#guardian saplings

[amatera5u]

agata forest ❀ guardian sapling

[mud-castle]

Eyes of stars AU: so Fire is a guardian right? And the whole next generation goes through some horrible shit, being kicked from their home, moving to the lake, the badger attack, the fox trap, then all the fights that happen before the Great Battle against the Dark Forest comes down...what type of Guardian would Fire be?

Tbh I used Bluestar as an example because I didn't want to use Fire because I'd need to have basically finished the story to know that.

Uh, I will say, usually he's like the flame in a hearth. He keeps the chill of the outdoors away and smells of home and safety. When he agitates, he becomes a little too hot. Not enough to burn, but enough to discomfort. A warning. Occasionally he'll raze through the land, burning whats there to clear the way for new, better growth. This is not always a sign of anger. It hurts and it seems cruel, but in the long run it's for the best.

[ohfugecannada]

Flora Colossai/Groot Headcanon 1/?: Diet and Eating

Though they can mostly sustain themselves on water and sunlight like most plants and trees, The Flora colossi are technically opportunistic omnivores. They can/will eat solid food such as fruit, vegetables and/or even meat if the circumstances call for it.

When they are driven to hunt, flora colossi can use their shapeshifting powers to make themselves look like non-sentient trees and ambush prey of small to medium-sized animals.

Though, again, most modern day Flora Colossi sustain themselves fine on water/sunlight a good chunk of the time, so eating solid foods like fruit or meat is pretty much optional for them.

Flora Colossi such as the Guardians of the galaxy’s Groot even seem to enjoy eating solid food for fun. Particularly in social situations like when he’s with teammates such as Rocket.

[girlfox]

while listening to kas talk to me about their ahri portrayal, they inspired me to elaborate a lil' more on her ritualisms; therein, the manner in which she ornaments her cadavers post-feeding. i've spoken on this meta a million and two times in the past, as it's been an integral part of her character for almost as long as i've written her ━━━━ and a shard of my portrayal that i hold very dear. so, i won't ramble too much about that!

but i did want to touch on the very purposeful reasoning behind ahri performing this act & the variations she has in it.

as a devotee to the all mother, and keeper of her design, the fox finds profound meaning in every blade of dewy grass and whistle of the wind between tree boughs, and the rot of death gently sheathed in blankets of moss and soil. there is symbolism spun like intertwining threads amongst every facet of nature; no matter how small & insignificant or forthright & proud. it all has a purpose, something to speak into the world around it. this is why she guards her domain so fiercely, in protection of what is inherently good and giving without fault.

「 the forest of the one - thousand faced fox is where nature sprawls unto to thrive, and where lost souls go to find beastly penance. 」

this is also why the kkoch-ui janglyesig, or ❛ funeral of flowers ❜ ritual is also a tribute to the soul it's vessel once contained. in respecting the feminine entity that is the forest, ahri must respect the souls that wander beyond the boundaries of her realm ━━━━ that is, if she deems them so fit to guide gently and with honor into the spirit realm. after all, there are many instances of those who taste of ash & rot that challenge the fox in her own arena whom far from deserve a garland of flowers but rather the maw of hungry wolves.

all this is to say that ahri is keenly aware of the meaning bestowed upon particular flora, and takes note of this whilst adorning her prey in moss and flowers. knowing this, ahri makes an effort to impart these meanings onto those who pass in her forest. ( the particular flowers needed are not always readily available, but nonetheless she makes an effort in the name of sanctification ).

although ahri would never harm a child, it is a sorrowful fact in a war-ridden world that she must guide their souls beyond the natural realm and into the spiritual, at times. in this case, ahri delicately blankets them in nature and bestows upon them 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 & 𝐋𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐘.

they represent innocence and purity, as does the soul of a child; deserving only of safe passage into the warmth of the spirits beyond. if their soul should linger, perhaps forlornly shackled to the corporeal plane still, ahri will not consume it but delicately pull it from where it remains and dip it back into the all-encompassing, ethereal ocean of souls where it may find peace. after all, this is as simple a task as drawing her foxes fire from the intangible.

the most frequent of unwelcome visitors are lost travelers and merchants seeking out a lesser walked shortcut on their journey. as if tying the knot of their own fate, ahri then deems them fair hunt for their intrusive presence. these are the souls she will consume with minor remorse ━━━━ though that's not to say it's without none, as ahri has a deep-rooted appreciation for human nature and human emotion, and the short bursts of life they carry. under normal circumstances, the fox does not desecrate her prey without reason.

therefore, once the hunt is over, she will impart on them 𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐔𝐏𝐒 & 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐒.

representing invasiveness, they are the most straight-forward form of symbolism when used; it is also most common to find her corpses embedded with this particular brand of flora, and the one she's become most known for in the surrounding areas and towns that have likened her to a dangerous mythos.

now, it's rare for ahri to even consider bestowing those she would tear to ribbons without a second thought with her ritual. but in very rare instances, she might. this is particularly true for souls she may feel are wrong and corrupt, but perhaps simply had a bad draw in life or their hand was forced. this opinion is typically formed post-feeding, as their memories and experiences and emotions crawl through-out the crevices of her mind. ahri is not without complex nuance in these situations; she is capable of benevolence in the face of rotten souls. it is simply ... infrequent.

for these, if ahri should bother looking for them, 𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄 & 𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐋𝐘 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐃 are used. the former, though can be equated to the first blush of spring and rebirth, is also highly toxic despite this. it is a reminder that there can be grim darkness in the once clean human soul. the latter is known to symbolize rejection, or serve as warning to others to stay away; it is without subtlety that ahri uses this in bushels.

of course, an abundance of other flora and foliage is utilized in her rituals as the end purpose is to relinquish their physical forms to the omikayalan⁰¹, but there are consistencies between particular souls. the flowering ritual is something ahri holds dear to her heart and is not only a form of metaphorical prayer but a means of returning what once was to where it came from, preserving the natural circle of life.

[tadc-harlequin-au]

"The Man in the Red Coat"

The Man in the Red Coat is a mysterious entity that only appears when Pomni falls in battle, and awakens in the void.

His intentions are unknown, but every time Pomni follows him, she is able to collect multiple Golden Shards (which then spawns a small sapling with golden, glittering leaves) scattered all across the endless plane, before he eventually disappears.

Pomni presumes that the Man in the Red Coat is somehow, the guardian of the void.

