Homebrew Adu'ja - Variant Species Details

The adju'ja are a species of humanoid plants, an ancient race who were one of the first humanoid races to ever take form; their racial writeup describes them as being ancient when the elf races were infants in the care of their young gods.

Nature's Beauty

An adu'ja is an asexual humanoid plant; weak and thin-limbed, averaging 5 1/2 to 6 feet tall, they appear as androgynous beings whose noses consist of little more than a small bump with tiny vertical slits and whose faces are ringed by soft, petal-like scales. The adu'ja "nose" is actually a pheromone exhaust, expelling various scents that emphasize the adu'ja's mood, whilst their undulating petals are chromatophoric, changing color and pattern to reflect their mood as well. Their skin changes color, partially due to mood and partially due to the season, and covers a span from yellowish green through emerald to deep brown. Their large, almond-shaped eyes are deep gold to rich brown.

The Way of the Root 

Adu'jas live roughly three times as long as elves, and become more physically plant-like once they reach their elder years. The oldest adu'jas are often mistaken for trees, as they become prone to prolonged states of torpor.

The philosophy of the adu'ja is called "Shan Jat" ("The Way of the Root"): it teaches that all things have their necessary place and stem from the same source. Nature is. The adu'jas take this to mean that all things in nature must be balanced.

Secret of Life

Adu'ja are incapable of reproducing. Elders sprout seeds every few centuries, these seeds need to be planted in fey or elven corpses for new adu'ja to be born. These new adu'ja will rely on faint memories transferred from the elder who sprouted their seed in their early life, this will guide them until they begin making their own.

 

Exploration and Adventure

Adu'ja though reclusive will feel a wanderlust for the first hundred years or so, this is typically the age they adventure out into the world before returning to their forests.

Their holistic beliefs make adu'jas, frankly, very naive of the world at large. Their philosophy is of such sublime scope that they often cannot see the day-to-day world beneath it - or, rather, they don't care to acknowledge it. However, they are extremely expressive creatures, and their pheromones and chromatophoric petals make them extremely effective communicators. They have great inner strength and strong personalities, but might not show this all the time.

 

Old or Cranky

Adu'ja will have pretty positive thoughts on everyone when their young, though age and experience will normally present them will a more prickly response.

Elves. “Evles are pompous child, though they have convinced all the world they are immortal. I see how this is difficult to dispute when you so rarely see one die of old age.”

Goblins. “Angry violent little things. Always trouncing about in woods they don't, why don't they go find a cave and get off my lawn.”

Dwarves. “We don't see much of them, but they seem proper enough. Their respect of the earth is commendable if nothing else.”

Adu'ja Names

Adu'ja names will develop from a physical trait that will come to define them. additionally some may keep a syllable or two from the name they may have had before their life as an Adu'ja. Adu'ja do not have surnames.

()= physical trait, 
Example Names: Vi(burn), (Mosstop), (Scar)ledan, (Oak)ward, Fee(splint), (Autumnleaf), (Frost)lia, 
Example Names as written: Viburn, Mosstop, Scarledan, Oakward, Feesplint, Autumnleaf, Frostlia

 

 

Adu'ja - Variant Traits

Your adu'ja's plant based nature has cultivated a unique set of traits.

Speak with Plants

Once per day you may use the spell-like ability to speak with plants within 30 feet of you.
Limitations of this ability are the same as the spell.
You may use it more times per day if you have an appropriate caster level.

Photoregeneration

An adu'ja that rests whilst in sunlight and with access to at least a gallon of water can regrow severed arms or legs by doing nothing but rest and perform light activity; it takes 1 month to regrow a limb, half that if the adu'ja engages in complete bed rest.

Photosynthesis

So long as an adu'ja can access at least 4 hours of direct sunlight, it only requires 1/4th the normal rations.

Woodland Stride

Move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment. However, thorns, briars, and overgrown areas that have been magically manipulated to impede motion still affect you.

Vulnerability to Fire

Adu'ja are vulnerable to fire, thus all fire damage taken is doubled

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom and Charisma score increases by 2.

Age

Adu'ja will no longer rely on transferred memories by their 100th year, which is normally when they will begin their adventuring. Although Adu'ja past 400 may retire from the outside world, they will continue to live for at least 2,100 years.

Alignment

Despite their reliance on corpses for population, the adu'ja are good spirited at heart, and are most commonly on the more positive side of the alignment spectrum. 

Size

Adu'ja range from 5 & 1/2 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Low-light Vision

You can see twice as far in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of shadowy illumination. It retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan. Sylvan is fluid, with subtle intonations and intricate grammar. Sylvan literature is rich and varied.