Rootstrider

* Spring
* Summer
* Autumn
* Winter

### Environment

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### **Notable members**

* Fallrider
* Bloomjoy
* Darkfrost
* Warmheart
* Magestic Leaf

**Rootstriders** are large deer-like creatures native to Ehl-Mildir. They make faithful mounts when bonded to chosen riders.

## **Description**

### **Appearance**

Rootstriders resemble large deers. Their skin is similar to soft bark, and across their body they have natural foliage-like hair which grows to protect them and camoflage them. When bonded with riders they can share certain abilities and buffs to their riders. Much like Eladrin, they have different season-related forms. On their heads, they have thick bark plating, known as a barkbutt, which packs a hard punch. They also have varying sizes and shapes of horns or antlers, which are typically not for attacking with, but for allowing smaller creatures to perch within them for protection.

### **Characteristics**

Rootstriders are peaceful, unless their homes are threatened.

Rootstriders sometimes bond with humanoids around them. This process is a fairly short priocess, but the rootstrider must choose the bonded being themselves. Bonded rootstriders are faithful to their riders, but can quickly unbond if their rider goes agaisnt their values.

### **Abilities**

Rootstriders are capable of leaping up to 30 feet across, or 10 feet upwards without a running start. They do not have eyes and thus are totally blind, with a blindsight of 120 feet. In forested regions, they act as if they have normal sight, due to their strong connection to nature. They can navigate rough terrain easily. Their barkbutts pack a hard hit when they attack with them, as do their large hooves. Rootstriders are immune to poison, as well resistant to nonmagical bludgeoning damage.

### **Autumn Rootstriders**

   Autumn rootstriders are nurturing, and can choose to take half the damage an ally within five feet of them takes. They also have healing abilities for riders, which comes in the form of a burst of fresh air they summon when the rider is mounted.

### **Spring Rootstriders**

   Spring rootstriders are joyful and lively, and like to nurture small animals and critters within their coats. They are able to shake out creatures to protect them, such as beetle swarms.

### **Summer Rootstriders**

   Summer rootstriders are fierce, with stronger barkbutts and hooves. Their coat keep them aclimated to warmer climates, as well as granting them cold resistance. Bonded riders have advantage on remaining mounted due to the coat clasping onto them, as well as sharing their cold resistance when mounted.

### **Winter Rootstriders**

    Winter rootstriders are solemn, and often quiet. Much like summer rootstriders, they have cold resistance, and cold climates have no effect on them, which they can also pass onto their riders when mounted. They can use their melancholic glare at creatures and invoke a mourning sadness within them, reducing their charisma to 10.

## **Known Rootstriders**

A number of rootstriders graze and are looked after by the people of Neheri. Toff'Mildir were introduced to four rootstriders by Kendaya, the Land Warden Luminary. The Everwarden also has a much older, larger rootstrider, considered a spiritual leader of all Rootstriders.

* Majestic Leaf or *Teff'Mathar*, an enormous Rootstrider bonded to Everwarden Syleida
* Rootstriders of Toff'Mildir:
	+ Frostrider or *Hoell'Koro*, a Winter Rootstrider bonded to Luthiere Oakheart
		- Also known as Fallrider or *Hoell'Medai* when in Autumn form.
	+ Bloomjoy or *Nura'Talak*, a Spring Rootstrider bonded to Lyra Wildblossom
	+ Darkfrost or *Koro'Moko*, a Winter Rootstrider bonded to Raffira Tallivast
	+ Warmheart or *Artos'Parth*, a Summer Rootstrider bonded to Merriarch Ebbenrush

## **References**

**Art:**

1. ↑ Portrait of a Spring Rootstrider, by ConnorBaldock (source).  **Permission needed.**
2. ↑ Portrait of a Summer Rootstrider, by ConnorBaldock (source).  **Permission needed.**
3. ↑ Portrait of an Autumn Rootstrider, by ConnorBaldock (source).  **Permission needed.**
4. ↑ Portrait of a Winter Rootstrider, by ConnorBaldock (source).  **Permission needed.**