View source for Trees of River Crossing (book)

The Trees of River Crossing<br />
--------------------------- 
 
1.  Introduction<br />
2.  The Forests of Zoluren<br />
3.  Trees used in Industry<br />
4.  Our Gardens and Boulevards<br />
5.  Trees in History<br />
6.  About the Authors<br />
7.  Afterword<br />


::::::1.  INTRODUCTION 

The Province of Zoluren is blessed with an abundance of beautiful, 
valuable and useful trees of many different varieties.

Our children climb them, our homes and weapons are built from 
their wood, and we eat their fruits and nuts.  They shelter us 
from danger in times of need.

In this book, a collaborative work, we the authors hope to present 
a compelling picture of the forests, the orchards, the gardens and 
the boulevards of the River Crossing area.  We hope to show the 
importance of trees to our hearts and souls, as well as to our 
industries.  And we hope to show that trees have an important part 
in history, both as witnesses to it and as actors in it.

This volume will concentrate upon the Crossing itself, the areas 
to the north and west of the city, as well as the forests lying 
immediately to the south.  Unfortunately it would not be possible 
to do justice to Leth Deriel in a book primarily about the trees 
of the Crossing area.  Therefore we must regrettably leave that 
subject for another time.


::::::2.  THE FORESTS OF ZOLUREN 

TO THE WEST

Extending from the western gate of the Crossing into the Mycthen-
gelde is a wooded area of wyndewood, oak, cedar and juniper trees 
in bunched groves broken by grassed areas of wildflowers.  Farther 
west and north lies an arid plain.  Just as the Crossing 
disappears from sight behind the trees, one stumbles across a 
little hollow containing a lake surrounded by trees with metal-
bearing leaves.  Such are described in detail in "Notes on the 
Mineral Bearing Trees" by Moonshadow Palantiri.
To the southwest of that, beyond a row of alders, lies Siergelde's 
Meek, an area so heavily forested the trunks and limbs nearly blot 
out the sky and humidity drips from every leaf.  Flowering red 
vines grow upon the trees, climbing above a dense ground cover of 
foliage and wildflowers.  This is the wondrous sight that greets 
those who make their pilgrimage to seek the favor of the gods atop 
the cliffs in that area.

More directly west of the Crossing, one travels through a broad 
grasslands first then encounters forest.  Hemlocks mark the trans-
ition, followed by thorn trees, willows, bamboo (technically a 
large grass) and pine.  Cut through by a babbling brook, the 
forest resumes anew on the other side, its tall trees silver-grey- 
leaved and pebble-barked, home to cougars, foxes and the occa-
sional exploring young ogre.

TO THE NORTH

The northernmost gate of the Crossing lies in dilapidated ruin, 
little more than a crumbling arch.  There is no evidence that any 
foul play was involved, only a gradual decline due to lack of use 
or attention.  Immediately beyond the walls a thick pine forest 
has grown, though farmlands still lie past that.  Other trees out 
the northern arch include oaks, laurels, white birch and sourwood.

On the Northern Trade Road, one travels through a series of farm-
lands, grasslands and varied degrees of forest made up mostly of 
pine and deobar.  Approaching the volcanic area near the Greater 
Fist most of the trees appear to have been damaged or killed by 
fire, being little more than burnt stumps or bowed shapes under 
heaps of ash.  A band of forest between this area and the healthy 
forest to the south appears oddly sickened, perhaps by proximity 
to the large number of undead beasts found in the area.

TO THE EAST

A quiet path extends eastward from Crossing's northeast gate, 
entering a deep forest.  While it is mostly made up of pine, this 
forest's thick needle bedding and loamy soil are also home to 
blackwoods, oaks and aesaigo trees.

Between the northeast and east gates, along the east wall of the
city, lies a forested area of mostly poplar and deobar.  Further
east, however, are the Middens slums, which, whatever they may have
been before, are mainly mud and refuse now with very few trees.

TO THE SOUTH

The Crossing's southern border is the Segoltha River, beyond which 
a floodplain extends east and west.  South of that lies the Endrus 
Forest, which surrounds the Elven stronghold of Leth Deriel.

The northern edge of the Endrus Forest is made up of oak, beech 
and whitethorn with a thick, prickly underbrush.  As one travels 
farther south the Endrus becomes extremely dense, with old growth 
oak, pine, deobar, sana'ati, ironwood, rowan, vedda and remeka 
trees.  At one point off to the east-northeast one can see a 
section of unnervingly twisted and blackened trees in the 
distance.  This is the Forest of Night, home to Blood Dryads, 
Blood Nyads and Death Spirits.

The outskirts of the Leth Deriel area are marked by a prolif-
eration of purposely planted exotic trees of all types, many 
growing outside of their natural habitat in perfect health.


