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THE HISTORY OF ENTS April 2008
%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%**%*%*%**%
IN THIS ISSUE April 2008
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WORDS FROM THE EDITOR CERDWYN
TREES JOYCE KILMER
ENT BEGINNINGS SKORN
THE MORNING OF MY LIFE SHADOWTOP
AN ENTISH HAIKU SHADOWTOP
A LESSON IN LIFE AN ANONYMOUS ENT
THE NATURE OF ENTS SHADOWTOP
THE LEGEND OF THE DAMNATION SKORN
PARTING WORDS CERDWYN
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FROM THE EDITOR by CERDWYN
Many moons ago, Snikt said he wanted stories on the various
races that populate AVATAR. He wanted stories that could be
derived from the areas we run in as well as the stories of
those that we play. He wanted stories that could be verified
and those that were racial legend.
From that the Racial History Project was born. Skorn agreed
to research some of the in game bits about a few races to
get us started. You will see a part of that here.
We expanded on what Snikt wanted and we asked for recipes,
travel tales, area reviews, etc. Anything to do with the
race(s) currEntly being worked on.
Only a single Ent took up the task of writing about this
long lived race. So all quest points and prizes for this
issue will go to Shadowtop. When you see him, thank him
for his time, and as he’s an Ent, he has a lot of it. *grin*
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TREES by JOYCE KILMER
No, not an Avatarian Poem, but a famous one, nonetheless.
And a fitting way to start an issue about living trees...
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet Earth’s flowing breast
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair
Upon whose bosom snow has lain
Who intimately lives with rain
Poems are made by fools like me
But only God can make a tree.
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ENT BEGINNINGS by SKORN
Beams of light, scattered through the verdant forests of Midgaardia,
illuminate the lush foliage and multitude of species which move
across the Realm. Laughing in the sun and frolicking amidst the
countless streams and rivers that flow across the Plane, these
are the Light Fae. Their fates are ever intertwined with the
creatures of Midgaardia. Even in their hatred of all things mortal,
the Fae have wrought much upon our Realm. Alas, this is further
in the future than we shall touch upon, for our story begins in
the first days of our Realm. This is the time of Legends and Myths,
a time for tales to be birthed, a time when all that is was begun.
Kisestre the Young wandered through the lands of her prison,
bringing light, love and happiness everywhere her gaze would
land. Thus were born into our Realm the mindless animals. Those
who are to this day hunted for meat and pelts, with no thought
to the future, or the past. In her wanderings, many were the glades
where she rested and looked upon her creation with satisfaction
and delight, her thoughts ever moving away from the horrible past
which brought her to this end.
Kisestre's ever present companions, the Fae of the Light and Dark,
kept a constant vigil over her actions. Following their mistress
amongst the trees and brush of a new world, frolicking in the
streams and taking their pleasures in a idyllic paradise. In those
times, when she known as the Young would take her rest, the Fae
built altars and crafted idols in her image, forever fashioning
new and wondrous things for their Goddess to find joy in. The
enormous magics expended in these ventures caused many, many side
effects, and some of these were the most wondrous of all. For in
their delight and glee, the magics of the Fae had earthed itself
within the very trunks of the trees they passed through.
Slowly, the trees gained a small portion of intelligence. Decades
passed as the first of those who were to be known as the Ents
reached out and touched the minds of his kin. Each of them a
different race, each of them with varying degrees of intellect,
yet all brought together under one banner for the first time in
their centuries-long existence. As Kisestre and her consorts, the
Fae, frolicked across the land that is now known as Midgaardia,
their powers gave rise to more and more of these new creatures. In
their careless abandon, the Fae had caused to be born the first of
many new intelligent beings in the Realm.
At first, the Ents were clustered in small clans. Beech and Oak
joined together to shelter the kindly Yew. Their powers were limited,
their numbers even more so and the mobility they know now was a thing
not yet learned. Slow thoughts, vast as an ocean, burned within their
newly created consciousness. They began to stretch their minds out in
a web of ever-increasing diameter, drawing more and more of their
brethren into a mass consciousness of their own creation. Never
would they be alone. Never would their lack of numbers mean a
lack of comfort. Never would the Ents stand by themselves, forever
joined together by their nature.
These large evolutions of their race took centuries and encompassed
most of their time, leaving them little attention to spare for their
surroundings. As their minds expanded, so did the Ents withdraw from
the world to the Realm of their own private musings and the musings
of their kin, even half a world away. Lost to themselves, the Ents
did not observe the obsessions of the Fae, the beginnings of their
downfall, and the loss which would soon mar the world forever.