[darielivalyen]

"Well then, allow me to introduce myself properly." The cow steps back gracefully and curtsies, a playful twinkle in her eye. "I am known by many names, but you may call me the Holy Cow. Think of me as your fairy auntie, here to offer guidance and a sprinkle of whimsy."

Everbloom is a cozy fantasy game set on the idyllic Everbloom Isle, a place where the charm of a simpler life and the warmth of a close-knit community come together. In this tranquil world, you're invited to slow down, cherish the small moments, and find joy in building connections and creating a space where everyone feels at home.

Your journey centers on the dream of opening a teahouse, an aspiration deeply influenced by your longing for independence and a meaningful life. This dream becomes a reality with the inheritance of your grandmother's house on Everbloom Isle. Here, in a setting far removed from the bustle of city life and your family's expectations, you begin the delicate process of building a new life for yourself.

Are you ready to leave behind the monotony and dullness of daily life and build the teahouse of your dreams on Everbloom Isle?

Play as male, female, or nonbinary.

Choose your appearance and personality.

Romance or befriend one of three distinctive characters: a brave knight seeking a new purpose, a mischievous forest guardian who finds joy in life's lighter moments, or an enigmatic elf with a complex past, seeking solace and clarity on Everbloom Isle.

Create and customize your own teahouse.

Cultivate and enhance your grandmother's garden.

Explore Everbloom Isle in search of unique tea saplings.

Interact with a host of quirky characters, from the whimsical Holy Cow and her not-at-all terrible fish choir to giant turtles, winged wolves, and enigmatic fernlings.

Follow a dynamic quest from the Holy Cow that will challenge you to build friendships, honor your grandmother's legacy, and expand your collection of unique teas.

Sir Castian/Dame Castilla Honeycutt

Personality: brave, honorable, old-fashioned, bashful. Blurb: In a land where swords are replaced by teacups, Cast(), a knight accustomed to battles and quests, struggles to find his/her role. Everbloom Isle, with its whimsical ways, challenges him/her to redefine what it means to be a hero. Can you help him/her weave his/her knightly virtues into the fabric of your new home?

Narciso/Narissa Roseblade

Personality: mischievous, lighthearted, adventurous, non-committal. Blurb: Nar()'s presence on Everbloom Isle is like a breeze through the Elder Tree's leaves – light, unpredictable, and full of life. His/her playful antics and seemingly carefree nature captivate those around him/her. Yet, there's a depth in his/her eyes suggesting more than just whimsy. Will you be the one who figures out what really inspires his/her eternal dance through the grove?

Ideru/Ideri Nightingale

Personality: calculating, composed, solitary, adaptable. Blurb: Ider() arrives at Everbloom Isle cloaked in an aura of intrigue, his/her quiet nature standing in stark contrast to the isle’s vibrancy. Amidst the isle's welcoming community, his/her enigmatic presence stirs a sense of curiosity. Will you be the one who digs into his/her mysterious past and discovers what brings him/her to Everbloom?

PLAY EVERBLOOM | FORUM | TUMBLR

[merwgue]

A SNEAK PEAK INTO MY NEW FANFIC

In the heart of Prythian, the Spring Court was a place where the magic of nature itself ran through the veins of its people. It wasn’t just a court known for its greenery or the eternal spring that wrapped its lands in soft warmth and vibrant life—it was a living, breathing entity where every fae held an intimate bond with the land, the creatures, and the cycles that shaped their world. The Spring Court wasn’t a place where nature was tamed; instead, it was honored, revered, and allowed to flourish freely.

From the youngest fae child to the oldest elder, their lives were intertwined with the rhythms of the earth. It wasn’t unusual to see children running through fields of wildflowers, their laughter echoing as they learned the old ways from their parents and grandparents. These fae were storytellers, and their lore was rich with tales of the first bloom, the Great River Spirit, and the first animal companions who roamed the world with them. Stories were not just meant to entertain but to teach the values of harmony, respect, and the delicate balance between all living things.

When spring arrived, the air would hum with life. Festival preparations began the moment the first green shoot broke through the soil. I imagine their largest celebration, Primaveralis, marking the true beginning of the season. The fae would gather in fields, dressed in clothes adorned with intricate embroidery of flowers, vines, and animals. Woven into their hair would be garlands of fresh blossoms, symbols of renewal. The Primaveralis was more than just a festival; it was a sacred ritual of thanks, where they would offer a part of their harvest to the earth in gratitude for the bounty it would provide. They danced until their feet ached, the music mirroring the flow of rivers and the rustling of leaves in the wind. In the Spring Court, to dance was to connect with the heartbeat of the world.

And then there were the gardens—vast, sprawling sanctuaries where rare plants were cultivated and protected. It was said that every noble house had its own private garden, each one a reflection of the fae who nurtured it. Some were wild, left to grow untamed and free, while others were meticulously cared for, with each petal and leaf carefully pruned. The garden of the High Lord, Tamlin, was rumored to be the most breathtaking of all. No one knew for sure what lay behind the ancient, ivy-covered gates of his private retreat, but whispers spoke of trees that touched the sky and flowers that could bloom only in the light of the full moon.

The bond between fae and nature was sacred, and no one embodied that connection more than Tamlin himself. The High Lord could shift into a beast, a physical manifestation of the untamed power of the land. He was the protector of the Spring Court, and his very presence was tied to the land's prosperity. When he walked the borders of his territory, the flowers stood taller, the trees whispered their thanks, and the animals watched him with a kind of reverence. He wasn’t just their ruler; he was their guardian. And in return, the Spring Court was fiercely loyal to him.

But the Spring Court was not just about nature—it was about the bond between its people. Family was at the core of their traditions, and the fae of the Spring Court were bound not just by blood but by the shared values of protection and growth. Births were joyous occasions, marked by the Ceremony of Roots. In this ritual, a sapling would be planted in honor of each new life, and as the child grew, so too would the tree, symbolizing their connection to the land. Weddings were similarly sacred, held beneath the ancient boughs of the forest, where vows were whispered to the wind and witnessed by the spirits of the earth.

Death, too, was honored. The fae of the Spring Court understood that death was simply another part of the cycle. When a member of the court passed, their body would be returned to the land in the Rite of the Earth, where they would be buried beneath the roots of an ancient tree. The people believed that in death, they would continue to nourish the land they had protected in life. Their legacy lived on in the flowers that bloomed and the trees that stood tall long after they were gone.