::::::3.  TREES USED IN INDUSTRY

The most important woods harvested for industry in Zoluren prov-
ince are yew, elm, ebony, birch, willow, oak, maple and ash.  Oak 
in particular has been a mainstay, as the wood of choice for the
fitting out of most home interiors, and is often seen in public works
such as bridges and park benches around the Crossing.  Also import- 
ant are fir, spruce, pine, hickory, apple, cherry and alder.

Cedar, walnut and deobar have also been important in the past, 
though they are currently much more difficult to obtain in Zoluren 
than they once were.  This is due to a variety of factors which 
might include overharvesting, difficulty of physical access, 
protected status or the availability of cheaper imports.

Silverwood, rosewood, redwood, osage, mistwood, mahogany, copper-
wood and bloodwood have not seen major harvesting in Zoluren due 
to rarity.

While it would be impossible to go into the entire extent to which 
native woods are used in industry in Zoluren, here is an overview:

HOME CONSTRUCTION

Lower class housing in the Crossing area reflects the roots of 
both our relationship with the forests and the architecture of our 
cities.  The best-built of these little houses are properly framed 
with wood shingling on top.  Others are constructed of logs, if 
skill is short to hand but labor is in ready supply.  Locally 
available woods such as yew, pine, fir, birch or poplar are most 
commonly seen.  (The so-called "olivewood" sometimes found on such 
houses is no such thing, but in fact local logs of various types 
that have turned olive-green after being treated).  Alas, for 
those with extremely limited resources, mud and twig structures 
such as those along Goodthwaite Pike may be all that is possible, 
or at worst case the boughs of trees arranged into the rudest of 
shelters.

Whether cozy and snug or knotty and rustic, the homes of the 
middle class in the Crossing area tend to be of considerably 
better construction than those of the lower classes.  Again they 
use local woods for their planks, half-timbers and logs -- typi-
cally oak, pine, yew, cedar, fir, maple or hickory.  Doors and 
casings may be of the same woods or of locally obtainable ash, 
walnut, willow, myrtle or laurel.  The more well-to-do might 
display a front door of a more difficult to obtain wood instead, 
such as teak or burl olivewood.

Within the Crossing itself, the urban middle class are more likely 
to live in homes of block or stucco construction, but you will 
still find those with trim, shingling or half-timbers of local 
cedar, oak, pine, yew or hickory.  The doors of such houses and 
apartments echo those of their rural cousins in the types of woods 
used, but are much more likely to be painted bright colors and 
sport brass, bronze, or copper trim.

The gated manors of the Crossing's most elite citizens are most 
often constructed of stone or brick for a lasting impression and 
increased permanence.  Even so you might find shingling of oak and 
ash, as hardwood shingles can last upward of fifty years with proper 
care.  Elegant gables of local ebony, cedar, oak and walnut are 
also seen.  Gables of cypress, mahogany or teak, however, will 
have been made from imported wood.  Doors on Crossing's upper 
class domiciles are ostentatious, utilizing such exotics as 
rosewood, sandalwood, silkwood, holly oak or pear and displaying 
ornate workmanship in the form of fine metal and stone inlays.
Middle class homes regardless of location are typically finished 
out with walls, flooring and window-casings of local oak, pine, 
maple, walnut, beechwood, ebony or blackwood.

While upper class homes may be finished out with local woods, 
there are also sawmills that import logs of exotic flamewood, 
copperwood, satinwood, mahogany and rosewood in order to be able 
to produce walls, flooring and window framing of these materials 
for sale in local housing shops in the Crossing.

As a note, some also choose to use a living tree as the home 
itself.  This is not seen so commonly in the Crossing area as it 
is farther south in Leth Deriel, but one might see a few examples 
of tree-houses along the Southern Trade Road and on the training 
fields of the Mews.

HOME FURNISHINGS

Tables and chairs of maple, oak, cherry, ebony, birch, walnut, 
beech, silverwillow and wicker are locally produced.  Those of 
flamewood, copperwood, satinwood, mahogany or rosewood that are 
sold locally may have been made here but would need to have come 
from imported wood.

Most furniture in the houses of River Crossing has been purchased 
abroad, although some of it might well be constructed of Zoluren-
exported lumber -- particularly furniture of yew, elm, ebony, 
birch, willow or wicker, oak, maple and ash.

FIREWOOD

Firewood is readily gathered in the Crossing area and such gather-
ing is a primary form of income for those too poor or unskilled
to hunt their living with weapons.  Firewood is sold at the bazaar
in the central part of the Crossing, and no doubt spent all too
soon on debt repayment and the costs of daily life in the city.

Firewood also makes a ready source of heat during wintertime for 
those homes and businesses with hearths, and wood charcoal is the 
primary fuel for cook stoves in the Crossing area.

AGRICULTURE

Tree crops of the Crossing area include vreeland pears, cherries, 
sicle fruits, dwarf and Berengaria apples; juice apples, oranges 
and lemons; walnuts, chestnuts and other nuts; maple sugar and 
acanth bark.

