Homebrew Volodni Species Details

Volodni - Treefolk

‘I am not going to tell you my name, not yet at any rate.’ A
queer half-knowing, half-humorous look came with a green flicker into
his eyes. ‘For one thing it would take a long while: my name is growing all
the time, and I’ve lived a very long, long time; so my name is like a story.
Real names tell you the story of things they belong to in my language, in
the Old Entish as you might say. It is a lovely language, but it takes a very
long time saying anything in it, because we do not say anything in it,
unless it is worth taking a long time to say, and to listen to.’
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

The volodni—or treefolk—are a race of
sentient plant humanoids native to the cold
forests of northeast Faerûn, particularly the Dunwood
(or Rawlinswood) and the Forest of Lethyr.

Reaching for the Sky
Treefolk resemble humans, though they’re generally
taller and more slender. They tend toward broad shoulders
and long arms, and can stand stock still for a very long time without
tiring.

Treefolk have woody flesh and their skin ranges from deep green
to nut brown to gray. Their hair grows in long, thick locks of scaled
bark and either leaves or pine needles, and their eyes are a gleaming
black or deep emerald. Their blood is transparent and pale green,
with the consistency of tree sap.

Treefolk in their native groves
see no point in clothing, though
when they go abroad they wear
useful garments of leather or
plaited plant fibers because they
remember pockets.
Into the Woods

Treefolk are patient and have
long memories who defend their
forest homes with iron resolve.
They tend to ponder deeply
before they speak or act.
Treefolk can appear cold and
dispassionate to warm-blooded,
shorter-lived races such
as humans, but they get along
well with wood elves and
sylvan creatures.
Like other creatures borne
of the fey, treefolk have an
aversion to things wrought
of iron, and prefer armor
and `weapons made of
leather, wood, stone, and
other natural materials.
Sages say that, many
centuries ago, when
the long, bitter war
between Narfell and
Raumather was flaring to its zenith, a group human refugees fled
into a forest. Their Nar lord made a pact with a powerful entity,
perhaps an ancient treant, a lord of the fey, or even Silvanus
himself. In any case, that powerful creature offered the Nar lord a
bargain: Reject their demon-binding ways and take the blood of
the forest as their own. The Nar lord readily agreed, and he and the
refugees surrendered their humanity in exchange for sanctuary in
the forest. Thus were the volodni born.

A Pleasant Sunlit Grove
Treefolk live in small tribes in groves they cultivate to their liking.
Druid circles govern their society, and they respect druids, even
those of the “warm folk.” They honor treants and are friendly with
most other forest dwellers, including centaurs, satyrs, and elves.
Some treefolk condemn any incursion into the forests under
their care, and meet intrusion with death. More moderate treefolk
acknowledge the difference between husbandry and forest management,
as practiced by most humans and dwarves, and malicious
destruction. Those that despoil the forests out of spite rather
than the need to survive will feel the hostility of the volodni, and
most treefolk harbor deep resentment towards goblins and orcs.
Some treefolk think their people should retreat into the forest and
avoid contact with any outsiders, while most seek to expand their
territory. Some have visions of covering the land in one vast forest.
Treefolk don’t build enclosed structures, but in their groves stone
circles are common.
Like most sylvan creatures, treefolk cherish the forests and seek
to defend them. However, unlike most sylvan creatures, perhaps
because of their vestigial human nature, they are aggressive, expansionistic,
and often cruel. In the Forgotten Realms, the volodni
seek to spread their numbers to other forests, and to encourage the
forests to grow without check. Though they live in harmony with
their warm-blood neighbors in Rashemen, every Rashemi knows
not to provoke them by cutting wood where it hasn’t been previously
agreed, and wonders when -- not if -- the treefolk will swarm
out of the forests bringing war.

Like a Leaf on the Wind
Though they are seldom tempted to part with the trees of their
home, some treefolk long to see the other great forests of Faerûn,
such as the wonders of the High Forest or fabled Cormanthor. Others
have suffered some great tragedy; when an orc raiding party destroys
a grove, the survivors often take to the road, seeking another
place to make a life -- or to exact their revenge. Volodni druids and
rangers go out into the world to protect woodlands and sometimes
are sent to secretly scout out the civilized lands near their homes.

Volodni Traits

treefolk

darkvision

Accustomed to the gloom of the deep forest, you have
superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light
within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if
it were dim light. You cannot discern color in darkness, only shades
of gray.

Plant Traits

You have resistance to poison and piercing damage,
as well as advantage on saving throws against sleep and charm effects.
In addition, you have disadvantage on saving throws to resist
damage from magical fire, and you count as a plant creature for
blight spells and similar effects.

Cold Iron Anathema.

Due to your fey ancestry, you have disadvantage
attack rolls made with metal weapons, and you can’t regain
hit points while you wear metal armor

Root and Branch.

You don’t need to sleep. Instead, if your bare
feet touch soil, you can stand still and meditate in sunlight for 4
hours. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a
human does from 8 hours of sleep. In addition, while you rest and
meditate, you can mentally communicate with with trees and other
treefolk as if you cast a speak with plants spell.

Forest Hunter.

If you’re traveling alone, you can move stealthily
through forest terrain at a normal pace. In addition, you can
attempt to hide in forest terrain even when only lightly obscured by
foliage, falling rain or snow, and mist

Nature’s Avenger.

You know one cantrip of your choice from the
druid spell list. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for it.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan.