Spriggans

Spriggans are humanoids that are considered "spirits of the forest". They have thick skin covered in bark-like flesh in more vulnerable areas as a sort of natural amor, and they have the inherent ability to transform into a specific species of tree and even absorb themselves into an existing tree of the same species.

The spriggan language is Arboria.

Biology
When compared to many other humanoid species, Spriggans are not nearly as sexually dimorphic. Both 'sexes' are functional hermaphrodites, in that during copulation, both will become pregnant. What differentiates between 'male' and 'female' for Spriggans is how the offspring gestates. Female Spriggans will grow saplings all over their bodies, which eventually drop off after a few months. These saplings grow into Spriggan nurseries, special trees that sprout Spriggan fruit, which baby Spriggans grow from much like fruit tree saplings. Male spriggans, on the other hand, release fertilised seeds into the air. These seeds eventually settle in soil and grow pumpkin like vines, which later hatch a dozen or so baby Spriggans.

It is extremely common for Spriggans to hide their nurseries deep in wild territory, away from other humanoids out of fear that their children will be mistaken for common fruit and eaten. Some few Spriggans who have integrated into civilization often work on fruit farms, exchanging their innate knowledge of plants for a small protected lot to cultivate their nurseries.

Culture
Known for their solitary nature, Spriggans are generally loners, and live many years by themselves in chosen forests, swamps and mountains. When two Spriggans meet, it is a very formal exchange, with the elder of the two announcing their identity first. Their speech is very slow and drawn out, and a proper greeting ceremony can take a whole day to finish. Spriggans who are relatively familiar with each other, especially lovers, may spend several years together entwined in their tree forms.

Generally speaking, Spriggans eat carrion and rotting forest litter. It is common for a Spriggan to adorn themselves with particularly interesting bones from their meals, allowing their off branches to grow around and through them. Pretty rocks, feathers and anything else a Spriggan may find interesting to look at are not immune from being absorbed into their bark, either.