DYES AND COLORS

The dyes used in the manufacture of clothing and other fabric, 
leather and wood products in the Crossing area utilize ingredients 
from many different local trees.  Orange dyes can be produced
with pear leaves, and brown dyes with wild plum root, oak bark,
sumac leaves, walnut hulls, juniper berries, or boiled acorns.
Cherries can be used to make pink dyes.  For blues and purples:
mulberries, elderberries, cherry roots, red cedar roots and red
maple inner bark.  For red dyes, various red leaves can be used,
as well as sumac fruit, chokecherries and dried hibiscus flowers.
For yellows and golds, willow leaves, sumac bark, osage wood,
salted hickory leaves,  White mulberry bark, apple tree bark and
pear tree bark have all been used.

WEAPON AND ARMOR CONSTRUCTION

Native woods are used as the hafts and hilts of many if not most 
weapons, from oaken axe handles and ironwood quarterstaffs to 
ebony-hilted daggers.  Wicker, made from the withies or drooping
narrow branches of willow trees, makes an excellent lightweight
protective shield or chest protection that is less of a hindrance
to some of the smaller races than leather armor would be.
Locally available maple, spruce and pine are considered sub-
standard for longbows and suitable only for the training of 
apprentices.  Cherry, oak, hickory, apple and elm of reasonable 
quality are available however, as well as fairly decent birch, 
fir, willow, ash and alder.  Pfanston Melgorn, a Human Ranger, now 
lives in Ilithi but originally apprenticed near the Crossing recalls
that the first truly good longbow he produced in his youth was
made from Alder.

The best materials available locally for the construction of bows 
and arrows are ebony and yew.  Unfortunately the most highly 
sought-after woods for longbow construction Elanthia-wide are not 
readily available anywhere near River Crossing, so local master 
bowyers must make long journeys should they desire to challenge 
themselves by building a weapon using, for example, copperwood or 
silverwood.

SHIPBUILDING AND MILITARY USES

Lumber is used extensively in the building of navy (and civilian) 
ships, including locally produced oak, spruce, fir and cedar and 
imported mahogany and teak.  Masts are typically made of ash, 
ironwood or teak.  In addition to the framing and planks of the 
ships themselves, large amounts of local lumber form the cradles, 
supports, scaffolding and jigs used in the shipyards during the 
building process.  Other military uses for local wood include 
guard shacks, wooden barricades and stockades, and the heavy bases 
of siege weapons such as onagers and ballistas.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Instrument-makers in River Crossing offer oak, maple, pine, 
willow, wyndwood, deobar, ebony, ash and ironwood instruments.  
Also available are rosewood and lunat, which in quantities small 
enough for the making of instruments were probably harvested in 
Zoluren as well.  The other major source of musical instrument 
production in the province of Zoluren is the Leth Deriel area, 
where more exotic woods are available in abundant supply.

HEALING PROPERTIES

Aside from the restful nature of trees' shade and beauty, much 
study has been made of the magical or alchemical healing 
properties of tree roots, bark, sap and leaves.  Sufil sap is 
well-known to aid in the healing of eye scratches.  Muljin sap 
helps with abdominal troubles.  Some also believe that apple bark 
tea is good for a sour stomach; willow bark tea for sore throats, 
colds and toothaches; white oak bark for bleeding gums; birch tree 
sap for cleaning wounds; and laurel leaves for sore joints.  
Linden leaves, flowers and fruits have been used to reduce 
inflammation and headache, for colds, and for anxiety and 
hysteria.  Alder bark is said to be good for insect bites.

"Flying trees", from seeds dropped by birds into high places such
as in other trees, are thought to have magical healing powers as 
well, and tribes once inhabiting the Endrus Forest would eat the 
bark of vedda trees, which provided a hallucinogenic effect.
There is good practical information about the healing properties 
of tree and herb parts in "Healing Reagents" by Baishir and 
Bashrah Almi.

HOLY USES

Clerics use wood of various types in the carving of devotional 
beads in the symbolic animal shapes of the different gods.  Some 
woods are more diff0 icult than others to use for this purpose, so 
the initiate clerics use pine, maple or scrapwood while ebony is 
reserved for those with greater skill.

Wood is also found in the construction of some altars, such as the 
dark wood altar in the Crossing Cleric Guild's chapel, or the 
small sandalwood altar in the Shrine of Thought on the Crossing 
temple's Iris Rim.  Crossing's great temple is built mainly of 
stone but uses mahogany extensively in its flooring and seating, 
and its grand staircase features a silverwood banister carved to 
resemble a flowing stream.

There is a wiir tree on the Northern Trade road purported to be 
used in a Clerical ritual.  Sometimes a sirese flower can be 
spotted growing at its base, due no doubt to seeds of this holy 
flower clinging to the vestments of those come to visit the tree.

MAGICAL USES

Warrior Mages use wood for the carving of the talisman with which 
they summon their animal familiars from the elemental planes.  For 
this reason there are special trees to which the mages travel in 
the course of their studies, at least two of which, a fir and a 
sanrisi tree, can be found in the Crossing area.

