The Sentience of Trees (essay)

This is a creative work set in the world of Elanthia, attributed to its original author(s). It does not necessarily represent the official lore of GemStone IV.

'Title: The Sentience of Trees (essay)

Author: Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree

First published on the 16th day of Fashanos in the year 5124

Introduction

Udienaeun
Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.

Those familiar with elven customs will know that the Udienaeun (loosely meaning to walk or wander the trees) is a significant part of an Illistim elf's early education. Young elves are encouraged to observe the trees around them so that they might come to understand them, communicate with them, and, hopefully, establish a life-long relationship with them. Sceptics would say that trees are simply disconnected loners that cannot communicate but, whilst trees do not talk in the conventional sense, there is no doubt that they are sentient and do, in fact, converse with one another and others mindful enough to listen.

In my own search for the truth about my family, I stumbled across an intelligence - a web of interdependence - in the forests and woodlands of Elanthia and the trees were kind enough to share their secret with me. That secret being that there is a wisdom inherent in the give-and-take of nature; in its quiet agreements and search for balance; a sense of community, if you wish to put it in everyday vernacular. During my own Udienaeun, I communed mostly with my ancestors' memorial trees and they gradually revealed an intricacy of perceptiveness and responsiveness through a clandestine path of connections and conversations.

And it all starts with the Ama'aeun or Mother Tree.

More to follow.