Credit: Darkdarius

Ent

"I am not altogether on anybody's side, because nobody is althogether on my side." -Tolkien

Even the youngest Ents are ancient. For they begin life when a viable tree reaches its thousandth year. These special trees are easily identifyable beacause they live far longer and grow far slower than other trees of their genus, only reaching 6 to 8 feet in their first millenia of life. During those long years the tree thought its slow deep thoughts. Some foster rich and ancient wisdom in this time, others a grudge against fire, steel, and those who go upon two feet. Upon awakening into Ents they stride through the forests as caretakers and shepherds of the trees, and terrifying defenders of their wards.

Ancient and Gnarled

Ents are as different from each other as the species of trees from which they were born. Some are long and graceful as willows, other sturdy as an oak. They have bark-like skin and hair like twigs and moss. Most have bifricated lower trunks with random numbers of root-like toes. In rare cases the roots begin at their waist and they walk using many root-like apendiges that function much like tentacles. Despite their vastly varying bodies, all Ents are united by their eyes, which are dark, unfathomably deep, and lit with green light that filters up from the depths.

Slow and Deep

Ents tend to live alone. They do not see it this way, however, being surrounded by their many friends, the trees (who are company enough for any Ent). They prefer the dark and wild woods and ancient virgin forests. Although their forests are treacherous and eerie to outsiders, none could be afraid while travelling with the blessing of an Ent, for they tend to be kindly and merry while in the woods.

"Let's not be hasty" is the motto of all Ents, and they are slow to make a decision giving matters great thought and the benefit of their deep wisdom. But when they are roused to wrath, beware! For they will defend and revenge their forests with the furry of a great storm, and the strength of the earth's bones.

Wild Lives

Ents are generaly uncomfortable in buildings, and all sleep standing up with arms outstretched to the sky. Their lifestyle needs are the opposite of most, see the table below. While sleeping they have little to fear from the creatures of the forests since they look exactly like trees, but should an unsuspecting woodcutter lay axe into a sleeping Ent he would swing his axe no more.

Ent Lifestyle Chart

Environment Lifestyle City/Desert Wretched Rural Town Poor Open Field/Garden Modest Woods/Forest Comfortable Ancient/Virgin Forest Aristocratic

Ent Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1, your Constitution score increases by 1, your Strength score increases by 1.

Rigid Body. Your Dexterity score decreases by 1.

Plant Body. You roll disadvantage against fire damage. Anything that can catch you on fire will catch you on fire. You are not affected by plant based poisons.

Age. Ents must gestate as a tree for 1000 years before awakening. Once this occurs Ents have a lifespan anywhere from 100 to 700 years. They do not die of old age, but grow weary - at which point they permanently enter the third stage of their life cycle and grow "tree-ish" once more to become Huorn.

Allignment. Ents may appear chaotic to other races, but in fact they follow their own law, that of the natural world not of society. They range from benevolent to wicked and all shades in between when interacting with outsiders for they do not understand good or evil, they are on the side of the forests alone and are perilous to any who threaten their homes.

Earthly Needs. Ents do not eat, but need a regular and plentiful supply of clean water in which their leaves or berries have been soaked. If they go three days without water they must root themselves to the earth and go dormant until the next rain, or else die outright.

Ents need 7 hours of stillness (oposed to sleep) a day during which they stand with arms outstretched (becominng indistinguishable from a tree) and unable to move or speak any language other than Entish during this time. It takes a full action for an Ent to begin moving again from this state.

Size Ents who travel beyond the forest and go on adventures are those who have recently awoken, and generally are between 6.5 to 8 feet tall. As they become very old they grow to become giants, but they never stray beyond their forests at that point and retreat from the world. Your size is Medium.