Wands

"Wands" are a type of Spiritual Tree that can be found throughout The Gates, however, they are especially prevelant in the Badlands and Grasslands.
These trees are based around the "Wands" suit in a Tarot Deck.
The Wands Tarot cards deal with the spiritual level of consciousness. They represent and mirror the things important to you at your core. They address what makes you you, or how you might interpret yourself or understand yourself – your personality, ego, enthusiasm, self-concept, and personal energy, both internal and external.
There are negative aspects of the Suit of Wands, this includes illusion, egotistical behaviour, impulsiveness, a lack of direction or purpose, or feeling meaningless.
The Wands suit is also heavily associated with "Fire" as it relates to inspiration, creativity, and so forth which can be described as "firey". These new ideas are often depicted on tarot cards as sprouting from an otherwise baron or firey landscape as well. This may be why they are found in the Badlands so often as they are a new idea sprouting from a wasteland. Inspiration strikes in unexpected places, after all.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Wands can best be compared to their prime material counterpart, a Catalpa.
Depending on the number of Wands nearby, their description will vary slightly though they almost always have firey colored leaves and thick, grooved bark.
Depending on whether or not the Wand is "upright" or "reversed" will also affect its appearance. Upright Wands tend to have more vibrant leaves while reversed Wands will have duller leaves, other features may also be modified depending on the number of Wands.

Growth Rate & Stages

Wands tend to grow incredibly slowly. Some may spend their entire life as a sapling, and how long that life is is currently unknown.
It has been observed, however, that they seem to grow into other stages of their life when there are more Wands around them almost as a "Support Group".

Ecology and Habitats

Wands tend to favor areas where a tree is unexpected such as deserts. While there are trees in the grasslands, Wands are still prevelant here as the primary type of tree that can be found, and they usually grow in areas that are further away from other species.
Some particularly talented botanists can relocate Wands to other areas of The Gate which would explain why they can still be found in other environments.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Wands, being a spiritual plant, do not require much in terms of water, sunlight, or other sustenance.
Within each person is an amount of inspiration, ideas, creativity and other embodiments that Wands represent. Being near these trees has the potential to unleash these dormant traits, supress them, cause them to go out of control, heighten them and more. This Spiritual Energy already exists and is not generated by the Wands, rather they just draw it to the surface.
The reason that this occurs is not for any malevolent or benevolent reason, rather it is just something that happens naturally in the presence of these spiritual plants. As the spiritual energy is drawn to the surface, these plants then feed off of that energy. The creatures that meditate or pass near them thus receive inspiration or other spiritual changes, and the Wands simultaneously feed on that same energy.

Biological Cycle

Depending on their age and the number of Wands involved, there may be differences throughout the year.
By the end of Spring, older Wands will have gorgeous flowers that range in color from white to bright, pale yellow which will last throughout Summer. These flowers compliment the firey leaves, almost appearing as white center of flames. By the end of Summer the flowers will begin to fall and in their place will be the tree's fruit which has the appearance of long indigo bean pods referred to as "siliques".
Throughout Autumn the tree will have the aforementioned fruit which eventually dries and breaks open to release the tree's seeds. The leaves of these trees also fall off during this time much like other deciduous trees.
During Winter the tree is bare and its branches are more visible. These branches tend to wrap or coil around other nearby Wands which can lead to rather interesting appearances during this time of the year. The tangled branches of a group of Wands will eventually regrow its leaves in Spring to start the cycle over again.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Most creatures or spirits that encounter a Wand will utilize it as a place of meditation to reflect on new and old ideas. Simply being in the presence of one can cause new inspiration to flow, sometimes uncontrollably.
There are those that will harvest Wands to take the feeling with them or to build homes, items, or even as kindling. Some individuals create archways into their homes or even traps for unsuspecting travelers utilizing Wands.

Genetic Descendants

• Ace of Wands
• Three of Wands

Geographic Distribution

• Badlands
• Grasslands