Moon Mages also use carved woods in their work with magical 
devices, most notably the making of burin handles, usually of oak. 

OTHER USES

As mentioned before, the extent to which tree woods, leaves, roots 
and fruits pervade our lives would be impossible to describe in 
full in a single chapter.  Furniture, baskets and trellises come 
from trees, as do brooms, boxes and whistles.  Hickory and walnut 
wood smoke our foods.  Fir needles scent our soaps.  Cherry leaves 
and sassafras roots flavor our teas.  Tree fruits fill our tarts 
and pies.  Tree saps are used as adhesives and sealants on 
everything from boats to toys.  Our ales are aged in kegs of oak 
and alder.  It would not be an exaggeration to say that everything 
we have today, we owe to the versatility and usefulness of the 
noble tree.


::::::4.  OUR GARDENS AND BOULEVARDS 

The west side of the town of Crossing is almost without trees, 
perhaps because of the lower class and more industrial nature of 
that part of the city.  However the east end is remarkably lush.

THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF THE CROSSING

Trees provide an important calming and meditative effect, so 
perhaps it is no surprise that some of the oldest, most numerous 
and most developed tree areas in the Crossing are clustered near 
houses.  The Gull's View Terrace and Riverpine Circle housing 
areas in the southeast quarter are forested with many tall cedars 
and pines, lending these neighborhoods a peaceful, shady 
atmosphere and the scent of these fragrant trees.  The earth 
between the houses is covered with pine needles, ferns, dark green 
mosses and river stones, giving a pleasant impression of deep 
forest though it is in reality only steps away from the center of 
town.  Closest to the shore of the Segoltha river, the trees are 
stunted and twisted into shapes by the forces of the river and 
weather, giving an entirely different feel to the urban forest.

Not far from there, in the same part of town, is a tiny garden at 
Tamsine's Rest -- a shrine to the Crossing's patron goddess.  
Sicle saplings surround the shrine itself, while the tea garden 
contains a red maple tree used in remembrance rituals.

On Immortal's Approach near the entrance to the Crossing's main 
temple, cherry trees in carved stone planters line the road.

TOWN CENTER

The campus of Asemath Academy is beautifully landscaped with woods 
and flowers, its trees having been subtly lifesculpted to bring 
each garden arrangement into perfect harmony.  According to Nuark 
Craylys, a Mentor and Elothean Empath, the lifesculpting also aids 
in readying students' minds for success in their studies.

Not far from there the residential neighborhood of Smithy Lane 
opens out behind the armor shop.  The narrow cobbled lane wends 
between neat cottages and tall trees can be found throughout: 
fast-growing aspens, silverwillows, and weeping willows, along 
with quite a few older mature oaks.

Lunat Shade Road, the site of Crossing's Town Hall, is lined with 
stately Lunat trees donated by the city's richest merchants to 
beautify the town.  The trees continue west to border the south 
side of the Town Green.

An ancient oak tree is planted in the northeast corner of the Town 
Green, shading a water trough and bench.  Commander Worrclan 
Deathadder, a rather gruff Dwarf whose interest in trees initially 
appeared to revolve around which woods are good for ale-aging 
kegs, turned out to have a great knowledge of the history of the 
Crossing area.  He said he remembered the tree when it was a 
sapling, and that it had been planted there by an Emperor whose 
name he seemed to have mislaid.  It was placed there, he said, in 
order to have some more green in such a large city.  A young oak 
tree in the southeast corner of the Green appears to have been 
planted much more recently.

Not far from there is the Midton Circle housing area, a quiet 
neighborhood of cottage style housing that is home to many mature 
oaks and maples as well as a large, centrally located apple tree.

THE NORTHEAST QUARTER

Flamethorn Way is another treed avenue.  The scarlet-leaved trees 
lining this road are just one of several demonstrations throughout 
town that the Crossing, unlike some other municipalities, allows 
the planting of thorn-trees on public boulevards.

A covered alley connects Flamethorn Way to Truffenyi place, where 
vigorous stands of sicle trees crowd the intersection and line 
both sides of the road.  Sicle trees also grace the courtyard of 
the Cleric's Guild nearby, and the aptly-named Sicle Grove Lane 
that joins Truffenyi to the property of the Ranger Guild.  The 
Ranger Guild itself is located in a grove of wild pine.

In the northernmost part of town, Eylhaar Bane Road becomes 
Gildleaf Circle, so-named because of its shrubs with gold-bearing 
leaves, but this road is also lined with ornamental fruit trees
near the gate of Jadewater Mansion, home of the Mentor Society.

On the Jadewater west lawn, an ancient Mimosa tree shelters a 
seating area, and a winding path leads away through more shade 
trees.  At the other end of the lawn, a ring of redwoods encircling
a firepit provides another spot for students to sit and learn.

Also off Eylhaar is the Alhamara Arch, leadomg to the exclusive
neighborhood of Fayl'Shar Court.  Inside, Baluster Boulevard is 
broad, lined with mature copperleaf trees and shaded estates.  A 
big oak at the end of the boulevard shelters a quiet seating area.

