9: Treekin

Legend has it the first Treekin formed when a powerful Elven Wizard bestowed sapience upon a favored tree in his garden. After the wizard died the tree slowly traveled the world. There may be veracity in this as all Treekin understand and speak an older variation of Elvish and a northern dialect of Common. Alternative theories propose it was due to excess mana accumulation on the site of an ancient mage training ground or battlefield coalescing into a nearby tree. This is still an active point of debate.

It was discovered that a form of sentience randomly spreads to nearby trees within the presence of a Treekin, leading to sapience soon after. This chance is extremely low, favoring saplings over more established trees. The precise method in which this occurs has not yet been ascertained but appears to be their only means of reproduction. There have been attempted studies to address the possibility of other flora being affected, but so far the general consensus is a limitation to trees with no restriction upon tree species affected. Research is limited in scope due to the apparent range of transference, areas Treekin tends to reside,  and the lack of participation by Treekin who view the experiments as largely a waste of time. There have been rumors of sentient seeds, but it is generally regarded as little more than fanciful musing among apprentices.

Treekins are generally reserved and slow to move, physically and culturally, but once they start on a course it is difficult to persuade them in altering their path. They often form a loose network of hermits that work together when the need arises. It is exceedingly rare for them to form communities similar to other races. When these do occur, it is often temporary and for a common purpose. In exceedingly rare recorded instances Treekin have settled within other racial groups and formed lasting bonds with select individuals. No conclusions have been formed in this study and information collection is ongoing. 

Trade with Treekin is sparse since their food is generally produced by taking a long nap in the sun and they require little to live comfortably. The few major trade relations usually arise when locals of other races convince them that a major building project, such as a dam, could be of benefit during hard times such as a drought or torrential rains. They do not appear to care about political boundaries, nor politics in general. They are not inherently aggressive or territorial. Despite this, they are not defenseless and will defend themselves from attack quite violently. A black oak variation, Eayth, is personally responsible for the dispersal and dismemberment of an orc raiding party near Loenat. He appeared confused when thanked but seemed pleased to have helped. Since most of society see them as a good omen for the lands they occupy, few dare to provoke the populace by causing them harm in most kingdoms.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

~~ Larthandric Peel, Journeyman Scholar of Emerald Point Research Society. From his book, "A Brief Guide to the Races". ~~

 Awareness of freefall occurred moments before impact with stone. His first conscious thought is one of terror. A rush of grey sets upon him, its silky fur rippling in the mountain air before a mass of dark feathers slams into it with a screech. Tooth and claw struggle against talon and beak to claim him as their meal. The fight is fierce, the air split with their battle cries. Fresh blood splatters upon the surroundings from both combatants as feather and fur are carried upon the downdraft over the mountain ledge. 

While the two struggle for dominance, their prey is battered back and forth off balanced, unable to flee his nightmare. Caught in the turbulence from beating wings and a strike from bushy tail, he tumbles beyond the rim and back into freefall. The rockface rushes past and the trees below grow rapidly larger, his terror now complete panic. Narrowly avoiding several branches, temporary darkness claims him with a splash. 

Brief flashes of white frothing rapids and sparkling riverbed  blend into a swirl of color and sound. A sudden drop and rebound off the bottom as the water carries him along into the dim mouth of a cave. The walls close in, choking the river and intensifying it's speed. He careens off walls, suffering abrasions and cuts. He's unable to reach the brief pockets of air visible above the surface as they rush by in an instant. The occasional soft glow of bioluminescent fish and lichen adds to the disorientation. 

The tunnel finally opens as two rivers merge over a short series of rapids. Massive fish able to swallow him whole surge around him, another fight to claim him. Once again he tumbled and spun as the roar of water could be heard ahead. A huge subterranean sinkhole enters his view while he remains caught in the current's grip. It carries him past the combatants as it courses toward the dark pit. The flow continues to increase in speed when a salamander, white body lined with twin green fluorescent stripes, clamps its jaws around him swimming towards shore. A flash of bronze glints behind a dark void that abruptly closes over the amphibian's lower half and propels him away from both. The sheer momentum causes him to bounce on the shore and tumble into a moss covered clearing, slowly rolling to a stop in a small depression. 

A faint orange glow slowly pulses around him, contrasted by the scattered pinpoints of yellow, blue, and white light across the floor. He can only lay there sore and unmoving as his mind races while trying to come to terms with what happened, to retain sanity. He can't see far, but he could still see. He smells the rich soil below the moss. Squeaks echo far above in the darkness and a gentle breeze passes over him towards the river. Insects buzz and click while the soft scrape of feet shuffle out of view. Both cloudy and black eyes peer from the darkness, but maintain distance. His shaking sinks him deeper into the depression, affording him minimal cover as bits of moss settle over him.

A terrified, confused, and fractured acorn succumbed to exhausted sleep.