Petalcarvers

Petalcarvers

“A flower's beauty can hide its thorns.” — Petalcarver saying

Petalcarvers are master botanists and alchemists among the fey, known for their intricate control over flora. Their bodies are woven from petals, leaves, and vines, and they can sculpt plants into lifelike creations, some of which harbor dangerous secrets.

Physical Description

Petalcarvers resemble humanoids formed from interwoven petals and leaves, their faces covered by elaborate flower masks that shift expressions. Their limbs are flexible yet sharp, with petal-like blades that bloom when threatened. Their colors vary depending on their surroundings and emotions.

Society

Petalcarvers dwell around elaborate Verdant Sanctums, cultivating gardens filled with carnivorous plants and enchanted flora. Their society values artistry and creation, seeing life as a canvas to be shaped and perfected.

Petalcarver Traits

Your Petalcarver character has the following traits:
Creature Type: Fey (Wild)
Ability Score Increase: Your Intelligence increases by 2, and your Dexterity increases by 1.
Age: Petalcarvers bloom into maturity after 15 years and can live up to 300 years, though their petals may wilt with age.
Alignment: Petalcarvers value creativity and balance, often leaning towards neutral, though some perfectionists may be lawful, and those who see creation as untamed may be chaotic.
Size: Petalcarvers are slender and stand between 5 and 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Fey Ancestry: You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
Floral Puppeteer: As an action, you can animate small plants within 30 feet, making them perform simple tasks or distractions for up to 1 minute. Animated plants can:

Obscure light in a 5-foot radius, imposing disadvantage on sight-based Perception checks.

Momentarily wrap around an enemy, making the area difficult terrain for 1 turn.

Attempt to grapple a creature within 5 feet (using your Intelligence modifier for the check).

You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.
Toxic Bloom: Once per long rest, as an action, you can create a poisonous flower that bursts in a 10-foot radius. Creatures in the area must succeed on a Constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier) or be poisoned for 1 minute. A creature poisoned this way can attempt a new saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

At level 5, you can use this ability twice per long rest.

At level 11, the radius increases to 15 feet or, if you choose, the area becomes difficult terrain for 1 turn.

Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvathis.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Petalcarvers possess humanoid forms made entirely of interwoven petals, leaves, and vines. Their bodies are flexible yet durable, with petals forming layered muscle-like structures that grant them surprising strength. Their faces are covered by intricate flower masks that shift in shape and color based on their emotions, serving as both protection and expression. Sharp, petal-like blades can grow from their forearms, used for both combat and the delicate art of floral sculpting. Their inner "veins" circulate a sap-like fluid rich in magical nutrients, allowing their bodies to heal and grow new floral structures over time.

Growth Rate & Stages

Petalcarvers are not born but grown from enchanted seeds planted in sacred groves. These seeds sprout into humanoid shapes over several months, with their floral features developing as they absorb ambient magic. In their early stages, Petalcarvers are fragile and brightly colored, resembling delicate flower buds. Over the next 15 years, they mature into their adult forms, gaining full control over their bodies and floral abilities. With age, their petals grow more elaborate and vibrant, with elder Petalcarvers displaying complex, multi-layered blooms and unique patterns that signify their wisdom and experience.

Ecology and Habitats

Petalcarvers thrive in lush forests and enchanted gardens, particularly those rich in magical flora. Yelebur’s dense jungles and hidden groves are home to many Petalcarver communities, where they cultivate vast Verdant Sanctums filled with both beautiful and dangerous plants. They shape their environment using druidic magic, growing homes from living trees and vines that respond to their commands. While they prefer secluded areas, some Petalcarvers have ventured into Tunin, where they establish intricate gardens that serve as both art installations and homes, often becoming the centers of trade for rare herbs and botanical alchemy.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Petalcarvers sustain themselves through photosynthesis, absorbing sunlight and moisture to nourish their bodies. They also draw nutrients from the soil through their roots, which can extend from their feet when they remain still. In addition to these natural sources, Petalcarvers consume nectar, saps, and specially cultivated alchemical infusions to enhance their magical abilities. During festivals or rituals, they share fermented nectars and rare floral elixirs, which not only provide sustenance but also serve as potent magical reagents.

Biological Cycle

Petalcarvers follow the natural cycles of blooming and withering. In spring and summer, their petals are at their most vibrant and their powers peak, allowing them to grow new flora and craft their botanical constructs. During autumn, their colors deepen, and they focus on harvesting and preserving plants. Winter brings a period of dormancy, where many Petalcarvers enter a meditative state, slowing their biological processes and focusing on internal growth. Older Petalcarvers occasionally shed their outer petals during this time, allowing new growth to emerge in the following season.

