Magha Dha
Some of the oldest living plants on
Ethiea, the Magha Dha has become synonymous with Veila. Towering over the northern hemisphere where they make up the majority of the Forest. The oldest and largest are located near the center and at the base of Ethiea's Teeth.
Pronounced 'Mahg-heh Dah-eh' in Veilan, it can translate to water baring or life giving tree. Outside of Veila and Dredjen, it's often pronounced 'Mahg-uh Dah' by the majority of non-native speakers.
Description
When I first saw the Magha Dha I wrote how sorely disappointed I was, after all, they seemed to be nothing more than normal trees, but that was weeks ago. We've scarcely managed to make our way into their shaded embrace two days ago, and I must rectify any misgivings I have previously confessed to you. I have passed fewer trees in two days time than you might walking through the forest outside our home for a handful of hours. It truly is impossible to understand the size of these magnificent works of nature until you've stood at one's base and known what it feels like to be an ant before a massive oak. The wonder I experience is like that of a child, raised on the expansive plains of the Frontier going south and seeing the mighty mountains of Fangor for the first time. And when I expressed my thoughts to our guide, he laughed and said these were the little ones! The time it takes to pass the trunk of one tree is astounding, and their branches stretch even farther! Looking up at them sends a wave of awe and sickness through me at the same time. The sheer height of them is enough to make any nonflying person ill, but the way they fan out and interlock with the trees next to them is fascinating. According to our guide it's only because of the Magha Dha's protection from the sun that anything can survive here, they provide shade and regulate the temperature. He said that the few clearings we come across we'll have to go around, because it gets too hot to travel across them during the day. They're gorgeous too, their bark is a pleasant dappling of colors ranging from pale tan to a deep reddish brown. It's unnaturally soft and spongy and covered in an array of ridges and bumps that's pleasing to the touch. Worlds different than the already treated and tanned bundles that we see sold by local merchants. And their leaves are just as large as you might imagine with a dazzling silvery-blue green color and a dark green underside. My hope is that one day you'll be able to behold the Magha Dha's beauty with your own eyes as well.
Uses
Water
Long taps are placed in the base of trees nearest to Veila. Allowing water that is drawn up by the trees from underground aquifers to be accessed and pumped into Veila's water system. The trees act as purifiers, filtering out bacteria and debris eliminating the need for it to be passed through the city's treatment facilities before being used.Crafting
The bark is used for tree leather. A resource unique to the Magha Dha that has become a major export for Veila due to its wide range of uses such as tailoring, construction, art, and even armor crafting. It's prized for its soft and supple texture and the complex patterns of grooves, ridges, and bumps which are most prominent on the oldest trees.Foraging
Thanks to the root system of the trees, that other plants are able to connect to, the areas around them are often surrounded by a variety of other smaller plant species. Their bases typically covered in swaths of ferns, flowers, and herbs. The Magha Dha's nutrient rich bases are prime locations for gathering rare ingredients for medicines that are incapable of being grown outside of the wild.
Natural Range
Forest of Veila
Girth
50-100 feet
Height
600-700 feet
Lifespan
100,000 Standard years
Pattern/Color
Dappled light tan to reddish brown
Forest of Veila
Girth
50-100 feet
Height
600-700 feet
Lifespan
100,000 Standard years
Pattern/Color
Dappled light tan to reddish brown
Conservation Status
Protected
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