Map showing the area known as Ravencourt, circa 1492 DR.
The Hanging Tree of Ravencourt or the Magistree, was a spectral phenomenon that was localized around a tree in the area of Ravencourt, Waterdeep.[1] It was known to occasionally grab and execute criminals guilty of capital crimes (for which the penalty was death) by hanging them by the neck until dead.[2]
Description[]
The Magistree resembled a typical shadowtop tree, but its bark had turned the dark hue of a magister's robes. It was located on the west side of the western-most building in Ravencourt at the end of Prayer Alley.[2] It only reacted to those who were unpunished for capital crimes, known or unknown,[3] and could reach anyone that passed under its branches or crossed its shadow.[2]
Prayer Alley in Ravencourt, according to Volo, circa 1367 DR. The Magistree is shown just above the map label for the alley.
History[]
Ravencourt was the former site of a noble villa that belonged to Magister (judge) Pallak Nharrelk of House Nharrelk. During the period of Waterdhavian history known as the Misrule of the Lords-Magister, Lord Nharrelk, a loyalist to the Lords of Waterdeep, was captured and hanged to death from his own tree, and then buried without rites beneath it in the Year of Daystars, 1268 DR.[3] The villa was looted, the noble line ended, and the Nharrelk name was eventually forgotten.[2] Ever since, the tree exhibited the judge, jury, and executioner behavior for those truly guilty individuals that passed within its reach.[2] Eventually, the tree was considered an arm of the King's Justice.[3]
Three men were judged by it in 1479 DR, after a recess of more than a century.[3]
The spirit that animated the tree resisted all attempts to put it to rest. It also lethally defended itself against grave-robbers that disturbed Lord Nharrelk's remains in the hopes of finding some magic relic that was rumored to be the source of the tree's power.[2]
Rumors & Legends[]
There were reports of people seeing brief messages in rough Common spelled out in the leaves and branches that had fallen to the ground beneath the tree.[2]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (September 2008). Blackstaff Tower. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 92. ISBN 0-7869-4913-9.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Steven E. Schend (2000-01-21). Part Three: The Magistree, or the Hanging Tree of Ravencourt (HTML). Realms by Night. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2000-08-18. Retrieved on 2021-01-03.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Steven E. Schend (September 2008). Blackstaff Tower. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 268. ISBN 0-7869-4913-9.