Maiko's Note
They call it Shulunbao — the body-grove. A place where bark splits like skin, and roots drink what once spoke.
This isn’t burial. It’s absorption. The elders don’t rest beneath the soil… they vanish into the tree. The bark closes slowly. Sometimes you still see their faces — just under the surface — like something trying to remember how to scream.
I used to think it was beautiful. And maybe it is. But beauty can be unsettling. Especially when the mist rises — thick and white — and you feel watched.
Some say the mist carries their voices. I’ve analyzed it. Nothing conclusive.
Still… I lower my volume when I pass through. It just feels wrong to speak too loudly where the trees are listening.
Mirewood or "Fleshtree"
Shindjal: Shulunbao
Faction:
Endulani
"The forest remembers. It does not speak - but it listens with bark, and dreams with root."
— Endrek, apprentice of the Shint’twalàni
1. Overview / Summary
The Shulunbao, or Fleshtree, is a sacred and unsettling organism found deep in the forests of Endudjan. Though named for its function rather than form, it plays a central role in Endulani burial traditions: it absorbs the bodies of elders into its flesh-like core, leaving their memory imprinted in bark and mist.
The name Fleshtree is a nickname coined by Keith, the outsider protagonist, after witnessing a burial. Disturbed by what he saw - the body disappearing into glistening “flesh” beneath the bark - he adopted the term.
2. Origins & Background
The Shulunbao did not exist before the arrival of the Theseus. Its existence is the result of symbiosis between an alien tree and a fungal species brought by humans. Over generations, the hybrid became a vital part of Endulani ritual and life.
Elders offered to the tree are not simply buried. They are absorbed - their tissues fused into the tree’s interior, which later re-seals with a hardened bark layer. Subtle facial impressions often remain. While the fusion of bodies and trees appears disturbing to outsiders, for the Endulani it symbolizes sacred fusion with the soul of the forest.
3. Biological & Behavioral Context
Bark: Chitinous, segmented armor - extremely tough
Interior: Flesh-like matrix; damp, warm, rich in enzymes
Absorption: Triggered by ritual incisions in bark and bodily contact
Facial Impressions: Common; fade slowly over decades
Mist Emission: Unique property - can emit cool, dense white mist from hidden pores
Mist Generation: Natural in humid climates, but can be triggered intentionally
This mist is not just environmental - it is tactical. Certain Endulani, particularly shamans like Lijul, can invoke the mist of Shulunbaoi during conflict, turning forest glades into a veil of ghosts. The effect allows Endulani to vanish from sight, shift positions, and strike unexpectedly.
4. Role in the World
The Shulunbao is both sacred tomb and natural defense. To the Endulani, it is a trusted companion - a tree that mourns, remembers, and protects. Only elders, mentors, and figures of community importance are offered to the tree. Their spirits are said to linger in the mist, watching over the living. It is unclear whether the mist was a result of the human interaction or whether it had always been part of the Shulunbaoi's nature.
To the Hanjelani Empire, the Shulunbao is incomprehensible. Imperial doctrine fears it, labeling it unnatural. Where imperial roads and outposts spread into Endudjan, groves of Shulunbao are often burned.
5. Language & Terminology
Shulun - body
Ùmbao - tree
Shulunbao - “fleshtree”
Endunbao - “Mist Tree” (alternate name among mystics)
6. Notable Locations / Figures
Whispering Vale: Sacred grove and oldest known cluster of Shulunbaoi
Lijul: Young shaman, known to command the mist; her bond with the trees is unmatched
Elder Malúka: Legendary Endulani elder; her face in the bark is still recognizable to this day
7. Lore Snippets & Anecdotes
“She didn’t just walk into the fog. The forest made it for her.” - Borovil, watching Lijul summon mist before a skirmish
“It closed over his chest like hands. The bark sealed slow… but I swear it was breathing.” - Keith, after witnessing his first Shulunbao burial
“The mist isn’t weather. It’s memory.” - Asukul
Maiko's Note
They call it Shulunbao — the body-grove. A place where bark splits like skin, and roots drink what once spoke.
This isn’t burial. It’s absorption. The elders don’t rest beneath the soil… they vanish into the tree. The bark closes slowly. Sometimes you still see their faces — just under the surface — like something trying to remember how to scream.
I used to think it was beautiful. And maybe it is. But beauty can be unsettling. Especially when the mist rises — thick and white — and you feel watched.
Some say the mist carries their voices. I’ve analyzed it. Nothing conclusive.
Still… I lower my volume when I pass through. It just feels wrong to speak too loudly where the trees are listening.