Kisestre the Young, she who gave birth to our world, she who was
first to stride upon its surface, died. Lost and lonely, bereft of
her Fae companions, she who was mother to Midgaardia died of a
violent heartache at the loss of the Fae. As she lay dying within
a forgotten glade, surrounded by the leavings of the Fae, Kisestre
breathed slower and slower, placing more of herself within each
breath. The life of a Goddess, full of vitality and vigor, forced
from her parted lips in a last attempt to leave a portion of herself
within the world. A vain hope to not be forgotten when the final ages
of Midgaardia come to pass.
These last breaths of Kisestre spread forth into the glade wherein
she lay, a glade located deep within the boundaries of that which is
known as the Wildwood today. Embued with the spirit of the Goddess,
her life wrapped around the trunks of the Ents dwelling therein and
was absorbed. New-found strength flowed within their trunks and limbs.
Sap ran like quicksilver and their thoughts took on an almost panicked
sense of urgency as these changed Ents fought to control their new
powers. Driven beyond the edge of reason, one of their number wrenched
himself from the ground in a last ditch attempt to flee from the
changes being forced upon him.
A silence fell upon the clearing, each of the Ents forming organs
for sight and hearing upon their trunks in pure imitation of the Fae.
They gazed in wonder at he who had uprooted himself and now stood
reveling in his newfound freedom at the center of the sacred glade.
Drawing their strength, pooling their minds, offering each other
comfort in this most frightening of times, the Ents uprooted
themselves one after another and joined the Fae upon Midgaardia as
the second truly intelligent race to populate our Realm.
Going throughout the world at their ponderous pace, for while they
are mobile the gentle Ents are forever limited to move at the pace
of their own thoughts, these enormous trees found each of their race
and gave them a small portion of the power of Kisestre. This
rationing of the power brought their race to a viable number,
for even though their lives are measured in centuries and perhaps
millenia, the Ents produce very very few true children, almost all
of their brood remain slightly intelligent versions of common trees.
In the end, after the hellish fury unleashed by Bahamut and
Tiamat's kin, the vile acts of terror brought forth by Straul's
giant minions and even after the violent upheavals caused by the
plant-demon Glasya, the Ents remain a solid fixture upon the ever-
changing realm of Midgaardia. Tending their glades, raising what
few children remain to their decimated numbers and providing the
wisdom of the ages to all who ask it of them.
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE MORNING OF MY LIFE by SHADOWTOP
RecumbEnt in somnolEnt caliginosity,
Pursuing an evEntual fiberosity,
Emerging from loam sans velocity,
The achene initially germinates.
An unfolding of the interior,
Bound for an unknown exterior,
Birth of a vegetable superior,
The seedling ever fulminates.
Prosperity results in expansion,
Girth represEnts evolution,
Stature is caused by maturation,
The sapling at last evEntuates.
Enlivened with majestic sEntience,
Awakening in infinite patience,
Quickening the mind's cognizance,
The Ent, in life, celebrates.
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AN ENTISH HAIKU by SHADOWTOP
Slow growth brings deep thought,
Summer minds,
Unfathomable.
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A LESSON IN LIFE by AN ANONYMOUS ENT
If there is one lesson to be learned in life, it is to never
mess with the dark powers that dwell in this realm. Life ...
hah ... I'm not sure if I can call this ... situation I'm in
right now life.
Once I walked the realm, with long powerful strides.
Once I towered over many of the other races.
I provided shelter for those that needed it.
I provided the muscle when my friends were in need of it.
For the longest time, I walked the realm, slowly learning about
the world and about life itself.
Yes, my progress was slow, but every day I gained more life
experience. I saw many creatures pass me by, but I also saw them
fall while I stood tall.
But with all this knowledge I gathered, I also became foolish.
The notion rose in my mind, that there had to be more than this.
My kind is not an outgoing race. We prefer hiding ourselves.
I started believing that I was destined for more. After studying
some ancient tomes I knew my calling, but I wasn't ready just
yet.
I gathered more knowledge and more power.
Even though I became estranged from my companions and kind, I
persevered. Until one day, I was ready for what I considered
the ultimate challenge.
With purpose I walked to the ancient temple, calling out and
challenging the dark ruler. He appeared. I readied myself for
the battle, but I had overestimated my powers. With a mocking
smile on his face he raised his sword, and dark fire erupted
from the blade.
