Gadanbalad
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Gadanbalad

Gadanbalad (elven Gadarnbaladr), is an immense world tree located on Greatstaff Island and an extremely sacred site to ancient elven tribes and to many druidic societies, including its guardians, the Old Path.

The tree is thousands of years old and is said to be the wisest living thing on Ädnas. Druids regard it as semi-deific in nature, though it has no overt ways of communication and is not known to move on its own.

It is said that Gadanbalad is the place where the Cianna hold their courts.

"The World Tree is a very large tree with widespread branches which are always green both in winter and summer. What kind of tree it is nobody knows. There is also a spring there where the druids are accustomed to perform sacrifices and to immerse a human being alive. As long as his body is not found, the request of the people will be fulfilled."

History


Origins

It is said that the tree was guarded by nine ogres in its infancy.

gadanbalad_elf.jpg
An elven depiction of the World Tree

Geography


Gadanbalad is truly massive, a huge trunk rising out of the island and holding a decent amount of land has emerged atop its gargantuan limbs. Trees, flora, and fauna are now verdantly spreading across the magical tree.

The majority of Gadanbalad's upper reaches is open forest and it resembles a mid-sized forested island. Because the tree is so full of life, herbs are numerous.

Imprisoned Evil


Chynghorfyntwr is an ancient evil that gnaws at the roots of Gadanbalad.

Precious Fruit


The Thrud Aeronen is the fruit that blossoms on the tree only once every three hundred years.

Warden Trees


A seedling from the world tree is called a Warden Tree, and is believed to defend the land its planted in from bad luck. Breaking a leaf or twig from the warden tree is considered a serious offence. The respect for the tree is so great that the family housing it can adopt a surname related to it, such as Linnæus, Lindelius and Almén. It is often believed that the fey of the yard live under the roots of the warden tree, and to them, one sacrifices treats to be freed from disease or bad luck.

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