Thistleborn
Thistleborn
“If the vines twist, they twist for a reason.” — Thistleborn proverbThistleborn are diminutive fey creatures native to Yelebur's overgrown forests and bramble thickets. Known for their mischievous nature and connection to thorny flora, they embody the playful yet dangerous side of the wilds. With bark-like skin and mossy hair, they blend seamlessly into the thickets, where they watch, prank, and sometimes protect unwary travelers.
Physical Description
Standing at around 3-4 feet tall, Thistleborn have bark-textured skin, often patterned with natural knots and grooves. Their hair grows as vibrant moss, adorned with blooming flowers that change based on their emotions—bright and colorful when happy, wilted and dark when sad or angry. Thorny vines wrap around their limbs, which they can control instinctively.Society
Thistleborn communities are woven into dense thickets, living in hollows carved within brambles. Their society thrives on storytelling and pranks, believing that harmless mischief brings luck. However, they protect their homes fiercely, using their thorny magic to repel threats.Thistleborn Traits
Your Thistleborn character has the following traits: Creature Type: Fey (Wild) Ability Score Increase: Your Dexterity increases by 2, and your Charisma increases by 1. Age: Thistleborn mature by 10 years old and can live up to 200 years, though they often stop counting. Alignment: Most Thistleborn lean towards chaotic alignments, valuing freedom and mischief. Good Thistleborn delight in harmless pranks, while evil ones might use their vines to trap prey. Size: Thistleborn stand between 3 and 4 feet tall and weigh around 40 pounds. Your size is Small. Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Fey Ancestry: You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep. Bramble Bind: As an action, you can summon thorny vines to ensnare a creature within 30 feet. The target must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier) or be restrained for 1 minute. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. You can use this trait once per long rest. Floral Emotion: The flowers growing from your hair change based on your emotions, giving you advantage on Charisma (Deception) or Charisma (Persuasion) checks, chosen when you use this trait. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of once), regaining all expended uses after a long rest. Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvathis.Basic Information
Anatomy
Thistleborn possess small, agile frames covered in bark-like skin that ranges in texture from smooth to rough, often resembling the trees and plants native to their habitat. Their limbs are thin but surprisingly strong, wrapped in living vines that sprout naturally from their bodies. These vines grow flowers that shift colors with the Thistleborn’s emotions, acting as an external manifestation of their inner feelings. Their mossy hair, which grows wild and thick, houses tiny insects and fungi, reflecting their deep bond with the forest. Though they appear fragile, their bark skin provides a natural defense, and their veins pulse with sap-like ichor instead of blood.
Biological Traits
Thistleborn are unique among fey for their living connection to plant life. Their bark-like skin provides natural armor, and their regenerative abilities allow them to heal wounds by absorbing sunlight or soil nutrients. The flowers on their bodies serve as emotional barometers, shifting colors with their feelings. Their vines can extend and retract, allowing them to manipulate their environment, ensnare foes, or create complex structures. Over time, older Thistleborn develop more elaborate floral patterns, symbolizing wisdom and age.
Growth Rate & Stages
Thistleborn sprout from the earth rather than being born traditionally. A seed, infused with fey magic, is planted in sacred groves and nurtured until it blooms into a sapling humanoid. In their first decade, Thistleborn remain rooted, absorbing nutrients until they gain the strength to move. Upon awakening, they enter their juvenile stage, marked by exploratory mischief and the development of their vines. Maturity is reached around age 10, where they gain full control over their floral abilities. Over time, their vines thicken, and their bark darkens with age, but they remain spry and youthful in demeanor for most of their lives.
Ecology and Habitats
Thistleborn thrive in Yelebur’s densest forests, where bramble thickets grow wild and unchecked. They construct labyrinthine homes within these thickets, forming natural tunnels and chambers. Their presence encourages plant growth, often leading to flourishing, overgrown regions teeming with wildlife. Thistleborn are integral to their ecosystem, acting as stewards of the forest—guiding the spread of vines, nurturing saplings, and ensuring balance between flora and fauna. They tend to avoid open plains or urban areas but have been known to cultivate bramble patches even in the heart of some Tunin cities, creating hidden sanctuaries.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Thistleborn sustain themselves primarily through photosynthesis, absorbing sunlight and water via their vines and bark. However, they also derive nutrients from rich soils, often burying their feet to absorb minerals. On rare occasions, they consume fermented nectars or sap, which enhance their natural abilities and are considered delicacies. Their feasts during seasonal festivals involve sharing these nectars alongside fruits and herbs grown in sacred groves.
