Thorn Knight

Thorn knights advance by adventuring in the wilderness. The more experienced a thorn knight is, the more plant-like his physiology will become, though he retains the benefits of his original biological form. For example, an advanced thorn knight eventually gains the ability to sustain himself through photosynthesis, provided he has adequate water and exposure to sunlight to do so. While some changes to the thorn knight's physiology are more subtle, thorn knights know what to look for and and can size one another up on sight alone.

Over time, the arcane power that grants a thorn knight his abilities also grants him the ability to be fully self-sufficient outdoors, especially in the climates in which their totem plants grow. Conifer knights can walk across glaciers for days, cactus knights need little water and cease to get sunburns, and so forth.

Thorn knights blend knightly oaths to protect a given realm, but their dedication is most closely tied to the land than any particular lord. In the aftermath of the Frozen Decade, most thorn knights are, in fact, lordless due to the toppling of previous social structures. In lieu of noble privelege, thorn knights use their powers to protect nature and the innocent, particularly those who make their livings through woodcraft or agriculture. A thorn knight might fight dangerous Fae Realms entities, punish bandits and raiders, or escort lost travelers back to what passes for civilization in the New Generica Period. The long life and endurance against weather of the trees is theirs, so they must press their talents in the service of higher pursuits.

People like farmers, hunters, and anglers who share a similar spiritual connection to the land respect thorn knights and may provide for their needs in exchange for protection from threats to their lives and livelihoods. While it is possible for a thorn knight to stumble upon work organically, most of them rely upon connections in the community or direction by local officials to provide quests, so they often work to foster strong ties beyond the aristocratic social classes a knight of the realm would normally be expected to mingle with. Nettlesome rumors of thorn knights having prickly personalities are largely unfounded, but a few are known for their dry wits and a willingness to trade barbs over a pint.

Most cactus knights are male and most rose knights are female, but there are no particular strictures when it comes to sex among the thorn knights as a whole. Conifer knights are more diverse, but generally hail from northerly or montane climes simply by nature of their specialization.