Behaviour

Petalcarvers are meticulous and artistic by nature, viewing the act of creation as a sacred duty. They are deeply connected to the cycles of life and death, seeing decay as an opportunity for new growth. This perspective makes them both nurturing and ruthless, depending on the situation. They value balance and symmetry, often expressing themselves through floral sculptures and living art. Petalcarvers are generally peaceful, but when threatened, they can become fiercely protective, using their mastery over plants to defend their homes and kin. Their emotions are complex but often hidden behind their shifting masks, making them enigmatic to outsiders.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Petalcarver society is organized around artisan guilds known as "Bloom Circles," each specializing in different aspects of botanical creation—alchemy, floral sculpting, or defensive constructs. These circles are led by elder Petalcarvers called "Grandbloomers," who pass down techniques and traditions. Communities are collaborative, with each member contributing to the cultivation and protection of their sanctuary. Seasonal festivals bring different circles together to share knowledge, display new creations, and celebrate the cycles of life and growth.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Petalcarvers have acute sensory abilities attuned to plant life. They can sense subtle changes in humidity, soil composition, and the presence of other flora within a wide radius. Their floral masks grant them the ability to perceive ultraviolet light, allowing them to see patterns on flowers and plants invisible to most creatures.

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

The most prominent Petalcarver organization is the Circle of Blooming Artisans, a collective of master floral sculptors, alchemists, and botanists who oversee the cultivation of Yelebur’s enchanted flora. The Circle governs the training of young Petalcarvers, ensuring the preservation of ancient techniques and the careful expansion of their botanical sanctuaries.
Another influential group is the Verdant Shapers, a sect dedicated to the protection and propagation of rare and dangerous flora. Verdant Shapers often venture beyond Yelebur into Tunin, bringing back exotic plants to integrate into their living gardens. They are known for creating some of the most complex and potent botanical constructs.
The Thornguard serves as the defensive arm of Petalcarver society, specializing in crafting living guardians and maintaining the protective wards around their sanctuaries. Though peaceful by nature, the Thornguard has successfully defended their groves from poachers and invaders for centuries.

Beauty Ideals

Petalcarvers value symmetry, complexity, and vibrancy in their floral forms. Elaborate petal arrangements and vivid colors are seen as marks of beauty and skill. Intricate patterns within petals, especially those that form natural spirals or fractals, are highly prized. A Petalcarver’s mask is a focal point of their aesthetic identity, often customized with rare or exotic petals to display individuality and artistic mastery.
The ability to cultivate unique floral growths—such as rare blooms or bioluminescent petals—is also seen as a mark of beauty and status. Elders, with their multi-layered blooms and complex patterns, are often revered as paragons of Petalcarver aesthetics.

Common Etiquette Rules

Petalcarver etiquette revolves around respect for creation and growth. Offering a newly bloomed flower to another is a common greeting and a sign of goodwill. It is customary to compliment another Petalcarver’s floral patterns and craftsmanship upon meeting, acknowledging the effort and artistry involved.
Interrupting a Petalcarver during the delicate act of floral sculpting is considered deeply rude. Conversations often involve subtle gestures, such as adjusting a petal or releasing a gentle floral scent, to express emotions or intentions without words.
When interacting with outsiders, Petalcarvers expect visitors to avoid harming any plants within their sanctuaries. Stepping on a living vine or plucking a flower without permission is seen as a grave insult.

Common Dress Code

Petalcarvers rarely wear traditional clothing, as their bodies already display vibrant and intricate floral arrangements. However, during festivals or important gatherings, they adorn themselves with additional decorative vines, rare blooms, and flowing arrangements of petals that cascade down their forms.
Floral jewelry, such as vine-woven bracelets or necklaces made from glowing blossoms, is common. Petalcarvers also craft living garments—cloaks of moss, shawls of hanging vines, or sashes made from interwoven leaves—that grow and shift along with their movements.
In combat or during dangerous rituals, they may don armor-like constructs made of hardened petals and bark, designed to protect vital areas while maintaining flexibility.
Since the expansion to Tunin, they adopted and created more modern traditional wear.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Petalcarver culture is deeply rooted in the balance of creation and decay. They see life as an ongoing cycle of growth, with every blossom destined to wither and nourish future generations. This philosophy shapes their art, rituals, and even their approach to conflict—they prefer to disable or entangle enemies rather than kill, allowing for the possibility of redemption and regrowth.
Artistic expression is central to their heritage. Floral sculptures, living gardens, and animated botanical constructs are all forms of cultural storytelling. Most Petalcarver community maintains an "Eternal Bloom," a massive living sculpture that embodies their collective history and achievements.
Rituals and festivals often involve the crafting of intricate flower dolls, which are then animated to perform dances or reenact historical events. Music in Petalcarver society is created through the manipulation of leaves and petals, producing soft, melodic rustles and harmonic vibrations.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

One of the most significant Petalcarver traditions is the Blooming Rite, a coming-of-age ceremony where young Petalcarvers craft their first fully animated flower doll. This construct serves as a companion and symbol of their artistic abilities.
Another cherished custom is the Festival of Falling Petals, held during autumn when the forests shed their leaves. Petalcarvers gather to honor the cycle of decay and rebirth, creating temporary sculptures from fallen petals that are left to naturally disintegrate over time.
The Verdant Exchange is a tradition where Petalcarvers trade rare seeds, saplings, and floral constructs with other races, promoting cultural exchange and the spread of diverse plant life. These exchanges often involve elaborate displays of botanical artistry, fostering goodwill and respect.