I imagine the Spring Court having its own language—one that was soft, flowing, and filled with words that described the beauty of nature. Their language would be rich with metaphors, where love could be expressed as a blossoming flower or a tree’s roots reaching deep into the earth. While they spoke the common tongue of the fae, their dialect would be unique, shaped by centuries of living so close to the land. And perhaps, for their most sacred rituals, they had an ancient script—runes carved into the bark of trees or drawn in the earth during ceremonies, connecting them to the ancient spirits who had watched over the land since the beginning of time.

The fae of the Spring Court were known for their artistry, their creativity inspired by the world around them. Their tapestries were woven with threads dyed from the petals of rare flowers, each one telling the story of their ancestors or marking a significant event in their history. Their clothes were simple yet elegant, adorned with floral patterns and symbols of the seasons. Jewelry was crafted from the stones and gems found in their rivers and mountains, each piece imbued with the magic of the land.

But at the heart of the Spring Court was its music. Songs were passed down through generations, each one telling the story of the court’s history, of battles fought, love found, and the eternal cycle of life and death. The music was always present, whether in grand festivals or quiet moments of reflection. Instruments made from wood and bone, their sounds mimicking the calls of birds or the rustle of leaves, were played by skilled musicians who had learned the craft from their ancestors.

Tamlin, despite his flaws, was deeply tied to these traditions. He carried the weight of centuries of history on his shoulders, and though the events of recent years had taken their toll, there was no doubt that the Spring Court’s spirit still lived within him. He had made mistakes, yes, but the people of the Spring Court saw him as more than just a ruler. He was a symbol of the land’s strength and resilience, a protector who had stood against darkness for fifty long years under the curse of Amarantha.

And while his court was healing, so too was he. The fae of the Spring Court believed in second chances—in the possibility of growth after destruction, just as the forest regrows after a fire. They believed in Tamlin, not just as a High Lord but as one of them—a fae bound by the same traditions, the same love for the land that they all shared.

In the end, the Spring Court wasn’t just a place. It was a feeling—a deep connection to the world around them, a respect for the cycles of life and death, and an unbreakable bond between its people. Despite the hardships they had faced, their hearts still beat in time with the pulse of the land, and their hope for the future remained as strong as ever.

TELL ME GUYS IF I SHOULD CONTINUE IT, thank you so much for reading this, i really appreciate it🥹❤️

[thegrayascendancy-if]

Hiii 🩵 I have two questions for you but I’ll ask them separately- first:

What is the most expensive purchase the ROs have made?

TY bestie 🩵🩵

Arthur: a commissioned painting of his mother that he, frankly, highly dislikes as it is done in one of those "modern" styles that exaggerate the vibrancy of colors and overly accentuate the features. He is a cranky and staunch realist, but his mother is prone to be swayed by the trends, so she greatly enjoyed it.

Darla: her grandmother's golden brooch that was stolen from their household in the period of unrest in the capital. It was an accident that she even saw it, worn by another distinguished lady at a party (it has changed hands of course). Arguing her case was eventually fruitless, so she grit her teeth and paid the demanded price.

Gale: a gift for his former guardian, Frederick, who was free to retire when the job of watching Gale effectively went to Arthur. It was an assortment of apple saplings, hardy for the man's colder home region. Frederick is a farmer's son and always wanted to go back to it.

Ianthe: not something that she purchased, but the biggest lump sum she ever held in her hands perhaps? A drunken scholar insisted she escort him to and perhaps around the nearby caverns, rumored to have been inhabited once. He tried to entice her with the gold for his entire expedition, thrusting it into her hands. She accepted only because an inebriated gentleman too loose with his money was bound to attract attention, so he went to bed that night thinking he had secured a rather beautiful guide for the most important leg of his journey. In the morning, all the money was in his room, with a note suggesting rather strongly he stay away from the caves.

Jax: without a doubt, someone's silence. In the material plane, it would be a large box with a small hole, capable of projecting its surroundings onto its dark insides. They were fascinated when they first saw it and were convinced it was some clever trick. When they couldn't find anything off with it immediately, they had no choice but to purchase it to understand how the owner was fooling everyone. They learned quite a bit about optics with it.

Yves/Yvette: land and real estate in an undisclosed location.

[synnthamonsugar]

DESTINYTOBER: Day 6 - Tree

Read on AO3

Omen-5 belongs to @xivu-arath

. . .

To most Guardians, the Travelerformed pyramid was a source of astonishment and terror, the dread power of Darkness and Light both manifest in its alien overgrowth. It was a living reminder of how little humankind really understood the forces that had guided and challenged life for a millennium. More than that, a monument to a war that threatened to end the universe as it's known . . . 

But to Omen-5, it was something different. It was more like a homecoming. 

Omen looked at the nacreous growth spread in all directions like kudzu, and could not help but see the familiarity to xyr own body. Xe had been tasked by Eris with transporting a Seed of Silver Wings, and had instead been transformed by it. In the course of a day, xyr left arm had been overtaken, consumed, restructured from metal and silicone to paracausal wood and iridescent bark. 

Xe flexed xyr hand reflexively thinking about it. It had been two years — how strange to think, for it was both immediately close and infinitely long ago in xyr mind — but xe still felt surprised by the way the cellulose contracted and relaxed as xe used xyr arm, the way that sap could sometimes be felt beneath the surface. (Is this what it was like to have muscle? Blood? Xe shook off the thought.) No longer did it look unfamiliar in the mirror, but Omen thinks xe will never quite get over how it feels. Not bad, but different. 

It would be easy to think of these shimmering vines as something done by the Traveler to the Pyramid Flagship, but the reality was it came out of a clash between the two, as much the Darkness' doing as the Light's. Xe wondered what part of xemself the Seed had reacted to; was it the Light, as Eris speculated? Or the Darkness, as Lilith had opined in not so many words? Maybe it was both, two like frequencies that harmonized and amplified each other. 

Omen looked opposite the dizzying fractal portal that the Witness cut into the Traveler, toward the heart of the pyramid. A perfect line from the beam of pure Light the Traveler shot in its wounded state. Though it was but a sapling, xe would recognize a Tree of Silver Wings anywhere. 

For the first time, Omen thought xe fully understood what is meant by the saying that its leaves tell of ruin, that its bark speaks of disaster.

[gorillageek27]

Did you know that

This groot

Is actually this groom's father?

James gunn has confirmed that the original groot died in guardians of Galaxy 1 and left behind a sapling for his friends to take care of.

