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 Contents
INTRODUCTION
Introduction.................................................................5
PART 1: FORAGING
CHAPTER 1: Foraging Basics
Organised and Categorised.........................................6
Fresh as a Daisy............................................................6
Knowing Roots from Leaves......................................7
Buying, Selling, and Trading......................................7
CHAPTER 2: Creating & Adapting Plants
Colour Me In...............................................................8
Shapes and Sizes..........................................................8
CHAPTER 3: The Seasons
Spring............................................................................8
Summer.........................................................................9
Autumn.........................................................................9
Winter...........................................................................9
CHAPTER 4: Climates & Biomes
Coast............................................................................10
Farmland.....................................................................11
Marshland..................................................................12
Mountain....................................................................12
Scrubland....................................................................14
Tropical Forest...........................................................14
Woodland...................................................................15
CHAPTER 5: The Plants
Quick Reference Tables............................................17
Registry of Plants.......................................................21
PART 2: CRAFTING & ITEMS
CHAPTER 6: A Primer on Crafting
Introduction...............................................................41
Potions and Poisons...................................................41
Trial and Error...........................................................41
CHAPTER 7: Potions, Oils, & Ointments
Introduction...............................................................41
Registry of Items........................................................42
CHAPTER 8: Poisons
Introduction...............................................................44
Registry of Items........................................................45
CHAPTER 9: Magic Items
Registry of Items........................................................48
CHAPTER 10: Armour, Weapons, & Apparel
Registry of Items........................................................58
PART 3: THE PLAYERS
CHAPTER 11: Player Backgrounds
Alchemist...................................................................66
Forager.......................................................................66
Wise One...................................................................67
CHAPTER 12: Guilds
The Botanist’s Guild..................................................68
CHAPTER 13: Spells
Class Spell List...........................................................71
Spell Descriptions......................................................71
Corpse Crushed..........................................................71
Deathlight...................................................................71
Hexenringe.................................................................71
Jordfast........................................................................72
Last Words.................................................................72
Mother’s Blessing.......................................................72
Offring.........................................................................72
Trollhare.....................................................................72
Watcher of the Roads...............................................73
CHAPTER 14: Subclasses
Bard: College of Arcanists.........................................74
Paladin: Oath of the Endling....................................76
Rogue: Poisoner.........................................................78
Sorcerer: Deep Roots................................................79
Warlock: The Flower Bride.....................................80
Warlock: The Crone.................................................82
PART 4: CREATURE STATISTICS
Feldgeister...................................................................85
Waldgeister Guard....................................................86
Waldgeister Captain..................................................86
Honey Beast................................................................87
Samovila......................................................................88
Samodiva.....................................................................88
Mazzeri........................................................................89
Numian Plant.............................................................90
Patasola.......................................................................91
Alraune........................................................................92
Lieschi.........................................................................93
Tikbalang....................................................................95
Rusalka........................................................................96
Cinstita........................................................................97
PART 5: CREDITS
Credits.........................................................................99
4
Introduction
For wounds of sword and spear or arrow,
the plant to heal them all is yarrow.
Placed o’er the scars where cuts have been,
dock and sanicle keep all clean…
- Brian Jacques, The Taggerung

C
ontained within this book are wild and Encounter Seeds
varied stories of plants, folklore, and mythology. Throughout this book you will find boxes that look like this.
In the tales we tell at the table and in the These boxes contain Encounter Seeds – prompts and scenarios
to draw your players into the botanical and fantastical. They’re
campaigns that we play, our worlds can be so
a great way to introduce some of the more obscure plants of
infinitely grand and magical that the mundane becomes the world, or to have your players cross paths with some of this
easily overlooked. Yet beneath our feet is a whole world book’s more horrifying monsters. Some contain DM suggestions
of tiny, leafy lives, and with their slow and careful growth with extra mechanics that can be used throughout the encounter
comes generations of healing knowledge, poisonous to make it more challenging.
warnings, magical uses, nature deities, and wild monsters.
