Excerpt from An Alchemist’s Guide to Botany by Ernila of Vatora
Within the verdant forests of Palegate, in the Northlander Isles, grows a tree unlike any other. Its dense, ebony timber stands in stark contrast to its evergreen neighbours. It carries no green needle leaves. Rather, from its branches dangle fine translucent strands – a peculiar feature with an even stranger effect. These threads disturb the natural flow of the magical elements, syphoning their energy indiscriminately to sustain the tree itself. For any mage, casting spells in these forests is nigh impossible. Hence, these trees carry the name: waster’s wood.
The people of Palegate soon discovered the value of its lumber. Items crafted from waster’s wood were not just durable, but also unaffected by magic. A gate constructed from it could withstand the searing fury of magical fire. A roof fashioned from it could endure even the devastating breath of a dragon.
With this scarce resource in seeming abundance, Palegate blossomed into a thriving city-state. Its abundant supply of waster’s wood paved the nautical way for lucrative trade routes with nearby nations, elevating its stature and influence across the Northlander Isles. It is through these important trade routes that I was able to acquire a substantial amount for my study of the wood.
Despite my efforts, I have been unable to extract its absorptive properties. I have, however, learned that only direct contact with the material affects magic. Spells can still exist within proximity. Oddly, it does not exhibit any reaction to potions. The mysteries of waster’s wood, it seems, are as deep and untapped as the forests where it grows.