Biological Cycle
As nature-bound fey, Thistleborn follow the rhythms of the seasons. In spring, their flowers bloom vibrantly, signaling heightened vitality and fertility. During summer, their powers peak, and their vines grow most aggressively. In autumn, their flowers wilt, and their bark darkens as they prepare for the cold. Winter brings a period of dormancy, where Thistleborn enter a hibernation-like state, anchoring themselves into the ground and absorbing nutrients directly from the earth. This cycle strengthens their connection to the land and prolongs their lifespan.
Behaviour
Thistleborn are unique among fey for their living connection to plant life. Their bark-like skin provides natural armor, and their regenerative abilities allow them to heal wounds by absorbing sunlight or soil nutrients. The flowers on their bodies serve as emotional barometers, shifting colors with their feelings. Their vines can extend and retract, allowing them to manipulate their environment, ensnare foes, or create complex structures. Over time, older Thistleborn develop more elaborate floral patterns, symbolizing wisdom and age.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Thistleborn societies are loosely hierarchical, led by the eldest among them, known as the "Brambleheart." The Brambleheart guides the community, ensuring harmony with the forest and resolving conflicts. Decisions are made communally, with festivals and gatherings used to discuss important matters. Elders are revered, their complex floral patterns seen as badges of wisdom. Mischief is an accepted and even celebrated part of life, but harmful pranks are strictly forbidden.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Thistleborn possess heightened senses attuned to the natural world. Their large, luminous eyes allow them to see clearly in dim light, while their acute sense of smell detects subtle changes in plant life, soil, and moisture. Their most unique sensory ability is their connection to plant networks—they can feel vibrations through roots and vines, enabling them to detect approaching creatures or disturbances from afar. When near their bramble thickets, Thistleborn can extend their consciousness into the vines, perceiving through them as an extension of their body.
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
The Thistleborn do not form rigid political structures but instead gather in loose alliances called "Bramble Circles." These circles are networks of groves connected by hidden vine paths. The most prominent among them is the Thornveil Enclave, a coalition of elder Thistleborn who oversee sacred groves across Yelebur. The Thornveil Enclave acts as a council during times of crisis, uniting scattered communities to protect the forests.
Another known group is the Weavers of Bloom, artisans and botanists who specialize in creating intricate vine constructs and floral art that blend nature with subtle enchantments. Their creations are sought after by druids and even some Tunin mages for their beauty and power.
Beauty Ideals
To Thistleborn, beauty lies in complexity and vibrancy. Elaborate vine patterns, lush mossy hair, and brightly blooming flowers are considered signs of vitality and attractiveness. Thistleborn often weave living flowers into their hair or cultivate rare blossoms on their vines as symbols of beauty and personal expression. Symmetry in floral patterns and the health of their mossy locks are also seen as indicators of charm and desirability.
Common Etiquette Rules
Mischief is not only accepted but expected in Thistleborn culture, so lighthearted pranks are considered a form of greeting. However, malicious tricks are frowned upon, and there are unspoken rules to ensure mischief remains harmless. Interrupting someone during their “sun-soak” time—a daily ritual of basking in sunlight—is considered rude. When entering another Thistleborn's grove, visitors are expected to present a gift of seeds or flowers as a gesture of goodwill.
Common Dress Code
Thistleborn rarely wear conventional clothing, as their bark-like skin and vines serve as natural adornments. However, during festivals or important gatherings, they weave garments from soft petals, moss, and leaves. These outfits often shimmer with natural bioluminescence or release gentle floral scents. Vine jewelry, braided with blooming flowers, is commonly worn as a sign of status or celebration.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Thistleborn culture is deeply rooted in the cycles of nature. Every season brings distinct celebrations that mark the growth, decay, and rebirth of life. Storytelling is a cornerstone of their heritage, with elders passing down tales through elaborate performances that blend music, vine puppetry, and living floral displays.
Their songs are sung in a lilting, melodic Sylvan dialect, often accompanied by the rustling of leaves and the gentle hum of insects. These songs tell of ancient groves, heroic Thistleborn who protected the forests, and the deep bond they share with Yelebur’s flora.
