Homebrew Arborfolk Species Details

OF Fey And Divine

Arborfolk were born from nature and magic. When fey magic crossed with divine power, the trees took life. Arborfolk are few and reclusive creatures, keeping to the forests and away from civilization. They are powerful and usually massive in size, but their secretive and hidden nature keeps them from leaving their small colonies. Since most have never seen an Arborfolk, they have become myths parents tell their children to keep them from wandering too far from home. 

The Cycle

When an Arborfolk reaches the end of its time, they will plant their roots into the ground and plant its seed. This seed will take a year to sprout, feeding off the earth and the one who planted it. When the seed is ready to reach out of the ground and find life, the parent Arborfolk will pass on. Arborfolk believe the new Sprout is a reincarnation of its parent, and with time can unlock the knowledge of its past lives. Although they mature at the same rate as humans, it will take a hundred years of growth before the Sprout will be called an adult Arborfolk. 

Some Arborfolk are created out of a union between two parents. This seed will be left to grow on its own, expected to find its way without the nurture of its parents. If successful, it will find its way back to its parents to claim its spot in the family lineage. These situations are are rare, and usually in an attempt to forge alliances between houses. Instead of being a reincarnation, these Arbrfolks are believed to take on the ancestral knowledge of both parents, forming a strong family line. With the dwindling number of the Arborfolk, it is becoming more common to breed even, amongst the lower houses, in an attempt to repopulate.

Strength and Bark

Arborfolk can grow to a massive size. Some are bred to large warriors, or guardians of their groves. Some are bred to be nimble, and slender scouts. No matter the body, all Arborfolk are tough. Their bark "skin" offerers a layer of strong protection. Depending on its lineage, Arborfolk can vary in looks, with different colors and textures of bark. Their leaves come in a variety of shapes and colors. While some Arborfolk are intimidating towers, others can be a thing of beauty.

Lineage and Survival

Only the strong family lines of Arborfolk have survived to present day. Sense mankind discovered these ancient creatures, they have been hunted. Man has sought their bark, acorns, and anything else they can get their hands on to sell. This has caused a divide in Arborfolk culture. While some retreat back into the woods to live peaceful lives, other seek to smite those who who are not of the woods. Due to cross breeding and forged alliances, strong family lineages have been made. These houses rule their perspective areas. Depending on the woods you enter, you may come across benevolent care takers of nature, or a malevolent protector of their land. 

Seeing an Arborfolk outside of their woods would be an oddity. They are seen as supreme in their groves, and treated with much respect by the creatures of the forest. Most Arborfolk have little social skills with those who aren't plants are beasts. A merchant disrespecting an Arborfolk would have consequences. While other Arborfolk may be pacifists who seek out knowledge of the outside world. No matter their reason for adventure, Arborfolk must always be weary of those who would take advantage of the lone Arborfolk, out of its element.

Arborfolk Names

As a Sprout, the child will take a name such as Nut, Twig, or Root. These names are seen more as nicknames, and could change with time. When they reach adult hood, they will take a name similar to Elven names, but not care about the gender of the name. Since the adult can chose its own name, some may stray away from their fey roots and pick a name they see more suitable for them. 

Arborfolk Traits

Your Arborfolk character has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2.

Alignment

Most aborfolk take up lawful alignments, and are almost never evil.

Size

Sylvans average over 7 feet in height. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Tremorsense

You were born rooted into the ground, and connected to the earth. You may root yourself, making your movement speed 0 until unrooted, giving you tremorsense out to 60 feet, feeling tiny shifts and vibrations in the earth, 

Speak To Nature

You are part of the ecosystem itself, and can reach out to communicate. You can cast speak with animals  at 3rd level and speak with plants at 5th level once per long rest. You also know the druidcraft cantrip.

Weapon of Nature

Your body is a weapon of nature. As a bonus action, your hands grow sharp thorns and make a weapon. For 1 minute, or until you drop the ability, your unarmed strikes deal 1d8 + your strength modifier piercing damage.

As an action you can make a Thorn Whip attack. You create a long, vine-like whip covered in thorns that lashes out at your command toward a creature in range. Make a melee attack against the target. If the attack hits, the creature takes 1d6 piercing damage, and if the creature is Large or smaller, you may pull the creature up to 10 feet closer to you.The attack's damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 5th level (2d6), 11th level (3d6), and 17th level (4d6).

You can use both of these features a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.

Natural Armor

Your outer bark layer gives you a +1 to your armor class.

Languages

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