The Sylvari
Born of a great tree amidst the thick of the Vale, the Sylvari are a race of naturally curious and peaceful plant-like humanoids. With the firstborn of their race only having sprouted into the world a mere twenty years ago, the Sylvari are the newest race to walk the continent of Rivari. Much about them is still not known, including the exact circumstance of their sudden appearance. Maybe they were brought about by random happenstance, or perhaps there is an underlying divine reason unbeknownst to the mere mortals of this world?
Not Quite Dryads
Sylvari visually resemble humans on a surface level. Their skin is made of smooth plant matter or rough bark, with various leaves and sometimes even flowers adorning their body. A Sylvari's hair, if you may call it that, is typically made of leaves and in some cases twigs or even fungi.
Sylvari possess an innate bioluminescence, with patterns of faint light streaking across their bodies, including the iris of the eye and their hair. While typically dim, this light changes in luminescence according to the mood of the Sylvari. If a Sylvari is happy, they flare up. If they are deeply distraught, the light will fade.
Sylvari come in all colors of the rainbow, though shades of green, brown, yellow, orange and red are the most common. Their glow is typically a more vibrant color.
Al Natura
Sylvari fashion everything, from furniture to houses to weapons, from plant matter. Their craftsmanship looks as if it was naturally grown. Sylvari usually clothe themselves in light garments made from leaves or flowers, or armor made of hardened bark. Some may even grow their clothes or armor out naturally, without any external aid.
Not many Sylvari opt to wear more traditional clothing or armor, as it does not feel natural to them. Nevertheless, armor crafted by a skilled Sylvari craftsman can easily provide the same protection as their regular counterparts.
Unknown Origins
The Pale Tree grew from a seed planted by the human Ronan. He and later his companion, a wise old centaur named Ventari, took care of the tree and established an outpost around the tree that acted as a safe haven for those seeking shelter from the conflicts of the world. After Ventari's death, the outpost faded into obscurity. Many years later, the Pale Tree gave birth to the first of the Sylvari, for reasons unknown.
The Newest Race
Being the newest sapient race to walk the planet, Sylvari are met with caution by some, and curiosity by all, which they eagerly return. The exact nature of their sudden appearance is unknown even to them, and as such, the Sylvari strive to learn their purpose in this world.
As the oldest of the Sylvari, the firstborn, have barely reached the average age of maturity of the other races, nobody knowns how long a Sylvari can live naturally.
With so much in common between them due to the dream they all share, Sylvari cherish experience for creating uniqueness between them. Despite the kick start of knowledge they gain from the Dream they are a bit naive, and there are many things they do not fully comprehend, particularly tact and emotion. A Sylvari will often state out loud something politely avoided by other races. Death too is something not fully understood by the Sylvari, and thus met with curiosity and a degree of acceptance other races may find to be disturbing.
The Seven Teachings of Ventari
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I. Live life well and fully, and waste nothing.
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II. Do not fear difficulty. Hard ground makes stronger roots.
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III. The only lasting peace is the peace within your own soul.
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IV. All things have a right to grow. The blossom is brother to the weed.
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V. Never leave a wrong to ripen into evil or sorrow.
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VI. Act with wisdom, but act.
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VII. From the smallest blade of grass to the largest mountain, where life goes - so, too, should you.
These are the teachings of Ventari, a centaur who fostered the Pale Tree and its grove, unknowingly paving way for an entire race to bloom. Most Sylvari take these teachings to heart, revering and following them, much like the tenets of a god. However, these teachings are not binding, and a Sylvari may choose to ignore them altogether.
A distinct lack of Prejudice
Being as new to the world as they are, Sylvari rarely ever hold prejudices against any person or group of people for what they are, instead choosing to judge them by their actions. This, combined with their innate peacefulness might lead other races, especially more savage ones such as the Goblinoids, to view them as inherently weak.
The Pale Tree and The Dream of Dreams
All Sylvari are born of a mother tree, the so-called Pale Tree. This tree holds the combined knowledge of every Sylvari that has shared the knowledge of their travels with it, and likewise teaches all of the newly emerged Sylvari a part of its knowledge through a dream, which every Sylvari experiences before their birth.
Additionally, the Pale Tree can contact a Sylvari in their Dreams. This can happen for one reason or another, but most often it is to ensure the safety and survival of the Sylvari.
Sylvari are not born as children, they emerge from golden pods fully grown, physically and mentally akin to a fully grown adult of another species.
The Nightmare Court
Some Sylvari, through one way or another, come to reject the Dream and the teachings of Ventari. These Sylvari, known as Nightmare Courtiers, believe the Tablet of Ventari to suppress the true potential of the Sylvari. As such, they seek to remove its influence through any means possible.
The Soundless
The Soundless are a group of Sylvari that have chosen to cut themselves off from the voice of the Pale Tree in an attempt to escape from the constant pressure and the burden of it through meditation and mental excercises. As such, they do not recieve the same degree of protection from the Pale Tree as the other Sylvari would, leaving them vulnerable.
The Wyld Hunt
In their Dream, some Sylvari are assigned with a certain duty, a Wyld Hunt, which they then strive to complete in their lifetime. The Wyld Hunt of a Sylvari can range from a task as menial as defending a Sylvari settlement, to perilous quests of great importance. Those with a Wyld Hunt are referred to as Valiants.
