Bark druids

In the depth of the Syväden Forest, faraway from all civilization, it is rumoured that a community of treefolk has claimed a territory, humans called them the Bark druids.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Bark druids are humanoid trees capable of walk, when they desire to do so, using their roots as feet. They can use branches as arms, usually provided with leafy hands and presenting some facial features in the anterior bark, if they have a mouth they can talk. Since they were created from different type of trees they can be robust or slender, although most of them are colossal trees, because were selected to constitute an army. To see one bark druid in activity it's a rare occurrence because, when they meet sentient creatures, they tend to stay static waiting for them to go away, unless some exploitation of their territory is occuring or they have to defend from a direct attack. Some of them are provided with creepers, that can move as they prefer to entangle enemies, before the victim could try to attack.

Biological Traits

Bark druids are the fruit of an unholy ritual of Necromancy to entrap the soul of a Silvan Elf in their birthday tree. No one knows exactly how long a bark druid can live naturally, but the ones that exist are at least three thousand years old. Some scholar say that the coupling between the elf's soul and the tree has prolonged further the already long life span of an elf, some other are prone to think that these creatures can only be undone through magic or physical harm.

Genetics and Reproduction

Bark druids cannot reproduce, they were created against their will through a dark necromantic ritual, thankfully part of the lost magic. Therefore, when the last one of them will be no longer, their species will be extinct.

Growth Rate & Stages

Bark druids don't grow either, most of them were chosen for their colossal size but the ritual of creation with a significant use of negative energy has interrupted most of their vegetative processes. For the same reason, it is thought that they can survive in whatever natural climatic condition since they don't need nutrition, light or water to survive.

Ecology and Habitats

Very little is certain about their optimal habitat, although according to ancient legends bark druids could wander through desertic terrain, as well as snow, without suffering any permanent consequence. In extreme conditions they can get burnt or frozen, although they are able to endure a significant amount of elemental damage.

Dietary Needs and Habits

They don't need nutrition, light or sun for themselves, but they take care of other trees and plants that grow in Syväden Forest, for these reason they can interact with the environment to grant their protected the best habitat possible.

Additional Information

Social Structure

The social structure of the bark druids is a community of equals, with the exception of a few that are recognized wiser and more powerful. The most sage between the treefolk are members of the circle of archdruids with Khileshia Twinsoul, the heirophant, as their leader. Outside from the druidic hierarchy, nevertheless respected over the most, there's a treefolk who has elected to pursue the meaning of life through a different pursuit his name is Cortexio, a wise phylosopher tree.

Vegeto, ergo sum

— Cortexio

Facial characteristics

Facial features are vastly variable depending on the soul and tree used during the ritual of creation. Occasionally they can remind vaguely the look of the elf whom soul is trapped inside the tree, but in most of the case the bark structure takes the upper hand altering the original lines of the face to adapt to the pattern of the tree. Some bark druids host over them moss and briar patches that adorn them, in a fashion similar to beard, moustaches or hairstyles.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

In the deepest parts of the Syväden Forest, although since they can move and adapt to every type of natural environment they could possibly exist in other parts of Phaldorya as well.

Average Intelligence

They have retained the intelligence of the creature whose soul was imbued in the birthday tree, furthermore having lived for such a long time and through contact with dryads, nymphs, dragons and other magical creature they have often obtained knowledge beyond the common limits of silvan elves.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The most effective sensory skill of bark druids is tactile, indeed they can perceive movement through the soil for the area that is covered by their roots, and if these are in physical contact with root of other trees through them as well. They can have other senses according to the facial feature they present, therefore not all of them can see, hear or smell but most of them can. The ones that can, are reported to have keen sense and low light vision. The bark dialect is a soft screeching sound that can travel for a long distance in the wind, allowing bark druids to talk unnoticed with each other from several miles of distance.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

All the species that normally thrive in the woods, especially the ones that usually grow or climb in the branches of tree or over their roots, can establish some mutual cooperation with bark druids. Where the treefolk provides habitat and protection, the other ones tickle and scratch them in the places out of reach of their leafy fingers. Since bark druids are protectors of the balance they will never take the part of one creature versus their natural predators, although they may protect them from sentient creatures when their actions put a threat to the natural balance.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Bark druid tend to keep the name or names they had in life as elves, albeit the ones who had been under the control spell of Veiras for a longer period may have suffered problem on amnesia, forgetting their original name. This treefolk have received a new name, from the dryads or their peers, usually depending on their physical aspect. For example, Cortexio has received is name for the thickness of his bark being a cork oak.

