![[Oroko_Tree.png]] ## Overview *The Oroko Tree* is a Saraqim folktale centered around a magical Oroko tree growing beneath an ancient village. The story is believed to date back several centuries and serves as both a creation myth for the village and a moral parable. ## Story *Once there was a village whose name has been lost to time. In the caverns beneath this village, where sunlight seldom reached, grew an ancient Oroko tree. Its roots delved deep into hidden springs, and its branches stretched toward unseen skies. For generations, the tree stood silent, observing the ebb and flow of life above.* *One fateful season, a strange affliction befell the women of the village. Their wombs grew barren, and no child was born for many moons. Desperation grew, and whispers of the magical Oroko tree below spread through the village.* *At first, only the bravest ventured into the caverns. They approached the Oroko with trembling hands and whispered their desires for children. The tree's spirit stirred, compassionate yet wise, and asked each woman, "What do you offer in return?"* *Kaliti offered her most prized creation - a tapestry woven with threads dyed using the precious pigments of the Nightshade flower. The Oroko accepted, and within a year, Kaliti bore healthy twins.* *Word spread quickly, and soon a steady stream of women made their way to the Oroko. Each offering was unique - a farmer's harvest, a glassblower's sculpture, a singer's melody. The Oroko accepted them all, and the village flourished with the laughter of children once more.* *As the years passed, the gifts grew grander. Women competed to bring the most impressive offerings, hoping for stronger, smarter, or more beautiful children. The Oroko's roots swelled with treasures, and its branches drooped with the weight of countless wishes tied to them with ribbons of hope.* *But as the Oroko-blessed children of the village grew, a troubling pattern emerged. Those born of the grandest gifts often struggled most in life. They were discontent, always seeking more, never satisfied with the simple joys of a desert existence or their own efforts.* *Meanwhile, the children born of simpler gifts - heartfelt songs, hand-carved spirit tokens, or even tears of genuine gratitude - seemed to find purpose more easily. They understood the delicate balance of life in the village and worked to preserve it.* *The eldest of these Oroko-blessed children and now a wise woman herself, eventually returned to the tree. "Great Oroko," she said, her voice echoing in the cavern, "I've come to understand the lesson you've taught us all these years."* *The tree's spirit stirred, its leaves rustling with curiosity.* *"The truest gift we can offer our children is not extravagance or beauty," the Elder continued, "but love, gratitude, and the understanding that happiness blooms even in the harshest of landscapes."* *The Oroko's branches swayed in approval, and from that day forward, the women of the village approached the tree not with grand offerings, but with open hearts and genuine intentions. Though not every wish was granted, the children of the village grew to be a resilient and contented people, their roots as strong and deep as the magical Oroko that watched over them.* ### Fate of the tree As the generations passed in the village, the lessons of the Oroko tree faded from memory. The caverns that housed the ancient tree became a place of pilgrimage, with hopeful mothers bringing increasingly elaborate offerings. They no longer sought the tree's wisdom, but demanded specific traits for their children - beauty, strength, intellect. The Oroko's spirit grew weary. Its roots, once nourished by simple gifts of love, now choked on gold and jewels. The tree's branches drooped under the weight of countless selfish wishes. In time, a drought struck the village. The hidden springs that had fed the Oroko for centuries began to dry up. As the tree's leaves withered, panic spread through the village. Without the Oroko's blessings, how would life continue? A group of desperate villagers decided to take matters into their own hands. They believed that by releasing the tree's spirit, they could allow the tree spirit to escape its dying form and once again bless the village. Under the cover of night, they entered the cave with axes and torches. The Oroko, weakened by drought and the villagers' greed, could not defend itself. As the first axe bit into its trunk, the tree's spirit, bound for so long to its physical form, dissipated into the air with a final, sorrowful sigh. Horrified by what they'd done, the villagers sealed the caverns and forbade anyone from entering. The years passed and the village withered without the Oroko's blessings. The tale of the tree faded into legend, and the caverns were forgotten. The locals eventually began to call this place Kuru Kuyu, which means “dry well”. ### Iri and Koro Centuries later, a traveling toymaker arrived in Drywell. While searching for the perfect wood from which he could craft his toys, the toymaker stumbled upon the sealed caverns. Curious, he decided to delay his search and cautiously explore the cool caverns. Eventually, he would stumble upon the remains of the ancient Oroko, its marbled wood now dry and well-preserved after centuries sealed away from the elements. The toymaker decided this rare and beautiful wood would be perfect for crafting something special. He gathered as much of the wood as he could carry and left. In his small workshop, the toymaker crafted two exquisite dolls from the Oroko wood. One, carved from the tree's heartwood—the other from the outer rings. He called them Iri and Koro. It is unknown what became of the toymaker and his creations. Some say the dolls came to life, embodying the ancient spirit of the Oroko, and spirited the toymaker away to realms unknown. Others claim to have seen the dolls wandering the village. But the locals often speak in hushed tones of strange laughter echoing from the sealed caverns on moonless nights, and of fleeting glimpses of a wooden figures dancing at the edge of torchlight. But none have dared to unseal the caverns to investigate, and the true fates of the toy maker and his dolls remain nothing more than a tale shared amongst children.