Lore:Bleeding Tree

The Bleeding Tree is a mysterious and legendary plant that holds some significance in both Breton and Reachfolk traditions. Bretons incorporate its symbolic significance tied to Akatosh in the naming conventions of their temples, while the Reachmen possess a vibrant oral tradition that weaves tales about the tree, often associating it with some kind of forest spirit.

Culture

Bleeding Tree of Akatosh Temple in Wayrest (Daggerfall)

Breton

The Bretons link the Bleeding Tree with their god Akatosh, but the exact nature of this connection remains unclear. In the kingdom of Wayrest, east-southeast of Merhope Hall and north of the southern peninsula, a temple settlement devoted to Akatosh, known as the Bleeding Tree of Akatosh, was active as of 3E 405.

Reachfolk

The tree is featured in the ancient oral traditions of the Reachfolk. The tale of The Hunter and the Bleeding Tree dates back to times preceding even the most ancient Vateshrans and has variations in different forms. This story traces back to a lone hunter who, in pursuit of his prey, accidentally struck an ancient tree with his arrow. To his bewilderment, the tree, instead of simply bearing the mark of the strike, began bleeding a vivid red substance. Initially dismissed as colorful sap, a taste revealed the truth—it was blood.

The perplexed hunter took his knife and began stabbing the tree, causing it to bleed profusely. In certain renditions of the tale, it is suggested that the hunter experienced remorse for injuring the tree, aiming to end its suffering. Alternatively, some versions describe him succumbing to rage upon tasting the tree's blood, propelling him into a warrior's fury unlike any he had known before. Despite these variations, the narratives align as the hunter, exhausted, retrieved his arrow and departed from the site.

Returning with his clan the next day, the hunter found no tree, only a dried puddle of darkened blood. Skepticism arose, but the tale gained renewed horror exactly one year later. The hunter was discovered dead in his tent, his body riddled with stab wounds, mirroring the wounds he inflicted on the bleeding tree. The absence of footprints or signs of intrusion baffled the clan, leading them to burn the tent and the hunter's body in an attempt to appease the mysterious forest spirit.

This tale, passed down around Reachfolk campfires, served as a cautionary reminder of the mysterious forces lurking in the wilderness. It was subsequently included in a compilation of Reachfolk stories, published by Cassia Volcatia at some point before or during 2E 582.

See Also

Books

• Scary Tales of the Deep Folk, Book 3 by Cassia Volcatia, Traveling Scribe — The tale of "The Hunter and the Bleeding Tree" as told in Markarth