Leshy
Guardians and emissaries of the environment, leshies are immortal spirits of nature temporarily granted a physical form.
Leshies are “born” when a skilled druid or other master of primal magic conducts a ritual to create a suitable vessel, and then a spirit chooses that vessel to be their temporary home. Leshies are self-sufficient from the moment the ritual ends, and so they do not depend upon these druids for care, though it is not uncommon for leshies to maintain lifelong bonds with their creators.
Leshy Traits
Leshies are as varied as the material used to create their vessels, usually appearing as a bizarre mishmash of various plants or fungi. Their bodies are vaguely humanoid in shape, with numerous characteristics of the plant or fungus from which they were made.
Abiltiy Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2.
Age. Leshies begin their lives as adults. As spirits, they do not age, though a leshy could potentially remain in the same vessel forever—though leshies rarely consider this outcome to be desirable.
Alignment. A leshy can be of any alignment, depending on what spirit inhabits their body, but their outlook often tends towards neutral.
Size. A typical leshy is about 3 feet tall. Your size is Small.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.
Leshy Lore. You deeply understand your people’s cultural traditions and innate strengths. You have proficiency in the Nature and Stealth skills.
Leshy Magic. You know the druidcraft cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the entangle spell once per day. When you reach 5th level, you can also cast the barkskin spell once per day. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Plant Nourishment. You gain nourishment in the same way that the plants or fungi that match your body type normally do, through some combination of photosynthesis, absorbing minerals with your roots, or scavenging decaying matter. You typically do not need to pay for food. If you normally rely on photosynthesis and go without sunlight for 1 week, you begin to starve. You can derive nourishment from specially formulated bottles of sunlight instead of natural sunlight, but these bottles cost 10 times as much as standard rations (or 50 sp).
Speak with Kindred. You have a connection with creatures that share your physiology. You can socially interact (ask questions of, receive answers from) plants or fungi that match your leshy heritage. Generally, fungus leshies can speak to mushrooms and fungi; gourd leshies can speak to gourds, melons, and similar fruiting plants; leaf leshies can speak with deciduous trees; and vine leshies can speak with vines and climbing plants. The GM determines which plants or fungi count for this trait. You have advantage on all Charisma checks you make to influence them.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Sylvan, and one extra language of your choice.
Vessel. The three most common leshy vessels are the gourd leshy, the leaf leshy, and the vine leshy. Choose one of these vessels.
Gourd Leshy
A gourd leshy has tangles of leafy vines for limbs and a carved gourd for a head. Your knowledge comes from within your spirit, rather than a physical brain.
Abiltiy Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Gourd Heritage. You have found a handier use for the space inside your head. You can store up to 10 lbs worth of items within your head. Additionally, if you store only one object within your head, you can draw it effortlessly into your hand as part of the Use an Object or Attack action.
Seedpod. Your body produces a nearly endless supply of hard seedpods, which you can use to make a ranged unarmed attack (range 20/60). If you hit with it, you deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier. If you roll a 20 on the attack roll, the seedpod bursts, issuing forth a tangle of vegetation that reduces the targets speed by 10 feet until the end of its next turn.
Leaf Leshy
Leaf leshys have soft, pulpy-looking bodies and wear clothing made of dozens of leaves, which is crafted by them shortly after their creation. Their shoulders are covered in big cloak-like leaves, and most wear pine cones, nuts or fruit rinds as helmets.
Abiltiy Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Leaf Heritage. You land from falls with particular grace. You take no damage from falling, regardless of the distance you fall.
Leshy Glide. Using your own leaves, you can control your descent. You glide slowly toward the ground, 5 feet down and up to 25 feet forward through the air. At the start of your turn, you must use your action to remain gliding. If you are still gliding at the end of your turn, if you have not yet reached the ground, you remain in the air.
Vine Leshy
A vine leshy’s body is made of masses of twisted vines and leaves, sometimes incorporating flowers and fruits as well. Their appearance is mostly determined by the species of vine used in their creation, but most have a large cluster of leaves that forms a face with round eyes, a small mouth, and no visible nose.
Abiltiy Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
Vine Heritage. The prehensile vines woven into your body grant you unmatched skill at climbing. You have a climb speed equal to your walking speed and you do not need to have any hands free to climb.
Grasping Vines. When you are grappling a single creature, they are grappled by the vines covering your body, leaving both of your hands free. Additionally, creatures that are one size larger than you don’t automatically succeed on checks to escape your grapple.
Vine Support. A tangle of vines or tendrils support your arms. You ignore the heavy property on a weapon.