"At the far end of the world is said to be a tree. Its branches spread towards the cracked open sky, and its roots pierce the earth, taking sustenance from the living rock. As the world ages and wars and strife wreck the land, the tree grows rotten. Black sap oozes from the bark, and no more leaves grow. The Empire crumbles, as do all the civilised nations, slowly but surely. As the bastions of hope sink slowly into the mire, so the tree withers and dies. All things end: songs, books, loves, lives, all we can do is treasure what we have, while we have it until the transience of life catches up on us all."
The Withering Tree of Hope, Plate No. 12, by Tobias Helmgart
The Tree of Hope is the subject of a legend that claims that at the edge of the mortal world stands a great tree that carries the hidden secrets of life upon its branches. These tales hold that this Tree of Hope is guarded by Morr, the god of the dead, and one must first cross his domain in order to reach it.[1a]
Morr's pilgrims often wander in a trance-like state searching for the fabled tree, believing it to exist somewhere beyond Morr's Realm.[2a]
History[]
It is said by some of his followers that the Great Necromancer Nagash reached the Tree of Hope and in doing so achieved apotheosis and became a god, but how he did so if the tale is true remains a mystery. Only the greatest champions of Mankind have ever stood before the tree, and presumably, Morr would deny one like Nagash access.[1a]
However, recovered Lahmian tablets suggest that the Great Necromancer went before the tree, and it was there that he underwent apotheosis and attained godhood, becoming worthy of the worship of the vampiric Cult of Blood in the ancient Nehekharan city-state of Lahmia.[1a]
After the defeat of Nagash, scholars claim that Sigmar also saw the Tree of Hope during his own ascension to godhood.[1b]
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: The Thousand Thrones (RPG)
- 2: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Career Compendium (RPG)
- 2a: pg. 163
- 3: Blood on the Reik (Background Book)
- 3a: pg. 98
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