It wasn't long before I lay defeated, my limbs smoldering. My
hopes and dreams vanquished.
But he wasn't done with me.
The sardonic smile never left his face as he stood over me,
saying I would serve as an example for all those that lived
long but learned nothing. He cast a powerful transmogrifying
spell and dumped me where I am now.
Once a powerful Ent ... looking out over the realm I walked.
Now ... nothing but a thorny shrub in a small valley. Still
sentient but unable to move, unable to ward off the dogs that
walk here.
Again ... if there's one lesson to be learned in life, it is to
never mess with the dark pow....
Oooh no ... there's that dog again
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE NATURE OF ENTS by SHADOWTOP
Once there was an Ent, and he was asked a question by a passing
human. "How do Ents see the other races," she enquired curiously.
The Ent thought about this for some time and knew that such a
question was a deep one, and a thoughtful response would be good,
but one in which he conferred with other Ents would be even better.
Still, he knew that most other races did not have the same level of
patience, and so he decided to come out with a quick answer.
Unfortunately, the human had already grown weary of waiting for
an answer, had wandered off for a meal at a nearby inn, happened
to meet another attractive human with a sense of humour, an
agreeable personality and a sense of hygiene, had fallen in love,
got married and settled down to start a family. The Ent's answer
of "It's difficult to say really..." was never heard by that human.
However, a passing halfling happened to remark aloud to himself
that he wondered which way Midgaard was from here just before the
Ent finally gave his answer to the human's question. Thus came about
the fallacy that Ents have a poor sense of direction. In fact, Ents
with their roots in the soil always know where they are very well
and under most circumstances have an excellent internal map, being
most sensitive to the air and sun, as well the earth. The best way
to confuse an Ent is have them fly over water, in the dark. Obviously
this does happen very often. For one thing, it tends to alarm the
fish.
This kind of thing is exactly the reason why Ents are seen as being
so slow by most other races. This is in fact untrue and a fallacy
of the first degree. Ents can move very quickly indeed when they
wish to. In emergencies an Ent can move just as fast as any other
race, and once they have set their mind to a certain course of action
can achieve it with great alacrity. What is perfectly true is that
Ents are neither dexterous nor nimble, and their lumbering gait is
quite tiring and thus they cannot sustain dashing around here and
there, willy-nilly, for an extended period of time and far prefer
to conserve their energies for when they most needed. Simply put,
Ents can be speedy, but in general they choose not to be.
Ents are of course deeply thoughtful and often like to think a course
of action through most carefully, considering it from many angles
before deciding on the best approach. One of the reasons for this
is of course that charging around randomly makes an Ent tired. It
does not take much of that before they feel like standing still for
a good long time. An Ent who is tired is an Ent who is tired for a
long time. Ents do not recover from physical or mental stresses at
all quickly. It has been said that an Ent's favourite pastime is
sleeping. While this is not necessarily strictly correct, Ents can
often be found asleep or taking their ease as they recover from some
carefully thought out strategy. Ents are not lazy... they just need
a lot of rest.
All this time spent in physical rest often means the Ent has a
great deal of time to think about things, to mull them over in
their mind and weigh up pros and cons. Advancement for an Ent is
a very lengthy procedure and one which requires a great deal of
thought and concentration if it is not going to take quite literally
forever. It is not unusual for an Ent to take a very long-term view
of things as they see that taking the time arriving at where they
want to be in a proper manner, will in fact save them a great deal
more time than rushing around. Ents often seek to get the best they
can out of any given situation, rather than wasting potential in a
rush for new experiences - mostly because for them those experiences
are long distant in any case. They seek to explore new lands to their
fullest, understand new secrets very well, and to get the best out of
their tools mortally possible... even when this requires lengthy
research, time spent doing very little other than exploding items
with magic, or staring very hard at their surroundings. This time
spent usually serves them well though and their depth of knowledge
and experience is formidable - frequently much more so than those of
equivalent power of other races.
So, apart from a certain predilection towards deliberate thought,
caution and forethought, what is an Entish personality like? Quite
simply, the answer varies. Some Ents are garrulous and talkative,
sociable and outgoing. Others may be quiet and introverted
concentrating on their own slow thoughts to the exclusion of outside
distraction. Then of course, Ents like all other races, have their
moods and their feelings which can change and colour the
personalities. They vary.
