Sinnehliv

The Living Flora

History

Centuries before the creation of the Sinnehliv race, a reign of despair settled upon the lands and forests. Along with Man came tools wrought in fire and destruction and they expanded ever outwards, into the forest and groves, cutting clear the land and leaving it barren. They marched onward, towards the destruction and desolation of nature, uncaring, or perhaps unknowing, of the evil their work had spread. A great darkness befell the land, and truly in these times there was much sorrow for the grove.

The plight of the forest and willows did not go unheard, with their cries for mercy and justice fell upon the only ears they had. Arvora, mother of nature and preserver of the forest, so saddened by her children’s suffering beseeched her sister Vikret, and when the land was in it’s most dire, the two of them delivered upon the world it’s guardian. A single creature, crafted with careful and gentle hands was delivered, it’s form created from the very land it sought to protect, and finally when it’s time of deliverance came, the good mother Arvora breathed life into this mound of leaf and foliage. Thus, this first being whom was named Cylene approached a group of lumberjacks, their verdant exterior lacked the common traits these men had come to know, the words of the first fell upon their ears, their tone carried with it the sorrow of the forest, the pleas and cries of help for all her kind, and for the first time the forest was given a voice, and despite the injustice these men had wrought, despite how much pain and sorrow was spread upon the land The First spoke gently and with such compassion that it moved even the thorny hearts of these men.

"Brothers, though we share not the blood in our veins, nor the flesh of our bones, we all derive from one mother, and you, dear brothers, though you do not know, hurt her so. Her children, her family, are all around us, each being which lives, each tree which stands has as much a right to do so as you or I. Please dear brothers, can you not see how languid the land has become, how weak and decrepit these once proud forests have been rendered. Where once there stood proud and majestic oaks, now clear cut fields remain, where the mighty pine stood the test of time for Tsels, now all that remains is a stump. We all have a right to life brother, and though our mother has provided greatly for us, you take but you do not give in turn. I beseech the, look in your hearts, look upon this land and know it has suffered much, we ask you use this gift our mother has granted wisely, and with purpose. For if we are not careful dear brother, one day the gift of our mother might be lost to us, and indeed that would be a sad day not only for you, but for the children and animals that come after.

What sorrow there would be to have to describe a forest to the eager mind of a child, instead of wandering yonder and showing them. What a plight it would be when the want of the people are unable to be met. Look in your hearts dear brothers and know it is so, know that the path you walk is dangerously close to destruction, balanced upon a fine line ."

Though it was with much time, and effort, eventually Cylene was successful in their pursuits, and for a time, the land flourished, flowers once filled the fields again, the creatures of the forest knew for a time peace and soon began to rebuild. All was right--all was good. With purpose fulfilled, Cylene knew a life of solitude, their heart growing heavy as they felt sorrow greater than any they’d known before, being truly alone.

This saddened the great mother, day and night she wept for her child, for her creation, and in time she sought to answer the pleas of his heart, and granted him another of his kind, the second, Desmesan. Formed of vines and bark, though they were different, though the moss and foliage clung more so to the second than the first, they knew a kinship with one another, a bond that escaped the grasp of words.

And in time more of these creations, similar to that of Cylene, reformed into a community where they gathered. As a whole, they spoke, their voices all articulated with pain and foreboding like that of the first, warning the men of the consequences which may fester after the completed destruction of their home. The formation of Sinnehliv reasoned with the Lumberjacks that day, and since then the Legend states that since their appearance, the forests were left untouched.

Physical Description

All Sinnehliv are born with very basic features gifted to them by the goddess of Arcana and their parent. When first brought into the world, after a few months of being stuck within a pod, they come out resembling a human or elven child with skin tone that matches the region they are born in. Their eyes are solid black orbs, their face housing no nose, and very little detailed features.

As they grow, they start adapting to their surroundings, gaining more features and growing natural cosmetics, such as leaves, petals, or bark. Their eyes start changing to the color they will keep for the rest of their life, as it is one of the only things they cannot change about themselves.

After the seedlings reach the age of four, their body will start to grow. They may have previously looked like a normal, humanoid toddler, but over time they will notice that unlike humans, they can choose which way they wish to grow. Their basic body mass adapts to what they wish to look like, as it takes a much time to fully come into certain shapes. Longer legs, facial details, accessories, figure shape. Sinnehliv that aren’t taught how to properly manipulate their bodies often shape with their emotions. Once past childhood, Sinnehliv can no longer change their physical appearance as drastically as before.

Sinnehliv are born genderless and are generally asexual, but are known to pick a preferred gender. They pick their gender when growing up, but have no real issue with staying genderless, either. To procreate, two Sinnehliv (though less often a Sinnehliv and another race) will go into the forest and pray deeply for the goddess Arvora to send them a child. Days will pass, and eventually the Sinnehliv will be blessed with child, unless they have done great harm against their own kind. A pod will start to grow on them, either on their stomach or back, and after two weeks it can be taken off and carried around. It is a frail thing, and is highly protected by leaders of Sinnehliv groves. After 5 months, young Seedlings are born, looking similar to the parent that birthed them.

As the seasons come, the plant folk will start to change with it. The change isn’t drastic, but takes the form of sprouting flowers easily from their body during spring, bloom in summer, and wilt away in fall. The change is slow, and most Sinnehliv have a different ways of showing it. Some keep their green skin all year round, and others look to be every shade of the autumn when fall finally comes.

