Noirtisser

The Mother Tree

As travelers approach the dense forest of Sanctum Vitae, their eyes are drawn up to the monolithic tree that is as tall as the sky, the trunk as wide as a mountain, the clouds that swirl lazily around the canopy. In the center of the forest grows the Great Tree, Noirtisser. The histories don’t clearly state how the druids came to Noirtisser and used their magic to build a place for them to live, but as the centuries have gone by, the city has grown into a metropolis. The bark of the tree is as dark as night, with large crevices and pathways into the heart of the tree. Family’s build their homes, called Arbenoirs, into these crevices and Noirtisser has plant-based architects who can help shape the Mother Tree into the size and design as the proprietor desires. 

Noirtisser, while darkened and blackened on the outside, shines brightly on the inside. Proceeding into the heart of the tree there are illuminated golden veins that run throughout, the closer one is to the heart of Noirtisser, the more prominent the heart veins. The nobility long ago took up residence in the most illuminated areas of the tree, cultivating large homes near the heart of Noirtisser. The darker and less desirable locations of the tree host a variety of less-than-noble individuals. Those who have a heart for being connected with plants and earth, but have fallen upon tough times will live on the outer ring of the Mother Tree, those crevices more susceptible to the weather elements and a lack of a light source. 

The nobility hoard the brighter lit areas of the inner heart of Noirtisser greedily. Passing grandiose Arbenoirs from one generation to another. Pushing those less fortunate into the darker crevices has allowed for seedier individuals to conduct their business in the dim lit walkways. Caution is needed visiting the slums, as the Noirguard does not pay close enough attention to disperse a bar fight gone wrong. Throughout the darkened slums of Noirtisser a symbol of a circle with three small triangles surrounding it, symbolizing the group called the Convergence. The Convergence works on many threads in the background and all that is known is that they have powerful spellcasters and are brutal about getting what they want.

Before you can traverse the wide branches that act as the avenues from one Arbenoir to another, travelers have a long way to get to Noirtisser. In the shadow of the Great Tree’s canopy, the darkened forest presents many dangers for those who wander into the depths. Not only is the terrain difficult, the beasts fierce, but magic sometimes fails or just becomes wild in nature.* Travelers struggle to get to Noirtisser through Sanctum Vitae due to these dangers. The primary way to reach the World Tree is through the Transportation Circle at the Southern Outpost and the Ventes de Rhu that connects to Noirtisser.

Thousands of years ago, savvy druids and merchants established the Southern Outpost. This Outpost is now a hub of commerce and visitors. Airships and vehicles beyond a horse-drawn carriage always seem to malfunction as they enter the forest of Sanctum Vitae. A large airship dock and transportation circles are located at the Southern Outpost. After travelers depart from their ships or circles, they are surrounded by inns, restaurants, and businesses on the Ventes de Rhu. This mile long stretch is filled to the brim with hawkers, merchant carts, and shops. A traveler would be able to walk or take a carriage along the long street packed with commerce on either side. An observant passerby would notice that there is a tall, fortified wall behind the different shops with guards. The whole street is tastefully lit with various lanterns and magical twinkling lights, the canopy of Noirtisser shading the travelers and merchants from the tree is complete at this point. At the end of Ventes de Rhu is the most spectacular sight, as you are located at the base of Noirtisser and understand the full scope and size of this tree. 

At the base of Noirtisser is a grand invention of magic and nature, Ascenfeuille is its official name, but most just call it the Cosse. The technicians instruct travelers to step on a platform, and large leaves surround the party and a complex system of vines and pulleys will transport you to the desired location and elevation on the tree. As one lands at your destination, signets or carvings of Sonea-Paix and Vaikas set piously around the inner walkways of Noirtisser. 

Noirtisser runs on a council government with three seats comprising the Merchants, the Public Administrators, and the Nobility. Noirtisser does have a good number of laws that have been set by previous Triumvirates. Currently, these laws are upheld, but if you financially incentivize certain individuals they may look the other way. There is one exception: absolutely no fire. While the bark of Noirtisser is immune to normal flames, many items within the Arbenoirs are not.

The primary languages of Noirtisser are Common, Elvish, and Halfling, with other major languages being Sylvan, Gnomish, Undercommon, Primordial, Giant, and Common.

The Darkest Hour

In the year 8214 the mother tree faced it darkest hours, the very vitality of this seemingly eternal pillar of nature was put to the test. A seething darkness had been growing in the shadows for many centuries, occasionally violently striking out only to be thwarted each and every time, but the darkness was never truly removed. Targeting the taproots that held the great tree deep within the earth, an accursed blight bled through the golden veins throughout Noirtisser, dimming their illumination as the smoldering rot snaked its way to the very heart of the tree. Those who recall these events speak of the stars and moons themselves going out as the darkness enveloped Sanctum Vitae. The valiant efforts of many great heroes and the Order of Tempestuous Light, the darkness banished. Unfortunately, the blight had spread to far and many sections of the tree were plagued with an irreversible rot, the light of the heart of the mother tree waned as her many leaves withered and fell. The surrounding forests were not safe from the terrible costs, much of Sanctum Vitae withered and rot leaving a community in shambles. No one within Noirtisser was left untouched by the crisis.

As folks began to rebuild, the many druidic circles within the mother tree worked to remove the lingering blight. The people of Noirtisser struggled for decades and while there was a mass exodus, those left behind bound together to rebuild what had been lost. The oldest of the druidic circles, who still remembered tales of the mother tree when she was a sapling, sent their members into the world to seek out ancient wisdom. One tenacious druid returned after many years upon the back of a massive golden dragon. They were not alone, as the skies surrounding the mother tree glittered with the metallic scales of seven dragons. The leader of this cohort of dragons, Khysiruis the Gleaming Dawn, brought with them lost knowledge from ages long past to rid the mother tree of her rot. Khyrsiruis guided the druids of Noirtisser how to renourish and heal her roots, slowly bringing the light back to the mother tree’s heart. Over the next century, vitality was brought back to the great tree and the lives of her people returned to a sense of normalcy.

In acknowledgement of their great efforts in the revitalization of the mother tree, the dragons were offered a seat on the council. Khysiruis the Gleaming Dawn took the offer, officially becoming the fourth member of the council. The seven dragons who journeyed from the Shattered Crease to assist the mother tree have remained within her branches, some of the very first dragons seen in eons. While this was a decision that many folks agreed with, there many factions of folks who voice dissent at having a dragon on the city council, let alone have dragons living amongst them within the mother tree.

Blooming of the Mother Tree

A miraculous event shook the citizens of Noirtisser as the many branches of the mother tree that stretched across the sky bloomed. Never in living memory has the great tree bloomed, such an occurrence has not happened since before the Great Chill, causing the blooming to only be mentioned in the oldest of ballads sung by the druids. Beautiful yellow flowers fill the great tree’s canopy, at night they illuminate the sky with a soft golden light. In the last century the Sanctum Vitae has become lush and overflowing with natural magic. There are some druids within Noirtisser who see this as a sign of return to the ancient ways, but how long this bloom will last, no one knows.

Associated Factions:
The Convergence

Related Pages:

Gravitas (Nearby neighbor to Noirtisser and a close trading partner)

Shattered Crease (Dragon lands from which Khysiruis came from)