Rootgeist

"When it came to me, I felt it more than I saw it. Ancient sorrow, old as the forest itself, but a fierce will too, like a storm about to break. It raised the earth to shield me, but I knew it wasn't for me alone. It fights for the forest, for the cycle of life and decay. All I did was prove I was worth saving too."

— Poppy Farsong, a wild ranger

 

The Trees Wait

  These spectral beings are not born but made; spirits drawn to the sorrow of felled trees and forgotten groves. They are not spirits of vengeance, as some might claim, but rather guardians, shepherding the remnants of the natural world that have been disturbed by mortal hands.   A rootgeist begins its existence when a tree is cut down or dies unnaturally, its spirit lingering and unable to complete the cycle of decay and rebirth. Over time, this spirit fuses with the residual magic of the forest, binding itself to the roots and remnants of the fallen tree. The result is a creature both spectral and tangible, a haunting blend of gnarled wood, twisted roots, and shimmering ethereal light. Its form shifts with the seasons - swathed in mist during autumn, glittering with frost in the winter, and crowned with spectral blossoms in the spring.   Rootgeists are rarely seen unless they wish it; their presence is heralded by the faint groaning of ancient wood and the rustling of leaves where none should be. Travelers may mistake their glowing eyes - pale green or soft gold - for fireflies until the air grows thick with the scent of damp earth and the creeping awareness that something ancient is watching.  

The Branches Guard

  Though protective by nature, rootgeists are not mindless predators. They act as judges of intent, responding to trespassers based on their actions. Those who harm the forest or desecrate its sacred spaces will find the ground beneath their feet writing with grasping roots, pulling them into the earth's cold embrace. However, those who walk with reverence, tending to the land and honouring its cycles, may find unexpected allies in the rootgeists, who guide them with whispered winds or safe passage through perilous terrain.   Tales told in certain circles speak of rootgeists aiding druids and rangers in desperate times, their immense strength uprooting entire trees to shield their allies or forming bridges over impassable chasms. But such assistance is rare and not without cost. Those who gain a rootgeist's favour are forever marked by the forest, their dreams filled with the creaking song of trees and the endless, unyielding patience of the deep earth. In the end, the rootgeist's existence is both a warning and a gift: respect the balance, and you may find the forest willing to protect its own.   When a rootgeist finally fades, it leaves behind no trace but a single seedling, nestled in the heart of its fallen form, ready to begin anew.