Locations/TheHideawayTree

The Hideaway Tree

by Kalisara

From the outside, this Manse appears to be merely a redwood tree - unusual in size, but not unheard of in the far Eastern forests. However, a part of the trunk is hollow - concealed by branches, an opening sized for a lithe human leads into a series of rooms connected by ladders and trapdoors. The rooms are spartan, and were even when the Manse was first used; luminous fungi provide soft light in the upper rooms, and ridges in the wood channel rain and dew into a conveniently placed fall down one side of the tree, but there are no other luxuries.

The hearthstone is embedded into the floor of the lowest room: it is a Stone of Forest Speech\\ (HearthStones/IkselamWood)

(The tree is moderately intelligent and will speak with the bearer of the hearthstone if it occurs to her to try, although it is unlikely to initiate a conversation. It does not particularly understand or care about the doings of humans, but it knows a great deal about the forest, and takes some interest in sorcery and the working of Essence. It can teach a few spells, if its pupil is very patient.)