Fire Cherry Tree

The Fire Cherry is a tree native to the Ashen Steppes.

Description

Appearance

The Fire Cherry tree stands out with its unique features. Its wood is a deep, intense red, contrasting with the almost black bark. Occasional cracks reveal the vibrant red wood beneath, adding to its allure. Most trees grow a trunk of up to half a meter in diameter, but ancient specimens can reach an impressive 1 meter. The average height of an adult tree is between 5 and 6 meters, with the largest known specimen, the Royal Fire Cherry in front of Nero's Palace in Fire's Helm, towering at about 25 meters.

The leaves are very pale orange and mostly oval-shaped, with three tips that make them almost look like little flames.

The tree is covered in bright orange, slightly luminous petals during cherry blossom season.

Fruit

The Fire Cherry is a small round fruit. Its color is bright red with some orange river-like lines mixed in. It is always warm to the touch, but its core is actually hot enough that eating it raw can cause severe burns.

Habitat

Natural Environment

The tree only grows naturally in the extremely hot climates of the Ashen Steppes. There, it feeds on the nutrient-rich soil from the area's volcanoes. The extreme heat is ultimately stored in the leaves or, during its blooming season, in the petals and fruits.

Cultivation

Fire Cherry Trees have no problem growing in large amounts within the Ashen Steppes. However, many attempts were made to cultivate this tree on other continents, though to no avail. The ground is not even close to being fertile enough, not even in the Shores of Plenty, which are usually known for its extremely nutritious soil. And even if the people somehow managed to get enough nutrients into the tree, it would still never grow big enough to carry any fruit, not even leaves, as the climate is just not hot enough anywhere else in the world. The closes anyone has ever gotten to cultivate a Fire Cherry Tree outside its natural habitat was a scientist in Scientia, who imported tons of nutrient soil from the Ashen Steppes and grew it in the middle of the desert, close to Tempus Peak, where Solair is radiating just enough heat to meet the trees criteria. However, due to the nature of the Peak, that Tree died less than a day after being planted and only grew to about 1 meter in height before it ran out of nutrients

Uses

Culinary

For people who can eat them, meaning anyone with a natural heat resistance, Fire Cherries are considered delicious little snacks. Others usually get scorched when trying to eat them.

Medicinal

The warming feature of the Fruit is often used by travelers going through the Frozen Deadlands, as they not only act as excellent pocket-warmers but can also prevent hyperthermia or generally freezing to death by warming the person who eats it from the inside. Other than that, when the fruits are very fresh, they are hot enough inside that they can be used to cauterize open wounds.

Magical

There are currently no known magical uses for this fruit.

Other

The wood from the Fire Cherry tree is extremely heat resistant, making it one of the main building materials in the Ashen Steppes.

Cultural Significance

Folklore and Myth

Origins of the First Tree

It is said that Nero once ate a regular cherry while he was visiting Aereon in the Howling Mountains, which he loved so much that he wanted to plant his own at the foot of his mountain, the Molten Rocks. But attempting so only caused the saplings to go up in flames every single time. Devastated, he reached out to Miko, hoping she would help him produce a sapling that could thrive in this deadly climate. Though it was a heavy task, she agreed, under one single condition.

"You must take care of this sapling at any cost, for I had to exert a great deal of my power to make such a tree possible. I hope you understand that I will never do it again."

Nero, without hesitation, also imbues half his soul into the sapling.

"Then I will swear on it with my very existence; if this sapling ceases to exist, so too will such a great part of me that this kingdom can no longer be sustained and shall fall to ruin. I will be forever in your gratitude, and if I wouldn't burn your entire forest down if I ever got near it, I would gladly repay it in any way you seek."

"Seeing the great sacrifice you are willing to put into it is more than I could have ever asked for."

"You are too kind, but I am afraid this is where we must part. Your antlers are already starting to smolder."

"Alright then, I will take my leave for now, but I will occasionally return to see if anything is wrong with this tree, as even for me, this is quite a unique specimen."

And with that, Miko left the Ashen Steppes before she completely combusts.

To this day, Miko still visits the tree every year during the Fire Bloom Festival, not only to check if it is alright but also to honor the humongous sacrifice Nero was willing to make for the seed.

The tree that came out of this seed is now known as the Royal Fire Cherry and is located on the royal plaza right in front of Nero's palace.

Festivals and Traditions

Fire Bloom Festival

Once a year, the first bloom of the fire cherry is celebrated with a festival. These take place throughout all towns within the Ashen Steppes above ground. Food stalls and other festive street activities will cover the main streets. The food stalls usually have dishes themed around Fire cherries, but since this event started attracting tourists, some also offer cooling food. Most inhabitants of the Ashen Steppes are naturally resistant to the heat. Still, tourists should take care to prevent touching any of the petals randomly flying around, as they are scorching hot, and be mindful of the heat of the local cuisine.

Trivia

• Just like Nero predicted, if the royal tree ever ceases to exist, so too will the entire kingdom of his, as he would lose half of his soul and, therefore, the power to sustain the kingdom.