[the-desert-beast]

Home of The Twilight Tree,

and The Desert Beast himself.

💕 Follows come from @creativebrainrot ! mycarrd !💕

-- Misc. Tags Library --

|> #twilighttreesylvari - all lore/posts about my homebrew subspecies of elonian sylvari. |> #blackwolfbrewery - posts/lore about my EU OCs crew, a criminal syndicate operating out of Lion's Arch's underbelly. |> #ocposting - any and all lore or ocposting ! |> #mysnippets - my creative writing about ocs. |> #myocs / #my art |> #[say chat] - my talking tag |> #friends' ocs / #friends' art - go look at their fucken cool shit!!!! |> #ocfashion |> #gw2treats - stuff ive found out in the game and shared / advice / helpful gw2 related stuff from the community! |> ---

ARTBLOG: @r0selace

-- Character Tags Library --

[Main Five Lore OCs] The Commander: Belial Soulshatter Aurene's Champion: Louis Ebonpromise + Trahearne Lives and stays Marshal of The Pact.

You can find miscellaneous text posts, memes, and various things tagged as nothing more than the characters first name. ex. "maelgwyn" for random posts, vs. "oc: maelgwyn (he/any)" for lore, 110% accurate posts, and more. #[shitpost voice]

Of personal lore note: Sylvari pick their relationships with eachother and are not, "by default," related. Maelgwyn, Rhosyn, Llacheu, Kynwyl and Lynette are a sibling group. Additionally, Faeryl and Cerwyn regard eachother as siblings, as do Morven and Evnyssyen. None of these groups regards any other group as their siblings- They're nothing more than "fellow firstborn." I thought to clarify since this lore is vague ingame and ive seen plenty of reads across the fandom so far. so! thats how it works here :) to avoid confusion.

|> OC: Maelgwyn (He/Any) 01 / 02 | Born precisely one year before the Pale Tree's very first sylvari would wake, Maelgwyn spent more than two decades utterly alone. The Desert Beast never let that stop him, his life has been dramatic and painful make no mistake- But no hunter stops hunting before their prey is limp before them. |> OC: Rhosyn (They/She) 01 / 02 | A cheerful brawler! Friend of the sunspears and guardian of all elonian citizens. Following in her brother's "hometown hero" footsteps she's continued to protect the innocent and aid the lost and abandoned. She still makes time to knock back some beers at her favorite fighting ring. |> OC: Llacheu (They/He) 01 / 02 | A bitter, cynical jackass. Llacheu is very hard to get along with should anyone ever take up the challenge. Personality made of thorns to keep anyone at bay, to test those who try to get close. A self-fulfilling prophecy really. But not even this secluded little brother can escape the legacy he comes from; Spending time in New Kaineng aiding the poor, the desperate, the downtrodden. |> OC: Faeryl (She/Her) 01 / 02 | Sister to the much younger Cerwyn. Faeryl spends her days collecting books and training the saplings of her tree in their ways of life. She mentors young mesmers & twilight dreamers in all sorts of skills. A sweet and loving personality, a great best friend for support, but she's no pushover. In love with her fellow firstborn, Rhosyn. |> OC: Kynwyl (He/Him) 01 / 02 | The heartthrob of his tree's firstborn, Kynwyl has a charming charismatic air about him. Saplings commonly develop crushes on him and/or Faeryl. He mentors saplings in swordsmanship and shapeshifting, as well as diplomacy and morals. His days are well-scheduled but packed with responsibilities; he's more than happy to bare. He spends half his year in Cantha, training, writing, and relaxing. The other half in elona at home. |> OC: Evnyssyen (She/Him) 01 / 02 | A wanderlusted soul who ran off to explore a mere two weeks after waking! She's seen near all of Elona already and has begun hungering to see The Shiverpeaks, The Maguuma Jungle- Oh so much! Perhaps He'll head off to Cantha next and see what that pink firstborn's fussing about! Whilst exploring Elona, she found a very curious soul- another elonian firstborn! (@ commanderthalys' Marek.) |> OC: Morven (It/It's) 01 / 02 | The most stuck up, judgemental, haughty firstborn the tree has to offer. Morven's made a name for it's self with it's innate skill for elementalist magic. It's experiments lead it to a much more Ritualistic style of grandiose magic in combat. It isn't one to be toyed with whether casually or on the battlefield. Indeed, it's the most strict- yet helpful- teacher the tree can offer in the schools of primal magic. |> OC: Cerwyn (He/Him) 01 / 02 | The most reclusive of the entire tree, Cerwyn spends all of his days shapeshifted into his beastial form. Lazing around as a cat in hide-aways only Faeryl knows of. She's the only one he'll always have time and patience for. Cerwyn's only responsibility is to teach growing aged- about 2-3 years old- saplings about their shapeshifting abilties. |> OC: Lynette (She/Her) 01 / 02 | Stuck up though far less than Morven, Lynette has an eye for all the expensive and rare things in the world. To describe her with a single word would be "Brat." She serves as the ranger mentor and trainer of the tree's young ones. Her and her iboga are well known to be fiercely protective of the tree and her saplings, as well as Lynette's own siblings. She uses her unusually short stature against her opponents, using a hit-and-dodge tactic seen in agile poisonous things.

| For brevity, only my nine firstborn ocs are listed here. If you want to browse more, here's my toyhouse !

-- Ships List --

Personal Lore: Maelgwyn x Trahearne Llacheu x Morven Louis x Pyrs Sugyn x Laranthir

With Friends: StrayWyvern/MY BESTIE LUD: Conyvld x Maelgwyn, Lusarim x Kynwyl LynxFrost13 MY BESTIE LYNXLEE: Marek x Evnyssyen SILVESI MY BESTIE SILV: Fedsy x Kynwyl Mabakiiiiii mabiii our beloveddd: Lysyldur x Maelgwyn Sunsrefuge sable <3: Quinn x Maelgwyn, Zayvis x Kynwyl, Hemlock x Iniss, Kirari x Eliana (iirc) The-Dot dottieee: Nephele x Kynwyl <3 Shroomlet sTUUU: NMC!Stiu x NMC!Kynwyl, Soulmates!StiuxKynwyl

#sakurapolycule -- Nephele / Kynwyl / Fedsy / Lusarim / Zayvis !

mastery point divider credit goes to @ soulbeastdragon.