Which brings to mind the eventual conclusion our first Ent came up
with after great consideration and much debate and talk with his
fellow Ents. The following was related to the grand-daughter of the
original human who had asked the question we encountered at the advent
of this discussion. "Ents as a whole are a species possessing of many
different and diverse members, who not only may be quite different
in superficial physical appearance, are also at variance in mental
outlook and expression of opinion and personal beliefs. As such, to
give an answer which would encompass all Ents everywhere would be
erroneous and inaccurate in the extreme, furthering stereotypes
which may or may not be helpful, or even harmful. While it is true
that many Ents have a fondness for longer lived races, or those who
also possess a more deliberate thought process like themselves, this
is not always the case. Even the image that Ents automatically like
other races which tend toward a sylvan nature is not strictly true.
Many Ents will give shelter to darker races, while some despise them.
Many Ents like dragons and firedragons as they can often appreciate
an Entish viewpoint best, but some do not like them at all for their
fiery ways. In the end, the question of what Ents as a group think
about other races in a general and non-specific way, is pointless
and cannot be answered. What a particular Ent thinks about something
is something much more easily answered, at least by the Ent in
question, or even what the Ent race tend to think of a particular closely defined situation, is in fact a much better question."
It is not recorded what the said grand-daughter replied to this
Ent who had managed to track her down, or what she thought on the
matter, or even for that matter if she understood what he was
talking about at all...
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LEGEND OF THE DAMNATION by SKORN
Herein lies the tale of a great evil once birthed upon the world
of Midgaardia by the foolish. The great Damnation, he who strove to
unseat the powers of his time in a violent fury of magic and might.
The might of the elves in Avalon, the power of the Dwarves in their
canyons of the Divide, the fecund humans and their massive armies.
None could stand before this demonic fiend for long. But I digress,
for the tale shall now be told in its full. Unexpurgated and
unabridged. All shall know the truth behind the Damnation and his
sudden rise to power and lordship.
The tale begins in the legendary city of Keresh, the first city of
the populous humanity who ruled over Midgaardia. The second Giant-Ent
war had ravaged the countryside around Keresh, yet all within stood
firm against the might of the plant-demon Glasya. As the forces of
Straul advanced upon the city of humans, a cabal of its most powerful
protectors came together to formulate their own plans for the defense
of the city.
Ironspike the Just, one of the many leaders of the human forces
within the city was their leader. His many battles against the
Troglodytes and other inhabitants of what would become Igecsoz were
the stuff of legend. The sons of Keresh were raised on tales of his
valor and bravery, all of them wishing to be the one to take over his
post someday.
The great priest of Acilese, Shai'Koras. His name spoken in
reverence across the breadth of Midgaardia, even among those of
the Elvenkind and Dwarves. A master of the healing arts and teacher
to all who would learn, his compassion and generosity were a beacon
of purity in this time of darkness.
And finally, she who was known as the Visionary, Miskaton Al'terian.
Her sorcerous might and prophetic dreams gave her control over much
of the city of Keresh and its denizens. Born the daughter of a
cobbler and a laundress, Miskaton pulled herself up through the
sodden morass of Keresh's lower class and claimed her place at the
forefront of the leaders of Keresh.
These three masters of their various arts formed a triumvirate to
act in coordination against the powers of Glasya and Straul. The
chaotic and unclean sorceries of Miskaton entwining within the
purity and faith of Shai'Koras. Both of them balanced upon the
broad shoulders of the Captain, Ironspike. Thus did they hope to
summon forth from the bones of Midgaardia a true domination, a true
power. One they could channel to their own ends. One which could
destroy the armies invading Keresh.
In the weeks of guerilla war and ambushing along the borders of
Keresh, Miskaton delved deep within the old lore of the Fae, those
few tomes which had survived the eons past. Herein he found a
ritual that would call forth the inherent evil within the
participants, shape it into a sustainable form and then meld it
into a sacrificial vessel so that it could be properly tamed and
used.
Declaring their intentions before a meeting of the Kereshian Defense
Council, just days before the full invasion was to take place, this
trinity of her most beloved protectors was shouted down. The citizens
of lost Keresh were shocked and disgusted that any of their number
could use these dark powers when all around them the rewards of such
behavior were abundant.
Miskaton claiming to have seen visions of the fall of Keresh, its
streets awash in the crimson flow of her denizens, the forces of
Glasya running amok within the hallowed confines of its beloved Arena,
called for the full support of the Council and was denied.
