Altheim Tree (OWLTH em)

Elven Trees

Altheim trees are, in a roundabout sort of way, descendants of Elder Tree, like the Umu Tree and Ama Tree. Altheim, however, are not natural, they were created by Elf in attempts to bring back the elder trees. These were the results of grafting living elder tree branches to Ama trees, in attempts to spawn a seed that would grow a new elder tree, or at the very least, new Ama and Umu trees. Though these experiments failed, Altheim were born. Unlike elder trees, whose seeds only grow Ama and Umu trees, and those trees which do not produce seeds for new life, Altheim seeds will birth new Altheim trees. A disappointing, but ultimately successful achievement for the elves involved.

Altheim trees grow best in temperate environments but can thrive in tropical regions as well. They will grow from twenty to forty feet on average. In Feywilds this can rise up to sixty to eighty feet for mature trees. Altheim, like the Umu and Ama, grew many trunks for a single seed. These will fuse together as they grew, sometimes branching out into extended limbs. As the tree grows its upper branches form a mushroom shaped canopy with dark green, wide leaves. When growing within a Feywild, Altheim would generate natural Nura lights in its upper branches, illuminating the forest around it. This will not happen with trees outside of Feywilds. Elves will guide the trunks and branches of an Altheim to radiate a wider canopy of light. They will also often encase the nura in glass casings to protect the orb and augment the light.

Altheim were first created in Zalpula when the elves of that nation attempted to regrow Karasaanu in the form of Kusran's Forest. Since then, the trees have spread to nearly every elven community of Ethae and beyond.