Harvestborn
Harvestborn don't have a strong connection to nature; they are nature. Their bodies, their souls, their very existence is tied to the soil they sprouted from. Harvestborn can be smaller than halflings or as tall as orcs. Their skin can be as hard as armor or as supple as silk. their faces can look nearly human or completely alien. One might think that the wild differences between Harvestborn would mean constant in-fighting and a lack of unity and companionship, but nothing could be further from the truth. The Harvestborn are family--a powerful, ancient, omnipresent family.
Birthed From Soil and Magic
Harvestborn sprout from soil touched by magic. The most common reason for the appearance of Harvestborn are ley lines that are particularly close to the surface, which are where man Harvestborn communities settle. Ley lines are, however, not the only source of magic that may lead to the sprouting of Harvestborn. Harvestborn have been reported to sprout from soil where divine miracles have taken place, or where particularly powerful arcane spells have been prepared and cast. it is also said that the love between two Harvestborn is magical enough to produce a new seedling. The soil in which the Harvestborn sprouts dictates which of the three subraces of Harvestborn the seedling will be.
Harvestborn subraces look wildly different from each other, more so than other races. Veggielings stand small and, as their name implies, resemble vegetables such as onions, cabbages, carrots, and potatoes. Barklidngs are incredibly tall and never stop growing, much like the trees they take after. Flowerlings fall somewhat in the middle of the two extremes, and sprout colorful flowers and leaves from their bodies.
An Ancient Family
Despite the variety of their appearances, Harvestborn see their entire race as an extended family. Two Harvestborn who have never met before will refer to each other as siblings and treat each other like Humans would treat a distant cousin. This does not mean Harvestborn are more lenient when it comes to criminals of their own race, though--quite the contrary. A Harvestborn that actively harms another is seen as a traitor to the family and shunned from Harvestborn communities at large.
Harvestborn society raises seedling communally, and there is no formal concept of parentage. They do not have physical sex characteristics or a concept of gender as other races like Humans, Elves, Dwarves. Harvestborn who often mingle with, or live surrounded by, other races, might decide to align their presentation with a specific gender of the outside culture they inhabit, or identify as that specific gender.
Harvestborn Names
Since Harvestborn can communicate with each other telepathically from birth, they choose their own names. As traditional Harvestborn society does not have a concept of gender, names from Harvestborn culture aren't gendered either. Many names of common plants were named after Harvestborn heroes of legend that looked similar to that plant.
Harvestborn names include: Carlone, Carnus, Azalion, Betule, Maclun, Asclepi, Barba, Rubuso, Veran, Jasmim, Acer, Moruse, Solal, Selis, Cardan, Roso, Cirso, Viburne.
Harvestborn Traits
Harvestborn may be incredibly diverse, but they all are birthed from the soil and all share certain characteristics intrinsic to their family. Traits like age, size, and speed are dependent on the subrace of the Harvestborn and will be detailed in the subrace section.
Tremorsense
Your connection with the soil allows you to instinctually sense the source of the most minute vibrations within 20 feet. You can automatically pinpoint the location of anything moving or otherwise emitting vibrations that is in contact with the ground and within range, even in complete darkness. The source of the vibrations must itself be in contact with the same ground as you, and it must be moving or otherwise emitting vibrations. As long as a creature is taking physical actions, including casting spells with somatic components, they are considered moving; they don't have to move from place to place for you to detect them.
Familial Telepathy
You can communicate telepathically with any Harvestborn within 30 feet of you, so long as both of you are in contact with the ground. You do not need to see the Harvestborn you wish to address to speak with them telepathically . You can only speak telepathically to one Harvestborn to one Harvestborn at a time.
Refreshing Repose
You can choose to sustain yourself not by eating, but by spending your long rest in contact with soil. When you do so, small, thin roots grow from your body and burrow into the ground. These roots shrivel once the long rest is over. In order for you to obtain sustenance from the ground, it needs to be soft soil in which your roots can burrow for your long rest. Stone, wood, or any other surface where a plant would not be able to grow can't give you enough nutrients to use this trait. You are unable to digest animal products but can sustain yourself with a plant-based diet if the correct soil is unavailable to you.
Tool Proficiency
You gain proficiency with the herbalism kit.
Instinctive Herbalist
Whenever you make an Intelligence (Nature) check related to the nature and uses of any plants, you are considered proficient in the Nature skill and double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and communicate telepathically with any Harvestborn. The telepathic communication of the Harvestborn is less of a language and more of a direct line of instinctual communication, and therefore cannot be written.
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