Born of Bark and Branches

Boughlin are rumored to be special creations of Rillifane Rallathil, the Leaflord. He foresaw that the short-lived mortal races would quickly spread and destroy his forests in search of lumber and farmland. To ensure the survival of his forests, the Leaflord bestowed humanity upon a select few of his trees to stand guard over the woodlands. These creatures, while treelike, are more human than the treants, and came to be known as the boughlin. All boughlin bear a resemblance to the trees found in their forests, having coarse bark-like skin, leafy growths across their body in various patterns, and a greater height than most other races.

Older than Civilization

Due to the unfathomably long lifespan of the boughlin, these creatures are often the final bastion of ancient knowledge long forgotten by other races. Scholars dream of interviewing a boughlin with the hope of rediscovering past lore and secrets, but few are ever granted this opportunity due to the reclusive nature of the boughlin, and even when an audience with one is established, the boughlin are often uninterested in the affairs of the world, and typically prefer to talk of things other than the distant past.

Stewards of Nature

The boughlin are protective of their forests, and will act to defend them from the encroachment of civilization. Boughlin are most commonly sighted when a civilization engages in excessive deforestation or hunting, although they also make their displeasure known whenever an ignorant noble sponsors the diversion or damming of streams or rivers which would otherwise run through a boughlin's forest. On rare occasions, boughlin will show their appreciation for societies which live in balance with nature by bestowing blessings upon their harvests. This is one of the highest honors which boughlin bestow upon outsiders, and such an honor often also earns the respect of other nature-sensitive races such as Firbolgs and Halflings.

Slow and Patient

Boughlin have all the time in the world to wait and have patience. They will regularly make plans which span the course of several centuries, sometimes even stretching into multiple millennia if other races aren't involved. They speak and move slowly, rarely feeling a sense of urgency. Boughlin have difficulty keeping up with the hustle and bustle of the shorter-lived folk, often being overwhelmed by the pace at which they work, which leads them to appreciate the company of elves and gnomes. While the boughlin still view the lifespan of these races as being rather brief, they nonetheless can appreciate the patience exhibited by such creatures. Boughlin who share a forest may go several years at a time without interacting; they are content to spend decades doing nothing other than tending to the plants of the forest. Their friendships (and their grudges) can last for centuries, and they feel no rush to socialize as regularly as the other races.

Boughlin Traits

Boughlin may resemble any type of tree, but all share certain characteristics in common with each other.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2.

Age. The full lifespan of the boughlin is unknown. Scholars estimate that the oldest known boughlin is over 10,000 years old, and no outsiders have ever seen boughlin younger than 1,000 years. Boughlin rarely keep track of their own age after they reach adulthood at 1,500 years.

Alignment. Because boughlin rarely engage in the affairs of the outside world, they tend towards being neutral.

Size. Boughlin are among the tallest of the humanoids, standing between 7 and 9 feet tall. With age, boughlin have been known to grow as tall as 10 feet. Your size is medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Roots. You have advantage on ability checks and saving throws made to avoid forced movement or being knocked prone.

Additionally, if you have access to healthy soil, you can spend 1 hour rooted to the ground to acquire all the nutrients you need for a day. During this time, your speed is reduced to 0. This can be done during a short rest.

Wisdom of the Ancients. You have proficiency in the History and Nature skills. Furthermore, whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check to recall information from over 1,000 years ago, you can add twice your proficiency bonus, instead of any proficiency bonus you normally apply.

Arborist Magic. A steward of the forests, you can call on the magic of plants and trees. You can cast Entangle with this trait. Starting at 3rd level, you can cast Barkskin with it, and starting at 5th level, you can also cast Plant Growth with it. Once you cast a spell with this trait, you can't cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Druidic, and Sylvan.

Subrace. Three main subraces of boughlin populate the forests of the world: strongwood boughlin, sleekwood boughlin, and corpsewood boughlin. Choose one of these subraces or one from another source.

Strongwood

Strongwood boughlin resemble trees known for their strength and sturdiness, such as oak and redwood. Your skin inherits the strength from these trees, and it is difficult for other creatures to injure you.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.

Tough Skin. Your skin is remarkably strong and difficult to pierce. While you are not wearing heavy armor, all bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage you take is reduced by an amount equal to half your proficiency bonus (to a minimum of 1 damage).

Sleekwood

Sleekwood boughlin resemble trees known for their light bark or flexibility, such as birch and willow. Your body inherits the lightweight or limber properties of these trees, and you are accustomed to enduring rough weather.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Supple Limbs. When you fail a Dexterity saving throw or a Dexterity (Acrobatics) check, you can reroll the die. You must use the new roll, even if it is lower.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Corpsewood

When a strongwood or sleekwood boughlin's forest is dead or dying, the boughlin living there become corpsewood boughlin. Their leaves wither away and their bark-like skin dries and cracks. Corpsewood boughlin hunger for the vitality in other living things, and they seek to return that vitality to their home so that they may raise a new forest there.

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Absorb. When you hit another creature with a melee attack, you can deal additional necrotic damage equal to your level. If the creature is not a construct or undead, you regain hit points equal to the necrotic damage dealt.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.