The Willow of Petonowit

Long ago, before the Europeans ever set foot in North America, when the Wampanoag tribe was young, a traveler asked for admittance into a certain encampment for the night to hide from the night terrors. The chief was a compassionate man, and he accepted the traveler’s request. The traveler stayed, ate, and spoke with his hosts, telling them stories of what he had seen on his journeys.

The next morning, the traveler presented the chief with a single seed as thanks for his graciousness. This seed, he explained, would grow into a willow tree with the power to call spirits to it. If it was planted with respect, only spirits of loved ones and those with good intentions would gather to the tree, but if he who planted it did so with evil and darkness in their heart, evil and dark spirits would terrorize the tree and those near it.

The chief thanked the traveler for his kindness for his gift and the traveler departed. The chief and his people lived happily, and they kept the seed. When the chief passed away, he came to his son, the new chief, in a dream. He told his son to plant the seed. The son walked deep into the forest and did as his father said in a large clearing at the center of a small valley.

Generations passed, and the story of the seed and the tree would be passed down to each new chief. Eventually, this tribe was at war with another tribe. This other tribe was using very Dark magic to destroy them. The chief was killed by the Dark tribe, and his son, Petonowit, became the chief.

Petonowit did not know how to proceed in the war. His tribe did not know powerful Dark magic like the enemies, nor would they have used it. He knew he needed guidance, and he remembered the story of the Ghost Willow. He journeyed to the valley, and there was the tree, just as the stories had said.

Petonowit approached the Willow, and called to it, asking for guidance. Spirits began to materialize around him. He was frightened, but the ghosts assured him that they were benevolent - many were the spirits of chiefs long dead, as well as trusted advisors, medicine men, and wives.

Petonowit asked the spirits what he should do to defeat his enemies and protect his people. The spirits told him that he would receive aid if he would take a branch and many leaves from the Willow back to his people. The ghosts vanished and Petonowit did as they instructed.

Petonowit knew that the Dark tribe would attack again the next day. He fashioned the branch into a banner and gave one leaf to each of his people - warriors, women, and children alike. The Dark army attacked.

Then, the spirits appeared among the people of Petonowit. They took hold of the leaves and became tangible. Petonowit led his warriors and the ghost army into battle, stretching the banner into the sky. The Dark army was terrified and were quickly overcome. They ran away and never returned. Petonowit was victorious.

When Petonowit passed away, his spirit returned to the Ghost Willow with the promise to protect it. After Ilvermorny was built, one of the students discovered the Willow in a meadow at the bottom of the mountain. Legend says that parts of the Thirteenth Tower were built with wood stolen from the Willow, which is why malevolent and evil sprits seem to be attracted to the Tower. However, spiritualists and those hoping to become mediums often visit Petonowit’s Willow to speak with him and all those who manifest around it.

~Prefect Selwyn

Image Source. Special thanks to The Monster Blog of Monsters for allowing the use of their plants (Petonowit’s Willow is based off of their Ghost Willow)