[mushroom-madness]

🍄 Round 1: Match 25 🍄

🍄 Vote for your Favorite Fungi! 🍄

Descriptions Below ⬇️

Zommoth

“Zommoth is an optional/hidden boss in Bug Fables, fought at the end of the Leif's Request side story. It is also a cordyceps fungus inside a moth host and Leif (whom we also submitted) refers to it as their sibling. It was an experiment to see if bugs could be given magic by infecting them with the parasitic fungi, and the result was This Beast (affectionate). There are other cordyceps in the same laboratory it's found in, but Zommoth is the strongest and the most notable by a large margin. Very little is known about it as a person but it's stated to be a "guardian" figure and implied that it was protecting the lab and the other zombies in it. We are emotionally attached to it. Also, its color scheme is the nonbinary flag.” - Submission 47

“Oh boy, do we LOVE this fungus! Zommoth is a cordyceps beast and immortality experiment made in search of the power of the Everlasting Sapling, a thing said to bring eternal life. Unfortunately, as it often is with this sort of things, they the fungus and they the moth were both quite displeased with being involuntarily used for the sake of roaches chasing immortality. It killed everything in the lab and proceeded to take it over with their many, many fungal siblings.

Technically speaking, Zommoth is a blend of both the fungus and its moth host, now twisted beyond recognition and unable to separate even if they wanted to, but we do think it still counts. It's at least 50% fungus. Probably more, it doesn't seem to have had much use for most of those moth bits. It is loving sibling to many undead fungal hybrid abominations, and its hobbies include screaming, firing lasers at people who intrude into its lab, and crawling out of the water like a beast from a horror flick. We believe it deserves to compete, and also to win.” - Submission 52

“Oh yeah this thing is a fungus isn't it. Positively overflowing with cordyceps. Honestly kinda forgot about it for this but saw my mutual bring it up and I figured it would need the support. It sure is a Phucking Phungus” - Submission 68

“A zombie moth full of Cordyceps fungus, the result of a horrific experiment. “Sibling” to Leif, as in created through the same unethical project, if you read my last submission.” - Submission 105

Bug Fables Wiki

Room

“Room is a giant radiation-mutated mushroom and the partner of Lou (the smartest person in Laketown City) (a genius teenage girl) who often carries her on their shoulder and stuff and is the brawn to her brains. Also this is my way of saying listen to Join the Party campaign 2, it's D&D reskinned for a modern day superhero setting and hey. Mushrooms play a big part in the plot ;)” - Submission 58

No Wiki Available. Sorry Room, I’ve been trying to flesh out character descriptions so everyone has about the same amount included in the posts in an effort to create a fair vote and include links for everyone since I started including links for some. But I just. Couldn’t find anything other than the submitter’s description. Only image I could find too.

[snailygoon]

spread 4: ✨Aiden and the Birth of a Crann✨

TEXT: “It's only right that the first Crann I introduce you to is Aiden. He was the one who formally introduced me to the world of Faerie after all, and he's nothing short of magnificent. Throughout this journal I will be talking about the different species of Crann I’ve met mostly in general terms (if I were to describe them all individually this journal might never end), but in the case of Aiden that isn’t really possible. To understant what I mean I must first tell you about the birth of a Crann, as explained to me by the Fae themselves. Although they are not immortal beings, their lives can span centuries, making it unnecessary for them to reproduce often. But when it does come time for a new Crann to be brought into this world, it's quite the ceremonious event. Every hundred years or so the elder Crann of the forest are gathered together and a tree sapling is selected by a group of elemental Fae to be nutured with magic. This jovial ceremony full of dancing and singing can span for days, Faeries of all kinds gathering together to witness the birth of a new guardian. Although the Crann live in harmony amongst each other, they each have abilities unique to their species and certain ecosystems in which they thrive. This means the newborn Crann are then given to whichever group they belong to, whether it be Yew, Hazel, Ash, etc., in order to learn the ways of their kind. This was not the case for Aiden.”

"Many years ago a botanist facinated by the idea of bending nature to his will was experimenting with tree grafting. He was attempting to create a chimera that embodied as many of Irelands native trees as he could, testing the limits in which nature could be manipulated by his hand. His attempts proved fruitless and he abandoned his failed experiment in the forest, neglected and dying. There it was found by some garden Faeries who were very intrigued by this curious little sapling. Unable to resist caring for the peculiar sprout, the Faeries began nursing it back to health, unintentionally imbuing the sapling with the same magic that would normally be reserved for the birth of a Crann. By the time they noticed their mistake it was too late. They shuttered at the thought of having to summon the Elder Crann to see what they had done, but not more than they reveled in the idea of causing a bit of trouble for them as well. The newborn was then plucked from the earth and presented to the Crann who had been summoned from every reach of the forest, much to their confusion. To say they were bewildered by this sickly sapling's appearance would be an understatement. Deformed, pale, and incredibly skinny, he was far smaller than any newborn Crann before him. He displayed a confusing mishmash of almost all the forest's trees combined, the likes of which the Crann had never seen, nor fathomed. His one large eye glistened with wonder, mushrooms and tree bark twisting over where the other eye was never able to fully grow. Even his mouth was nowhere to be found, rendering him mute."

< (previous spread) (next spread)> <<(beginning)

[ohfugecannada]

Groot’s many backstories

So earlier I saw this post by @alastorgould where he over some of the many versions of Rocket’s backstories, eventually writing his own take on it that combined elements of all of them. It’s a pretty good summary of Rocket’s past and it’s many incarnations in the comics, cartoons and MCU etc and I highly recommend you check it out along with his rocket and halfworld related art/fics.

Anyway, It inspired to make my own post going over some of the backstories/incarnations of my personal favourite gotg character: Groot. Because A) as mentioned, he’s my fave, and imo one of the more underrated Guardians members out of the core 5, and B) Groot actually has quite a few takes on his backstory already through not only multiple retcons in the 616 comics continuity but also through several multi-media adaptations of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. And I thought it would be fun to share some of them with you all.

Obviously, this isn’t gonna cover every single piece of media Groot has been in/has had his backstory mentioned etc. But I did my research and tried my best to cover a good chunk of the most notable continuities and adaptations.

Also, I haven’t read the entirety of every comic Groot is in ever (I.E. the latest gotg Grootfall/Grootrise story arc) so forgive me if I get a few details wrong. If there are any die hard gotg/Groot comic readers out there, feel free to politely and respectfully correct me on a few things.

