Crunkwood Tree

Crunkwood Trees (*Sequoia Crunk*) are a species of redwoods found exclusively in the deep forests of the Forest of Three Paths. They all descend from the Tree of Life, and as such have several arcane properties that lead them to being integral to the ecosystem of the Forest of Three Paths.

## Origin

All crunkwood trees descend from the second Tree of Life, and they are all currently connected by a vast root network spanning 1,500,000 acres across the deep parts of the Forest of Three Paths. When the second Tree of Life grew to maturity, it began to spawn new trees like itself to recover the forest around it. Through the root networks, the power of the Tree of Life reaches each known crunkwood tree.

## Description

Like the Tree of Life, crunkwoods are powerful sequoia trees that can grow upwards of 300 feet tall, and normally with a diameter of approximately 22-28 feet. Their roots extend to each tree in its vicinity, and can reach depths of up to 50 feet. Its bark can be up to 10 inches thick, with a hardness comparable to iron.

Crunkwoods are an evergreen tree, and as such have needle-like leaves that are a dark green. A needle can grow to be 2 inches long, although averages are about 1.3 inches. Rarely, a crunkwood tree will produce a fruiting body similarly sized to a jackfruit. No concrete evidence has been found on how often these fruits appear, but estimates range from 11-20 years. Reports vary wildly on the texture, taste, smell, and look of the fruits, suggesting fruits are unique to the tree they grow from. They are known to provide enough nutrition to feed a normal human for several days, and they rarely spoil.

The lifespan of a crunkwood tree is unknown, as a crunkwood tree has never been known to die of natural causes. However, it is speculated that the fruits of a crunkwood grow larger and sweeter with the age of the tree. What this means is unknown.

## Arcane Properties

Crunkwoods are best known for their arcane uses. It appears the each tree can channel the powers of the Tree of Life through itself, allowing it to protect the ecosystem of the forest. They normally do this by root snares, or by emitting pheromones that enrage local wildlife to a target. They can also produce a highly toxic sap that can be absorbed through the skin if touched.

However, the trees cannot defend against very powerful entities. After the second Tree of Life was chopped down, the third one that grew in its place decided to give the power of the nature to the new society of people that lived in its woods, the Shamans of the East. Being descendants of the wild, the Shamans have the ability to craft powerful equipment using the wood of the crunkwood trees. Its in this equipment that much of the true nature of crunkwood has been studied. Armor crafted from the bark of crunkwood provides not only a powerful protection against physical attacks, but it can negate up to 60% of all Sacred Arts attacks. This has made it a prized armor among mercenaries and warriors, but it is in severely short supply due to its rarity.

Weapons made from the branches of crunkwood, often wands and staves, allow to exert the influence of Tree of Life across a wide area, allowing the Shamans of the East to befriend and control wildlife. Through the rituals of the Shamans, crunkwood staves also perform powerful rituals, many of which are unknown to those outside the forest.