Both the Bonsai (B-aw-th)

Both is a spirit of the Lyslure Woods in Western Eldurgrund. His manner of entry into the world is unknown, save that he is from the realm of "Falls," which lines the sliver of land where the planes of Summer and Winter meet. Legends say that he was initially a seedling that fell to Laminarum during The Empyrean Cascade , and like all spirits present during The Silence , he is now unable to return home. While the Lyslure was always a treacherous wood, the spirit began acting out prior to Laminarum's segregation from the Waters and Web, perhaps overcome with trepidation about the coming cataclysm. When the event concluded, Both was presumed dead, but he awoke from a hibernation 6 years after the planes closed off with a vengeance to wage. Any mortals who entered Both's oasis were said to come down with a fog of the mind that eclipsed their will to act. While most who seek his oasis disappear, those who are saved are typically found wandering the wood in poor condition. Any who escape do not regain their faculties until they have exited the Lyslure entirely. As for direct communication, none aside from the Eldursteries have communed with Both since before his hibernation. The Eldur Monks who manage to contact the divination spirit always bring tithes of collection, which he puts in a cave beneath his Bonsai.   Both has always expanded his collection of unique items, as it is his goal to collect one of "everything." Whether through tithes, direct capture, the trickery of travelers, or even the manipulation of wildlife, Both will take action to find specific baubles for his subterranean menagerie. One traveler's legend says that any ants within the Lyslure Woods are under his control, and if you see a line marching on, they are finding collectibles to bring to their master. There may be some validity to this, as you can often see swarms of ants carrying comparably large mundane items. Further, those carrying items are often seen moving toward the center of the wood, while those without are always seen walking to its margins.   The collection in question is for the purpose of divination. Such a robust set of unique items gives a plethora of opportunities to divine their future, history, and purpose, as well as serving as ingredients for rituals. In the year 1805 NG, Both was forced to undergo a transformation at the hands of J. B. Stalker, a forsaken Rembrandt. The transformation took the woody, but otherwise free-moving spirit and bound him to the body and mind of an Eldur Monk named Canaan. The dark ritual left the spirit with a mark of Canaan's mind and motivation but forcibly bound them irreversibly above the collector's cave (hence, Both the Bonsai). The transformation has left Both incapable of collecting items himself while also ordaining him with a purpose that had burdened Canaan over his career: the attainment of interplanar travel and reconnection of Laminarum to the greater universe.  

Canaan, Both, and the Bonsai

Eldur Monk Canaan had dedicated his career to the research of interplanar travel, which bloomed decades before The Silence . As Eldur Monks are the highest order in the monasteries, Canaan was the most influential member of his field (aside from a few notable Rembrandts). When the Silence halted interplanar research, Canaan was devastated and shifted his career toward the reversal of the actions that segregated Laminarum. Unfortunately, he had already been in his old age when the silence occurred, and the stress of his life's research being wasted only worsened his condition. At the age of 87 when the planes were shut out, Canaan had little time to lose. To continue his research and fix what the Company of Fools had wrought, he would need to achieve a longer life. The only individual at the time capable of such an achievement was presumed to be J. B. Stalker, a Rembrandt that still openly lived in Fjordstrond. The man's taboo work with the Osman family was well recorded, but he had not yet dedicated himself entirely to aberrant work from the shadows. Without any incoming work due to recent controversy, Stalker was enthusiastic to travel to the Eldursteries and assist such a renowned monk.   Stalker had already achieved prolonged life himself but refused to elaborate on his methods to Canaan, but he offered information regarding other alleged sources around the world. He had loosely investigated rumors regarding 4 alleged immortals in Laminarum, but the information he found left much to be desired. Instead, Canaan and Stalker would need to wrack their brains together for a way to prolong his short life. Research led them to other immortal creatures, such as the Ohdaufehl, undead, and spirits. One such spirit was Both, a popular entity in the region. His relations with the outer world used to be positive, as travelers from around the world would bring him baubles. Most even felt safe enough to let their children present him with gifts. However, after his eruptions of anger, isolation, and manipulation of outsiders, Both remained on somewhat good terms with the Monastic Order of the Eldursteries, who respected his dominion and had access to a large scope of foreign goods. In exchange for their goods, Both would perform acts of divination for the monks, uncovering lost knowledge or predicting the future.   Given that Both was immortal, capable of divination, and collected a robust set of items to divine with, Stalker believed a conversation with the spirit was worth considering. However, all attempts would fail as Both had heard of Stalker's machinations and refused to make council with him. In anger, Stalker (perhaps selfishly) concocted a plan to achieve Canaan's goal while removing Both from the equation. Stalker's solution was an exceptional binding spell that could only be achieved on the Day of Eight Crowns, as transmutation and transformation are common themes in Milin Orphi's sphere. Many believe that it may have also enhanced the ritual due to its depraved intentions as well. The ritual in question would take a specific medium and bind it with two separate spirits. In this case, Canaan's body was mortal and brittle, eliminating its possibility as a medium. Instead, Stalker would recommend a tree at the center of the Lyslure Woods.   Canaan agreed to the plan, though he had partially been deceived about its details and outcome (something which Stalker openly admits in later writings). How Stalker managed to subdue Both is unknown, but when the ritual took place, each spirit was successfully removed from its vessel and stored within the tree, which itself underwent certain transformations in the process. For one, what was once a standard Lyslure Tree became warped and bound, creating your standard bonsai tree. Second, several protruding branches would grow in a similar fashion to arms, which served a similar purpose. Last, the general visage of a body was contorted into the tree, which seems to possess all the senses of your standard human. The bonsai can both see and hear, though it lacks the physical structures required. Stalker would proceed to return Canaan's body to the Eldursteries but the fate of Both's original body remains unknown.   The ritual went far from what was planned. Stalker had failed to consider the potency of Both's spirit compared to Canaan's. Perhaps no mortal could overpower such an entity, but the display of their traits was proportional in the final product. The bonsai mostly retained traits of Both, including his hankering for collection, his anger toward outsiders, and his desire to protect the wood. Weeks of note-taking left Stalker to conclude that little remained of Canaan, but he was not gone entirely. Some sliver remained, and it was likely the most potent aspect of Canaan's soul: the burden of reconnecting Laminarum and recovering his career. While no sapience remains of Canaan, Both has taken up his purpose and utilizes his vast collection to divine a solution. Rather than sitting upon a mountain of curios to go unused as they had for centuries, Both has used them to achieve feats of augury unlike any other, perhaps even rivaling the Augurs themselves. Unfortunately, with all of his prophecies and predictions, Both has still been unable to discover a solution.  

