Name: Oasis Heartwood
Habitat: Arid deserts, where water is scarce.
Rarity: Very rare. Only a few trees are known to exist in the world.
Threat: Moderate. While the trees themselves are not harmful, their rarity and the valuable resources they provide make them a target for theft and exploitation.
Description: The Oasis Heartwood is a small tree with a dense, spreading canopy and dark, gnarled bark. Its root system is incredibly complex, with roots that can stretch for hundreds of meters in search of water. The tree's leaves are a deep shade of turquoise and are coated in a waxy layer that helps to retain moisture. The fruit of the tree is a small, pear-shaped pod that is dark green in color and is covered in tiny, sharp toxic spines.
Biome Role: Oasis Heartwood plays a vital role in the arid desert ecosystem, providing a source of water and shelter for various desert creatures. Its root system helps to stabilize the surrounding soil, preventing erosion.
Aging & Reproduction: Oasis Heartwood trees grow very slowly and can take hundreds of years to reach maturity. They reproduce by producing small, spiky pods that contain seeds.
Size: Oasis Heartwood trees typically grow to be around 10 meters tall and have a canopy that spreads out to a diameter of around 5 meters.
Abilities and Features: The Oasis Heartwood's root system has the ability to store and purify water. The water stored in the roots is always cold and has minor magical properties, including the ability to heal minor wounds and ailments. The fruit of the tree has a powerful magical ability, but accessing it is difficult. The spines on the pod are incredibly sharp and can cause injury and sickness if mishandled. The pod must be opened in a specific way, using a special splitting tool, in order to access the fruit. The fruit itself has the ability to grant the user massive reserves of Aether. The dual side effects are thus. Those that consume the fruit but do not expel or use the Aether bestowed can burn up from within due to the sheer amount of magic the fruit releases when digested. Even those who can fully utilize the Aether will find their bodies wracked with pain when the effects fade, this can be counteracted by eating more of the fruit. However those who do this will find that the pain they experience from withdrawal gets worse with the longer they use the effects.
The poison in the spines of the Fruit causes necrosis of exposed flesh within ten minutes if not purified.
Cultural Significance (If applicable): The Oasis Heartwood is highly prized by desert tribes and is often the subject of myths and legends. It is said that those who possess the fruit of the tree are blessed with great power and wisdom, but also cursed with a shortened lifespan.
Reasons to interact: The Oasis Heartwood is an incredibly valuable resource, both for its water-storing properties and the magical properties of its fruit. Its rarity makes it a prime target for theft and exploitation, and those who seek to possess it must be prepared to face the dangers of the desert.
Recommended Stats for growing and harvesting: Due to the complexity of the Oasis Heartwood's root system, growing and harvesting the tree is a difficult and dangerous task. It requires a high level of skill and knowledge of desert ecosystems, as well as specialized tools and equipment. Those who attempt to grow or harvest the Oasis Heartwood without the proper training and resources are likely to fail or suffer serious injury.
