The Elderhollow of Faedarke

Origins and Nature

The Elderhollow are the oldest living trees in the Faedarke, their roots entwined with the very soul of the forest. Legends claim they were the first to spring from the earth when the world was young, seeded by a convergence of light and shadow. They are living echoes of ancient magic, sentient beings imbued with wisdom that predates even the Wyrdkin’s arrival in the Faedarke.

Each Elderhollow is unique, its trunk twisted and warped by time into faces that resemble snarling beasts, watchful guardians, or mournful spirits. Terrifying to behold, their eerie appearance is deliberately crafted to frighten away unwelcome humans, serving as both protection for their forest home and a reflection of their long and storied existence.

Appearance and Personality

The Elderhollow are ancient, gnarled trees with bark that seems alive, shifting subtly to create the illusion of expressions. Eyes, often glowing faintly, peer from within the knots of their trunks, and their branches creak and sway even in the stillest air. Their branches, heavy with moss and vines, writhe like reaching arms, creaking ominously in the wind, or when someone they don’t like comes too close. Their voices are a low, resonant groan, like wind through hollow wood, and they rarely speak unless provoked or entertained.

They are fiercely protective of their peace and the Faedarke’s harmony, their crotchety personalities making them quick to scold and even quicker to scare away unwelcome visitors. Yet, for those who earn their trust, they reveal a gentler side, offering guidance, wisdom, and even a dark sense of humor.

Relationship with the Wyrdkin

After the Wyrdkin settled in the Faedarke, the Elderhollow weren’t exactly welcoming. For years, the trees tested the witches’ resolve: blocking paths, sending roots to trip them, hiding Heart’s Dawn, and generally trying to scare them off. The Wyrdkin, patient and respectful, treated the Elderhollow with care by healing their bark and nurturing their roots, and, most importantly to the Elderhollow, the Wyrdkin demonstrated, through word and deed, an unwavering respect for the balance of the forest.

An alliance was formed, and now the Elderhollow and the Wyrdkin coexist as protectors of the Faedarke. The witches often consult the Elderhollow for guidance, and in return, the Elderhollow rely on the Wyrdkin to guard against threats like poachers, disease, and invasive magic. Together, they ensure that the Faedarke remains untamed and whole.

Abilities and Behavior

The Elderhollow take their role as forest protectors very seriously, though their methods are not without a sense of humor. Here are some of their favorite scare tactics:

1. The Whisper Game: A low, eerie rustling that sounds like fragmented voices just out of earshot—half-heard secrets, ghostly warnings—growing louder the deeper one goes. The Elderhollow delight in this game, their leaves rustling with humor as they listen to intruders second-guess every step.
2. Branch Taps: A light, deliberate tap on an intruder’s shoulder, just enough to make them whip around to find nothing but shadows. The Elderhollow find endless amusement in the startled yelps and nervous glances of their unwelcome guests.
3. Path Disorientation: By subtly shifting their branches and roots, they make well-trodden paths disappear, trapping travelers in endless circles.
4. Face to Face: As intruders draw closer, the Elderhollow’s gnarled features twist ever so slowly into grotesque expressions. The gradual transformation is so subtle it feels as if the forest itself is watching—and judging.
5. Illusions: For truly stubborn trespassers, the Elderhollow can summon flickering shadows or glowing eyes that appear to stalk them through the woods.

Their most unnerving ability, however, is their presence: an oppressive aura that seems to weigh heavily on uninvited guests, filling even the bravest with a primal unease.

Legacy and Impact

The Elderhollow are central to the lore of the Faedarke. Their eerie forms and haunting whispers have inspired countless tales, most of which serve as warnings to keep out of the forest. To the Wyrdkin, however, they are much more than stories; they are guardians, allies, and grumpy neighbors and friends.

In the songs and stories of Starfall Rest, the Elderhollow stand as symbols of untamed magic, a reminder that nature is not to be tamed or taken lightly.

Moonwinkle’s Meowments

Did you know? Moonwinkle once startled an Elderhollow mid-sentence when she leapt from its branches during a nap. The tree, sputtering indignantly, muttered that “cats are worse than squirrels.” Moonwinkle merely stretched, yawned, and declared it the finest tree she’d ever slept on, leaving the Elderhollow oddly flattered.