The Comics

In the main marvel 616 comics there have been at least 3 different versions of Groot’s backstory and origins. 4 if you count his very first incarnation…

Tales to astonish #13 (+ other King Groot appearances)

King Groot is the giant tree like ruler of Planet-X, and an alien invader who lands on earth to kidnap the humans from a small town in order to take them back to his home planet and experiment on them. Conventional weapons used by the towns military don’t work as this groot is immune to fire and explosives. But thanks to the quick thinking of protagonist human scientist Leslie Evens, king groot is taken down by genetically bred super termites. He seemingly dies in this story but later makes appearances in comics like the Howling Commandos, aiding the team. Most commonly being seen as an inhabitant of Monster Isle. There was a time where it was thought the groot on the guardians of the galaxy was the same groot as king groot (mainly the annihilation: conquest series), but this was later retconned as a different Groot impersonating King Groot. Which brings us to…

Guardians of the Galaxy #14 (2013)/Annihilators #1 and 2 (2012)

Groot was a flora colossus sapling who along with his fellow saplings (also all called groot) were looked after by a group of elder flora colossus called the Arbor Masters. This groot was different from the others as he often brefirended the maintenance mammals; small intelligent mammal like beings who most other flora colossus looked down on as inferior. One day, another group of flora colossai were bulling a squirrel-like maintenance mammal and groot steps in to defend it. After one of the more violent flora colossus nearly kills the mammal, groot snaps and tears the other colossus apart. Presumably killing him. This catches the attention of the Arbor masters, who then have groot banished from the planet via a space ship.

This groot would later go on to impersonate king Groot and join the team that would become the Guardians of the galaxy, in Annihilation Conquest: Starlord #1, where he’d first meet his teammate and future bff Rocket Raccoon. The way he was written in annihilation conquest made it seem like he was the same character as King Groot, but this was later retconned in Annihilators #1 and 2 as well as Guardians of the Galaxy #14.

Groot vol.1 (2015)

My personal favourite comic origin for groot. (Also literally the best version of Groot in any media ever dont @ me)

Groot is born on Planet X, where the flora colossus are towering giants who regularly kidnap beings from other planets to preform experiments on them. Groot is disturbed and appalled by the actions of his people but feels powerless to do anything… until one night where he discovers a little human girl, Hannah, being held prisoner in one of the holding pods and decides to help her escape.

After teleporting Hannah away back to Earth, Groot remains behind and destroys the teleportation pad, presumably cutting the flora colossus off from earth, and he is banished by his elders. Groot then wanders the universe for a while, taking in all its wonders and sights, before being thrown in a kree prison where he meets Rocket for the first time. Rocket can’t understand Groot at first, but over the course of months sharing a cell with him, does. After this the two form a fast friendship and break out of prison, becoming bounty hunters/criminals and eventually joining the Guardians.

Groot vol.2 (2023)

One of the most recent and drastically different origins presented in the comics so far.

In this miniseries, Planet-X is a lush forest covered planet and the flora colossus, unlike the other comic origins, are a benevolent and peaceful race of sentient plants ruled over by a giant matriarch tree called Granopy. She looks after and tells stories to a child groot and his two friends Tweeg and Gleef.

One day their forest gets burnt by a gang of mercenaries known as The Spoilers, led by an evil Flora colossus named Agz, and the three get kidnapped. But are freed by a young Mar-vel. Together the four of them, along with an Alpha Centurion hunter called Yondar, fight against the Spoilers and save Planet X. As of writing this, the Grootfall/grootrise arc, which references this miniseries, has only just wrapped up. So It’s not clear if this story is supposed to be a prequel to the 2015 Groot origin or if it’s a full on retcon of it. (Im gonna assume the latter, given how different Flora Colossai are in this compared to the previous origins. Unless Flora Collossus society/planet X as a whole really went down hill after Groot grew up, somehow going from the peaceful forest utopia we see in vol. 2 to the desolate wasteland ruled by an evil king groot in tales to astonish/groot number 6 but I digress) so it’s up in the air for now if/how they connect to each-other…

Origins in other media

As a Marvel multi-media franchise, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and by extension Groot, have had a number of different adaptations and interpretations across various non-comic book mediums including movies, games, tv shows etc. so let’s take a look at four of the most famous ones.

MCU

Weirdly enough, despite this version of Groot (and his son Groot ii aka baby groot) being the most widely known by general audiences thanks to the popularity of the MCU, MCU Groot is the most mysterious when it comes to his origin story. We never get any implications or mentions of it in the entire gotg franchise (outside of a mention of Planet X in the nova police lineup scene in vol.1). The closest we get is an idea James Gunn had planned for a short film about how Groot and Rocket met and a few very brief mentions about it in interviews. In the tweet about the short film idea, James explains Groot was caged up at an intergalactic zoo housing exotic alien creatures and was treated like an animal. Until a worker at the zoo, a robot/cyborg named Tibus Lark, became attached to Groot and helped him escape, becoming his closest friend. Until they found themselves in a hole/prison where Lark and groot would meet Rocket. Being mortally injured, Tibus would explain his and Groot’s story to Rocket before entrusting Groot with Rocket and dying. Rocket would then use the robotic parts of Lark’s body to build his big gun seen in the first gotg and break out of the pit with Groot. Beginning their criminal partnership and (dysfunctional) friendship.

Gotg Disney XD cartoon season 1

In the Disney XD cartoon, Groot grew up on an idyllic and serene Planet X ruled by his father(?), both coming from a long line of flora colossus spanning billions of years who, along with all life on Planet X, all grew from an object known as the world pod. A source of power that exists within groot. Shortly after a day of battle training with his father, the Kree and their leader Ronan invade the planet to mine it of its resources. Dispute the protest of its natives, the planet is burnt to ashes, leaving groot the lone survivor. He’s then taken by the kree and experimented on, along with other kidnapped Earth animals. This is where he meets a newly anthro-ified Rocket, and the two break out together and eventually join the guardians.

Gotg Telltale Game

Like the MCU version, we unfortunately don’t get a look into his backstory, but what we do know from the alternate story path where Rocket stays with Quill and Groot goes with Mantis when the team break up is he is the last of his kind and empathises with mantis greatly because of it.

