Great Tree Leaves
Falling from above the leaves of The Great Tree slowly reach those below only to be grabbed and hurried away by The Gatherers before anyone but the Hand Weavers and Spinners Guild can get their hands on them. As the red leaves fall upon the city of Arbor is slow lazy patterns many within the city move to intercept a race to whoever can get their first and hide it away before someone else comes along to claim it. All things the tree makes are important, and all things from it belong to the The Silver Council and those they deem worthy or wealthy enough to buy the rights from them.
"Sometimes when the leaf fall is really heavy it sounds like rain and if you look up with the red falling it looks like the sky is bleeding" - Drunk philosopher on a street corner during heavy leaf fall
Appearance
A deep red leaf the colour of blood hangs in vast quantities above the city. In their natural habitat, these leaves plunge the city into a perpetual twilight, blanketing it in darkness. Up close, the leaves have a silk-like feel, almost as if you were running your hands over the smoothest of stones or skin. In some leaves, there is a slight tinge of blue at the very center. Each leaf is enormous, easily large enough on its own to cover an entire person like a duvet should it fall directly on them. The leaves are also quite heavy, weighing between 80-100 pounds depending on the leaf. This weight is mostly due to their size and density, rather than the weight of the material they are comprised of. Despite their unusual characteristics, the people of Arbor do not find the leaves ugly. In fact, there is something otherworldly and impressive about these blood red leaves that leaves a sense of wonder in the minds of those who see them.Properties
The Red leaves of the Great tree are extremely resilient to damage by mundane weaponry and even magically enhanced weapons have a difficult time cutting through the thick structures of the leaves. In addition the leaves can absorb a huge amount of magical energy and showing no signs of damage or stress to the plant in a way that normal ordinary materials buckle or break under direct magical exposure.History
The red leaves of the Great Tree have long been revered for their mystical properties and unique appearance. They were one of the first gifts from the tree that The First Ones discovered when they arrived in Arbor, and it took much trial and error to learn how to utilize them. The leaves are incredibly tough and ordinary scissors and blades could not cut or work them. It was only through the determination and ingenuity of the Hand Weavers and Spinners Guild that the secret of working the leaves into spinnable threads was finally discovered. The leaves became highly valued as a result, and at one point in history, the tree was stripped bare of all its offerings except for its bark. Thankfully, the tree recovered, and these days the Weavers guild only takes what falls from above for their consumption. However, given the current size of the tree compared to its past, it would be much more difficult to pull more leaves down from its branches. The leaves are considered to be a sacred and precious resource, and are considered to be the property of the Silver Council only to be collected by The Gatherers and stored in their warehouses for distribution. They are treated with the utmost care and respect by the law abiding people of Arbor, who recognize the incredible value of these magical and enduring gifts from the Great Tree. There does exist no small amount of illicit trade of the leaves and other gifts of the tree among Arbors Black Markets.Uses
The vast majority of the leaves are given to the Weavers who turn it into thread which they then provide to other Factories that need the thread to continue to work. The Thread can be dyed any colour one can think of and if made into cloth will hold it's colour well depending on the dye used in the application of colour. In addition the cloth made from this thread is incredibly durable and requiring considerable force to break or tear. Under normal circumstances this means that few need ever replace their clothes so long as they are made with true thread made from the leaves. Finally the Cloth made in this way absorbs magic in much the same way the leaves do and thus can take enchantments far more easily than mundane materials seem to be able to. Other uses for the leaves themselves have included early roofing, shoes and in some cases grinding the leaves down into a powder to ingest as a tincture to cure all manner of illness with limited scientific success. Protective barriers or shields: Given their durability and ability to absorb magical energy, the red leaves can potentially be used as a form of protection in combat or other situations where there is a risk of physical or magical attacks. Building material: The leaves' durability and resistance to damage make them useful as a building material, particularly in areas with harsh weather or other environmental conditions thus the export of whole leaves is sometimes done though usually under strict guidelines. Medical applications: The leaves' ability to absorb magical energy can be harnessed for medical purposes, such as to neutralize harmful magical energies or to enhance the effectiveness of healing spells. Using it in this way it if the right applications are applied it can pull curses or other magical related afflictions from a person or even an area. Decorative or ceremonial objects: The leaves' unique appearance and cultural significance makes them desirable as decorative or ceremonial objects, such as in wedding ceremonies or other important events. Packaging material: The leaves' durability and resistance to damage make them useful as packaging material to protect delicate items during shipping or transportation, though this is often only done with the waste product from the Hand Weavers and Spinners Guild
Taste
irony a bit like blood strangely
Color
Mostly Red with a slight tinge of Blue at the very center
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