Despite their reclusive nature, Thistleborn have gradually embraced interactions with other races, particularly druids and rangers, who respect the land. In regions where Yelebur meets Tunin, mixed communities have formed, leading to cultural exchanges and the introduction of botanical alchemy to Tunin scholars.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
One of the most cherished Thistleborn traditions is the Blooming Festival, celebrated every spring when flowers first bud. During this festival, Thistleborn compete in weaving the most elaborate floral structures, and mischief levels peak as even elders engage in playful pranks.
Another sacred custom is the Seedling Rite, where young Thistleborn plant a part of their own vine in the earth to grow a "sibling sprout"—a symbolic act of continuing life and ensuring their connection to the land.
Sun-soaking, where Thistleborn gather in sunlit clearings to absorb energy, is a daily ritual that fosters community bonding and reflection.
Common Taboos
Harming the forest or cutting down ancient trees without cause is the gravest taboo among Thistleborn. Such acts are met with swift retaliation, often involving the offender becoming ensnared in cursed vines. Additionally, using fire irresponsibly is considered a dire offense due to its potential to devastate their homes.
Betraying a prank pact—where a prank is intended to bring humor but crosses into cruelty—is deeply frowned upon. Thistleborn who break this trust risk exile from their bramble circles.
History
Thistleborn lore speaks of their origin from Yelebur's first forests, sprouting where the Angshire Spirit Shwazen wept over dying groves. Her tears gave birth to the first Thistleborn, who emerged to guard the fragile balance between life and decay. Throughout history, Thistleborn have been both guides and tricksters to the other races, sometimes helping lost travelers and other times leading them deeper into the woods as playful punishment for their trespasses.
During the Mazînmagisk Era, many Thistleborn watched in horror as forests were ravaged for giant constructions. Though they lacked the might to stop the giants, they became adept at sabotage, leading to a series of mysterious collapses and overgrown ruins that persist to this day. In modern times, Thistleborn have formed cautious ties with neighboring races, trading rare herbs and guiding druids through their forests while maintaining their playful, elusive nature.
Historical Figures
Elder Thornveil: The oldest known Thistleborn, Elder Thornveil led the Thornveil Enclave during the Mazînmagisk Era. They orchestrated the sabotage of giant machinery that threatened Yelebur’s forests, earning legendary status among their kin.
Lilythorn the Trickster: A mischievous hero, Lilythorn once played pranks on a Tunin noble who sought to exploit Yelebur’s resources. Through clever tricks and harmless but humiliating mishaps, Lilythorn convinced the noble to abandon his plans and instead fund forest conservation efforts.
Mossbloom the Healer: A revered botanist and alchemist, Mossbloom discovered many of the herbal remedies still used today, bridging the gap between Thistleborn and Tunin alchemists through their shared knowledge of plant-based healing.
Common Myths and Legends
Thistleborn folklore speaks of the Elder Thorn, the first Thistleborn who emerged from Shwazen's tears. It’s said that the Elder Thorn’s roots extend beneath all of Yelebur, linking every Thistleborn through an invisible network. In times of great peril, this ancient spirit is believed to awaken and guide the Thistleborn to protect the forests.
Another legend tells of the Bramble Maze, an enchanted grove where those who enter without a pure heart become hopelessly lost, turned into living vines to guard its secrets. Only Thistleborn can safely navigate its winding paths, though even they approach it with reverence and caution.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Thistleborn generally maintain positive relations with other fey and nature-focused beings. They share strong ties with druids, rangers, and races that respect Yelebur’s balance, such as Verdant Wardens. Their playful pranks, however, have strained relationships with some Tunin merchants and city dwellers who view them as pests rather than protectors.
Despite this, Thistleborn communities near Tunin have adapted, engaging in trade and cultural exchanges. They are particularly fond of halflings and gnomes, whose humor and love for nature align with Thistleborn values.
However, they remain wary of those who wield fire recklessly or exploit nature, viewing such beings as threats. Giants, due to historical scars from the Mazînmagisk Era, are met with suspicion and caution.
Lifespan
200 years
Average Height
3 to 4 feet
Average Weight
40 pounds
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Thistleborn skin ranges from deep brown to light tan, resembling tree bark, with green moss-like patches on joints and shoulders. Their hair is vibrant moss, ranging from lush green to golden hues, often dotted with blooming flowers. The flowers themselves vary widely—some Thistleborn display bright, colorful blossoms, while others grow delicate, pale petals. Vines coil around their limbs, darkening and sprouting thorns when threatened.
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
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