Name: The Brain Tree
Debut: Neopets
A gnarled, dead tree is a staple of the Halloween aesthetic, but even when they're given faces, they're usually relegated to background set dressing... so it is extra wonderful when they get the spotlight as full-on characters! The Brain Tree is one such dead tree, but I kind of hesitate to call it dead. The tree aspects seem dried and withered, but that brain is fresh and pulsating. That's the tree's brain! He's growing it himself! How does he do that?
With knowledge! Learning! His favorite thing. But I would argue that it's not at all in a Nerd way, because most of his biomass is brain. It feels more like he feeds on knowledge like a vampire feeds on blood, or like an anteater feeds on Uncle Carl's Premium 4-In-1 Anteater Diet. But it's not just any information the Brain Tree is after. He has very specific questions. He does not give a HOOT about the origin of life, or the nature of W. D. Gaster, or even whether the Loveland Frogman is real, if you can believe that!
All the Brain Tree cares about is when and where Neopets have died. What is he doing with that information? Collecting it, of course! It probably makes his brain grow and pulsate more and more. Even if, hypothetically, he didn't crave knowledge, imagine being a brain-based monster with a SMALL external brain. That would be so embarrassing!
The Brain Tree is said to be the only tree to have achieved intelligence! Which I guess means that the Money Tree, in its boundless generosity, is a complete and utter buffoon. I think being kind is the smart thing to do, but what do I know? I keep my brain on the inside!
So, the tree wants the death deets, and he's asking you for them, and he's pressuring you, because he's kind of rude. Will you look in the cemetery? Maybe if you're an oaf! That will not help one bit. He probably has all of those ones memorized anyway. There is but one source of Neopet death dates and locations, and that is the Esophagor!
The Brain Tree's neighbor! The local Mound-In-The-Ground Around Town! Zounds! Yeah, this lump knows the information for whatever reason, making him arguably smarter than the Brain Tree, at least regarding the topic the Tree treasures most. But he will only give you the goods if you give him scary food, like m-m-marshmallows that look like smiling ghosts... eep!
It's a strange relationship the two have. I don't know if they're ever indicated or implied to care about each other at all, but Brain Tree needs Esophagor for his favorite thing! He should be wanting to smooch this lump, at LEAST. I don't know where Esophagor gets his information. Maybe he looks it up online.
But something very, very interesting is that the Brain Tree, when given the wrong answer, KNOWS it. He instantly recognizes the falsehood. If he doesn't know the right answer, how does he know if one is wrong? The answer is simple. It's his trick! He's tricking you! I bet he knows all this already, and he does this because he's a creepy ol' tree with a brain, and what else is a creepy ol' tree with a brain supposed to do all day but trick people? It's how he gets his jollies! Your tricks are his treats! It's always either tricks or treats with the ghoulies! Never a dull moment, and never a neutral interaction! No matter how much you might just want to have a casual conversation with one!
