Greenwake
Wardens of Natures Reckoning
Born from the scars of a wounded world, the Greenwake are sentient plantfolk awakened as nature's answer to imbalance. Whether sprouting from blighted groves, shattered glades, or poisoned wilds, each Greenwake emerges fully formed with a singular purpose, to restore harmony where it has been lost. Though divided into wildly different forms like the thorned Snapthorn, the graceful Bloomveil, and the towering Barkhide, all Greenwake share an innate bond rooted in defense, renewal, and the primal will of the wild. They are not born to a people, but to a purpose, rising where they are needed most.
The Greenwake are not born. They awaken when the natural world is pushed too far, when sacred groves are destroyed, when arcane runoff poisons rivers, or when the balance of life teeters on the edge. Greenwake rise from the soil like nature reclaiming its place. Each is a manifestation of nature’s will, given sentience and form to act as a guardian, a restorer, or in some cases, a reckoning. They are not born of parents or raised in villages. Instead, they emerge fully formed with the instinct of purpose and the land’s memory echoing through their being.
No one, not even the wisest druids, fully understands what determines where or why a Greenwake stirs. Some whisper that an ancient deity or nature, Aymara the Foremother, lends her will to such awakenings but such speculations are not confirmed. Regardless, a Greenwake does not always recall the moment they emerged, but all are gripped by a sense of urgency, as if time is always running short.
Scattered across Erenel, Greenwake do not form traditional societies. They are more often found alone or in temporary gatherings with others of their kind, acting as protectors of endangered regions or as walking emissaries for the natural world. While some integrate with druids, rangers, or scholarly naturalists, others view cities as blights and act against mortal expansion. Their personalities often reflect their subspecies. Some are serene, some wild, and some thorned by vengeance, but all carry a spark of the wilds within and a duty that rarely rests.Basic Information
Anatomy
Greenwake are plantfolk shaped by purpose, their forms inspired by the subspecies from which they bloom. A Greenwake can stand between 2 and 7 feet tall, though posture, foliage, and overgrowth often affect this perception. Their bodies are a seamless fusion of humanoid structure and botanical composition, with skin ranging from fibrous bark to petal-soft flesh, often bearing hues of green, brown, violet, or deep crimson depending on their nature.
Barkhide Greenwake resemble upright saplings with strong, bark-like plating across limbs and torso. Moss, lichens, or small vines often grow from their shoulders or forearms. Their eyes glow faintly like sap catching the sunlight, and their movement is heavy and rooted.
Bloomveil Greenwake have slender limbs layered with petals that shimmer in subtle light. Leaves or flower crowns naturally grow from their heads, and delicate aromas trail behind them. Their faces are expressive, framed by colorful foliage that can changes slightly with the seasons.
Snapthorn Greenwake appear more feral, with thorny tendrils, carnivorous vines, and jagged blossoms adorning their forms. Their mouths are ringed with retractable teeth, and their limbs flex with whip-like agility. Many bear thorns embedded along their arms and legs, a natural defense against those who draw too close.
Growth Rate & Stages
Greenwake do not experience time as most mortals do. They grow at a steady but slow pace, emerging fully formed from fertile ground when nature deems their presence necessary. While their physical appearance suggests maturity, a Greenwake’s true age is measured by how long they have served in defense of the natural world. Most Greenwake live between 80 and 120 years, though some Barkhide have been known to endure far longer, slowly hardening into motionless tree-like husks that remain as living monuments.
Death to a Greenwake, is not an end but a return. When their purpose is complete or their vitality fades, a Greenwake instinctively seeks out a sacred place such as a grove, glade, or secluded cavern, and rests. Their body decomposes into nutrient-rich soil, flowering or sprouting new growth specific to their sub species. Some druids and rangers speak of such places as hallowed ground, sites of rebirth where new Greenwake may one day emerge.
There are no funerals or mourning rituals among the Greenwake. Instead, other Greenwake celebrate the cycle of decay and renewal with solemn quiet and moments of stillness, honoring the fallen by watching nature reclaim them. To them, death is not loss. It is completion.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Greenwake choose their names upon waking, drawn instinctively to words that reflect the world around them during their first moments of awareness. This naming is deeply personal, shaped by the sensations, colors, sounds, or creatures they encounter as they emerge. As a result, most Greenwake names are compound words formed from natural imagery, evoking elements of their birthplace or the first impressions of life they experience. These names are not divided by gender and are instead expressions of identity. A Bloomveil who awakens beneath a moonlit canopy may name themselves Moonpetal, while a Snapthorn bursting forth in the middle of a thunderstorm might become Stormgleam. Barkhides who rise amidst stone and root may choose names like Stonebark or Rootshade.
