Homebrew Arborean Species Details

An Arborean is the halfway point between humanoids, and plant life. These interesting creatures are often found in areas lush with plant life; they are native to the deepest parts of jungles, forests, kelp beds, and other parts of nature that have gone untouched by humanoids. It is not uncommon for them to be confused with dryads and other various nature spirits.

Secluded By Nature

Due to their secluded habitats, Arboreans in general are a rare sight in our world, and Arborean adventurers even more so. They rarely meet with other species of humanoid, causing them to act shy and reclusive by nature. Their communities are tightly knit, and their cultures almost universally oppose having any interaction with other humanoids, besides perhaps some reclusive Druids or Firbolgs. Arborean communities that are willing to regularly communicate with outsiders, much less trade or integrate with them, are nearly unheard of.

It's not uncommon for other humanoids to mistake this reclusiveness for meekness, but those who put their assumptions to the test are swiftly corrected. Arboreans have a strong sense of community that makes them fiercely protective of their homes and kin. One of the few reasons an Arborean may venture out of their territory might be to retrieve a lost or wayward peer, or to proactively eliminate an obvious threat to their habitats. This close relationship with one another makes it rare (difficult even) for an Arborean to break off from their communities. The one way an Arborean might be forced from their home is by breaking their kinds only hard taboo; bringing in outsiders. The parts of world untouched by other humanoids, where these folk call home, are shrinking. As is their population. Regardless of the cause or their intensions, an Arborean who reveals their territory to outsiders without the consent of all their peers are quick to be shunned; forced to go out and find new peers willing to accept them.

Floral Physique

Like most plant related life forms, Arboreans all share a few characteristics that make their unique nature obvious to any observers. This can include having fibrous green or brown skin; grassy or leafy patches that resemble hair; or sprouting tendrils that resemble branches or wood stalks emerging from their limbs. But other more unique traits may appear, depending on the environment from which they hail. These more unique qualities include region specific flowers or fungi growing out of their head and shoulders; additional orifices that constantly produce sap or spores; or the tips of their fingers ending in small carnivorous traps. It isn’t uncommon for these floral traits to change or evolve if an Arborean settles down in and conforms to a new type of environment than the one they matured in. The Arborean Floral Features table has examples of more exotic features that you can choose or use as inspiration to create your own:

Arborean Names

A typical Arborean won't have a name, at least not what other humanoids would understand to be a name. They identify others by traits, actions, and habits without the need for personal epithets. If an Arborean has to interact with other races, they may take on nature-themed names like Oat, Weed, Bark, or Kelp.

Arborean Traits

Due to their plant-like physiology, Arboreans have a natural affinity with the flora of the world, allowing their bodies and their communities to coexist with their enviorment in a harmonious way.

Ability Score Increase

Increase one ability score by 2 and increase a different one by 1, or increase three different ability scores by 1. Constitution and Wisdom are the recommended for these improvements.

Age

The maximum lifespan of the Arborean is incredible, able to live for around 900 years on average if left to their own devices. You cannot be aged magically.

Creature Type

You are a Humanoid.

Size

You are Medium or Small. You choose the size when you gain this lineage.

Speed

Your base Walking Speed is 30 feet.

Arboreal Magic

You know the Thorn Whip cantrip. At 5th level, you can cast the Speak with Plants spell as a 3rd-level spell once without a Spell Slot, and you regain the ability to cast it in that way when you finish a Long Rest. You can also cast the Spell using any Spell Slots you have. You can choose Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma as your spellcasting ability for these Spells.

Green Thumb

You gain proficiency in the Nature skill.

Photosynthetic

In keeping with your floral nature, your body can draw all the resources it needs from the light of the sun; you can go without food or drink as long as you spend an hour per day exposed to direct Sunlight, as you are provided with a full days worth of nourishment.

In addition, given that your body is composed of unique plant-like flesh, you can regrow any non-vital limb or appendage you lose in 1d6+1 weeks. You must spend at least six hours out of each day exposed to direct Sunlight; these hours do not need to be consecutive.

Rooted In Place

When you take a Long Rest, you must spend at least six hours in an inactive, motionless state, rather than sleeping. In this state, you appear inert, but it doesn’t render you Unconscious, and you can see and hear as normal.

Languages

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