THE
CLOEWEN
TREE |
Appearance. Cloewen Trees are
evergreen, slow growing trees that
reach a height of about 4-5 peds when fully grown.
The bark
is silver and smooth to the touch. They have large deep green waxy leaves which
are about the size of a spread palm. The trees are prized by the
Ylfferhim
elves for
their magnificent large white (or ocassionally pale pink) sweet scented blooms
in spring and autumn. The elves often prune Cloewen into fantastic and beautiful
shapes.
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Territory. Unique to the
Quallian forest though related species are seen across
the whole of southern Santharia.
Usages. This plant is purely decoractive, though wild they are rather
stragely trees. To raise beautiful, bushy, ornamental specimens is difficult and
considered a great art by the Ylfferhim. Bees that take nectar from Cloewen
flowers make a very dark (almost black) clear honey which has a slight tartness
to the taste.
Importance. Cloewen are very special to the
Ylfferhim. One coat of arms from the
reign of Anthioullsn (200-100 b.S.)
shows the Tree of
Life depicted as a Cloewen
tree although it is highly unlikely that Cloewen trees have ever existed
outside the Quallian. The shield is probably simply a reference to the closeness
with which this elven tribe relates the tree to
their Goddess, Avá the
Beautiful. In Iyasha the
shrine of Avá is marked by a circle of 9 small Cloewen surounding one massive,
spectacular specimen (which strangely is often refered to as The One, as though
synonomous with the Goddess
Herself). Around the trunk are carved the words of
the second verse of the "O Lady Fair"
prayer:
"Avá, Avá, O
Lady fair
To whom we are but fleeting dreams
We ask You give us solace here
Amid a world of evil things"
A verse that is very close to the heart of the
Ylfferhim as they seek to
seperate themselves from the outside world.
Information provided by
Wren
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