Greenwake do not carry family names, though some later choose to add place-based epithets to signify their guardianship or chosen territory, such as Thornwhisper of the Shimmerwood Forest or Gladeflare of the Wildwood. These identifiers are not required but are sometimes adopted by older Greenwake to honor the lands they have sworn to protect.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Greenwake culture is decentralized and instinctive, rooted in shared purpose rather than structured governance or hierarchy. Without formal cities or nations, Greenwake gather in loose communities which form when multiple individuals feel drawn to the same purpose or region. These communities are often temporary, dissolving once the shared goal is accomplished. Within these communities, cooperation is natural as there are no leaders or laws, only mutual understanding and the rhythm of the land guiding them.
Greenwake do not value wealth or material possessions in the same way other species do. Instead, they treasure signs of healthy ecosystems, the growth of new life, and moments of restored balance. Their art takes the form of naturally grown patterns, woven canopies, and sculpted bark work, shaped with reverence rather than tools. Even among other species, Greenwake are known to offer guidance and protection when nature is at risk, though they remain wary of those who exploit the land.
Greenwake Mannerisms
As beings of natural awakening and purpose, Greenwake often display behaviors unfamiliar to other species. Use this table to inspire unique quirks that reflect your character’s origin, connection to nature, and perspective on the world.| d10 | Greenwake Mannerism |
|---|---|
| 1 | You often tilt your head toward the sun or moon as if listening to something beyond perception. |
| 2 | You refuse to sit on wood furniture, preferring stone or the ground. |
| 3 | You talk to plants and animals in a soothing tone, expecting them to understand and listen. |
| 4 | You pause when stepping into a new environment to "feel" the health of the area. |
| 5 | You grow moss, leaves or flowers across parts of your body that change with the weather or your mood. |
| 6 | You speak in poetic fragments, especially when talking about life, death and nature's balance. |
| 7 | You regularly collect fallen leaves or twigs, keeping them as quiet reminders. |
| 8 | You have difficulty with names and titles and instead refer to others by traits or scent. |
| 9 | When you speak you weave your hands through the air, mimicking branches swaying in the wind. |
| 10 | You have a morning ritual such as watering your limbs or whispering thanks to the soil. |
Lifespan
Around 120 years
Average Height
Medium (about 4-7 feet tall) or Small (about 2-4 feet tall), chosen when you select this species
“When the wild can bear no more, it does not weep. It grows teeth. The Greenwake are those teeth.”
Silent Stag
Character played by Gold
Innate Purpose
Every Greenwake is born with an innate sense of purpose, a driving force etched into their soul by the natural world itself. It may be the protection of a specific glade, the undoing of a deforested scar upon the land, or the quiet nurturing of life in a blighted corner of the world. Some Greenwake are drawn to specific types of imbalances, such as excessive arcane experimentation, ecological destruction, or invasive species introduced by civilization's spread. This purpose shapes their every decision. A Greenwake who feels called to protect waterways may spend years tracing the path of a polluted river, cleansing it inch by inch. Another might wander far from their birthplace to hunt down a tyrant who builds atop sacred roots. The Greenwake do not see their purpose as optional, it is their very reason for existence. While some may stray or lose faith, most pursue their calling with tireless conviction. Among Greenwake, fulfilling one’s purpose is a moment of transformation. Some fade back into the earth, their duty complete. Others remain in the world, changed by the experience, and find new meaning among mortals or the wilds alike. A Greenwake with no purpose or one who fails to find it may slowly lose vitality, becoming dormant or twisted, as if the land itself no longer knows what to do with them.
by Dean Spencer
Greenwake Subspecies
Barkhide
Barkhides are the sturdiest of the Greenwake. They rise slowly from ancient root beds, often after decades of slumber, answering deep groans in the earth. Their bodies are massive and gnarled, layered in thick bark and moss. Barkhides often resemble humanoid tree trunks, towering over others like slow-moving bastions.
Warden Role. Barkhides are the defenders of the Greenwake, acting as steady stalwart protectors.
Bloomveil
Wherever life tries to regrow, the Bloomveil awaken. With petals, buds, and pollen-veiled forms, they embody nature’s resilience and beauty. Bloomveil are often found near sacred groves, ruins reclaimed by vines, or places where hope still clings in the shadow of ruin. They exude calming auras and often bloom in tune with the seasons.
Warden Role. Bloomveil are nurturers. They heal, connect, and communicate across species, often acting as envoys to other species of Erenel.
Snapthorn
Snapthorns are nature’s most aggressive reaction to destruction. Born from regions saturated with rot, blight, or arcane corruption, Snapthorns manifest as thorned, sinewy beings with sharp tendrils and snapping maws. They are agile and alert, designed to seek and eliminate intruders, especially those that reek of industry or magical abuse.
Warden Role. Snapthorns often take on the role of hunters or scouts, eliminating threats before they spread.
Comments