Within these pages, you will find an entirely new and
flexible foraging system that can be easily introduced into
any existing 5th Edition game (and easily adapted for other Stories of Stories
TTRPG systems besides) as well as support for introducing Boxes of this colour contain old folklore or legends pertaining
and designing custom plants that fit more neatly into your to the items or plants that they appear next to. Use the stories
contained therein to bulk out the lore of your world, introduce
game world. There are monsters based on real-life folkloric some flavour to a new location, create new NPCs, or inspire
creatures, such as the Filipino tikbalang and the Germanic stories of your own.
waldgeister. There are also new, nature-inspired subclasses
– such as the Deep Roots Sorcerous Origin, and Warlock
patrons based on old Celtic goddesses – in addition to an
assortment of player backgrounds for those who wish to
The Inspiration
All of the properties of the plants contained in this book,
brew poisons and create their own talismans. Craftable
along with the items, creatures, and pertaining legends, have
items, legendary fey weapons, botanical potions and
been drawn from early medicine, mythology, and folklore
poisons… There is much creativity hidden in the niches of
from all over the globe. The ‘magical’ properties of each
oral storytelling that this book has dragged out, wriggling
plant are inspired by real-world historical occult uses and
and biting, and rewritten it into 5e mechanics for you to use.
genuine medicinal or toxic value; each item is based on a
real historical trinket or inspired by existing mythological
Permission to Play tales. For the purposes of this supplement, specific deities
Everything in this book has been designed with narrative
and cultures have been re-flavoured to fit within the
gameplay in mind. Rules aren’t fun if they’re overly complex
Forgotten Realms.
and restrictive, and we encourage you to adapt and improvise
In the Credits chapter of this book is a section which
them however best fits your playstyle. Are you someone
names many of these stories and origins for those curious to
who couldn’t tell the difference between a bluebell and a
learn more. For the sake of brevity not all origins have been
foxglove, but want to offer more in-game options for the
included, but for those who are interested, all of these real-
green-fingered amongst your players? Consult the Creating
world inspirations can be found in folklorist Fez Inkwright’s
& Adapting Plants section for tips on how to simplify your
other publications: Botanical Curses & Poisons, and Folk
visuals for both you and your tablemates. Want the benefit
Magic & Healing. Prior to their publication these books were
of the items and consumables in this book without having
originally intended to be pocket guides for gamers who
to keep an eye out for the plants you need to make them?
wanted to incorporate plants into their games, and Herbarium
We’ve even supplied you with a handful of NPCs that you
is now the sum of those years of research, rewritten for the
can introduce to sell all of the crafting components that
TTRPG community. And honestly, it’s bigger and better
you’ll need.
for having had that time to grow, develop, and turn into
Ultimately, have fun. Be inspired. And most importantly…
something truly beautiful.
don’t eat mushrooms until you’ve identified them.

5
Part 1: Foraging
Chapter 1: Foraging Basics
T
he majority of this supplement’s contents
require an interest in the natural world. As a
player, you’ll learn how to turn your surroundings
into resources for crafting items and potions to
aid you in your adventures. As a DM, the plants in this book
will help you to flesh out your game world, corral the seasons
into a narrative tool, and introduce new and nature-themed
encounters.
As your players traverse your world, they will be able
to find plants growing along the roadside, or in the wilds
beyond it. Common plants, which can be edible or provide
minor utility charms or buffs, can be found with ease while
travelling and do not require extra effort or time to gather.
Rarer plants either grow in hard-to-reach places or provide
their own unique gathering challenges, such as growing in
creature-infested territory or only appearing at a specific
time of day or year.
To locate rarer plants, players can use Nature skill checks
to work out where they are most likely to be found. Player
characters who have proficiency with the herbalism or
poisoner’s kit will likely know these things beforehand and
can make this roll with advantage. Alternately, the location
of rarer plants can be found in books, world lore, or by
asking NPCs who have proficiency in these skills. Two NPCs
with this sort of information – members of the illustrious
Botanist’s Guild – can be found in the Guilds section.
Once your players are on the trail, the Climates & Biomes
section will help you to plan and describe the landscapes
around them, and in the Plants section, each entry lists the
applicable biomes for each plant. You’ll even find quick-
reference roll tables in the Climates & Biomes section,
enabling you to quickly populate an area with interesting
surroundings and encounters.
Organised and Categorised
Each plant in this book has been grouped into one of three
categories: healing, harming, and utility. Plants with healing
properties can be used in crafting healing potions and items
with medicinal or buffing abilities, whereas harming plants
do the opposite and are useful only in causing damage. Utility
plants have properties that make them effective components
in functional spells, divination, and practical crafting. Some
of the plants have no category, but are instead story and
world prompts, or serve as homes for creatures described in
the Creature Statistics section of the book.
