In this world, there are many tools one may use to direct magic. One of the most well-known of these is the wand. Of course, it is a common saying that "The wand chooses the wizard," with all wands having a degree of awareness with which they select...
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Known for its ethereal and protective magic, Picea engelmannii, often called Engelmann spruce, white spruce, mountain spruce, or silver spruce, is a species native to western North America. It stretches from central British Columbia and southwest Alberta to northern California, and further southeast to Arizona and New Mexico, with a couple of isolated populations dwelling in northern Mexico. This high-altitude mountain tree thrives at elevations between 900 and 3,650 meters and notably reaches the alpine tree line in numerous locales. It is whispered among woodland creatures and ancient magi that the tree's resilient nature and mystical properties lend unique powers to those fortunate enough to wield its wood in the magical arts.
Popular in western North America, Engelmann Spruce wood seeks owners with a natural gift for language and communication. These gifts are more likely to be expressed through the written word, but are not exclusive to it either. These witches and wizards are pretty clever. They excel at word puzzles, riddles, and wordplay. Their spatial intelligence, on the other hand, may be a bit low. In other words, they would prefer to play Scrabble over Tetris. In their younger years, they may have been overly correct or not have understood the difference between spoken and written language well (specifically, that spoken language doesn't have to follow the grammatical rules of written language to be communicable).
To identify suitable owners for Engelmann Spruce wands, wandmakers might conduct magical aptitude tests focusing on language skills and creative word use. Observing candidates' abilities in crafting spells requiring verbal precision can be particularly telling. A wand made of this spruce wood may resonate when in the presence of a witch or wizard with a natural affinity for language, showing an eagerness to bond by vibrating or emitting a soft glow. Personality traits such as empathy, fairness in judgment, and a preference for linguistic rather than spatial challenges further help in matching the wand to its rightful owner.
They get lonely easily and like to be surrounded by friends or at least people they can have entertaining conversations or friendly debates with. With friends and family, they can be overprotective and clingy. There is a talent for mediation. They can see both sides of an issue and are usually fair judges. It is talented at magic related to protection, life, death, equilibrium, communication, and the heart. It often performs best in ancient runes, arithmancy, history of magic, defense against the dark arts, and charms. However, there may be minor issues with transfiguration. This typically manifests as a slight reduction in the potency of transfiguration spells or an occasional difficulty in maintaining control over complex transformations. Understanding these limitations can help wand users and makers set realistic expectations.
In a captivating incident, an Engelmann Spruce wand owner found herself amidst a heated village council meeting that threatened to split the community apart over a long-standing land dispute. With a calm demeanor, she raised her wand and cast a charm that allowed the villagers to understand one another's thoughts and feelings momentarily. This gesture of empathy helped them reach a peaceful compromise, demonstrating the wand's remarkable abilities in communication and mediation, and solidifying her reputation as a wise and fair mediator.
Maroon, orchid, and bright silver stellar shapes are emitted by this wand when performing spellwork. Its magic smells of apples, sun-warmed sand, and honey. Wands made of Engelmann Spruce wood are their strongest at dawn and in the early morning. A careful crafting ritual begins with selecting wood from a tree that has reached the alpine tree line, ensuring the wand is attuned to high-altitude magic. The wood is hand-carved in the first light of the morning, accompanied by incantations whispered to preserve its mystical properties. The bonding process involves focusing intent and channeling energy through the wand for several sunrises until feather-like carvings naturally appear along its length, a sign of true attunement with its owner. These carvings may glow gold and silver spells or at night. When its owner dies, the wand will insist on being buried with them. From the tomb, it will grow into a tree to cover and protect its owner, even in death. This tree will retain the feather-like carvings and their bioluminescence. This wood bonds naturally with cores from the Thunderbird, as well as phoenix or quetzal, and cores from felines (like kneazle whisker and wampus cat hair) or Horned Serpent horn. It does not readily bond with cores from reptilian creatures such as dragons or basilisks. Celestia Angell, an original member of the Voyageurs and James Evercreetch's girlfriend, owns a wand made from Engelmann Spruce with a Horned Serpent horn core.
