The Great Tree

The Great Tree, near Eleusis, Greece, is home to Demeter, the goddess of plants, marriage and health and the Dryads, which are tree spirits who are the patron spirits of oak trees. The Tree itself is a giant Oak Tree that is invisible to the naked eye. Most humans cannot see it unless invited by Demeter, Persephone or a dryad. Magical beings can see it, but are unable to enter, as it is protected by a magical barrier which transports the being to Tartarus, the land of the dead. The Tree is 4,000 years old and is a temple and building as well.

The Outskirts

The outskirts of the tree are a big plain, covered in wild olives and wild grapes, which the dryads harvest and turn into wines for the feasts they hold every so often. If you pay close attention, you can see the tall grass being folded over by the small feet of the dryads.

The Temple

The Temple to Demeter is a large stone temple just in front of the Great Tree. It is built in the classical Greek style, with stone Ionic columns. Inside the large temple is a statue that depicts the Queen of Grain, Demeter, standing serenely with her hands outstretched. There is a large pool between the altar and statue. There are several small side rooms in the temple which house the priests who worship Demeter.

The Town

Because so many Dryads, Meliai, and others live here. It is based in the hollow trunk of the tree, which looks like a large, spiral staircase with many doors on each floor. Each room has three bedrooms, as well as a water closet. Every fifty doors or so there is a larger door that leads to a small dining hall, where the dryads eat their smaller meals. On the ground floor there is a large communal bath for the use of those dwelling in the Great Tree, and in the canopy of the enormous oak there is a grand hall for the almost nightly feasts that Demeter hosts for her visitors as well as her familiars, the Dryads.