Ironspike, defying the orders of his superiors, called for any
volunteers to assist he and his triumvirate with their mad plans. He
also was denied, the members of Council looking upon him with sadness
and pity.
Shai'Koras, he of the kind word and healing hand, thundered forth
a proclamation of self-righteous anger and preached his own call to
holy war upon the dais within the Council chambers. Sadly, he too
was forsaken. His ringing pronouncement still echoing in the Halls
of Council, the members shook their heads and left him to his own
devices.
Rejected by the Council, spurned by those few citizens who would
even speak with them, this power hungry trio left their home unwatched
and unknown in the middle of the night, three days before the invasion
was to take place. Ironspike led them to a small smuggler's cave in
the heart of the wilderness north of Keresh and here they began their
preparations.
The ritual, long lost to time's touch, was complex and full of
sacrifices, both of mind, body and soul. Evil fumes, violent bursts
of color and hideous chanting could be heard echoing from the small
cave wherein they crafted their magic. The righteous shouts of
Miskaton weaving together with the sibilant hiss of Shai'Koras'
delicate voice. Both of them surrounding the toneless bass of
Ironspike in a cloak of sorcery and sanctification.
Hours before the invasion was to take place, their voices now
resembling nothing more than the croak of an elderly frog, a hush
fell over the woods for miles around this power mad triumvirate.
Animals quivered within their dens, those few citizens who now
finally fled the city to safer confines to the north looking around
themselves in sudden fear, a dark shadow crossed slowly over the
dense forest north of the city.
Spears of lightning exploded in a shower of fury, striking the earth
in a circle around the small cave wherein the ritual members spoke
their parts. Screams from a thousand damned souls filled the air
surrounding Keresh, forcing its defenders to cover their ears in pain.
The sound rolled on and on for what seemed an eternity even as the
abbots and priestesses of the orders sounded their protective spells
to aid their beloved city in its time of need. Voices could be heard
amidst the screams, loud and prophetic they spoke unholy truths and
muttered demonic phrases just below the threshold of understanding.
An hour after it had begun, silence smote the town with a suddenness,
an audible silence that struck everyone within dumb for a moment. And
just as fast, the sounds of the birds and whistle of wind returned. No
trace of the horrible sounds that had just been heard could be found.
The defenders of Keresh and all those in the surrounding areas
returned to their duties, wondering what awful surprises the forces of
Glasya and Straul had just conjured against them, never knowing that
it was their beloved protectors who were responsible.
As for the triumvirate: Ironspike, Miskaton and Shai'Koras, that is
a tale that is better left unfinished for now. Their deeds were
motivated by love of their city but corrupted by an unflinching self-
righteousness that would ultimately be their downfall. Farewell
Avatarians and watch for more from the Tome of Lost Legends, you
might just find something to help you in time of need.
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PARTING WORDS by CERDWYN
As previously stated, this is only one of a series of gazettes
dedicated to the races of AVATAR. If you have stories, recipes,
family legends, area reviews, traveler’s tales, biographies,
or anything else that relates to any of the races of AVATAR, you
do not have to wait until we ask for submissions about that race.
Submit your stories to gazinput@outland.org with the title being
racial story - and they will be held until that race’s
issue goes to press. If enough people have an interest in a
particular race’s stories, you could even influence the order
in which stories are collected.
Of particular interest after these Ent stories are read, are
stories of giants and giant-Ent wars (see the Area known as
Battleground, although this was not the first), Demons and
Demonseeds, Humans and the Dragon Races. Which will be next...?
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the new Avatar Gazette. It is published with the
permission and cooperation of the Avatar staff and edited by
Cerdwyn. (Original concept by Asamaro and Dizzy.)
The Gazette is written in plain vanilla ASCII text to ensure
that everyone can enjoy it regardless of computer type.
To subscribe to the Gazette, send internet e-mail to
majordomo@outland.org. In the body of your email put:
subscribe gazette username@hostname (MudName - RealName)
e.g. subscribe gazette snikt@outland.org (Snikt - Kevin Jagh)
If you have any questions, commEnts, suggestions, criticisms,
complemEnts, or (best of all) articles that you've written
for the Gazette, please send them to via email to the
address: gazinput@outland.org Please use 'Gazette' as your
subject.
You can also view the latest issue of the Gazette while
playing Avatar by typing 'help newgaz' anywhere in the game,
or on the design web site at http://www.outland.org.
Click on archives, gazettes.
Original credit for Ascii art or other submissions is given
if known.
==================================================================
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
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