A Search For Purpose
The uncertain nature of the Sylvari's existence is often the focus of a Sylvari's life: to search for a purpose in this strange world wracked by conflict. Every Sylvari goes about this quest in a different manner. Some might search for a purpose by indulging in the pleasures this world has to offer, others might take a more logical approach and try to unravel the secrets of the universe to gain their answer. They will then pass on what they have learned to the Pale Tree, for the benefit of all forthgoing generations of Syvlari.
Sylvari Names
Sylvari names phonetically resemble traditional Celtic names, often with a more soft intonation and less harsh consonants. A name is given to a Sylvari by the Pale Tree in their dream.
Male Names:
Aedan, Admael, Breanainn, Cadeyrn, Caelhan, Dubhan, Eoghan, Faelan, Fedelmin, Gwrytheyrn, Haervis, Iudico, Jodoc, Loegairn, Maedoc, Mael, Nynian, Seisyll, Taeghoc.
Female Names:
Aedyl, Amare, Boedicea, Caoimhe, Daewyn, Elisedd, Enewyn, Faolain, Gwyn, Gwyndolin, Ionea, Jouwyrth, Luibela, Lanare, Moghaeryn, Nynniaw, Sylwyn, Taeghwyn, Verae.
Sylvari Traits
Ability Score Increase.
Your Wisdom score increases by 2.
Age.
Only having first arrived in this world twenty years ago, it is not known how old a Sylvari grows to be. In the eyes of most races, you will be considered to be a young adult.
Alignment.
Being naturally compassionate and kindhearted, Sylvari tend towards good. There are exceptions however, with some adapting a more neutral view on life and some completely turning to the dark side.
In the rare case that a Sylvari has fallen to the Nightmare, they are evil.
Size.
Sylvari range from just short of 5 feet to 6 feet tall, with a slender and elegant build. Your size is Medium.
Speed.
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Attuned to Nature.
You are accustomed to life in the wilds. You are proficient in the Nature skill.
Brother to the Weed
Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to the origin of plants, you are considered proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.
Living Sap.
Your resilient, plant-like skin regenerates at an accelerated pace. At will, without requiring a short rest, you can expend one of your hit dice and immediately regain half the roll (rounding up, with a minimum of 1) plus your constitution modifier as hit points and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. This feature improves at at level 5, 10, 15 and 20, letting you expend an additional hit dice per level of this feature.
Heart of Thorns.
You know the thorn whip cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the barkskin spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the speak with plants spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Languages.
You can speak, read and write Common and Sylvan.
Subrace.
Four subraces of Sylvari are found in the worlds of D&D: These are based on the cycles of day when a Sylvari awakens, which largely decides their nature and personality. Choose one of these cycles.
Cycle of Dawn
These sylvari are typically diplomatic and friendly, and are naturals when it comes to planning and conversing with others.
Ability Score Increase.
Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Natural Diplomat.
You are proficient in the Persuasion skill.
Cycle of Noon
Those born at this time are fighters, skilled combatants who prefer actions over words. They prefer to experience things firsthand and attack problems head-on.
Ability Score Increase.
Your Strength score increases by 1.
Athletic Prowess.
You are proficient in the Athletics skill.
Cycle of Dusk
Sylvari born during Dusk are usually intelligent and philosophical, and enjoy studies and puzzles over physical pursuits.
Ability Score Increase.
Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Scholarly Disposition.
You are proficient in the History skill.
Cycle of Night
These sylvari are inclined to be secretive and self-contained, preferring to travel alone.
Ability Score Increase.
Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Rogueish Nimbleness.
You are proficient in the Stealth skill.
Inspiration
This race was specifically made for me to use in my DM's current campaign, after I noticed that there was no official race of plant people.
After a tiny bit of searching I found pandm101's Sylvari. They didn't feel quite right, so I set out to make my own rendition, taking inspiration from pandm101's version.
Note for DMs
I tried to keep this whole thing as vague as possible, to make it easier for DMs to integrate them into their own campaigns. Just replace "the Vale" with whatever location you want the Pale Tree to be situated in, and "Rivari" to the name of the continent/planet from your own setting.
Get Creative!
You don't have to perfectly adhere to my version of it. Feel free to expand on this base as you wish. Maybe add subraces for different climates? Maybe an entirely new subclass or class thats exclusive to the Sylvari? The sky's the limit.
Credits
Homebrew Designer - Santer
Inspiration - pandm101's Sylvari Race
Feedback - Several Friends on Discord
Art Credits
GM Binder Thumbnail - Unknown Artist, taken from the Guild Wars 2 Wiki
Cover - Olga Pakskina
Grove Art - Unknown Artist, taken from the Guild Wars 2 Wiki
Brisban Wildlands Art - Unknown Artist, taken from the Image Sample Code Document
After the Storm Art - Unknown Artist, taken from the Guild Wars 2 Wiki
Sylvarvi Druid Art - Unknown Artist, taken from the official Guild Wars 2 Website
Soulbeast Specialization Art - Unknown Artist, taken from the official Guild Wars 2 Wiki
Additional Credits
Sample Codes for Images - Unknown Author