Gotg Eidos Game

Through conversations with Groot (with Rocket, and later in the game Mantis, translating for Quill), and a few parts of rocket’s conversations, we learn that Groot’s father was the king of Taluhnia (the original native name of Planet X) as well as the other branch worlds. Groot himself wanted to be a forest caretaker so he could care for the plants of Taluhina. In contrast, his father and the arbor masters were corrupt and favoured the needs of the few over the many, and enslaved the sapient animals on Taluhnia. With some saplings even hurting these mammals for fun. Groot however, preferred thier company over the others of his kind due to how nice and smart they were, comparing them to rocket in his convo with Quill and Mantis.

Unfortunately, however, they along with the rest of Taluhnia, would perish after the Chitari would test an experimental doomsday device on the planet. After the planets destruction, the other branch worlds would mobilise an attack, but they were no match for the Chitari and were destroyed as well. Fortunately, groot was able to regrow himself into a smaller sapling form. Making him, as far as he knows, the only survivor. In his smaller form, he would eventually be sold to the collector, but would later be stolen by rocket who raided the whole place while drunk. It’s kind of a mix of the maintenance mammal stuff from the gotg issue 14 story and the general flora Collossus are corrupt stuff from that and groot issue 6, with the alien race wipe out the flora colossus part from the cartoon (though swapping out the Kree for the Chitari this time).

…And that’s it for the most famous Groot origins! Again, this doesn’t include every incarnation of Groot ever, but I think I covered my bases with the most notable continuities. Maybe I’ll have a go at writing my own take on the origin at some point, but for now, I just hope you all enjoyed learning about Groot’s different pasts as much as I did researching them…

Also let me know if there are other, more obscure versions of Groot and his backstory I missed here. I’m always down to learning more Groot lore.

[whatsthatmagiccard]

Ongoing list of the cards under the MB2 playtest cards, as per the official card image gallery. Just text. There's so many. Somebody go put these into the Scryfall Tagger like they did last time.

Interestingly, not all cards that directly reference another make the backing card visible as part of the joke (see Intangible Vibes).

If there wasn't a direct reference, usually, they just used the most recent card they had that fit the frame. Unique cards are bolded.

A Girl and Her Dogs + Abbot of the Sacred Meeple + Defender of the Queue + Jeskai Baller + Knight of Lost Causes + Noble Ox + Plain Walker + Sliver of Hope + Tax Taker -> Phyrexian Pegasus (MOM)

Arcanum Things + Avacyn's Collar, the Symbol of Her Church -> Kor Halberd (MOM)

Brigid, Who's Seen Some Stuff -> Brigid, Hero of Kinsbaile (LRW)

Champion of the Hareish -> Champion of the Parish (DDQ)

Essence of Ajani + Friarball -> Surge of Salvation (MOM)

Intangible Vibes -> Intangible Virtue (ONC)

Muraganda Eldrazi -> Eldrazi Displacer (OGW)

New Master of Arms -> Master of Arms (WTH)

Alberix, the Trade Planet + Duelist's Convocation International + Heart of a Duelist + Map to Lorthos's Temple + Two by Four -> Temporal Cleansing (MOM)

Blurry Visionary + Catch of the Day + No-Regrets Egret + Panglacial Shinobi + Search Elemental -> Preening Champion (MOM)

Can't Quite Recall -> Ancestral Vision (TSR)

Night of the Flying Merfolk -> Kiora Bests the Sea God (THB)

Subgoyf -> Sharding Sphinx (MOC)

There / They're / Their -> Said / Done (MH2)

(Wisedrafter's Will is inconclusive; digital print)

(Your Wish is My Command is inconclusive)

(Call from the Grave is inconclusive, though likely Call to the Grave (SCG))

Cleaver Blow + Common Black Removal + Halving Season + TL;DR + You Compleat Me -> Vanquish the Weak (MOM)

Creepy Crawler + Lifening Elemental + Magus of the Chains + Pinchy McStingbutt -> Nezumi Informant (MOM)

Lich's Duel Mastery -> Lich's Mastery (DOM)

Liliana's Other Contract / Liliana's Undead Minion -> Grasping Shadows (LCI)

Odric, Lunar Marquis + Toofer, Keeper of the Full Grip -> Syr Konrad, the Grim (likely MOC)

The Many Deeds of Belzenlok -> Rite of Belzenlok (DOM)

Yawgmoth's Day Planner -> Witch's Cauldron (CMM)

All-Star Kicker + Boulder Jockey -> Trailblazing Historian (MOM)

Bolshak Dragon -> Shivan Dragon (M20)

Boltfire -> Firebolt (MH1)

(Dwarven Confluencer is inconclusive)

(Flanking Licid is inconclusive, but likely Convulsing Licid (STH) or Enraging Licid (TMP))

Gobland -> The Autonomous Furnace (ONE)

Immerstum Battlefield + Planeswalkerificate + Snap Judgement + Toddler's Rage -> Volcanic Spite (MOM)

Pyromancy 101 -> Start From Scratch (STX)

Vuzzle Spaceship -> Shrapnel Slinger (ONE)

Wormhole Warp -> Chaos Warp (likely MOC)

(Zone of Flame is inconclusive)

(Built Bear is inconclusive)

Dairy Cow, Flavor Nightmare, Phyrexian Seedling, Spuzzem Strategist, Starting Town NPC -> War Historian (MOM)

Glade of the Pump Spells -> The Hunter Maze (ONE)

Keeper of the Crown / Coronation of the Wilds -> Lovestruck Beast / Heart's Desire (ELD, showcase)

Meandered Towershell -> Meandering Towershell (KTK)

Naturalize 2 -> Naturalize (M19)

Penumbra Umbra -> Penumbra Spider (MM3)

Plant a Sapling / Fully-Grown Treefolk -> Herbology Instructor (MOM)

Questing Cosplayer -> Questing Beast (ELD)

Teferi, Druid of Argoth -> Surrak and Goreclaw (MOM)

The Colossal Dreadmaw -> Colossal Dreadmaw (XLN)

Werewhat -> Tireless Hauler / Dire-Strain Brawler (MID)

Wrenn and One -> Wrenn and Realmbreaker (MOM)

Anax and Cymede & Kynaios and Tiro + Convention Maro + Chea, Friend to Maybe Too Many + Hish of the Snake Cult + Wowzer, the Aspirational -> Niv-Mizzet, Supreme (MAT)

Chatzuk, Mighty Guitarist -> Melira, the Living Cure (ONE)

Don't Worry About It -> Growth Spiral (DMC)

