Tree of Life
A Tree of Life (also called ToL, or just "tree") is a city asset that houses a runemaster and enables a guild to protect a limited number of buildings from any harm. If a guild leader obtains a realm, the guild's Tree of Life will become surrounded by a palace. If a Tree of Life is destroyed by an opposing force during a bane, the city anchored to it is lost or captured.
From "The Void":
"The Druids devised the latest solution, tapping into the power of the injured World Tree to create the Trees of Life. By enchanting the petrified Acorns of the First Tree and weaving mighty rituals of revitalization and rebirth, they were able to create anchors for dead souls, drawing them back to the Tree and miraculously crafting a new body for them. There is one drawback, however - the rituals actually draw slightly on the power of the Black, and each time a soul respawns, a tiny amount of Dark Energy is introduced to the world. This "bleed through" of negative energy accounts for the Death Shroud effect, and some believe it occasionally infects unborn Humans, transforming them into Shades. The Druids found a loophole in the Net, if you will, and so now the Black, deprived of sustenance, has its potential conduit. The more people die and are respawned, the stronger the Dark becomes on Aerynth, and the more the Net is weakened. In addition, the Cold Spawn of the Mother of Winter are working to destroy Binding Sigils on the fragments of Aerynth, hoping to pave the way for the Null"
