How the Jade Tree Becameth...

It is I Darlantan once again. Except I am on site observing the disturbance in the Great Desert. The following are contributions that I will offer on my experiences.

It is the year 3 NW?, Year of the Bufflo: Sixth tenday of the summer season.

"I hath arrived and the my escort hath set the wagon camp up nearby. Darius, another aspiring scribe hath come with me to observe while I am asleep. Even the monetary peoples have shifts.

I can see the tree from a half mile off. I must admit to it's greatness. Not only does it's size seem immense, but it also has great control of the land. The feel of the soil has a vibrancy to it. Almost as if life itself is of another level than the gods hath created it here.

Something is wrong, but something is also right here in this land of what once was desolation. The desert, yes, is still made of many granuals of grey sand and littered rocks, but it holds a slight green hue as well. Almost as if spring were about to dawn here in the summer. Strange, yes, but we will see as the evening turns to night and then into morning. Then our epic will be told."

Signing off...

Darlantan-"Chief Recorder of All and of Nothing."

It is the year 3 NW?, Year of the Bufflo: Sixth tenday of the summer season.
"Tis morning. I have broken fast and now put out the fire. The sun is rising and a beautiful day seems to be coming. The heat is immense already, yet there is a breeze that soothes the heat. I can still see the Great Tree from here, but it is easier seen in the evening. The hot sunlight and the waves created from it have warped the tree's appearance.

We have packed our materials and I write even now as we travel. This spell that the great God OmnuS hath given me has created the best effect in my book. It allows for me to write uninhibited while travelling. Bumps can create the biggest ink blots. This land is rough as well. The overattures of soft sand and strewn rock cause it to be bumpy.

At long last we made it. The sun is high and the whole scene is amazing to even myself. The tree is tremendous! I have never seen an oak this grande! It is by far the largest tree I have ever seen. It is a mix of warbled colors. Greens, pale beiges, and a little grey added to it. A guess that it is jaden, much like the crafts of the elven cultures. On it's front, there is this face much like that of a young woman. It appears asleep, but no telling what fear it carries when it awakens. It reminds me of the Treant type creatures much further north of us.

There appears to be an immense power emitting from the Jaden Tree as well. It feels magical in force, but natural in it's aura. I can see why this creation can be fearsome. I wonder yet, what even the gods think about this creature.

As my scribe had described before there are several sprouts coming from the rear of the tree. Somewhat cultivated patterns hold the tiny little greens. Working the area around the tree and the cultivated area are robed figures in the same warbled green colors of the Jade tree. How they repeated this pattern in weaving is beyond my own knowledge. I will look into this further as well.

The grey sand surrounding me again holds that slight green hue of spring. Even the hot sun is blocked out by the Jaden Tree. It's shadows seem to stretch over the region to create it's own tempretures. Odd, yet, it is somewhat serine.

The smells are nil, there is no smell in the air, which is very strange. There are many creatures here as well. Many of which I have never seen before in my long career of recording. I will have to send for my chronicler. It is obvious I need much help here."

Time for lunch. Sighning off once again...

Darlantan-"Chief Recorder of All and of Nothing."

Looking about the scene around him, Darlantan notices the chaos among the serenity of the area. The desert used to be so pristine. Now amidst all this activity, it appears like a blizzard struck the forest unnoticed. A kiniving character could make well this situation. Exploiting the attraction for money.

Turning back to the matter at hand, he glances at his book and tumbles the last bit of crumbs into his mouth. Cheese sandwiches have always been his favorite.

The book opens with hands heavily worked by the ages. Chewing his last bit of crumbs, Darlantan glances at the man standing before him. He waves a piece of parchment in front of Darlantan beckoning. Grasping it, he smiles at the man and signs the parchment.

"A week nothing more. Godspeed. We need his abilities soon. These creatures will not be here forever."

The man smiles a toothy grin and turns to the west and jumps upon a beautiful white desert horse. Soon they are long gone.

Turning back to the open book, he looks within and the world changes.

It is the year 3 NW?, Year of the Bufflo: Sixth tenday of the summer season.

"I hath just signed the requisition from the library for sources on animal life of years past seeking resemblences. The message also contains a message for Harken to come and order these new beings into descriptions and category. Should be soon that he arrives.

The life around here is strange. Whenever I find something of beauty, I find something I despise within it's reach. As I walked more around the area, I hath found such oddities. A pair of enveloping roses twisting in an archway of volcanic anomalty. As I scuttled more inches, I stepped onto the vine of a venus flytrap of enormous size and the consequence was rather encumbering. It took nearly an hour to peel it off. Thus the lengthy time of my absence. Creatures of beauty and ugliness in this serene, yet abrupt environment. There is balance here. I fear for my friends high above."

Until next time...

Darlantan-"Chief Recorder of All and of Nothing."

It is the year 3 NW?, Year of the Bufflo: Sixth tenday of the summer season.
Darlantan jumps to the book with eagerness. He picks up the quill and begins penning.

"Something hath occured that I never predicted this evening. The Jaden Tree came to life. A face surfaced upon it's trunk as I came within ninety paces of it. Of course there were guards within the Jaden robes by it, but it showed it's face. The face of a young woman. It was warm, yet distinctly cool at the same time. The face turned to me and spoke.

