Goddess Wood
Goddess wood, also occasionally called Duona wood, is wood from the enormous oak Duona, a goddess of life and growth that sprouted in the wake of the Great Cataclysm. The tree is miles high—the size of a mountain—and contains entire ecosystems and societies in its boughs. Its wood has magical properties that make it extremely useful and valuable.
The first of these is its strength. Having the magical reinforcement of a deity's power, goddess wood is highly durable, and yet easy to shape and work with. Some people living in or near the tree have been known to use it in armor instead of metal. When burned, goddess wood lasts much longer than ordinary oak, while producing the same heat and light. Fires made with goddess wood also radiate some of the vitality energy which saturates the great tree, causing those who sit near one to recover from ailments quickly. Rumor has it that through use of the proper accompanying items and rituals, it is possible to make one of these fires burn indefinitely. The leaves of the tree provide more potent healing when used as an ingredient in medicine.
The ease with which goddess wood can be shaped makes it possible to direct the growth of the tree's branches. Some people who inhabit the tree make use of this to construct homes without harming the tree. Not all do this, and some more selfish creatures, such as some dragons, have been known to recklessly carve out lairs for themselves. While many of the tree's guardians do their best to prevent this, Duona herself sees it as a natural occurrence, and takes no action against it. Those who destroy without a purpose long enough will incur the patient goddess's wrath, but she encourages responsible and sustainable use of the resources she provides.
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