Homebrew Leshian Species Details

Born in Nature

Leshians begin their existence as sentient though bodiless spirits of nature of the sort contacted by spells such as commune with nature. These spirits normally have no way to directly manipulate the physical world, but a skilled spellcaster (typically a druid) can grow a special plant body for one of these spirits, giving the spirit a home to animate. 

Once accepted into a body, a leshian's spirit remains within unless the body is destroyed. Leshians do not fear death as many other creatures do, knowing that should they fall, their spirits merely return to the natural world and can be called to inhabit a new leshian body at some point in the future. As a leshian's body dies, the magic animating it unravels in a burst of life energy that infuses its surrounding and quickens the growth of any plants in the vicinity. Some leshians even voluntarily discorporate to save the lives of ailing plants, knowing that their sacrifice may mean the continuation of countless otherwise helpless flora. Regardless of how a leshian dies, leaving the body traumatizes the spirit, and the leshian retains only faint memories of past corporeal existences. Leshian spirits need not return to the same form if bound again to a body. During the course of its existence a single spirit can inhabit any number of different types of leshians. A leshian without a body has no power to affect or contact the material world. 

The rites and special materials required to create a leshian's physical form vary between individual leshians. Once the creator assembles the necessary materials, a leshian must typically be grown in an area of natural power, such as a treant's grove, a druidic circle, or a site of pristine natural wonder. A newly born leshian is a free-willed, neutral being, under no obligation to serve its creator. 

As a group, leshians share certain common attributes. They resemble plants but with vaguely humanoid appearances, and are always Small. While leshians of the same species share the same general shape, leshians have all the diversity of the plant world in appearance. For example, one fungus leshian may have a classic red, white-dotted mushroom cap, while another might have the spongier and darker contours of a morel, while a third might have the coloration of a pale gray cave mushroom.

 Growing a Leshian

The process of growing a leshian has some similarities to making a construct, but doesn't require the Craft Construct feat. Typically, the creator of a leshian must be a powerful druid, but anyone capable of making the required Knowledge checks and casting the required spells may attempt the process. 

Leshian Traits

Originally grown as servants for more powerful fey and intelligent plant life such as elder treants, leshians are sentient plants who look after their unintelligent brethren and serve as nature's verdant watchers.

Ability Score Increase:

Your Constitution increases by 2, and your Dexterity increases by 1

Age:

One Leshian can live forever. Or until it has decided that it wants to help nature grow, then will it drain its life force into the soil.

Size:

Leshys average about 4 feet tall to 6 feet tall, and weigh about 60 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed:

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Alignment:

Most leshians are lawful good. As a rule, they are good-hearted and kind, hate to see others in pain, and have no tolerance for harming nature.

Ever-Vigilant:

As plants, Leshys do not require sleep and are immune to incapacitation due to sleep-inducing effects.

Born of Nature:

Born from their environment, leshys blend into their biome with ease-- leaving no signs of their passing when in their natural habitat. Constant Pass without Trace on self when in natural habitat.

Languages:

As a Leshy, you can speak Sylvan, Plantspeech, and a language of choice.