Vine leshy

From PathfinderWiki
Vine leshy
A vine leshy.
(Creature)
A vine leshy verdivant.
In Pathfinder First Edition, vine leshies were a race, the only leshies not grown as servants. In Pathfinder Second Edition, all types of leshy can be grown to be free; as such, more information is available at the leshy ancestry.

Vine leshies are a species of free-willed, individualistic leshy with a particular connection to mortals.1

Appearance

Vine leshies have bodies made of twisted vines and leaves, and optionally fruits and flowers depending on the species of vine used in their construction. Most have round eyes, a small mouth, no visible nose, and a face framed by a large cluster of leaves.1

Ecology

The nature spirit, or vitae,2 that inhabits a vine leshy is one particularly influenced by mortals. Vine leshies grow best in areas with enough sunlight, and once they sprout, they must be given support (usually a sturdy tree) in order to grow. Vine leshies made from poison ivy carry natural poison in their bodies, while those made from grape vines can produce magically infused fruit to heal allies.1

Society

Compared to other leshies, vine leshies easily relate to non-plants and1 are greatly curious to learn about other cultures and collect tales to share.3 Being leshies, they have no family structure. They form strong friendships with companions who adventure with them or help them protect natural sites.1

Vine leshies are likely to be nomadic (unlike other, sedentary leshies),1 tend to protect a ward for only a brief period of danger before their wanderlust takes them elsewhere,3 and are usually inclined to seek out their creators, whom they see as friends instead of parents. They love storytelling and focus on the meaning and message rather than the details, which they consider unnecessary and hard to remember. A story transmitted through multiple vine leshies usually retains only the core message, not the details.1

Vine leshies initially judge other races through memories of their past incarnations, but this can change over time. In unfamiliar situations, they usually hide in vegetation and observe before showing themselves.

Vine leshies are not grown to be servants. Some vine leshies consider this servitude slavery, while others view it as an honourable tradition; they might either take other leshies as minions or sponsor and guide them like wayward children, protecting them from servitude.

Vine leshies do not fear death, knowing that their spirits will remain and might find a new body if their current one is destroyed. As a result, they usually take risks, but not particularly excessive ones. Vine leshies do not have a single name, and frequently rename themselves as they age and accumulate experiences. A vine leshy may even have several names at once among which they cycle.1

Religion

Vine leshies usually follow the Green Faith but consider religion relatively unimportant. Faithful ones usually worship Gozreh, a green man, or an Eldest.1

References

Paizo published a significant article about vine leshies in Ultimate Wilderness and included them as a leshy heritage in Player Core.

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Paizo Inc., et al. “Chapter 1: Wilderness Heroes” in Ultimate Wilderness, 20–21. Paizo Inc., 2017
  2. Logan Bonner, et al. “1: Essentials of Magic” in Secrets of Magic, 18–19. Paizo Inc., 2020
  3. 3.0 3.1 Paizo Inc., et al. “Monsters A-Z” in Bestiary 3, 160. Paizo Inc., 2021