Beauty Ideals

Beauty is not an important value for bark druids, who tend to valorize more spiritual virtues over physical ones. Bravery, wisdom and intelligence are values that are considered more alluring by these creatures.

Relationship Ideals

The social community of the bark druid is a mutual protective one, therefore each member of it tend to guard any other from harm. If already one of them is a powerful opponent, you could understand how dangerous is to attract the ires of the all community.

Average Technological Level

Most bark druids have focused in learning from other magic creature in the woods the art of druidic magic, the level of accomplishment varies greatly between the subjects, especially because some of them retained knowledge learnt in their lives as elves.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

The language of bark druid comprises screeching and snapping sounds, beside them very few other creatures can understand it. They can speak elvish and common fluently if they desire so, occasionally they may have learnt other languages such as dwarvish or goblinoid.

Common Etiquette Rules

Seldom receiving visits they hardly care about etiquette, although they take in high consideration respect shown for other creatures that populate woodlands. They understand that humanoids are part of the great scheme of nature but they consider cruel hunting for fun, as much as causing un-necessary pain.

Common Taboos

Being one of the few things capable of hurting and destroy them, bark druids are scared of fire in most of their forms.

History

Deep in the past history, at the beginning of the unrest period that will lead to the Great War of the Mages, the greatest magicians of their time where starting to realize that their powers could change the destiny of the world and many of them started to be tempted by the call of power. Desiring to control kingdoms and countries they began to build armies of creatures aiming to make them fight in their stance and use them as weapons in their personal quest for power. Veiras of Treey was one of them and he used to be a trusted human between Silvan Elves, but their trust wasn't well placed. In these years elvish people used to allow some human beings in their kingdom and didn't yet live isolated from the rest of the world therefore Veiras was allowed to study and witness the great extent of elvish ritual magic. During his stay between the Silvan Elves he discovered a special ritual, transfered to only one person in a generation, that allowed the souls of wise elves to be transferred in their birthday trees. Having only a vague idea of how to perform the ritual Veiras corrupted the procedure with necromantic, transmutation and phylomantic techniques elaborating an alternative ritual that would capture the soul of an elf transferring it into their birthday tree, to create creatures that would obey to every order of their creator. He started gathering his army choosing the biggest between the birthday trees, but the disappearings started to attract attention until Khiiral, the depository of the secret ritual, faced him having sensed the truth. Without a way out and risking everything Veiras had worked at, he tried the ritual against the elf but since he hadn't prepared the ritual properly the soul was transferred to his wedding tree, a powerful Yew intertwined with Sinewy Willow from his wife Elleshia. Veiras realized that to be able to control the tree had to steal Elleshia's soul too, therefore on the new moon night when the elves go to attend their trees he stalked her started the ritual in front of her soulmate tree, who opened his eyes howling and quivering in rage. What Veiras believed to be his greatest achievement in a moment turned to be his greatest mistake, when the soul of Elleshia abandoned her body creating Khileshia Twinsoul, the eternal oath of love between Khiiral and Elleshia broke the spell of control of the evil wizard. The furious treefolk stormed toward a surprised and terrorized Veiras who was slaughtered and quartered on the spot, breaking this way the spell of control over the other bark druids too. From that moment Khileshia, being the only custodians of the secret ritual elected to not transmit it to anyone and to become the protectors of all the treefolk that they could find around the world.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

They have strong relations with dryads and nymphs, while they have lost the connection with the elves. Beside the eldest members of the elvish kingdom, most of them consider treefolk a legend, probably as a consequence of the oblivion of the ritual to create them.

Scientific Name

Dryadalis Semperviridens

Origin/Ancestry

Magic

Conservation Status

Should an explorer wander successfully deep in Syväden Forest, should he be so crazy to attack a Bark Druid he'd better be confident and well prepared because they are more than capable to defend themselves.

Average Physique

Since different trees have been used to create bark druids, it doesn't make sense to speak of average in this species. Although, since they were created to be the core of an army, most of them are trees of colossal proportions with trunks of over ten feet radius and often exceeding forty feet of height.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Bark druids retain the colour of the bark of the birthday tree that was used in the creation ritual. Dryad and nymphs, creatures that have strong social relationships with the treefolk, sometimes modify the aspect of druids that request them to, creating marks or patterns on the bark that can resemble human tattoos.

Geographic Distribution

• Syväden Forest