Dendrification
The Forestfolk are a diverse and varied people, but all are strongly affected by the fey magics that are so prevalent in their lands. This has many benefits, such as the extremely long lifespans enjoyed by the forestfolk, but also makes them vulnerable to the magical disorder of dendrification, a malady that causes one to slowly metamorphose into a tree. Some of the forestfolk accept this as a natural passing - for the already tree-like Dendroids, it is seen as the natural way of things, a peaceful passing from the life they know to a new phase. Others are less accepting, viewing it with a mixture of horror, fear, even disgust.
Causes
Dendrification is caused by a disruption of the fey magic that courses through the blood of all forestfolk. This can be caused by extreme old age, but also by a profound shock to the body such as severe injury or illness, or exposure to powerful necrotic energies. Forestfolk who are naturally more tree-adjacent, particularly the dendroids, are most succeptible, but also suffer the least in its progression.
Symptoms
Early symptoms of dendrification can be quite subtle - having less energy when spending time indoors, a slight tendency to become lost in thought and stiffness and discomfort after lying down are all common early signs, though all of these are already common inclinations for many older forestfolk, so these are generally not considered overly alarming.
The next phase is much more overt, and much more unique in its effects. The skin grows green and leathery, taking on the appearance of a tough leaf. Injuries healing over become covered in bark rather than scar tissue. The blood slowly begins to thicken, and lighten in colour, moving towards the warm amber colour of sap. The early symptoms also become more severe - the reduced energy while indoors develops from a vague dissatisfaction to true exhaustion and then to a full body weakness. Appetite drops off, particularly the taste for sweets and grain, as the body begins to fuel itself through photosynthesis. Moments lost in thought stretch to hours and even days. The stiffness becomes a reduced flexibility, with patients eventually refusing to lie down even to sleep. All of this takes many years to happen, the fastest cases taking more than twenty years to reach the third and final stage.
Finally, the patient begins to feel drawn to wander about, searching for something. They rarely recognize it, but what they seek is a place for them to set down their roots. By this point their greened skin begins to wrinkle and turn brown, forming bark, and small twigs and leaves begin sprouting from their upper body. Once they find their chosen spot, they lay aside their belongings, stand in their chosen place with arms raised, and wait. The metamorphosis speeds up, and within a week, a tree stands in their place, with only the rough shape of their face visible in the surface of the bark. Those with the magical ability to speak with plants report that in these trees, the memories of an individual can last for centuries, but that despite this they seem to be similarly content with their new life as any normal plant. They are, however, more articulate, and often ask after their loved ones.
Prognosis
Dendrification is not well understood as an ailment. It cannot be reversed or prevented, and can be difficult and uncomfortable to slow. Once begun, the slow transformation is inevitable, and can only be stopped by a more immediate death. Legends say that suffusing the body with necrotic energy will prevent the transformation into a tree, but this process would invariably be either fatal or transform the subject into an undead creature; very few would even consider paying such a price.
Affected Species
Comments