The Tree Folk
The Tree Folk were the earliest First Age race to evolve to a space faring level and are mainly known for their “familar” blending of Magic and Science, as well as for their collective hivemind intelligence.
Information:
Due to their collective hivemind, The Tree Folk’s society is often labelled as “highly communistic” as it instills a “work for the good of the state” mentality, as well as a sense of everything is owned by the community including all property and objects. While many consider this to be the “wrong way” of forming a society, no one can truely deny that the way their society is formed is one of the many reasons why The Tree Folk are one of the most advanced races in the galaxy currently.
In terms of appearance, The Tree Folk’s name is a great indicator. Their skin is made up of a modified bark-like material that acts as both armour and skin, in addition when under attack Tree Folk are able to harden their skin which will protect them, but heavily restrict their movement speed. Interestingly all types of Tree Folk are able to grow all types of flora all over their bodies, this includes fruits, vegetables, trees, plants and even poisonous substances, in addition their growths are filled with anerobic bacteria which allows them to heal barren lands and repair certain parts of nature. Finally Tree Folk have an extremely lengthy lifespan with their average being between 650 to 750 years.
As mentioned above The Tree Folk’s Hivemind is unique from many others. One of the many ways this Hivemind is unique is that while all Tree Folk are connected through The Hivemind, they still remain unique and retain a sense of individuality with them having their own personality, thoughts, opinions and beliefs. From a Tree Folk’s perspective they describe being connected to The Hivemind as “having a lovely, warm and beautiful glow within your mind that guides you along a path, but never forces you onto one”.
Different Types of Tree Folk:
1. Cappidorrins- are Tree Folk that have been forced out of The Hivemind for one reason or another, usually if a Tree Folk is imprisoned and holds valuable information. During their ejection from The Hivemind, Cappidorrins go through an extremely stressful amount of physical and spiritual mutations, the former resulting in the body extending to double it’s height and double it’s mass, and the latter resulting in The Cappidorrin’s spirit being visible through it’s body looking as if the inside of the being is on fire. Additionally Capidorrins also grow horns, sharp claws and nails, and their faces deform into that of a monstrous appearance. Finally it is worth noting that Cappi is a rough translation of “Left Through” and Dorrin is a rough translation of “Force”.
2. Cappidunna- are Tree Folk that have willingly left The Hivemind. In terms of appearance, Cappidunna don’t change dramatically with their only notable change being the loss of what has been dubbed “The Hivemind’s Glow”. While these Tree Folk are treated no differently from one’s connected to The Hivemind by the galactic public, to regular Tree Folk, Cappidunna as well as Cappidorrins are considered by them to be “reprehensibly vile and disgusting”. Additionally it’s worth noting that like Cappidorrin, Cappi means “Left Through”, but interestingly Dunna appears to translate into two words with the first being “Choice” and the second being “Destiny”.
3. Acbunnaborrus- are Tree Folk that have been completely taken over by The Hivemind to the point that there appears to be no independent mind present. The creation of these Tree Folk were mainly seen during The Wars Of Magic and Science when The Hivemind needed to aid it’s forces by taking direct control. The Acbunnaborrus have access to a wide range of powerful abilities, one of which allows this type of Tree Folk to unleash a blinding and heavily burning light that has the potential to melt some of the most powerful and indestructible metals in the galaxy, apart from Deusium.
Saisooths- are Tree Folk that mainly act as easily accessible communication relays. In detail, Saisooths will usually be ordered to remain on a allied ship by a high ranking Tree Folk, the main reason for this is so that the high ranking Tree Folk can relay information as well as directly converse with the allied ship through The Saisooths. In terms of appearance, Saisooths are tall slender Tree Folk that are usually seem wrapped in some type of “flora robe” that covers their body completely.
The Hollowed Husks- are Tree Folk that have been bitten, scratched or otherwise infected by Demons, and have been transformed into rock hard tree monstrosities with violent flames protruding from their chard bark bodies. In terms of appearance, The Hollow Husks are often described as horrific as their faces have been burned away, leaving wide open eye sockets and a fully agape mouth that has violent flames emitting from it. When a Tree Folk becomes a Hollow Husk, The Hivemind immediately cuts them off to prevent the possibility of it’s own infection, this sends The Hollowed Husk into state of pure insanity and continuously mutters that it has “been forsaken”.