When a Sinnehliv’s body gets hurt or a limb amputated, they will be able to regrow it. The largest part of their body will live on as any other limb(s) cut off will slowly start to wilt. Though when within a range of 3 feet, the body part can still be controlled and used like it was previously, making it easier to reattach with some aid. It takes 3 days to regrow a lost limb to the shape it was before. If they wish to obtain a new limb from scratch, this could take up to a year to do.

• Common Height: 4'1" - 6'0
• Common Build: Ectomorph, Mesomorph, Endomorph
• Common Eyes: Brown, Amber, Green, Blue, Black.
• Common Regions:
  • Forest: Lush greens and browns, akin to trees, bark skin patches.
  • Plains: Petals for hair, paler greens, Resembles flowers.
  • Caves: Mushroom kin, Brown or red, toadstool hats.
  • Swamps: Lilypad or Vine like, Long hair, darker greens colors.
  • Sea: Algae or Seaweed, Webbed hands and feet, cyan colors.
  • Desert: Rough skin, weakness to cold climates. Yellow colors.
  • Snow: Survive in the cold, blue/paler green skin. Weakness in heat.

Culture

Sinnehliv homes are hidden deep within forests, and most passing by would not take note of the grove being a village of any sort. Their homes are harmonious with nature, attempting to leave it undisturbed and only add to it. Burrows under trees with stone walls are rather common, decorated with flowers, or tree houses that span branch to branch. A community of Sinnehliv is peaceful, and often led by the priestess who follows Arvora, Vikret, or both. Everyone contributes their own, and is free to come and go whenever they wish.

Sinnehliv are born pacifists. They are known to guard their forests with a sense of kinship and belonging, but will not go out of their way to start fights, and will actively avoid conflict.

When a Sinnehliv comes of age, reaching around 120 years, they will start to want to find a final resting place. They are not aware when they will pass, but know that after they die their body will be returned to the earth as a tree. Elders are known to make long treks into new areas of the world to see it one last time, before laying down to rest, and finally passing away. Their body must be in contact with the ground to die and be returned as a tree, as their body will settle into the dirt and begin to form into one of the forest.

Sinnehliv that have died in battle protecting their forests often become a new tree within it to continue on the cycle of life. Some Sinnehliv are born from the trees of long gone warriors when the forest needs protecting again.

When amongst each other Sinnehliv tend to be great gardeners and healers, growing food for the animals they wish to keep and plants they wish to heal with. They are inclined to help others and make great assistants and herbalists when outside of their groves.

The language of the Sinnehliv is Lahn, a language sounding like the rustling of the wind as it passing through the trees. It’s an odd sound that not many that able to replicate, making it a very difficult language to learn. Most plant folk that are born into groves or alone know this language by innately if they remain long enough in nature.

Sinnehliv can rely solely on photosynthesis for their dietary needs. Natural products such as honey and apples are good substitutes, and the Sinnehliv body will reject any meat products ingested. Sinnheliv are capable of drinking alcohol, but have a similar tolerance to the substance as humans.

As direct children of nature, Sinnehliv have an innate connection with the forests they reside in. The natural world around them reflects this, and in some cases, even react to it. When undergoing strong emotions, the flora around a Sinnehliv can alter and change. These alterations are never drastic, and can include flowers blooming, branches swaying, or some other novel change.

Mechanics

• Lifespan: Sinnehliv live up to 300 years.
• Sinnheliv take the traits of the region they were created in.
• Sinheliv have an emotional connection with nature, being able to influence it in novel ways.
• Sinnheliv obtain sustenance by photosynthesis. To photosynthesize, a Sinnheliv must be in direct sunlight and have access to fresh water. They must remain with little motion for an hour each day.
• Upon death, if a Sinnheliv is connected to the earth, they will begin to mold into a tree. The tree type will be determined by the region the Sinnheliv was born in. These trees are extremely durable.
• Taking their appearance from the forest, Sinnehliv are able to alter their bodies cosmetically as they desire. This cosmetic change can take the form of flowers growing from their skin, a small birds nest on their shoulder, or some other alteration having to do with the natural world.
• All things grown on a Sinnehliv of any kind, such as berries, petals or bark, have no alchemical or nutritional effect.
• Sinnehliv can regrow limbs. This process is painful and requires intense concentration. If in direct sunlight and near a water source, a Sinnheliv can regrow a lost limb in [3 OOC days]. The lost limb will look and function exactly as it did previously with no disability.
• Sinnehliv have a natural aversion to fire, being uncomfortable and even fearful of small campfires and even torches. In the event a Sinnheliv catches on fire, death is almost always assured, unless extinguished in time.
• Sinnehliv can shape their bodies anyway they wish during their childhood and adolescence.
  • Age 4: No mass added yet, small toddler sized children.
  • Age 10: Sinnheliv will have adapted to their surrounding. They will begin to grow bark, leaves, petals, vines, and other natural artifacts on them.
  • Age 20: Sinnheliv will now be unable to change their height, but will still retain their ability to manipulate small flowers, petals, and the length of their hair.
  • Age 30 and up: Alterations are difficult to enact now, as the Sinnheliv has reached adulthood. Small changes take more concentration and energy, but are possible.

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