel is immensely larger.
The second element is the centerpoint of the device I have titled the "Entropy Field Generator". Because the wards themselves can receive only so much power, they can only be so strong as their mana patterns allow. The tree lacks this limitation and can channel an extraordinary level of power. The first element is what allows the tree to actually be used to empower our defenses and let the generator work. The tree cannot be used to supply more power to the wards, as they are already at their full power. However, the tree's ability to interact directly with the field the wards create, which has no reachable upper limit in how much power it can receive, is what allows the Entropy Field Generator to function in a useful capacity. Information on the Entropy Fielder Generator can be found under the title of the same now.
Unknown Elements:
Several curiousities have arisen during my research regarding the Sapling of Corruption.
1) As stated earlier, what exactly the tree uses to grow is unknown. While several educated guesses or hypothesises could be made, they are presently untestable due to the anatomy and physical nature of the tree.
2) The trees nature is essentially infernal manages to channel the powers of Entropy and Oblivion as well as any Order of the Ebon Skull artifact I have seen (short of the Ebon Skull itself). While the two practices are not innately mutually exclusive, there is often some level of interference when an infernal object is forced to channel entropic energies, and vice versa.
How the tree overcomes this usual limitation is uncertain.