Silverbranch Tree

Silverbranch Tree
Profile
Status:	Alive
Age:	11
Race:	Tree
Gender:	It
Class:	Druid
Nation:	Yamato
Faction:	Silverbranch Clan
Era:	Third Age

"Cut out the infection, Leon Alcibiates. Cut it out with extreme prejudice. I bound my life into the Tree to heal just such an ill. You, fortunately, should not have to give your life to cure this plague. You will, however, need help--and no slight help, but rather the help of the gods themselves. I confess I cannot precisely see the future, but I forsee you will require two further periapts--the blades Dusk and Dawn, wielded by clerics of Hephaestus. Once you meet these requirements, the plague can be abolished."

—The Silverbranch Tree to Leon Alcibiates about the Blood Fever

The Silverbranch Tree is the second World Tree which came to life after the Silver Branch was planted into the heart of the Cursed Earth of Yamato at the end of the Great War. Geraud Aurelac and the spirit of Grady Silverbranch sacrificed their own lifeforce to make the Silver Branch live again and consequently became part of the new Tree, replacing the tainted and dying Yggdrasil, the original World Tree.

Biography

Early Years

See: Geraud Aurelac, Grady Silverbranch, Silver Branch, Yggdrasil

"You seek the Silverbranch Tree our enemies hate--the very Tree which erased the curse of our Lord's madness upon this land. It is a desirable end, but as matters stand, this place will soon be overrun. With enough power, the demons with destroy the Tree, just for the sheer pleasure destruction brings them. Presently, it is inevitable. If things continue as they are, they cannot be stopped."

—Alathor to Leon Alcibiates

During the Great War, Leon Alcibiates traversed to the Isle of Yggdrasil and planted the Silver Branch on the cursed ground there to replace the dying, original World Tree called Yggdrasil. To give the sapling enough lifeforce to become a new World Tree and cure the Landpoison of Yamato, Leon's companion Geraud Aurelac and the spirit of Grady Silverbranch, who shared Geraud's body, sacrificed themselves to achieve this end.

A new World Tree, named the Silverbranch Tree after the Silver Branch it had grown from, was born with both Geraud and Grady's memories which it could manifest as avatars at will. The Tree created a new White Seal to prevent any dark forces from approaching and tainting it. Thanks to the White Seal, the Tree remained unaffected by the Cataclysm even when the Isle of Yggdrasil itself became landlocked with many other islands of Yamato and when demons invaded en masse.

Godslayer Era

"I was hoping you'd show up. And I've been waiting. A branch has already been pruned from the Tree and is ready."

"Wait, I thought you were the Tree now."

"I am, and yes it did hurt to cut a branch, but it is necessary. Doctors routinely cut off limbs to save men from gangrene, and this is only different in that my branch will eventually grow back. Gangrene is, I must say, a fine metaphor for that Blood Fever."

—The Silverbranch Tree and Leon Alcibiates

More info later.

Aliases and Nicknames

Geraud Aurelac

One of the Tree's former identities.

Grady Silverbranch

One of the Tree's former identities.

Appearance

"Their host's spectral form kept shifting, now looking like Grady, now like Geraud, now something in between. Despard abruptly decided that he would think of this person as Grady. It was easier that way. Probably all of the others were thinking of him as Geraud and wondering whose appearance he was shifting back and forth into."

—Despard Silverbranch about the avatar of the Silverbranch Tree

The Silverbranch Tree itself looks like a juvenile oak with silver branches and silver leaves. It can also manifest a humanoid avatar to communicate with others, and the avatar tends to assume either the shape of Geraud Aurelac or Grady Silverbranch wearing a white cloak. The looks of the avatar may change between the two men depending on how those it speaks to wish to see the avatar as.

Personality and Traits

Calm, patient, wise.

Powers and Abilities

The tree can cut off branches of itself and store weapons and other items of magic within it as well as recover those items for others who may need them. It can open portals which can safely take people to faraway places as well as summon the White Seal to protect itself from attackers. It can manifest itself as a humanoid avatar, which either resembles Geraud Aurelac or Grady Silverbranch, to interact with people. It also appears to have a gift of prophecy although its ability to see the future is limited to vague visions of events that must happen to reach a specific outcome.

It holds the memories of Yggdrasil, Geraud Aurelac and Grady Silverbranch due to the souls of the latter being bound to it. However, this leads to the tree's biggest weakness: if anyone tries to pull either Geraud or Grady's soul out of the tree via magical means or otherwise, the tree dies, and Bad Things will happen.

Relationships

Despard Silverbranch

The Tree's former identity as Grady Silverbranch links it to Despard, Grady's brother. It is fond of Despard and gave him the sword Twilight.

Leon Alcibiates

The Tree's former identity as both Grady Silverbranch and Geraud Aurelac links it to Leon, a friend of both identities. It instructed Leon to 'cut out the infection' so the world could finally be healed and the Tree itself could begin to bloom.

Liosliath Silverbranch

The Tree, manifesting itself through its avatar, noticed the infant Liosliath having teleported to its location. Being reminded of Despard, the brother of its human self, it quickly teleported the infant back to his home while musing about the possibility that Liosliath would not be able to resist the call of magic.

See also

• Geraud Aurelac
• Grady Silverbranch
• Isle of Yggdrasil
• Silver Branch
• Yggdrasil