The plants are also labelled as ‘edible’ or ‘non-edible’. For
those that fall into the edible category, the parts that can
be ingested are listed. Though this serves no mechanical
purpose, this information can be used by DMs and players
alike as narrative flavouring for the natural resources that
they encounter on their adventures.
6
At the beginning of the Plants section there are several
quick-reference roll tables for these categories, allowing for
on-the-fly identification of plants by use.
Fresh as a Daisy
Whereas some items can be crafted with dried or preserved
components, some potions or poisons require fresh-cut
plants for true potency. Once gathered, plants will not retain
their freshness for long. As a rule of thumb, refer to the table
below for how long plants will remain fresh after cutting.
Plant Freshness Guide
Plant Rarity Freshness Duration
Common 10 days
Uncommon 7 days
Rare 5 days
Legendary 3 days
In order to preserve their properties, many plants can be
dried, pickled, or preserved in other forms during periods
of downtime and rest. As these processes are often simple
to perform, there is no rolling mechanic for this, though it
is left up to the DM’s discretion whether they wish to add
complications for rarer plants. Dried and preserved plants, so
long as they are kept in a cool location away from sources of
moisture, will remain viable for up to one year.
Some rarer or more powerful components may lose their
potency entirely once they are no longer fresh; this adds an
element of time pressure for any intrepid foragers looking to
use their components for a specific spell or item. Either they
will have to make careful plans, or they may use spells such
as gentle repose or seek out items such as Liffson’s ice box to
extend the duration of the plant’s freshness.
Death and Blight
Tales of blight emerge throughout history, rare but always a
potential threat. These plagues are caused by the touch of evil,
spreading from plant to plant and changing, or killing off, all that
they infect. During a blight, forests can be turned into thorny,
desolate landscapes, or wildflower meadows into carnivorous,
poisonous fields: sometimes in the space of a single night.
The first blight was instigated by the slaying of the vampire
Gulthias. The stake that was used in the slaying was infected by
Gulthias’s raw power, and afterwards grew into a tree, the seeds
of which were infused with such wickedness that they spread a
vile rot wherever they landed. Gulthias trees continue to appear
in areas that have been marked by great evil.
DM suggestion: Typical blights cause the death and
corruption of all plants in a given area. A subtle way to hint at
the onset of a blight before it becomes obvious is to change
the nature of the plants that are infected – for example, plants
with healing properties might begin causing poison damage, or
might start to show the defensive properties (flammable auras,
cannibalistic juices, etc.) of more aggressive plants. Build up a
sense of things not being quite right as your players discover
these changes and put the pieces together.
Knowing Roots from Leaves
If your players have proficiency with the herbalism or
poisoner’s kit, they may gain the following boons whilst
gathering plants. Rolling on or above the DC set by the DM
either increases the amount of the plant that can be gathered
or increases the plants’ potency. Plants of a higher quality or
potency may provide extra bonuses when used in crafting
potions or items, or may require less time or a lower DC to
craft. This latter can be applied at the DM’s discretion.
If no players have these proficiencies, other skills – such
as Medicine – may be used to identify harming or healing
plants, and the Survival skill may be useful in identifying
edible plants.
Buying, Selling, and Trading
If you’re too busy hunting goblins or rescuing owlbear cubs
from trees to go foraging, the plants you need can be found
for sale or trade across the land. While you might find the
more common components for sale at a regular market, you
can also visit any of the Botanist’s Guild guildhouses to trade
for uncommon and rare plants, sell any unneeded botanical
supplies, or discover the location of hard-to-find specimens.
You can also pick up extra work or quests from the guild to
earn some additional coin.
The costs for plants and plant components listed below are
a guide to be used at the DM’s discretion.
Plant Cost Guide
Plant Rarity Cost
Common 5 sp
Uncommon 1 gp
Rare 10–50 gp
Legendary 100 gp
7
The Old Guardians
Legends tell of five ancient guardian trees, which exist only in the
depths of the oldest woodlands of the world. Many thousands
of years ago, a stranger came to the court of Neverwinter and
offered to the Covenant a branch from which grew multiple
fruits: an acorn, a yew berry, an apple, a hazelnut, and a
sycamore seed.
