Saplings

Just as Humans were experimented upon, so too were many strains of plants. While this often resulted in plants able to survive in the new atmosphere of the planet, one such experiment resulted in trees with great intelligence. These trees, known as Archiacs, have lived since these experiments created them, making them extremely long lived. Their children live among the younger lived races, learning what they can and experiencing life before they put down roots.

Physical Description

Saplings appear as living trees. Their legs are the trunk of a tree split in half with their roots splayed out on the ground. Their arms grow as a twisted mass of branches wrapped around each other into a thick mass with their fingers ending in braided twigs. Saplings can have any number of fingers, with 4 per hand being most common. Their heads extend above their shoulders as a large mass of wood jutting out of their trunk. Their eyes appear as deep set holes in their bark, their nose as snake-like slits, and their mouth as a crackling rip in their face. A mass of branches grows from the shoulders of a Sapling with the ends covered in leaves. As the sapling grows older, these branches move up and begin to surround their head until their trunk overgrows their neck and encases their head. It is at this time that Saplings must put down their roots and are known as Archiacs.

Saplings bark and leaves can appear like any type of tree and are extremely varied, with some even growing fruit.

History

Even before the experiments of the Preeminent brought sentience to the Archaics, the trees of their forest were old. After these experiments, the Archiacs began to speak to those who came near. They formed close bonds with the Elves who came to seek their wisdom and before long, the first Saplings walked out of the forest and into Elven lands.

Now, with the forest growing year by year and Saplings living all throughout the land, the Archaics continue to live in the same way they always have, silently watching the changing of seasons.

Culture

To the centuries old Archiacs, years pass like days and time seems to be much slower. Most Archiacs see people not as individuals, but as family lines. They make no distinction between a person and their grandfather, or ever great grandfather. 

This view of time is equally present in Saplings. A years long adventure may only feel like an afternoon to a Sapling. This has led to many Saplings to work on things for years on end and act in what seems to be very future focused terms. It makes no sense for them to plan for something that will happen in a few days, just as it makes little sense for a Human to plan for something that will happen in a second. Instead, their thoughts are often years ahead and can lead them to seem aloof and absent from the present.

Saplings in general live their lives as carefree as the children they are. They embark on adventures constantly and can be found having interests in all sorts of things. This carefree nature is encouraged by Archiacs who see it as important to gain experiences about the world before one settles down.

Politics

Saplings have no organized government. They are free and on their own for the most part. Seeing a Sapling as an adventurer or mercenary is extremely common and many spend their time on the road.

Archiacs live in a pure democracy. Decisions for Archiacs are made by consensus of all members and discussions can last for decades. Archaics have no leaders and place all people on the same even plane.

Lands

As children, Saplings hail from the forest of the Archaics. This collection of many planted Archaics lies in the far north of the Elven Successors lands. It is here that most Saplings will return to put down their roots. However, it is not unheard of for a single Archaic to be planted in the middle of a forest somewhere, living their life in solitude. These Archiacs are known to often speak with various other races and can serve as advisors to nearby communities.

Relationships

Saplings are generally on friendly terms with other races. They see others as being in far too much of a rush and are known to take things slow and do them over the course of years. Most see Sapling adventures as useful for long tasks and they are known to come in and out of various settlements often.

Religion

Archiacs, and by extension Saplings, revere nature itself. They prefer to follow the natural flow of the land and will attempt to follow natural cycles as much as possible.