Maiko's Note
The Valkyrie’s hull is made of layered polycarbon fused with radiation shielding. It’s strong — by Earth standards.
The Ùmborbao is stronger.
I first encountered its data as “anomalous vegetation, wind-resilient, ultradense.” That didn’t capture it. Not even close. When Keith and I descended into the Endudjan mists and stood beneath its canopy for the first time, I ran a full structural scan. Bark density off the charts. Sap flow irregular. Root depth immense. It looked… anchored. Like the mountain grew it as a defense.
Keith leaned against one and said, “Feels like it could hold the weight of a dying world.”
I didn’t comment, but I stored the line.
The Armored Tree
Shindjal: Ùmborbao
Faction:
Mama Gadun
“Even the wind must bow to the Ùmborbao.”
— Endulani saying
1. Overview / Summary
The Ùmborbao is a towering forest tree native to the Endudjan mountains and valleys, easily recognized by its scale-like bark and dense needle-fused leaves. Its Drabàshabal name refers to its resemblance to armor, and the name is well earned - it is among the most physically resilient flora on Madun. Known for its dense wood and weatherproof trunk, it is a critical natural resource for the Endulani.
2. Origins & Background
The name Ùmborbao originated from observation. Early Endulani noted the tree’s bark resembled plates or shields, and coined the word from ùm (fixed/rooted) and boro (strong/safe). Despite its appearance, it held no religious or mystical meaning.
In later centuries, scholars would discover that the Ùmborbao participates in a deep, symbiotic relationship with fungal species descended from those brought aboard the Theseus. This mycorrhizal connection was invisible to the Endulani, who knew nothing of the shared nutrient systems beneath the roots - but would later rediscover this link through old data retrieved from pre-landing archives.
3. Cultural / Environmental Context
The Ùmborbao grows in cool, high-altitude forests, often along ridgelines or in rocky soil.
Its dark, cracked bark forms layered, interlocking plates like natural armor
Its leaves, unlike typical foliage, are long clusters of fused needles, designed to survive misty winds and cool air
The trees grow extremely tall, and remain stable even in harsh storms
Felling them is rare, not for sacred reasons, but because it is immensely difficult — the wood is so dense that without advanced tools, it is a costly endeavor
Still, the Endulani do cut them when necessary, especially for fortifications, load-bearing beams, or structures meant to last generations.
4. Role in the World
The Ùmborbao is a practical monument, valued by the Endulani for its durability and resilience. It is not worshiped or treated as sacred, but it is deeply respected as a pillar of the forest.
Its wood is used sparingly, only where strength is essential
Its bark has been used for armor panels, door shields, or even sled runners for mountainous terrain
Its form also provides natural shelter, with hollows sometimes used by wild animals, lorekeepers, or scouts
The Hall of the Shint’twal - the most hidden and protected center of Endulani knowledge - is built into a mountainside behind a natural grove of Ùmborbao, chosen not for symbolism, but for concealment and stability.
5. Language & Terminology
Ùmborbao: Armored Tree
ùmbor: armor, carapace
ùmbao: tree
Endulani sayings:
“He has bark like Ùmborbao.” - Meaning: unshakable, emotionally closed
“You can't split Ùmborbao with a whisper.” - Saying for when words fail to move someone
“Even the Ùmborbao falls, if you need it enough.” - Used when great effort is justified
6. Notable Locations / Figures
Hall of the Shint’twal - Hidden behind a grove of Ùmborbao along a ridgeline cliff
The Great Trunk of Djenva - A fallen Ùmborbao older than any oral record
Cliff Sentinel Trail - A northern path known for its exposed Ùmborbao roots holding the slope like giant claws
7. Lore Snippets or Anecdotes
“When the storm broke the east towers, only the pillars carved from Ùmborbao still stood. The rest we buried, but the wood we reused.”
— Architect-warrior Etjal of the Wolves
Maiko's Note
The Valkyrie’s hull is made of layered polycarbon fused with radiation shielding. It’s strong — by Earth standards.
The Ùmborbao is stronger.
I first encountered its data as “anomalous vegetation, wind-resilient, ultradense.” That didn’t capture it. Not even close. When Keith and I descended into the Endudjan mists and stood beneath its canopy for the first time, I ran a full structural scan. Bark density off the charts. Sap flow irregular. Root depth immense. It looked… anchored. Like the mountain grew it as a defense.
Keith leaned against one and said, “Feels like it could hold the weight of a dying world.”
I didn’t comment, but I stored the line.
