Plant Creatures – Bark worse than their bite

There are many creatures in fantasy genre that can be used in roleplaying games to give variety in encounters.

Today’s trio are Plants, ancient species and skilled survivors.

Dryads

Appearance – Humanoid reclusive plant creatures, either native or from the Feywild.
Terrain – Forest, Jungle, Swamp.
Prey – Sunlight and Water.
Allies – Brownie, Nymph, Pixie, Satyr, Sylph, Treant.
Enemies – Anyone that destroys large areas of nature.

Contacts for – Druid Circle, Church of Mielikki & Silvanus (Faerun), Church of Beory & Elhonnah (Greyhawk).

Signs Dryads are in the area :
– All plants are healthy in the area.
– You can hear creaking wood without wind or movement.
– There are no herbivores nearby.

Ways to use in an encounter :
– Shrub stands up to full height.
– Branches above climb down towards you.
– One of the trees move at the last second.

Plot hooks :
– Protect the Dryads sacred grove from monsters, else the world will be unbalanced and the elemental war will start again.
– Negotiate between the Dryads and the Woodcutters to prevent further hostilities.
– Lure the Dryads back to the Feywild for a huge reward from the Fey Court.

Shambling Mound

Appearance – Wandering piles of compost, vines and branches.
Terrain – Forest, Jungle, Swamp.
Prey – Anything organic.
Allies – Some crazy Fey Warlocks.
Enemies – Fire Elementals, Salamanders, Efreeti.

Enforcers for Fey Warlocks, Sacred Guardians for Bullywugs or Lizardfolk tribes.

Signs Shambling Mounds are in the area :
– Huge path of crushed wilderness.
– Snapped off vines every 20 feet.
– Scent of damp leaves everywhere.

Ways to use in an encounter :
– The wilderness near your camp assembles.
– Bursts out of the large sewer junction.
– It climbs out of a dank chasm.

Plot hooks :
– The Shambling Mounds are all heading to one forest. Find out why.
– Efreeti have offered tons of sweet coin for a live Shambling Mound or three.
– After years of coexistance, a fishing village has been attacked by a Shambling Mound.

Vegepygmy

Appearance – Short tribal plant creatures, tendrils implant spores.
Terrain – Underdark, Forest, Jungle, Swamp.
Prey – Anything organic.
Allies – Mycanoid.
Enemies – Kobolds, Lizardfolk, Troglodytes.

Vegepygmy can be independant tribes in swamps or the underdark, potential allies or threats.

Signs Vegepygmy are in the area :
– Remains of someone with plants growing in them.
– Lots of fungus and succulant plants in the area.
– Obsidian spears and daggers.

Ways to use in an encounter :
– Many climb out of the swamp water around you.
– Nets haul you into the trees.
– A dozen rappel down on vines.

Plot hooks :
– Vegepygmy have moved into the sewers and started multiplying.
– Threatened nation’s ruler wants to offer Vegepygmies an alliance.
– Your herbalist relative wants an escort through Vegepygmy infested swamp.