From there, Goldstone Square opens up, with several arches each 
leading into a different section of the impressive Goldstone 
Arboretum.  The Ban-Minahle, Tulvora and Peregan arches are so-
named for the rare trees of those types planted next to each.  Two 
splendid fir trees stand near a statue also found on the Square.
The extensive Empath Garden and housing area at Willow Walk has a 
number of trees among its specimens.  Willow Walk is named after 
an enormous Weeping willow that towers protectively over the end 
nearest to the guild itself, and there are two smaller weeping 
willows located either side of the gate.  An ancient sugar maple 
has had its bark lifesculpted to represent a unicorn.  The garden 
is also home to cherry trees, lindens and silverwillows.

IN THE AREAS SURROUNDING

At the altar in Siergelde's Regard, the original buildings are in 
ruins.  Nothing is left of them but an arch and some rocks.  How-
ever, there also remain two giant juniper trees on either side 
of the arch, apparently planted long ago when the building was a 
thriving temple or other center of activity.

The grounds of Zoluren's Royal Mews, out of town on the north 
side, are laid out formally with rosebushes and stately gravel 
walks.  Tall boxwood trees line the main path, and a ring of oaks 
surrounds the jousting area.  Curiously enough, a couple of tree 
houses can be found on the training field, home to a lucky few.

ARTHE DALE

Flowering and fruiting trees abound in Arthe Dale, the Halfling 
population of which favors planting food-bearing and colorful 
crops along the roads.  The main road, Taffelberry Path, is lined
on both sides with sicle trees, and nearby Apple Blossom 
Lane alternates sections of apples and cherries.  Farther back on 
Apple Blossom Lane are stands of tall poplars and firs and a pond 
surrounded by weeping willows.

The Berry Knolls neighborhood is dominated by oak trees, some 
quite massive.  One yard contains a curious sight: a boysenberry 
trained to grow in tree form, with its branches trailing down.

Arthe Dale is also known for the giant oak tree on its public 
green, from which young people enjoy diving into a swimming hole.

KAERNA VILLAGE

Near the village well, a copse of oak and aspen trees surrounds 
the path.  Back in the housing areas, neatly trimmed hedges of 
hawthorn and beech and small firs and poplars planted in buckets 
give the impression of in-town living, despite being surrounded by 
deep forest all around.

A WORD ABOUT LETH DERIEL

A book of this length, focussed on the Crossing area, cannot
do justice to the wonder that is Leth Deriel.  However, something
of it is included here so that readers may see if their interest 
is piqued and, if so, perhaps investigate further on their own.

Leth is filled with and surrounded by trees.  The heart of the 
town of Leth Deriel is a massive Sana'ati tree known as the 
Sana'ati Dyaus.  Its limbs and roots glows with phosphorescence as 
do the veins of the leaves, illuminating the area below it.  
Oramiwe Tasare, a Forest Elf, explained that the tree was origin-
ally a fortress for her ancestors.  This would have been at least
six thousand and possibly as long as ten thousand years ago.

As Leth was built up around it, the tree's function changed and it 
now houses the mayor's office, a public meeting hall and the debt 
repayment office.

The Sana'ati Dyaus is far from the only tree of importance in 
Leth; in fact, an entire volume could be written on the subject.  
The Alder Bower Gate, through which travelers from the Crossing 
first enter Leth Deriel, is formed entirely of living alders.


::::::5.  TREES IN HISTORY

THE VREELAND PRYDE

Vreeland pear trees are grown in domestication out the west gate 
of the Crossings.  There is one particular specimen, however, that 
has quite a history behind it.  If you ever hear of 'the' Vreeland 
pear tree, this would be the one.  The tree in question is located 
in an agricultural grassland area currently overrun with goblins 
and hogs.  It is a notable landmark in the area, being exception-
ally large and leaning over in such a way that the trunk can be
easily climbed.  Once up inside, there is an excellent resting
place in the shady dome of the tree.

"Vreeland tree is home of my ancestors," said Cherone, a Mentor 
and Prydaen.  "We moved from Vreeland tree to a tree out north gate 
because of the constant attacks on our pryde.  That was when the 
elders still walked with us."

Worrclan related the story of his bear familiar having hunted down 
an enemy of Stone Clan to that tree during the Sorrow War.  That 
enemy was Darkensi, a Prydaen lieutenant to Lord Sorrow.  Because 
of an oath they had rendered to Darkensi, the Vreeland Pryde 
remained neutral during the Sorrow War.

In volume two, issue five of Waerd Aev, Farrowlin Pasant writes 
about the Pryde in an article titled "Interview with the 
Vreeland".  In this interview, which took place in a tree in the 
Brambles area out the north gate, the Pryde's leader at the time 
described the purpose of the group thusly: "To keep the old 
traditions of our western lands alive, and to never forget our 
true history as a race."

