The Tree of Eternity
Worshiped by druids and rangers, sought after by the most ambitious arcane masters, hated by the vilest of unnatural creatures, The Tree of Eternity is a monument to nature and all it stands for. It is said that The Tree of Eternity is the first plant to have ever grown in this world, and it has survived ever since, growing to the single largest tree in the world. Fueled by worship, love and the devotion of the monks that care for it, The Tree of Eternity has grown more magnificent every century and shows no sign of dying. Some say that destroying The Tree of Eternity will impact all of nature, forests will wither, the seas will dry up and the world as we know it will be on the brink of destruction.
The Tree of Eternity is said to be planted in The Glade of Life. The Glade is guarded by a legion of powerful, female monks, all of whom have sworn their lives to protect The Tree of Eternity. The Glade of Life has over a five mile radius, under which The Tree of Life’s root’s span. The Tree of Life itself is over fifty feet in diameter. Surrounding it are hundreds of smaller trees, all of which have been created by The Tree of Life’s “Pacify” ability. Some are enemies who attacked The Tree itself, where others are loyal and devoted servants. Monks and druids that have served the tree well may, after a hundred years or so, ask it to return them to nature. The Tree of Life grants this wish almost universally, happy to return its loyal follower to the earth. It is said that upon the final war, The Tree of Life will return all of its followers that it turned into trees back into their humanoid forms upon the final battle between good and evil.
The Glade of Life has several effects that come from The Tree of Eternity. While The Tree has no conscious control over these effects, if it ever were to die they would vanish immediately. First, all living creatures, besides plants, which age to maturity, in The Glade do not age at all. Many creatures have lived several times their lifespans by staying in The Glade. Creatures that leave The Glade begin to age normally again, at their natural rate. Secondly, unnatural creatures, such as undead, constructs and anything else maintained by magic, are treated as having four fewer hit dice in The Glade. Creatures with fewer than four hit dice are immediately destroyed, the magical energy holding them together dissipates and their components collapse to the ground. Thirdly, The Tree of Life has affected a spring at its base. Water taken from the spring and drunken anywhere returns the creatures that consumed it to the prime of its life (in game terms, to the “young” age category.)
Around The Glade is The Forest of Protection. Druids, along with male monks, who worship The Tree stay here. Their job is to protect the tree from attackers, and to give it advanced warning of any that may be coming. Once a year, these guardians are allowed into The Glade to celebrate the anniversary of The Tree’s creation (known by its followers as The Celebration of Nature.) The Tree of Eternity’s oldest and physically most powerful follower is Redvine, a powerful druid, with his silver dragon mate Yvona. Redvine is over five hundred years old, thanks to his yearly tradition of taking a drink from the spring at The Tree of Life’s base during The Celebration. He and Yvona protect the forest, organize the other followers, and generally tend to the day-to-day business of The Tree’s domain. Redvine is seen by many as being introverted and gruff, but in truth he is a good man who has become a little antisocial over the years after watching generations of fellow worshipers and friends either die or join The Tree of Eternity in nature. Redvine has taken a solemn vow to never ask The Tree of Life to transform him into a tree, despite the fact that he has long earned it. He believes The Tree still needs him, and in truth the thought of no longer consciously existing frightens him.
The Tree of Eternity does not actively communicate with its followers. They deduce The Tree’s wishes through its actions, by who it chooses to bring back to life and how it responds to certain actions. It desires harmony above all else, and only rarely fights back using anything except for its Pacify ability if attacked. It does not impose many restrictions on the lives of its followers, only that they do everything within their power to maintain The Tree, The Glade and The Forest. All other rules and regulations are imposed by its followers, mainly Redvine, though the female monks pass a number of decisions themselves.
Colossal Plant
Hit Dice: 80d8+480 (844)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 0
Armor Class: 37 (+45 natural, -8 size)
Base Attack/Grapple: +60/+91
Attack: 4 Slams +91/+85/+79/+73
Damage: 4 Slams (5d8+15)
Space/Reach: 50ft/50ft
Special Attacks: Pacify, Strike of Nature, Spell-Like Abilities
Special Qualities: Damage Reduction 20/Epic, Energy Immunity, Spell Resistance 37, Fast Healing 10, Lifebark
Saves: Fort +78, Ref +62, Will +85
Abilities: Str 40, Dex 10, Con 23, Int 27, Wis 30, Cha 30
Skills: Listen +22, Spot +22, Survival +34, Search +32, Intimidate +32, Knowledge (Nature) +30,
Feats: Power Attack, Expertise, Cleave, Great Cleave, Iron Will, Great Fortitude, Lightning Reflexes, Dodge
Environment: The Glade of Life
Organization: Solitary or Attended by 2-7 monks
Challenge Rating: 20
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Neutral Good
Advancement: -
Level Adjustment: -
Pacify: As a full round action, The Tree of Eternity may attempt to change any living creature in The Glade of Eternity into a sapling. The targeted creatures must make a will save DC 50 or be transformed, along with all his gear, into a non-magical sapling (as the Polymorph Any Object spell but permanent.) The sapling can be destroyed through normal means, but The Tree of Eternity forbids it. So long as the tree exists, the subject cannot be raised from the dead by any means. A Wish or Miracle can turn the tree back into its original form if the caster has the tree. The Tree of Eternity can turn anyone affected by this ability back to normal as a full round action.
Strike of Nature: When striking an unnatural creature (undead, construct or otherwise maintained by magic) The Tree of Eternity deals an additional 2d6 damage.
Spell-Like Abilities: 3/Day: Raise Dead 1/Day: True Resurrection
Energy Immunity: The Tree of Eternity takes no damage from energy attacks.
Lifebark: Bark, wood or leaves willfully given by The Tree of Eternity can substitute any material component or focus for any spell that brings back the dead (though not spells that make undead, or spells like Wish that can bring back the dead, but can be used for other purposes.) Wood, bark of leaves stolen from the tree does not carry this effect. Pieces taken from The Tree of Eternity burn like normal plant life.