Treefolk
Last updated
Last updated
Treefolk are humanoid trees with face-like features, gnarled arms, leafy crowns, and lower trunks divided into legs for mobility. Their bodies are covered in thick, protective bark, which serves as natural armor.
Treefolk speak and move slowly and deliberately, carefully considering their words and often expressing themselves cryptically. They rarely act impulsively, preferring observation and assessment—often for years or even decades—before action. Their perspective is shaped by their longevity, offering a worldview few other races comprehend.
The races of treefolk are:
Pyrophites are fire-resistant treefolk that inhabit the , particularly near lava flows and geothermal hotspots. Standing 3 to 5 meters (10’ to 16’) tall and weighing several hundred kilograms to a few tons, they have thick, blackened bark and sparse, waxy leaves in shades of charred gray, crimson, and gold. Pyrophites can live for over 3,000 years.
Most are stoic and deliberate and view destruction as a force of renewal. Many serve as guardians of calderas, which they consider sacred, ensuring the balance of fire and regrowth. Some pyrophite splinters practice ritualistic burnings, where the weak, elderly, and wounded voluntarily immolate themselves, their ashes nourishing the next generation.
Decidites are deciduous treefolk native to the forests of the . They range from 2 to 3.5 meters (6’6” to 11’6”) tall and weigh 150 to 400 kg (330 to 880 lbs). They undergo seasonal transformations, their leaves turning gold and red in autumn before shedding and regrowing in spring. Their bark remains deep brown year-round. Decidites can live for over 2,000 years.
They are adaptable and communal, forming strong connections with their surroundings. Most revere cyclical change, marking the seasons with festivals celebrating birth, decay, renewal, and balance. Known for their diplomatic nature, they often mediate between fey, fauna, and travelers in forests. While they prefer peaceful resolutions, they are capable warriors when defending their land.
They uphold enduring traditions focused on patience and resilience. Most are stoic and slow to trust, preferring the solitude of their evergreen domains. However, once bonds are formed, they tend to be lifelong.
All Conifites produce resin, using it for artisan crafts, reinforcement, and warfare. Some secrete highly flammable resin, igniting barriers, traps, or incendiary projectiles in battle. Though territorial, they rely more on size and durability than aggression to deter intruders.
Most are solitary and contemplative, often remaining motionless for decades. They are highly resilient, capable of surviving freezing temperatures. Alpinites are believed to live for well over 10,000 years, with some scholars suggesting the oldest among them have rings dating back to the formation of the Splinterlands.
While their wisdom is highly sought after, they rarely offer counsel without deliberation that is deep and lengthy—even by treefolk standards. They do not form splinters in the traditional sense, instead maintaining bonds through shared wisdom and experience rather than culture.
Conifites are evergreen treefolk that mostly inhabit high-altitude forests in the . They range from 2.5 to 4.5 meters (8’2” to 14’9”) tall and weigh 200 to 600 kg (440 to 1,320 lbs). Their rough, resinous bark and needle-like leaves remain year-round. Conifites can live for over 5,000 years.
Alpinites are hardy treefolk found in the , above the alpine level. Standing 2 to 3 meters (6’6” to 10’) tall and weighing 150 to 450 kg (330 to 990 lbs), they have short, gnarled trunks and thick bark layered to endure extreme cold and high winds. Their small, densely clustered needle-like leaves minimize moisture loss in the harsh mountain climate.
Shadites are subterranean treefolk adapted to total darkness that inhabit the . Standing 1.5 to 2.5 meters (5’ to 8’2”) tall and weighing 100 to 300 kg (220 to 660 lbs), they have smooth, dark bark and sparse foliage, primarily in the form of fungal growths. Unlike other trefook, shadites do not photosynthesize; instead, they sustain themselves through chemosynthesis, absorbing minerals from stone and nutrients from fungi. Shadites can live for over 1,000 years.
Their societies are loosely structured, forming small, shifting alliances based on mutual benefit rather than rigid hierarchies. Some cultivate fungal gardens, sustain the ecosystem, or study subterranean geography. Others act as defenders of flora and fauna... or as predators who stalk the tunnels in search of prey.
Though generally reclusive, some shadites form alliances with other creatures for protection or conquest. Those with a pragmatic outlook may barter rare minerals, alchemical compounds, or fungi in exchange for goods or services.