Though he did not give his name, the stranger instructed that
the first four fruits be taken to the four corners of the earth, the
fifth fruit to the centre, and all planted. The trees that grew from
these fruits, he said, would become sacred guardians of the land,
ensuring that tragedy would never befall it. The trees’ power
would come from the size to which they would grow: their roots
would pierce downwards to the Shadowfell, and the branches
would reach outwards into the Feywild, drawing magic from
both places with which to protect the world from disaster. If any
of the trees should be damaged or die, this ancient protection
would collapse.
Each seed was taken by a wizard of the Covenant and carried
to the far ends of the world. These five wizards were never heard
from again, thus ensuring that the location of the trees would
never be discovered – and though this knowledge has never
yet come to light, the five guardian trees came to be known as
the following:
The First
The First is the mighty oak that was planted deep in a woodland
at the centre of the world. The acorn from which it grew is
thought to have come from the World Tree itself. Unlike the
other four guardian trees, the First continues to grow all five
original fruits from its branches, just like the branch from which
the seeds were originally obtained. Popular stories suppose it to
be somewhere in Gulthmere Forest.
The Second
Planted in the far north, the Second is a great yew tree that is
rumoured to have grown so many trunks that it has practically
become its own woodland. Supposedly located in the Border
Forest, tales abound of men who have tried to cut it down to
bring back its wood as a souvenir, only to discover that the wood
is so dense that even the sharpest axe cannot cut it.
The Third
The Third was planted in the east, beyond the Alambar Sea
and perhaps even further than Murghôm. Little is known about
it, save that it grew from the third fruit, the apple. As apples
bear more than one seed, rumours occasionally arise of other
trees that were grown from the same fruit, or optimistic fruit
merchants might try to sell their wares as having grown from
descendants of the original apple.
The Fourth
The hazelnut was sent to the south, and grew into the great
guardian tree known as the Fourth. There are so many rumoured
locations of this tree that it would take a man a lifetime to
confirm all of them as false – or perhaps even true.
The Fifth
The sycamore that became the Fifth was planted in the west;
perhaps in the Cloak Wood or the Wood of Sharp Teeth, or
maybe even further beyond the coast – on one of the many
islands that comprise the Moonshae Isles.
Chapter 2: Creating &
Adapting Plants
N
ot all players will come to the table with a
knowledge of plant identification, just as no DM
should be expected to memorise every plant in this
supplement. For that reason, all the plants described
in this book can be simplified in ways that forgo the need to
memorise complex descriptions, environments, and seasonal
changes, while still making the process of searching and
gathering an enjoyable challenge.
Rather than sticking fast to the supplied information,
a little creativity can be used to describe your plants in a
way that both hints at their mechanical uses and converts
them into fantastical, fictional species with which to fill out
your game world.
Colour Me In
The plants in this book are already divided into the
categories of ‘healing’, ‘harming’, and ‘utility’ – but instead of
expecting your players to know what they’re looking for by
use alone, you can assign each of these categories a colour for
easy memorisation. For example, ‘green’ plants could provide
buffing and healing properties; ‘red’ plants are harmful; and
‘blue’ plants can be used in practical magic such as spells and
divination. Using this system, a DM can introduce the plants
in as many various appearances as they wish without even
having to name them – they can simply describe the colour
of leaves or petals to guide the players to the plants that
they’re looking for. Any further required information can be
gleaned with successful ability checks.
Shapes and Sizes
Another alternative is to use shape and form to indicate a
plant’s use. This technique adheres to a medical concept
originating in the 1500s, called the Doctrine of Signatures,
which theorised that plants that resembled certain parts
of the body were effective in treating ailments of the
corresponding anatomical area. For example, the brain-
like shape of the walnut indicated its efficacy in curing
headaches, and sunflower seeds were considered helpful for
toothaches. The heart-shaped petals of violets made them
suitable for heart ailments, mushrooms were prescribed for
earache… The Doctrine of Signatures was a pseudoscience
that did more harm than good, but in your game setting, it’s
a great way to make the properties of plants immediately
identifiable.
In a high-magic setting, this could be extended even
further to include audible or visible magical effects created
by the plants themselves which hint at their uses, such as
puffs of flame for plants with flammable properties, or scents
of cooking for edible plants. For players who do not have
proficiency with the herbalism kit, trying to determine a
plant’s properties based on the information they’ve been
given can be a fun challenge.
