Paladin's Pad > Rutegur's Valley > Winter in Barsaive > The Woodken

When I first came to the glade, I would never have suspected I was making my home with a Woodken. I might never have known if it hadn't gotten curious. It's fortunate that I had found an elder Woodken, or I might not be telling you this today. At any rate, it became curious about my small dwelling and spent several weeks examining my new home before he ever made his presence known. It seems the woodken wasn't quite sure what I was doing.

I was surprised to find a large moss-covered, vaguely elf-shaped tree beast standing over me when I awoke. It's skin was bark, gnarled and rough. It possessed no mouth, nothing but two strange sockets which I mistook for eyes. The Woodken waited for me to climb back down from the tree before speaking. Having no mouth that I could see, its voice seemed to project out of it, sounding much like wind through dry leaves, and it spoke Elvish(translated). Unhurriedly, it questioned me at length about my dwelling, seeming especially interested in the purpose for building it.

Among namegiver legend, I'm sure there are any number inspired by the Woodken. During my childhood, a favorite story was of tree spirits that took the form of beautiful maidens and showed themselves to those they deemed worthy. As far as I can tell, all Woodken are roughly like male elves in size and appearance, although they are somewhat thicker. Their bark-like skin also tends to make them uneven and gnarled. In the forest, detecting them appears to be virtually impossible, at least by normal means. Their movements appear slow and methodical but their rate of travel is deceptively fast.

I studied the curious creature for a great many weeks as I made myself at home in what he called his "tree-circle". Readily answering questions, I discovered that my queries often resulted in circular or incomplete answers. Seemingly, the differences between our two kinds were great enought that neither knew exactly how to relate to the other. Most of my information would come through questions presented by the Woodken. Sometimes he would advise me that another elder ken was nearby. The other, who apparently made residence somewhere nearby, never approached and my acquaintance never bothered to meet with him. At other times, more and more as time passed, the elder would advise me that "greens" were nearby and these he would travel away from the grove to meet. Or so I presumed.

It was several months before it became very apparent that without the benefit of a few forged tools, my self-sufficiency would not last. I had not expected the woodken to understand my predicament. Not only was it very interested in the tools, but quickly asserted that it very much wished to travel with me to whatever haven forged items came from. For the first time our discussions were on the same level. While I prepared, he spoke of metallurgy and forging techniques with both great authority and utter fascination. For my part, the explanation of the use of everyday implements and the reasoning behind their creation proved to occupy the woodken's attention above all else.

Our trek through the forest was uneventful, but reaching the outskirts I found my traveling companion seemed less confident. Until that point, our conversation was the only indication that the woodken still followed. As the foliage became less dense, the woodken found it harder to remain undetected and would hesitate whenever entering "exposed" areas. Leaving the safety of its forest home was very difficult and took some coaxing from myself.

Woodken have a curious habit which my personal woodken referred to as "resting his roots". I never saw any roots as I know them. In fact, "resting the roots" seemed to consist of finding a comfortable place to rest, well-shaded, and lying still for between twenty minutes and one hour. It would, however, converse during these times which seemed to indicate that it was not sleeping. These "rest" periods lengthened considerably as we passed through a barren strip(there was a bad drought that year). My woodken appeared to brown due to lack of water but refused my offering of a water pouch. Every morning, I would wake to find it buried half its length in the sandy dirt. When inquiring, I was told that it "helps ease the burden". The woodken waded into the first small pond we came to and didn't come out for some time. I waited patiently but wondered if a woodken could drown and why they didn't float.

I learned of the "greens", the young ken, on the last leg of our journey, when we approached the mountains where I had noted a village before. The woodken almost chattered as I had spoken of the forge I knew the village to have. Still a day's journey or more from our goal, the woodken's banter abruptly ended. It advised me that a "green" was nearby, and I should "rest my roots". I correctly decided that I should stay put and wait for the Woodken's return, but as time passed curiosity began to get the better of me. As stealthily as I could, I retraced the elder's path. Cresting a hill, I found I could observe a strange creature wandering this way and that, almost appearing to sniff the air and move some distance, sniffing the air again in turn. It had a green hue, like the inside of a sapling and its shape appeared to be that of an elf. However, this creature seemed considerably stockier and its skin did not seem much like bark as it drew closer. It paused, then groaned what sounded like elvish(translated) for "fleshbeast". Without warning I was seized and hefted into the air, finding myself moving at an alarming rate of speed. I couldn't see our pursuer, but I recognized my abductor by some tell-tale scars on its knotted appendages. A short distance later I was deposited while my woodken "rested". It advised me that a "green" would surely consider me nothing more than vermin. Disliking any contact with any "fleshbeasts", it would still go out of its way to kill one that crossed its path. The Woodken confided in me that even elders may run afoul of "greens" as they may have dealings with the peoples of Barsaive. I was the only being that the Woodken had encountered that it could recall, but even a rare occurence was enough to trigger the senses and anger of a young ken.

In the village, I put up with the barrage of questions about the world outside and the story of my journey. I didn't mention my company and the Woodken was not seen since the smoke wafting from the village appeared. From the room so hospitably provided for me by one of the wealthier individuals I found myself staring out over the plains only to find the Woodken directly under my window. It was very pleased with the hunting knife I had obtained but refused to even look at the hatchet. The rest of the items fell in between. I offered to obtain any pieces the woodken desired the next day but it refused.

Recounting my past history to an interested scholar the next day, I learned that in the night someone had stolen some few minor items from the smith as well as an ingot or two and even some slag. In their place, a number of fine pelts and meats had been left.

"Fool windlings," said the Smith. He did confide in me that the goods left behind were far more rare and valuable than those stolen. The Woodken never mentioned its trip onto town and made no more appearances until I set out to return to my self-imposed exile. Once the village was again out of sight the Woodken again shadowed me. The rain storms came and the trip back was much greener, if somewhat cold. As we traveled, I realized that I had not truly found the solitude I was seeking. I began to believe that I was better off for having found the strange being and I made it my new purpose to learn as much as I could from it. -- Vinitel, Elven Recluse

Attribute	Strength	Dexterity	Toughness	Perception	Willpower	Charisma
Bonuses	+0	-3	+4	+4	+0	-2

Disciplines: Illusionist, Nethermancer, Swordmaster, Warrior, Weaponsmith, Wizard.
Height Ranges: 6' to 7'
Weight Ranges: 235 to 300 lbs.
Life Expectancy: Exceeding two centuries.
Movement: As Dexterity +3

Racial Abilities:	Natural Armor: 2
	Wound Threshold +2
	+5 STEP to DEX/Talent or +5 SPL Defense to hide in forest
	STR +3 in Unarmed Combat

Racial Penalties:	-2 to All Social Interactions
	Willpower Roll exceeding 10 required to enter populated area/city
	Will not use plant material items, weapons, or armors

Notes:

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