Homebrew Anthousai (Not Mine) Species Details

Although they are the same size and structure as most humanoids, anthousai have many characteristics that make them easy to spot: First of all, they have a very powerful smell. Rose, jasmine, lily, gardenia... Each anthousai has a personal perfume, either smelling like a flower or mixing them in impressive combinations. Each smell is completely personalized and they are extremely proud of it. It has many uses, though it is used to make everyone around the anthousai comfortable and/or to seduce them. They can sweat it and sell it as a perfume in exceptional cases, although most of them consider this an absolute disgrace.

Their skin has the same texture as a petal and varies of color depending on the flower that they decided to bound to: From whites coming from roses or jasmines to blacks or purples coming from dark calla tulips or chocolate cosmos, with almost every color being a potential possibility.

Another thing that differentiates them is that they may have hair or not: Females tend to grow hair that feels like vines and it is even able to give little flowers able to bloom, while males tend to get petals in their head that may be a continuation to the face. Their face is very human-like, but the eyes tend to be heterochromatic: It is not uncommon for their irises to be two contradicting colors, or even a kaleidoscope of up to five colors at once.

They use clothes made by themselves, mostly made out of petals or plants, that while in contact with the anthousai will be forever green, but that once they are removed quickly perish. When materials for this are not available they can use normal clothing, although they despise any fiber that is not cotton or linen. Leather is an absolute no in their fashion style: They would rather go naked than use it.

 

 

 

Like dryads, they are bound to the material plane. Unlike them, however, the binding is of their own choosing. They may decide to be bound to the Material Plane for any number of reasons, most commonly the reason is being in love with a mortal from the Material Plane; and they bind themselves to a type of flower, most commonly the hyacinth, although it is by no means a rule.

When asked about their history, they say that when powerful fey started to punish dryads for their forbidden love, some fey spirits decided to bind themselves as a way to receive a less severe fate. Flowers are a symbol of love in many cultures and it seemed appropriate to the fey that first became anthousai to become love itself. As many of them finally got the love they always desired, they started to have offspring, becoming the first anthousai that are not bound but born in the Material Plane.

As the dryads die when their tree dies, so too do the anthousai when their flower completely dies. However, these flowers are imbued with their magic to be resistant to weather, seasons, and prying creatures. They can also survive long periods without being watered or taking sun. Not to mention they come back year after year, long past their normal lifespan.

 

 

Anthousai are adept to whatever society their flower grows amongst, but will sometimes make a society based in a meadow or deep wood amongst a grove of wildflowers, or even in farming fields.

Anthousai are gentle and prefer diplomacy and reason over violence, thus, their society is a safe haven for the weak and downtrodden. When they form a society, anthousai take turns ruling over it, but only anthousai are allowed to govern. When it is not a pure anthousai society, they create a council with members of every race, where they listen to the advisement of their fellow anthousai and the races living amongst their settlements. Only when violence is completely unavoidable may they fight, being as fierce as other dryads, calling as many allies as they can or even charming or seducing the attackers into turning into each other.

Commerce with anthousai is as difficult as it is luxurious: They don't like anything involving blood, violence or metals that are not precious. Linen and cotton are always welcomed, jewels are really popular amongst them and fresh flowers will always make you a rich man. In exchange, anthousai may give you modified jewelry, magnificent dresses, and perfumes that may rival the finest perfumes created in any town.

 

 

 

 

Anthousai (Not Mine) Traits

Hello~ want to dance lovely~?