Unapproachable East.pdf - The Forgotten Realms

The volodnis, or pine folk, are a race of vengeful foresters
who defend the ancient woods of northeastern Faerûn against
the incursions of the “warm folk,” as they refer to the humanoid
races. They seek to expand the borders of their forest
homelands, regardless of who might stand in their path, and
dream of a day when all Faerûn once again lies cloaked in unbroken
green.
Volodnis are descended from a forgotten tribe of humans
who traded their humanity in exchange for shelter from their
enemies. They still strongly resemble their human forebears,
although their skin is the deep olive-green of a pine needle,
and their flesh is woody and tough. Clear sap runs through
their veins instead of blood, and their hair grows in long, thick
locks scaled like the bark of a young tree. Their eyes are a
gleaming black, and they are tall and lean, with wide shoulders
and long arms. The pine folk do not work metal or kindle
fires if they can help it and favor arms and armor made from
leather and wood, dyed green and brown to blend in with the
forest terrain.
Volodnis respect druids of any race and often ally with
druid circles to deter human expansion in the wild lands. Some
wish to drive off settlers, others prefer to retreat deeper into
the woods and avoid contact altogether, and a few believe that
the time has come to take the struggle to the world beyond
the trees. Most volodnis are driven to bring more of Faerûn’s
forests under their protection, and pine folk roam the East in
search of suitable homes for their kind.
Most volodnis encountered away from their homes are
warriors; the information presented above describes a 1stlevel
volodni warrior. Volodni rangers and druids are
common as well.
Pine folk typically live to well over 100 years of age. They
speak Common and Sylvan.
Combat
Volodnis are remorseless and determined opponents. They
have little fear of weapon-wielding humans, as they know they
are hard to incapacitate with a single blow.
Half Damage from Piercing (Ex): Piercing weapons deal
only half damage to volodnis, with a minimum of 1 point
of damage.
Plant Traits: Volodnis are immune to poison, sleep, paralysis,
stunning, and polymorphing. They are not subject to critical
hits or mind-affecting effects.
Sustenance (Ex): Volodnis require only 2 hours of sleep per
day to gain the benefits of 8 hours of sleep (although arcane
spellcasters must still have 8 hours of rest to prepare spells).
Volodnis only require one-quarter the food and water a human
requires, as they absorb nutrients from their environment.
Skills: *Due to their coloration and ability to remain motionless,
volodnis receive a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks in
wooded terrain.
MONSTERS OF THE EAST
81
Volodni Society
The pine folk retain some vestige of their long-lost human
tribal society, even though they have little need for food or
shelter. They consider all forests their own tribal lands and
view attempts to harvest the forest’s resources as a human villager
regards the pillaging of his fields and plundering of his
house. Open-minded pine folk make agreements permitting
limited access to their forests, but many take a more aggressive
stance and do not negotiate with intruders.
Volodnis gather in small bands, dwelling in carefully cultivated
groves. A druid answerable to a forest-wide hierarchy
of druids leads most volodni bands, while a skilled ranger is
the band’s war leader. Pine folk have little use for magic
other than druidic and regard wizards with suspicion. They
get along well with other forest creatures such as centaurs
and most elves, although elves disapprove of their dispassionate
ruthlessness.
Pine folk raise few buildings, but open-air stone circles or
hearthstones are common. They make weapons and equipment
from wood, stone, and leather. Experienced volodnis are likely
to carry weapons and armor made of bluewood (see Chapter
5: Magic Items).
Volodni Characters
A volodni’s favored class is druid, and most volodni leaders are
druids. Volodni druids usually take Silvanus for their patron
deity. Warriors, fighters, and rangers are common as well. Few
pine folk become arcane spellcasters.
Volodnis have the following abilities and characteristics.
• +2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, –2 Intelligence, –2 Charisma.
• Medium-size.
• Land speed 30 feet.
• Cold resistance 5.
• +4 racial bonus on Hide checks in wooded terrain.
• Low-Light Vision: Volodnis can see twice as far as a human
in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions
of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish
color and detail under these conditions.
• Plant: Volodnis are immune to poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning,
and polymorphing. They are not subject to critical hits
or mind-affecting effects.
• Half damage from Piercing.
• Sustenance.
• Automatic Languages: Common, Sylvan. Bonus Languages:
By character region.
• Level Adjustment: +2. A volodni has an effective character
level (ECL) of 2 plus class levels, so a 1st-level volodni
druid would have an ECL of 3.
• Favored Class: Druid. A multiclassed volodni’s druid class
does not count when determining whether he suffers an
XP penalty.