Homebrew Awakened Plant Species Details

When people look around most of the world, they see plants. What they don't always realize is, sometimes the plants see back. Whether by ancient magic, the pastime of a bored god, or the newest evolution of Nature herself, some Plants now walk the earth. 

Children of Nature

Awakened Plants can vary wildly based on the environment in which they sprouted. A desert cactus, an arctic shrub, and a common pumpkin could all be Awakened Plants. Most Awakened Plants manifest in relatively humanoid forms, though there are the odd exceptions. Generally roots, bark, and vines will entwine to form limbs and grasp objects or their environment. Faces (if one could call them that) often appear grotesque, as they usually lack symmetry. Awakened Plants have no concept of this, though. More often than not sprouting from a seed or spore and reaching maturity without ever seeing another intelligent creature, individual beauty is foreign to them. 

Slow and Thoughtful

Part and parcel to the lands from which they sprang, Awakened Plants feel a deep connection to the natural cycles of life and death. They tend not to get excited about the triumphs or the failures of the day, as they recognize that the wheel of Nature is ever turning. Most Awakened Plants spend long periods, sometimes years, thinking about the nature of a problem before addressing it. As such, when an Awakened Plant goes through the effort to actually speak out loud, one can be sure that it has something profound to say. 

Tied to the Land and the Sun

Though there are occasionally stories of sea kelp or cave mushrooms moving about on their own, most Awakened Plants spring forth from the ground and greet the sun. More often than not they will refuse to even board watercraft, retreating to the safety of Terra firma as quickly as their root legs will take them. 

Plant Names

Awakened Plants do not always understand the concept of names. Besides often spending their formative years completely alone, they also view themselves as only an extension of Nature, not a spare entity. When Awakened Plants do encounter others, they are wise enough to eventually understand that when their companions say, "pumpkin head," they are speaking to it.

Awakened Plant Traits

Your Awakened Plant character has certain characteristics in common with all other Awakened Plants.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom score increases by 2.

Age

Awakened Plants mature quickly, often reaching maturity in just a few years. There are rumors of Awakened Redwoods that are thousands of years old. 

Alignment

Awakened Plants see themselves as part of the wider web of Nature, of the wider cycles of life, death, and rebirth. Their alignment is Neutral.

Floral Body

Being a plant has its advantages and disadvantages. Your natural barks, branches, and thick membranes provide you with natural protection. When not wearing armor your AC is equal to 12 + your Constitution modifier. Your organic body is vulnerable to fire damage, though, and your slow speed grants you disadvantage on Dexterity ability checks to avoid damage.

Languages

Most Awakened Plants do not speak in the traditional sense. You can converse with other Awakened Plants through the use of subtle sign language and pheromones. If your Awakened Plant character has spent time amongst other sentient beings, it has likely picked up the local language. You can speak, read, and write one language of your choice, albeit slowly.

One with Nature

Stemming from Nature herself, you are inherently skilled at surviving in it. You gain proficiency in both the Nature and Survival skills and can cast the Pass without Trace spell at will.

Photosynthesis

You do not need to, and indeed cannot, eat food. As long as you are exposed to bright or dim light for at least 8 hours in a day, you take in enough energy from photosynthesis to sustain you. You can go a number of days equal to 1+ your Constitution modifier (minimum 1) without photosynthesis. At the end of each day beyond that limit, you suffer 1 level of exhaustion. A normal day of photosynthesis resets the number of days without it. Your rules for water are the same as other humanoids, but it may be easier to stand in your water than drink it.

Size

Awakened Plants come in as many shapes and sizes are there are plants. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.