Although it no longer contains the Pryde, the Vreeland pear tree 
is good  for climbing and has a safe place to sit above while 
escaping the ravages of the goblins below.

THE PIRATE TREE

In southeast Crossing, the Strand extends along the water's edge. 
It is a ritzy area of Estate Holder vacation spots and sandy
beaches.  One of the most striking landmarks in the area is an 
enormous banyan tree split down the center by a large rock.

Banyan trees, a type of strangler fig, are fertilized by fig-
pollen-covered gall wasps that climb inside of the flowers and die 
there after laying their own eggs.  Trader Ahnoui, a merchant who 
has long run a stall in the bazaar tents of the Crossings, spoke 
earnestly on the subject of figs.  "Half the time when we eat them 
and crunch on what we think are their seeds, they are really bug 
pieces," she explained.

The fruits are eaten by birds as well, which then drop the seeds 
while flying overhead.  The seeds grow wherever they fall, even on 
top of rocks or in the clefts of other trees.  From there the new 
tree extends its roots downward to the ground, until the host tree 
or other object is completely enclosed.  So the sight of a boulder 
suspended in mid-air by the roots of a banyan tree isn't exactly 
unheard of.

The particular tree on the Strand, however, did not come by its 
giant rock through the usual means.  The wood is splintered and 
damaged all around the boulder, as if by a great impact, and pieces 
of the tree are dying from the blow.

Sortny, another Trader with a long history in the area, explained 
that pirates did that damage with a ship-mounted mangonel.  Accord- 
ing to her, the boulders that rained down also destroyed a nearby
resort cabin killing two honeymooners.  After the bombardment,
their leader Jourok led a crew of cutthroats through the city.

Jourok is a Red Sash pirate who appears quite often in Crossing 
history -- and not in a good way.  Rather, he's usually found 
connected with pirate invasions, sea battles, loss of large pieces 
of public property and as the ally of other attackers.  Markhor, a 
longtime resident of the Crossing area who has served military 
duty and belonged to the Lorethew Mentors at various times in his 
life, commented that it was pirate bombardment that damaged the 
old city temple, requiring the temporary use of a tent set up 
amongst the rubble.  According to Sortny the pirates also stole 
the Seerah, a ship which used to travel regularly between the 
Crossing and Ratha before the Skirr was commissioned.  The 
unfortunate Seerah is now in pieces on the shores of Ratha.  To 
those thinking of going to investigate the wreck, be aware it's 
reported to be full of ochre la'heke!

According to Ranger Pfanston, the incident in which the Banyan 
Tree was damaged was Crossing's first-ever encounter with Jourok.

A TALL FIR TREE

Not far outside the northeast gate of the Crossing lie the ruins 
of the old Warrior Mage guildhall, destroyed by fire.  A tall fir 
tree next to it was damaged by the fire, but lives to this day.

The ruins themselves are evidence of great events, for guildhalls 
are never destroyed by forces that are easily forgotten.  A great 
fire mage named Mibgluc was using a volcano to extort money, 
explained Worrclan Deathadder.  He summoned a great burst of lava 
and fire and it hit the tower.  The tree had been planted a bit 
before that and was still a sapling at the time.  Warrior mages, 
who use the bark from the tree to make fir talismans, were unable 
to get any bark off the tree for some time after the fires.

Mibgluc was also responsible for the destruction of Sicle Grove, a 
small town that once existed on the North Trade Road between 
Riverhaven and Dirge.  One of its residents, the empath Timothy 
Burrows, lost his mind when his home was reduced to swirling lava 
and dancing Fire Maidens, and he has wandered in confusion and
insanity ever since.

As for the fir tree, Worrclan witnessed its planting by an old 
Human teacher from Shard named Oxfre Pepel.  It was placed 
there specifically to aid War Mages in their work.  Accurate 
information on what to do with the fir bark once collected is 
difficult to come by.  Worrclan remembers knowing he was supposed 
to head south, but as to destination he'd heard every suggestion 
from Adan'f territory to the Ice Caverns.  After many days of 
living in Ilithi and searching in vain, he finally found his fir 
familiar -- only to lose it again almost immediately when the 
Outcast Raenilar invaded Shard.

LESSONS LEARNED

A nondescript fellow by the name of Arclest spoke up when we 
reached the Crossing's bustling northeast customs gate.  It seemed 
he too had a tale to tell, only this one was on a much more 
personal level.  He was speaking of first days in the Crossing, 
and said that a helpful person led him outside the gate and told 
him to "just search around here, look for hiding people and see if 
you can learn something."  He went about doing so and learned that 
he could point at folks hiding in the bushes and such.  At one 
point, however, he pointed someone hiding in the wrong tree and 
had his arm shot off by an arrow for his troubles.  "Been my 
experience not to point at people hidin' in trees," added Arclest.

Earlier in the tour, Galren Rippentropp had related a similar tale 
of experience learned.

