Order of the Withered Tree

The Order of the Withered Tree are often misunderstood, though many myths about these dark monks are quite true. At some point followers of the god of the dead, Draas’aka, were either taught or broke off from one of the first monastic orders. Their fascination with death exists to further two goals, the prolonging of their life before death, and the ability to cause swift death themselves. This leads to macabre study of living beings near the point of and directly after death, typically involving anatomy exploration. Typically there is no crime committed as subjects studied are willing, often ill or elderly, or animals that aren't afforded the same rights by most civilized areas.

For all the disturbing half-truths, the Withered Tree monks have unlocked the ability to strip life essence from others, fueling their own. Some speak of masters of the order having drained enough essence over their studies to escape the jaws of death if it does catch up with them, sparking life inside them once more.

The order is one of the smallest, as it draws only those with a narrow interest. The numbers are further kept in check by the constant threat each member faces from other followers of Draas’aka, the Dread Reckoners, who do not interpret the gods teachings the same and view the Order of the Withered Tree with disdain. Typically they do not dispatch a Reckoner unless a member gains too much power, cheating death too often.