Physical Appearance

Before being bound, Both was capable of walking and climbing. His natural armor was of wood while loose herbaceous aspects connected and controlled his shell. Reports say that he had a frayed crown of twigs, similar to that of a sun crown. His body was bipedal with legs similar to a horse but the general body structure of a moose. Lacking eyes and ears, he could supposedly see anything happening across the entire Lyslure. Like the strange trees around him, Both oozed red sap occasionally, which was capable of spreading seedlings across the woods. On his chest were two thin arms, similar to those of humans. These could be used to finely handle bits and baubles, but were also a mode of communication, as he would kneel to hold hands with travelers or animals. As for his size, reports ranged from 10-30 feet tall, with the Eldur Monks themselves saying the number was closer to 12 feet.   After his binding to Canaan, Both has taken on the visage of a Lyslure tree held under the bounds of a bonsai. A few loose branches extend in each direction, which are capable of functioning as arms. Near the tree's central branch point is a knot in the general shape of a face. This knot is capable of moving around the trunk to view any given direction. The roots, which branch out approximately 20 feet, are incapable of any kind of movement. When presenting Both with a gift, one will typically see him use his branches to closely observe baubles near the facial knot, which he will either hand back to the traveler or drop in one of the many holes between his roots.   As for the anatomy of Canaan and Both's spirits, most have come to a consensus that "the Bonsai" itself is an original entity, merely sharing traits of Both and Canaan. As such, referring to the entity as "Both" is considered inaccurate in scholarly texts, as it should generally be referred to as "the Bonsai," much like the merging of fungi and algae to make a lichen. Regardless, the popular name "Both the Bonsai" has taken over.  

Augury Capabilities

As mentioned, Both is capable of bewildering feats of Augury. Unfortunately, he scarcely shares his private findings with outsiders and his favors to the Eldur Monks pale in comparison. For example, Both has been able to locate J. B. Stalker's private lodgings no less than three times throughout history, perhaps as punishment for his past actions. Another impressive example was his ability to predict the death date of 1 consul, 2 Augurs, and Nostula Turases. These predictions also help him defend himself, as he has thwarted several invasions from orcs in Orovical and cults from the Peatwood territory.   Both's greatest achievement is merely a myth, but some evidence suggests the feat to be true. It is rumored that Both has undergone a ritual to remove a certain subject or item from the communal memory of mortals and time, locking it away in Chaimut's temporal court. Proving such a thing is difficult, as neither Both nor the rest of Laminarum would be capable of remembering what was removed, as per the purpose of the spell. Presumably, it was something from his collection, which leaves some clues as to what may have been removed. Most of his items were from Trinen, so it was almost certainly of human origin. Perhaps it was something small so he could simply test his capabilities. As for evidence that the ritual was completed, it is known that he performed some manner of ritual on the 15th of Chaiber, 1932 NG. The 15th is typically reserved for the most potent of divination spells, so Both required his capabilities to be enhanced for some purpose. Further, it was on the 15th that he released the mindless wanderers of the Lyslure from his "grip," meaning that the spell required an extraordinary amount of focus.