Common Taboos

The greatest taboo in Petalcarver society is the unnecessary destruction of plant life. Cutting down a living tree without cause or harvesting plants without respect is seen as a grievous offense. This extends to their botanical constructs—damaging or defiling an animated floral creation is akin to harming a living being.
Creating constructs purely for violence or destruction is also forbidden. Petalcarvers believe that all creations should serve a purpose—whether artistic, defensive, or nurturing—and constructs made solely to kill are considered abominations.
Another taboo is neglecting one's floral form. Allowing petals to wilt, vines to tangle, or moss to rot without care is seen as a sign of deep personal turmoil or dishonor.

History

According to Petalcarver lore, their origins trace back to the first enchanted groves of Yelebur, where Shwazen, Goddess of Flora & Fauna, breathed life into sacred seeds that would become the first Petalcarvers. These early beings were tasked with maintaining the balance between the natural and magical worlds, cultivating flora that bridged the two realms.
During the Great War, Petalcarvers played a crucial role as botanical engineers, creating vast networks of living walls and enchanted gardens that served as both defenses and sanctuaries. Their knowledge of alchemical flora was highly sought after, leading to both cooperation and conflict with those who sought to harness their creations for power.
In modern times, Petalcarvers remain deeply connected to Yelebur’s jungles but have slowly begun integrating into Tunin society, offering their botanical expertise in exchange for arcane knowledge. This cultural blending has led to the creation of hybrid flora, combining Petalcarver craftsmanship with Tunin alchemy, resulting in potent and beautiful new plants.

Historical Figures

Florathis the First Bloom: The mythical progenitor of all Petalcarvers, Florathis is revered as both a creator and a teacher. Legends describe them as a towering figure made entirely of radiant blossoms, whose creations shaped the first enchanted groves.
Lirabloom the Artisan: A renowned Petalcarver sculptor from the Great War, Lirabloom was famous for crafting botanical constructs that rivaled the complexity of any arcane creation. Many of their living sculptures still roam the ancient groves today.
Vareth Thornweaver: Founder of the Thornguard, Vareth was a warrior-artist who mastered the delicate balance between beauty and defense. Their floral constructs were said to be as deadly as they were breathtaking, and their legacy endures in the Thornguard’s techniques.

Common Myths and Legends

One of the most enduring Petalcarver legends is that of the First Bloom, the tale of a lone seed planted by Shwazen herself, which blossomed into the first Petalcarver. This being, known as Florathis, is said to have crafted the original enchanted groves and taught the Petalcarvers the art of shaping living flora.
Another popular myth speaks of the Everbloom Garden, a hidden sanctuary where the most rare and powerful plants in the world flourish. It is said that only a Petalcarver who has mastered the balance of creation and decay can find this mythical place, where the plants themselves whisper secrets of ancient magic.
A darker legend warns of the Witherblight, a corrupted Petalcarver who sought to create the ultimate floral construct but instead unleashed a blight that withered entire forests. This tale serves as a cautionary story about the dangers of hubris and the importance of respecting the natural balance.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Petalcarvers maintain strong ties with nature-focused races such as Thistleborn and Gloamlights, often collaborating on the cultivation and preservation of sacred groves. Thistleborn appreciate the Petalcarvers' artistic approach to flora, while Gloamlights admire their respect for the natural cycle of growth and decay.
Relations with Mirelings are more complicated—while Petalcarvers respect the Mirelings’ role in decay and rebirth, they often find their chaotic nature disruptive to carefully cultivated gardens. Despite this, occasional alliances form during times of ecological crisis.
In Tunin, Petalcarvers are both admired and feared. Alchemists and botanists eagerly seek their knowledge, leading to cooperative exchanges, but industrialists view them as obstacles to expansion. Petalcarvers have formed tentative alliances with Tunin scholars, trading rare flora for arcane knowledge while keeping a wary eye on those who might exploit their creations.
While generally peaceful, Petalcarvers are quick to defend their sanctuaries against poachers, loggers, and others who threaten the natural balance. Their animated constructs serve as both deterrents and protectors, ensuring that their groves remain untouched by greed.

Lifespan

300 years

Average Height

5 to 6 feet

Average Weight

80 to 120 pounds

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Petalcarvers display a wide range of colors, from deep greens and vibrant reds to soft blues and purples, depending on their age and emotional state. Their petals often feature intricate patterns, resembling natural floral designs, which become more complex with age. Seasonal changes also affect their coloration—spring brings bright, fresh hues, while autumn deepens their tones into rich, earthy colors. Some Petalcarvers cultivate unique markings through selective growth, creating swirling patterns or symbolic shapes within their petals.

Geographic Distribution

• Yelebur

Related Ethnicities

• Senau - Wild