Danylyte tree

The giant trees of Fernside Hollow are not entirely naturally occurring but are the result of divine intervention and transformation, and their cultivation forms the backbone of the Elenga religion.

During the Elenga initiation ritual, a danylyte seed is implanted into the flesh of the convert, enabling them to commune with Säntonil-sugan wherever they travel in the world, spreading the god’s influence and ‘fertilising’ Säntonil-sugan with ideas and concepts. After implantation, the seed’s coating dissolves and the mycelial carrier sends fine pioneer roots through the convert’s body. The roots form a parallel nervous system which eventually supplants the convert’s own. If the convert is a pale-skinned yutaaq, the progression of the root system may be visible but, in ialy and birdfolk, the roots are generally not visible until they reach the eyes and/or mucous membranes of the mouth and nose.

Regardless of visibility, once the pioneer roots have spread throughout the body, they fruit periodically, erupting through the skin as clusters of mushrooms.

As distressing as this appears, the development of the mycelium is painless and a necessary part of the germination of the implanted seed. The seed itself remains dormant until some trigger - currently unknown - causes it to germinate, whereupon it follows the mycelial pathways, covering the skin in a protective bark and slowly moving through the body. This phase of the transformation makes the convert a hybrid of plant and animal, and prolongs their life significantly.

At some internal sign, the convert begins the final part of the transformation. They return to returns to Hightrees at Watermeet, undergoing a fast while travelling, consuming nothing - including water - to encourage the development of roots and leaves. Upon their return, they bathe in the Watermeet to ritually purify themself, then walk out into the forest to pick out the spot in which they will put down roots. This done, the plant begins to grow rapidly, becoming one of the giant danylyte trees that the hollow is famous for.