8
Chapter 3: The Seasons
D
epending on the season, plants will be
either actively growing or dormant, and certain
parts of each plant can only be gathered at specific
times of year. Having your players take seasonal
changes into account when foraging can add an extra layer
of challenge to the task, make that rare item a little harder
to acquire, or encourate them to plan ahead when it comes
to preparing components. Some fruit may only grow in
autumn, certain flowers may only be found in spring... but
with a little forward planning, these valuable items can be
dried, preserved, and stored for use later in the year.
Spring
Spring is typically the season when new growth starts to
sprout from barren earth and fresh leaves begin to grow
on trees. This is the time to gather buds, green shoots, and
young plants (such as the edible ‘fiddleheads’ on ferns) before
they begin to toughen. This is also the time of year when
fruiting plants start to blossom, and early herbs are sweet and
tender. Early flowers such as bluebells and pimpernels are
also in bloom.
For farmers, gardeners, and botanists, this is the period in
which to lay seeds and propagate cuttings from adult plants.
New bulbs can also be planted, though young shoots will
need to be protected from marauding birds and other pests.
Seasonal Complications
Though it’s a relief to feel the sun again after a long winter,
spring isn’t always kind – or predictable. In this season,
it’s not uncommon to have to deal with late frosts, heavy
rains, and fierce gales. Strong winds are challenge enough
to remain standing in, but if they pick up any loose items or
debris, these can become dangerous, high-speed projectiles
– hazards to the unwary. Any unsecured equipment is also
likely to be ripped off and lost.
The tides can be unpredictable, leading to upturned boats
or damage to coastal towns. High and violent tides may
provide a challenge to travelling coastal roads, or the tide
may recede entirely – an ominous warning of an incoming
tsunami. Unpredictable or changing tides may be the cause of
unrest amongst the occupants of fishing towns, leading them
to be less welcoming to your party.
Summer
Plants grow fastest during the longest days of the year, and
summer flowers such as poppies, foxgloves, and wild roses
are in full bloom, busy with the activity of bees and other
pollinators. This is the ideal time for foragers to be gathering
leaves, bark, roots, and wood. Long, warm days mean that it’s
also perfect weather in which to dry herbs and components,
ready to use throughout the rest of the year.
Gardeners will do well to keep the ground free of weeds
during summer, and make sure that their plants are well
fertilised to make the most of the growing season. Plants that
will bear fruits or berries later in the year will be in particular
need of feeding to make sure that they can thrive.
Seasonal Complications
Summer is hot and harsh, making areas of exposed earth
hard and cracked. Towards the latter months of the season,
fields and grass are often brown and dry… susceptible to
even the slightest spark. Wildfires rage fast and unstoppable
once they get going. Even those who manage to escape the
flames will suffer from the extreme heat and drought that
follows, and once the fires have passed, there’ll be much to
rebuild. Though they are a great danger to any caught in
their path, wildfires do serve a purpose: the ground, once
scorched, is more fertile for new life to take hold.
Autumn
Autumn is the season of harvests, and the ideal time to
gather fruits, berries, and vegetables. Some late flowers
are still growing at this time of year, such as yarrow and
verbena, but most plants are beginning to quieten down,
and their leaves and stems are past their best. With wetter
weather incoming, fungi abounds on patches of dead wood
and shelter.
Farmers and other growers will be busy gathering their
harvests during these months, making sure that their crops
are carefully collected and stored. It’s wise to leave the first,
and last, fruits of the harvest on the tree or stalk – a suitable
offering for the nature spirits that have helped them to grow.
9
Failure to do so could result in giving offense to the fey who
have tended their growth.
Seasonal Complications
With autumn comes seasonal rains. In countries where the
climate is hotter and more intense, these downpours come
in sudden and heavy, leading to flash floods, landslides, and
monsoons. These are particularly dangerous in mountainous
areas or low-lying regions such as the floors of valleys and
canyons. Water becomes contaminated, wild animals and
other dangerous creatures are displaced, and ground or
buildings that you might think is still sturdy is likely to be
unstable. Any rations your players may be carrying will spoil
if they get wet, leaving them without supplies.
Winter
With the growing months over, most plants are entering
dormancy and will be losing their leaves or dying off entirely,
retreating underground until they can start anew in the
spring. Now is the perfect opportunity to gather and dry
seeds ready for planting in the new year and a great time to
gather the leftover seedpods for crafting, such as the spiny
combs of teasel heads.