Fludge, Gunk Guardian -> Yargle and Multani (MOM)

Glimpse, the Unthinkable -> Hidetsugu and Kairi (MOM)

Jund 'Em Out -> Rebuild the City (MAT)

Lutri, Pauper Otter -> Lutri, the Spellchaser (IKO)

Mothers Yamazaki -> Djeru and Hazoret (MOM)

Narod, the Beige Flower -> Doran, the Seige Tower (LRW)

Pokey, the Scallywagg + Terry Pin, Turboturtle -> Baral and Kari Zev (MOM)

Rin and Seri, Inseperabler -> Rin and Seri, Inseperable (M20)

Stone Drake -> Halo Forager (MOM)

Wrath of Finkel -> Shadowmage Infiltrator (inconclusive)

Indicate -> Vindicate (EMA)

Kozilek, Compleated -> Kozilek, Butcher of Truth (ROE)

Marchesa's Surprise Party + Rule with an Even Hand -> Sovereign's Realm (CN2)

Omnipresent Impostor -> Farfinder (IKO)

Who's That Praetor? -> All Is Dust (UMA)

Luxior, Ignited -> Luxior, Giada's Gift (SNC)

Microscope -> Urn of Godfire (MOM)

(Mox Poison is inconclusive)

(Orb of Origin is inconclusive)

Runed Terror -> Skittering Surveyor (MOM)

Fetching Garden -> Blossoming Sands (MOM)

Lazotep Archway -> Scoured Barrens (MOM)

Madlands -> Bloodfell Caves (MOM)

Maestros' Totally Safe Hideout + Omenpath to Naya + Processing Plant + Temur Elevator + Under-Construction Skyscraper -> Jeskai Monastery (MOC)

Slumbering Waterways -> Thornwood Falls (MOM)

The Heron Moon -> Geier Reach Sanitarium (CMM)

Value Town / Take a Trip To... -> Swiftwater Cliffs (MOM)

[midwestbramble]

Birch Folklore

Betula alleghaniensis

Ruled by ♀

⸙༄𓆤𓆩𓆪❁𓇢𓆸🏵

Contents:

Overview

Folklore

Uses in Witchcraft

Safety Notes

Conclusion

⸙༄𓆤𓆩𓆪❁𓇢𓆸🏵

Overview

A fast-growing deciduous hardwood that reaches 65 feet or more at maturity. Grows near lakes and streams and throughout urban landscapes. The bark of yellow birch is a pale yellow-bronze or gold color and is scored horizontally with lenticels (the bits that make it look like it has eyes). The outer layers often peel into thin, papery strips giving the trunk a shaggy appearance. In older trees the bark is gray and can develop ragged strips that curl or loosen along the edges.

The leaves are ovate and serrated, usually around 2 1/2 to 5 inches long. They are arranged alternately on the branches. Flowers (catkins) grow on both male and female trees and form in late winter before the leaves open. Male catkins are pendulous, and female catkins are erect.

The tree has a distinct winter green scent and flavor of tender new branches and leaves. Almond flavor tends to be a cherry tree which also has shiny bark with lenticels.

Also a good host for the chaga mushroom.

Bark and twigs should be taken from smaller saplings or from fallen branches. These should be taken in early spring when sap is flowing and wintergreen flavor is prominent. Use pruning shears or clippers to snip off tender spring growth, leaf buds, and leaves, and then dry. Store in airtight containers to preserve flavor (volatile oils are prone to evaporation).

Tap mature trees and harvest the tips of branches in moderation. Sap should be collected in late winter at the same time as maple. Seek out stands and select trees that are at least 6-8 inces in diameter. Need 20 gallons more sap for birch than maple to make 1 gallon of birch syrup.

⸙༄𓆤𓆩𓆪❁𓇢𓆸🏵

Folklore

-Evoking Leshii or Lieschi-

A Russian ritual calls for using birch to summon the Lieschi, a slavic tutelary forest spirit. Peasants would cut down very young birch trees, arranging them in a circle for protection before calling upon the spirit.

-Baba Yaga-

This Slavic witch of legend was said to make her home in a birch forest, surrounded by a fence made of birch posts topped with enchanted human skulls. It was also said she used a birch broom to sweep away her tracks while traveling in her mortar and pestle. In the story of "Vasilisa the Beautiful", Baba Yaga even instructs the birch tree not to harm the young girl, which tries to lash her and put out her eyes. When Vasilisa escaped the birch let her leave since she cared for it while staying with Baba Yaga.

-The Wife of Usher's Well-

In this old Scottish ballad describes three sons who have died returning to their mother in spirit wearing a birch hat. The ballad also describes the gates of Paradise being guarded by birch trees.

-The Lady in White-

A Czech tale tells of a young woman who dances in a birch forest with a lady in white. The lady in white gives the young woman a bunch of yellow birch leaves which turn to gold once she leaves the forest. Incidentally, the young woman had been spinning wool the first two times she danced with the lady in white, and upon the second time the lady had spun the finest thread for her in thanks.

⸙༄𓆤𓆩𓆪❁𓇢𓆸🏵

Uses in Witchcraft

Birch is a wonderful spirit to call on for protection. When treated right she will bestow upon you gifts and protect you from those who would harm you. Not to just be used as a shield, birch is a spirit that has no qualms about fighting back and thus may aid in curses aimed at those who have harmed you. But be warned, if treated without respect, she may turn on you.

⸙༄𓆤𓆩𓆪❁𓇢𓆸🏵

Safety Notes

No known safety issues.

⸙༄𓆤𓆩𓆪❁𓇢𓆸🏵

Conclusion

The birch is a wonderful guardian. Even before learning all the lore, there was a birch tree in a park near a town I used to live in that I worked with as a protector. She didn't put up with disrespect either. So remember to treat your birch tree with care. This isn't even all the lore out there, so much of it is little beliefs about how to work with her. What have your experiences with birch been?

References:

Midwest Foraging by Lisa M. Rose

Midwest Medicinal Plants by Lisa M. Rose

Vasalisa the Beautiful

The Wife of Usher's Well

The Lady in White

Images:

Title image made on Canva, birch photo from Nathan Anderson on Unsplash

An Illustration, 1906

Vasilisa at the Hut of Baba Yaga by Ivan Bilibin

The Wife of Usher's Well (found in the Allen Ginsberg Project)

From "Favorite Fairy Tales Told in Czechoslovakia" illustrated by Trina S. Hyman