Appearance

Seedlings are a foot tall, and their skin comes in a variety of colors ranging from earthen tones to greens and even blues and pinks. It has a very dry texture, often times appearing a little rough. It’s not uncommon for them to have bark-like patches on their extremities. Males and females both have branch-like horns that come in a variety of shapes and bark textures. Rarely some of their horns will sprout leaves and flowers.

Seedlings have a relatively humanoid shape in spite of their small size, and both sexes are indistinguishable from the other. They tend to wear robes, sashes, scarves, and other loose garments. They’re very modest in their appearance, aside from their love of sparkly jewelry and ornamentation.

Abilities

Seedlings get everything they need from the sun. During the day they have increased stamina, which is very useful for traversing the desert with their minuscule size. In addition to this, their bodies have adapted to the high temperatures and the limited amount of water available to them outside of an oasis. They’re so good at retaining water that they can go up to a week without water, sometimes even longer if they’ve had a good long soak.

Magical

Seedlings have unparalleled earth magic, to the point where once they’ve settled, their very magic permeates the land and makes it fertile. They have the ability to grow plants and shape the land around them. Wind and water magic are uncommon in Seedlings, but not entirely unheard of.

While not every Seedling will go on to create an oasis, they’re all capable of using the magic that creates them. Each Seedling is born with a seed in their heart. This seed can be drawn forth from their heart, and the resulting magic is powered by their hope to fill the desert with life. This magic is so powerful that it draws up water from beneath the desert, creating a new spring, and the seed grows into a beautiful tree--the first tree of an oasis.

Culture

Seedlings live in groups and are found in every oasis. Their communities contain friends, and occasionally couples, but generally everyone in an oasis is unrelated, as many young Seedlings set out to join other oasis or start their own.

This nomadic journey is seen as a rite of passage into adulthood. On the cusp of adulthood a Seedling will leave their oasis, only taking their skills, the clothes on their backs, and a skein of water. From there they travel the desert until they find an oasis where they can offer their unique skills, like weaving or crafting. Skills tend to be a family trade, but it isn't uncommon to take on apprentices to expand the number of craftsmen.

Oasis are lead by the creator of the oasis or their descendants, depending on the age of the oasis. These Seedlings are often called Chiefs, regardless of gender, and oversee the care and protection of the oasis. They commonly work with the leaders of other species to ensure that the oasis flourishes. When it comes to the balance of the oasis, the chief's word is law.

While chiefs often deal with other species, the Seedling community generally keeps to themselves. Their small size is the largest reason for this. Seedling communities thrive in the foliage of oasis, with many non-desert people not even being aware of these small beings existence. There is an unspoken rule among desert people that Seedlings are to be respected and left alone in their work. Interfering with a Seedling’s work is a crime, and even the most ornery of Or’rix will steer clear of a working Seedling to avoid the repercussions.

Seedlings have one very special monument--The Mother. The Mother is an olive tree said to be the resting place of the first Seedling. This tree is sacred, and only the Seedlings may touch its bark.

History

In the beginning, there was nothing but sand. Endless oceans of ever changing dunes stretching for miles and miles, devoid of life. Before even the sphinx descended from the sun, there were the Seedlings.

It all began with a single seed. The seed itself fell from the sky and landed in the heart of the desert. This seed sprouted into the first Seedling, the mother of them all. From her magic came the Mbizi Eshe--the waters of life--from which Eden sprang. With her oasis created and her children happy, the first Seedling, the Mother, took the form of a beautiful olive tree.