Bear in mind that this season is different for evergreen
plants. Evergreens continue to bear leaves throughout the
winter: and as such, leaves, bark, and wood can continue to
be gathered from these plants.
During the dark months, botanists would be wise to
protect their less-hardy plants, covering roots to protect
against frost and brittle branches against ice. Even in climates
where it does not snow, the unpredictable weather can spell
the end for many delicate cultivars.
Seasonal Complications
A ‘snow day’ is a fun distraction for a child, but when it gets
extreme, it’s dangerous. Those in colder areas frequently
find their homes completely buried under snow, making
it hard to resupply or even find fresh air. Out in the
blizzards, visibility is practically nothing: landmarks and
roads are hidden by the weather, so navigation is a far
greater challenge. Even walking in this environment is
tiring – there are only so many deep drifts you can wade
through, especially with ice packed underneath, and the wind
relentlessly opposing you. With these sorts of conditions,
exhaustion won’t be far behind.
Chapter 4: Climates & Biomes
N
ot every plant can survive in every
environment, and you’re as likely to find an orchid
in the tundra as you are a crocus in the jungle. Every
plant in this book is listed alongside the climates in
which it can be found. These can be used to help you flesh
out the types of flora your players may encounter as they
travel – but don’t be afraid to be flexible! For example, if
your players are searching for a datura shrub, but you know
they won’t be entering a tropical jungle any time soon, why
not invent a cultivar that’s evolved to grow in that swamp
they’ve been crossing? Perhaps it’s so unusual that one of the
representatives at the Botanist’s Guild has only ever heard
rumours of it, or perhaps its presence has attracted rare
monsters that are now causing trouble in nearby settlements.
You can even draw inspiration from some of the other plants
that are native to the area to make it fit in.
In this chapter, you’ll find descriptions of the biomes that
are listed in these pages. This list is by no means exhaustive,
and there are plenty more location-specific areas (such as
oases and cave systems) that we’ve not included – but it
should be enough to get you started.
FORAGING | CLIMATES & BIOMES
10
Coast
Coastal environments are areas that are exposed to saltwater,
changing tides, and harsh weather systems. Any plant that
grows here has to be adaptable enough to weather storms,
take root in difficult terrain, and survive the saline waters.
Coastal vegetation is usually hardy, with deep roots and
stalks that bend to accommodate for high winds off the seas.
A coastal biome may consist of sandy dunes, rocky shores,
mangrove woods, or high, chalky cliffs.
The Sea of Fallen Stars and the Sword Coast are
particularly notable coastal regions.
Coastline Plants Quick-Reference Table
Asphodel Henbane
Banyan Oak
Black Bryony Ocotillo
Boneset Seaweed
Coastline Roll Table
d6 Environment
1 This is an area of clean, golden coastline. The beach
here is long and shallow, and at low tide, the sand can
stretch up to a mile wide. Above the tideline, sand
turns to tufty grasses and banks of asphodel, with
campion flowers hiding in sheltered nooks of the
dunes. Gulls wheel high above, circling something in
the distance…
2 The jungle ends abruptly at the coastline. The river
delta is so wide that it’s hard to tell where river ends
and sea begins. Where the ground has been eroded
backwards, trees that once stood on the muddy banks
now sit in the water itself, their arching roots exposed
to the hot, humid air. In their shadows, colourful fish
dart out of the way of predatory lizards and turtles,
and above them, the branches are heavy with mosses,
ferns, and squabbling birds. Beneath the muddy
waters, an ancient creature stirs…
Coastline Roll Table (continued)
d6 Environment
3 This coastline is grey and rainy, dense with sea-
smoothed pebbles that are slippery underfoot.
Tattered strips of seaweed mark the tideline, and
bleached driftwood lies, storm-flung, amongst the
stones. High waves push new detritus onto the shore,
and drag it back out again. Clusters of larger rocks
hold onto the remnants of the last tide, and the saline
stink of brine is strong amongst the rockpools. Slimy
seaweed and beached mussels edge these pools, and
in the crags of the rocks, tiny fish and the occasional
octopus hide until the sea comes in once more.
4 Harsh winds have whipped this coastline into a
bleak environment. Sand dunes emerge, steep and
crumbling, between jagged rocks and optimistic
patches of sea holly. Black bryony and poppies grow
amongst scrubby clusters of grass, hiding black-shelled
crabs and old, bleached bones.
