About a mile outside of the village of Appleton lays a pleasant little grove of apple trees, in the centre of which stands an ancient and gnarled apple tree. According to local folklore this is the First Tree, which has stood here since before the Dawning, and from which all apple trees are descended.

The Tree is home to Wistel the Dryad, and the Grove is her domain. In the spring the farmers bring her garlands of apple blossom and in the autumn she claims the first basket of fruit from each farm. The farmers readily agree to this for the blessings she sends to the orchards, and for fear that such blessings might be revoked.

According to local tradition if a wedding is conducted under the Tree, Wistel will bless the union and bring good fortune to the newlyweds. Young lovers (wedded or otherwise) like to spend their first night together in the Grove for much the same reasons.

There is no tangible evidence that any such benefits are obtained from all of this, nor do the farmers gain any real magics from it. Nonetheless the traditions continue, as they have for countless generations, for the villagers believe that it is only by Wistel’s blessings that the apples grow at all.

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