"I was once bludgeoned to death with a maple limb by Portense 
years ago," he recounted.  "I had just learned Smite Foe -- this 
was during my Paladin days -- and I knew of Portense, but not much 
else about him.  I decided to test my luck and see if I could Halt 
him.  I was feeling mighty big just learning a new spell.  Though 
then you couldn't use such magic against other Paladins.  Well, 
needless to say, he dragged me out back and just smacked the 
daylights out of me.  He told me afterwards.  He said, 'Galren, 
the trick is to swing really hard.'  I just nodded in amazement".

THE OAK TREE IN ARTHE DALE

The giant oak tree standing alongside Arthe Dale's water hole has 
done a lot more than show young people how to climb and swim.  
Ranger Pfanston related how it had once saved his life.

"I woke up here and six line soldiers, three archers and a snaer 
hafwa were immediately advancing on me.  So I did what any 
intelligent Ranger would do: I climbed the tree.  To my great 
relief I found out the line soldiers and the hafwa could not a 
climb a tree."

Unbeknownst to Pfanston, the Gorbesh War had begun and Arthe Dale 
was already sacked.  He himself had awakened behind enemy lines.  
When he thought to ask on the gweths why there were Gorbesh in 
Arthe Dale, the response was immediate: he was joined up in the 
tree by what he describes as hundreds of War Mage familiars.

"Birds, cats, bears, gerbils, all asking me how I got there.  It's 
astonishing to think that tree survived all that weight!  Well, I 
did not have too long to chat with all them animals as the three 
archers were not so encumbered as the others and started to come 
up the tree one at a time.  Fortunately for me, I could barely 
handle an archer and getting 'em as they came up gave me the upper 
hand.  Soon there were three dead archers in the tree with me, 
including by this point 700-plus familiars."

It is unclear whether he meant literally seven hundred familiars 
or simply meant an impressive number.  Even more unclear is 
exactly what happened next:

"Well I woulda died up there but the owner of a certain shrine in 
Arthe Dale appeared and helped me to escape the town through a 
secret path to the outside world."

Was this a visitation from Glythtide himself?

Trader Sortny's life was also saved by an oak tree in Arthe Dale, 
but this was years later during the Outcast war, and the tree was 
a different large oak located on the Berry Knolls neighborhood 
green somewhat to the east.  She and several others spent nearly a 
half a year hiding at the base of the tree, sheltered by its 
limbs.  Since they were not strong enough fighters to harm the 
invaders, they kept quiet about where they were.  The Outcasts 
never thought to check for survivors there.

"I used to go out and see if I could spot people and let them know 
we were alive," she said.  "Mostly dragged in dead people."
Once the all clear was given, she said, they finally came out.

Pfanston was considerably older by the time of that war and no 
longer lived in the Arthe Dale area.  Even so, he found himself 
living under similar conditions.  "So few could fight 'em I think 
we only had three folks left in Shard."

The huge old oaks of Arthe Dale look peaceful and untroubled, but 
they have survived a lot.  "Gorbesh, Sorrow and Outcasts," said 
Pfanston.


THE HANGING TREE

Trees do not always survive the history that they have seen.  For 
a long time a hanging tree at the side of the North Trade Road 
existed for the execution of those so fated.  There was a platform 
under it where the doomed stood before they were hanged.

"I used to use that platform to hide many things," said Worrclan 
Deathadder.  "After the Outcasts were removed from Dirge, I stowed 
all their stores at that platform till Sortny here could sell them 
for me at the commodities pits."

Now, the platform is gone and all that remains of the hanging tree 
is a charred stump, the result of events surrounding the untimely 
death of one Lady Natashya.

"She was ...  controversial," said Markhor of Natashya.

"Natashya was one of the courtesans that lived in the Keep," said 
Rainea Rippentropp, a Zoluren citizen who was one of the first to 
come upon the scene at the time.  "She was frequently a guest of 
the Baron Gyfford as well."

"I met her once at a ball," said Sortny.

Worrclan grunted.  "She was an assassin hired by Lord Sorrow as 
well."

Markhor says, "The noblemen were quite fond of her -- the Baron, 
Prince Vorclaf.  Some suspected her of charming them.  We'll never 
know now though."

Rainea preferred not to speak of rumors about Natashya's life and 
deeds, but instead described the death itself.

"On a return journey from Theren, she was ambushed in this area 
and killed," Rainea explained.  A rescue was staged but the 
seemingly routine attempt to resurrect her was interrupted.  "Her 
corpse was in the [Crossing] Clerics' Guild area when she was 
dragged off by someone invisible.  Ruffians attacked as well.  A 
bunch of us, Exiar [Fyrethorne] and myself included, looked all 
over town for her."

The search soon led back to the same area where the body was 
originally found.  "Alrina, her handmaiden, was closer to Kaerna.  
She was a wreck and we couldn't get much out of her.  I ran a 
little further north and came to here to help someone who said 
they were being attacked by ruffians, and I saw her hanging from 
the tree."

Rainea glanced at the charred tree stump.  "I won't describe what 
I saw."