5 This area of coastline is so hot and arid that it seems
startling to find so much water here. But the sea is so
thick with salt that the ‘beach’ – if it can be called that
– is white and crusty with it. Nothing grows so close to
the water, just the sea and the salt and the occasional,
crystalline bones of a long-dead seabird. Further away
from the water, the thick-grained sand is scattered
with ocotillo, henbane, and stunted cacti.
6 The sunny, blissful stretch of cliff is wide and peaceful,
far above the distant crash of waves. Sheep-grazed
grass grows right up to the edges, and a curious (and
brave) peek over the edge will reveal hundreds of feet
of chalky rock and flint dropping steeply downwards.
Amongst the grassy tussocks, colourful spots of clover,
daisies, and poppies appear. Bees and other pollinators
drift lazily in the warm sun, oblivious to the huge,
cavernous cave complex far underneath them.
Farmland
Any well-travelled adventurer would be hard pressed to go
anywhere without encountering the distinctive patchwork
fields of agricultural land. Whether crop fields, paddy fields,
or land for grazing, farmland is vital for most settlements to
survive. Though these environments are carefully tended
by their caretakers, they’re also prime growing areas for
wildflowers, hedgerow trees, and weeds.
Thesk and the Great Dale are particularly renowned for
their agricultural land and farming practices, and diverse
farming communities exist across the entirety of the Realms.
11
Farmland Plants Quick-Reference Table
Bluebell Mugwort
Daisy Mulberry
Darnel Oak
Garlic Poppy
Giant Hogweed Rose
Hawthorn Thyme
Ivy Yew
Farmland Roll Table
d4 Environment
1 The sound – and smell – of cattle travels well through
the rain. Though the doors of the main farmhouse
are closed, the barn is open; inside is the warm glow
of a lantern, and the comforting smell of fresh milk
and cream. A cat sits on the threshold, licking its paws,
before it darts away to take shelter under a rose bush,
the flowers upturned to the rain. A cow calls out; the
rest of the herd answering from a distant shed where
they, too, take shelter from the elements.
2 Ten or twenty years ago, this must have been a thriving
farm. But those who tended it are long gone, dead or
moved on, and what is left of the barns, the sheds, and
the main building amount to little more than crumbling,
jutting ruins. Orchard trees hang laden with unpicked
fruit, overripe and fermenting, alive with drunken
wasps. A nearby field is overtaken with weeds, the
occasional straggly remnant of what was once a proud
crop of wheat still growing optimistically through
tangles of hogweed, ivy, darnel, and hawthorn. Wild
animals have made a nest in one of the collapsed barns,
their musky smell clear even from a distance. And in
the ruins of the main house, something else has made
its home…
3 Though not yet ripe for harvest, this farmer’s fields
are lush with wheat and corn. Their heavy heads ripple
in the breeze, causing the fields to undulate like a
peaceful ocean. At the edges, bluebells and poppies
nod their lazy heads. It is a beautiful day – warm, still,
peaceful. And yet, a sense of unease hangs over the
scene, its origin undeterminable.
4 This is a farm in harvest. Busy with gathering their
bounty, the workers have little time for outsiders;
they rush to and fro, backs bent low beneath bushels
of grain and fruit and vegetables. On the edges of
the fields, dogs weave here and there, watching out
for wild animals. At the corners, small shrines stand
laden with a loaf of bread, a cup of cider – one of each
foodstuff produced here. They are offerings to the
harvest spirits: thanks for what has been grown, and a
prayer for a kind winter to come.
Marshland
Bogs, fens, swamps, and marshes may not sound like the
most likely places for diverse plant life, and yet they’re
teeming with it. Where nutrient-poor soil abides, many
plants have turned predator and adapted to a more
carnivorous diet, trapping their prey with sticky hairs
and deceptively sweet pitchers. Grey, wet, and full of the
drowned, this is the sort of land where any keen traveller
should take care to watch their step.
Prominent marshland areas in the Forgotten Realms
include the Farsea Marshes, the Mere of Dead Men, and the
Flooded Forest of Cormanthor.