'Darlantan. OmnuS's lackey of sorts, welcome. I am glad you have come, for written history is the most important. What if I am not here centuries down the road? Would the peoples of the future, not know the consequence that is me? Exactly! You my scribble happy friend are free to continue your workings around here. I will permit you to walk freely of the grounds and my children behind me.'

A branch gestures behind the Tree of Jade. The destitute desert has been transformed into a nursery plantation of little Jaden Sprouts. Interesting yes, but intensely frightening. I concerned that it new my name as well.

Turning back to me, the face of the tree smiled, then turned quite stern.

'Damage any of the children and you will be dealt with accordingly. Now, I want to meet with you in two days time when your companion arrives. We will discuss such things then. Come to me this time then.'

The fact the tree new these things concerns me greatly. If she knows these things, is she not omniscient?

The face on the tree has disappeared and the branches have stilled.

This will be interesting indeed, but fearful as well. Pray OmnuS has a plan."

Darlantan-"Chief Recorder of All and of Nothing."

I pen a small annotation here this morning because my chief recorder of living species hath arrived.

It is the year 3 NW?, Year of the Bufflo: Seventh tenday of the summer season.

Harken showed with speed and with a bright smile on his face. The welcome company was good for a change. The young acolyte I carry with can tend to be beyond my age. I hath forgotten to be a youth.

Harken has also brought a small cart full of the requested items I sent for. A small protective chest envelopes the older manuscripts so that I can make use of it and it's probabilities. His own chest is quite large and full of many tasking items I am sure. But thus is the job of one so involved with new species research. Recently there has been a rash of new species popping up in areas around this world. This is the home of many as I have seen.

Later this eve, we go to investigate the possibilities of nocturnal species.

Darlantan-"Chief Recorder of All and of Nothing."

It is the year 3 NW?, Year of the Bufflo: Seventh tenday of the summer season.
It is evening and we walk the grounds to investigate this new desert of wonders. Already we have had a chance to observe plant species normally not of this region, but somehow, rains have propegated these species here. Harken thinks the wind may be involved as well. Wind has been known to carry species of seeds throughout the world we know. I think his theory has ground, but it is certainly not all of the story.

So we are here to catalog species as I sit and write what we are ovserving with my favorite quill. Harken is being followed by the acolyte to help carry the materials he needs while he records what is seen.

Harken bends over and hums one of his tunes and then 'hmmms' aloud. He stares at a small weedlike vestation sprouting from the ground. It appears simple, yet I am sure there is more to it since Harken stares at it deeply. What say this is I think. Harken sees a small pair of ants walk by the plant as we consider the possibilities. Suddenly two greenish type roots spring from the sand and grasp one of the two ants. It's leafy fingers, close about the insect and begins tearing it appart with what appears to be mandibles.

"It's an insect by the gods!"

As it finishes it's meal it picks up and scuttles away on two very leafy looking legs. Both myself and Harken stare in awe at this creation. The acolyte, steps back and swears names we have never heard of. He is deathly fearsome of things that remind him of spiders.

Harken stays and records what he sees for some time and then we move on...

Darlantan-"Chief Recorder of All and of Nothing."

It is the year 3 NW?, Year of the Bufflo: Seventh tenday of the summer season.
Alas we move onward, yet Harken suddenly stops again.

"Where is this venus flytrap you so avidly described in your letter?"

Smiling at his companion, he remembers that Harken never forgets a detail.

"This way my friend."

Leading the way through a pair of fire rose bushes, my thoughts drift onward about these anomalities. The life is so strange in these parts since we last were here. The desert as can be remembered was quite barren and devoid of any such vegetaion. Well, except for occasional tumbleweed that rolled by, the place was visibly lifeless. Even the land, so barren, has it's surprises. Lizards, insects, and snakes of all kinds lived hear then. Word of a specialized bird came to me during that trek. It was some sort of bird that fanned itself in holes below the volcanic rocks in the sand. The Bowringer it was called. Yet, all these animals seem to have disappeared away from my own vision. A hand reached out caught me in the chest and took me out of my reverie.

"Whoa! That is the largest ever I have seen!" Harken shouts as he pulls his hand away from me.

"Why, it is big enough to entangle a man and eat a large cat."

Harken refers to the flytrap we founded days back. Apparently, it likes to eat, for it has grown an extra quarter it's original size. Even my own thoughts are surprised at this. Surely there is a limit to size.

Harken stands a moment gazing before pulling out his record books once again to record a creature of such enormous proportion. Standing much further back, we gaze at it's slighted features. It's greenish hue has been shed for more of a natural color inherent to the desert. A greenish grey envelopes it's body as the base coloring. Streaks of magenta surround it's massive jaws. Vines close to fifteen feet in length tossel about it's base. Three large leaves, the size of great shield shoot out from underneath and behind it's body. Thank the gods it has no feet and there is only one!

A half a day we spend researching every angel of the creature. Harken speaks of painting it's visage, but I have not the funds presently to send for the library's lone visual painter. He is very good, but it would take me yet a second and third trip to get everything we want from this experience.

"Sorry friend. Now is not the time for such. Take what you can and we'll come back once again for other things. Let us move onward. I have heard of so many new beings here. I even plan to reward myself a study of this druidic faith developing here."

Nodding, Harken understands his leader's ascent and packs his things. We move onward as stated.

Darlantan-"Chief Recorder of All and of Nothing."