"Poor Alrina went mad with grief," said Markhor.

"Twando was in hiding here as well," said Rainea, referring to an 
assassin who had been known to be after Natashya for some time.  
"I remember he was killed by Quawl or Jhime."

Pfanston said, "Yep, was Quawl if I remember right."

Markhor says, "[Twando] torched her body.  So she couldn't be 
raised.  Later, said Markhor, Prince Vorclaf torched the tree."
Rainea says, "Aguisian painted a picture of the scene here.  As 
well as moon mages getting visions about this spot at the time.  
Visions were usually of fire and a bird."

The visions she referred to were particularly memorable because 
some of the Moon Mages themselves caught fire upon seeing them.
A bird was also seen around the time the tree was burned, but 
nobody had ever figured out what type of bird it was or what it 
had signified.

EVENTS WE HAVE FORGOTTEN

There are trees that bear the scars of things that have been 
forgotten to the history of the Races.  Some because the events 
were so terrible nobody could have survived.  Others, because 
those they happened to were unknown and all too soon forgotten.
On the Northern Trade Road there is one blackened tree among the 
others that bears a scrap of cloth.  After years of exposure it is 
almost illegible but it bears a scrawled warning apparently from 
someone who feared their life was lost, left for their lover to 
find later.  Perhaps it was never found for it remains there to 
this day fluttering in the wind.

Throughout the Southern Trade Route there are signs of trade and 
commerce both current and from years past: rest stop areas, old 
slaver camps, shrines, burned trees and various stumps and logs.  
One tree, evocative of the one on the North Trade Route, stands 
blasted by lightning and fire, bearing only the engravings of the 
initials "S.M.".

THE TREES OF RIVER CROSSING

Many other trees in the Crossing area and the areas surrounding, 
have stories to tell -- far too many to enclose in one book.

There is the black willow tree, alone in a copse of stark white 
birches on the Northwall Trail.  It saved the lives of Zoluren 
soldiers who climbed it after Lord Sorrow's forces cut them off.
There is the giant Felenor Pine tree of the Ranger guild, which 
was the only way to get troops into the Crossing to try to retake 
control after it was sacked by the Gorbesh.  Only with Ranger help 
could seasoned fighters be brought in, because a misstep on the 
Felenor Pine inevitably leads to a fall, and death from a broken 
back or neck.

There's the simple fallen poplar tree that provides passage over 
the mud and water between the north arch and the west gate and yet 
another, safer way into the Ranger guild.

And there is the gnarled Sanrisi tree on the dusty road to Dirge 
that sways and dances in accordance to its own inner wind.

We hope that you have been inspired to seek out the trees of River 
Crossing and see them for yourself, learn their stories and 
perhaps learn more of the history and lore of this place.


::::::6.  ABOUT THE AUTHORS

This was a collaborative work.  A broad range of people of all 
races, professions and backgrounds contributed.  Some had a 
longstanding relationship with trees and sought to join our tour 
out of an abiding interest:

"If I didn't know about trees I believe my family would disown 
me."  Oramiwe Tasare blushed, the tips of her ears turning a most 
intriguing scarlet hue.  "I'm also an herbalist and keenly 
interested in the medicinal properties of all plant life."
"My interest in trees started with making arrows for my homemade 
bow," said the Trader, Sortny Quartre-Plea.  "I could make some 
decent arrows." Her interests extend now to all the possibilities 
of what could be made and sold including instruments, ships and 
caravans, and smoked meats.

Others discovered us making our tour of the trees of River 
Crossing and decided to join in.  Exiar Fyrethorne was one of 
those who ran upon our group by accident and stayed to see what he 
could learn.  "The Prince needs to teach his soldiers to climb," 
he summarized afterward, "because most armies can't."

Bouillbhre said, "I only got on this tour because I was following 
my teacher, but I did start pondering about some thoughts of a 
more philosophical nature: how trees are commonly acknowledged as 
the symbol of life, yet they are often associated with death.  
From the weapon hafts and arrows we shape from them to gallows 
trees, to the fire that feasts on them as it brings havoc."

The Lorethew Mentor Society would like to thank all who 
contributed to this volume:

Ahnoui, Arclest, Barola, Bouillbhre, Breighton, Celendi, Chandore, 
Cherone, Esmian, Galren, Ivy, Katrinal, Leihr, Malzard, Markhor, 
Niaure, Nuark, Oramiwe, Pfanston, Rainea, Rigek, Rilendyr, 
Romeode, Ruephus, Sortny, Valkri, Valynn, Worrclan and many 
others.  Thank you.

Edited by Barola Rosama of the Lorethew Mentor Society.


::::::7.  Afterword 

"Mmm ...  smells like grandma." --Esmian, after hugging the ancient 
oak at Town Green Northeast

"Hey, show the trees some respect.  You know how they say you 
should respect your alders." --Markhor

"His jokes are so bad they're criminal.  They should have 
hemlocked up." --Markhor