The Old Guardian

About this world

An immense oak tree of legendary proportions rises nearly nine hundred meters skyward, its colossal trunk stretching three hundred meters across, crowned by branches that sweep outward in a magnificent canopy spanning eight hundred meters in radius. Countless civilizations and beings across the ages speak of this ancient sentinel as an eternal fixture of creation itself, a witness to the world's very genesis. Its verdant crown remains pristine and unblemished, free from decay or disease, while its massive trunk and sprawling root network show no sign of rot, decay, or parasitic corruption—a testament maintained by the countless creatures who make their homes within its shelter and contribute to its perpetual vitality. Throughout recorded history, The Old Guardian has endured apocalyptic tempests, devastating hurricanes, catastrophic floods, and raging infernos, each time emerging from destruction with scarcely a mark upon its ancient wood. Those fortunate enough to encounter this towering colossus often experience an uncanny sensation of being perceived by an intelligent, watchful presence—a gaze both vigilant and strangely benevolent, though no visible observer can ever be found. Despite this mysterious guardianship, no being of any race, nature, or origin—mortal or divine, beast or dragon, good or evil—has ever succeeded in bringing harm to its sacred form, as though some fundamental force shields it from malevolent intent.