Marshland Plants Quick-Reference Table
Belladonna Giant Hogweed
Boneset Mosses and Lichens
Butterwort Verbena
Calla Lily Willow
Marshland Roll Table
d4 Environment
1 The fenlands stretch away either side, a vast marshland
uninhabitable to any not willing to work for it. Houses
on stilts dot the surface of the soft ground, and men
on shallow-bottomed rafts use poles to navigate about,
checking on woven eel traps set into the waters the
day before. A heron flies overhead, its latest catch
hanging from its beak; occasionally, a flash of cerulean
catches your eye as a kingfisher flits by. Beneath the
waters, eels and sharp-toothed pike haunt the mud,
looking for a meal. And on the distant air, the sound of
a peewit, warning of a flood…
2 This huge stretch of freshwater smells anything but.
Shallow waters and stinking mud make it impossible
to navigate by boat, but the ground isn’t solid enough
to walk on, either – unless you know the one path
through. A semi-permanent twilight seems to hang
over this land, making the way dark and dangerous,
and as you travel it, you have to wonder: was that a
face you just saw under the water? A body, swollen and
drowned, caught in the reeds?
3 The willow groves are thick and tangled. What used
to be a woven canvas of estuary riverbanks is now a
mat of branches and roots, the trees forming bridges
by which to cross the waters that still run deep and
fast beneath them. In their branches, crows call to
each other from their nests, and the scent of saltwater
lingers on the air. There is a heavy atmosphere here
– the sensation of secrets, of old knowledge, of being
watched…
4 The mudflats are cold and bleak. Every day, the tide
carves new riverbanks, flooding what was dry and
exposing what was once covered. Paths here are
changing and perilous, trustworthy one day and gone
the next. Watching over it all are the bleak cottages
of a nearby settlement – built just above the tideline,
always wary of a storm.
12
Mountain
Alpine climates are a tough sell for anyone looking to put
down roots, but the plants here have managed it anyway.
Mountainous areas are often rocky, with steep inclines and
thin air, and most of the local flora tends to be small and
durable, or otherwise tenacious enough to survive the cold
temperatures, harsh winds, and frequent snows.
The Spine of the World and the Galena Mountains are
prime examples of how diverse this environment can be.
Mountain Plants Quick-Reference Table
Azalea Mandrake
Camellia Mosses and Lichens
Dragon's Blood Tree Mulberry
Elder Pimpernel
Foxglove Rowan
Fungi Snapdragon
Henbane Verbena
Juniper Willow
Mountain Roll Table
d4 Environment
1 The snowdrifts are deep on the mountainside, muffling
all sounds with their perfect chill. The day is a clear
one – the sky is blue, and visibility is good enough to
see some way back down the trail. Camellia and azalea
bushes, still in flower, are weighted down by a blanket
of snow – their flowers a rare splash of colour among
all the white, the ground bare and dry beneath their
thick branches.
2 It is dusk, and yet the heat of the day remains, escaping
the rocks that have spent the brighter hours absorbing
the sun. From a distance, this mountain looks brown
and dry – but up close it is lush with stubborn, scrubby
willows, tiny pimpernels causing spots of colour to
bloom between the outcrops like stars. Scorpions soak
in the last of the warmth, scuttling away when they
are approached. Fireflies gather about the mandrakes
that grow in the crevices, their lights glowing faintly
in the dim evening gloom. In the centre of the valley,
where the sun must fall hottest during the day, a large
dragon’s blood tree stands – alien in its appearance,
with a bald, thick trunk and umbrella of tiny leaves.
Another once stood nearby, before it was felled by
woodsmen: part of its trunk has been left abandoned
on the ground, red sap dried like blood upon its
broken end.
3 The eruption was last year, they say. And yet, the
ground is still hot – it still steams in places, deep
cracks opened in the black rock to reveal flashes of
orange and red. Nature has already begun to reclaim
what it can, scrubby mosses growing in fissures
and tiny daisies nodding at the edges of the old lava
flow. It’s safe, supposedly, and your guides show you
how to climb on it. Yet you swear you feel it rumble,
somewhere deep beneath the earth. And from the
open mouth of its peak, a curl of ominous smoke…
13
Mountain Roll Table (continued) Scrubland Roll Table (continued)
d4 Environment d4 Environment
4 The mountains stand in steep defiance of gravity, a 2 Heather and gorse flower bright and yellow amongst
difficult climb on one side and disappearing into a the brown grass, and in the sheltered lee of the rocks,
sheer drop on the other. Wind-whipped rocks are bare plants such as yarrow, boneset, and aconite grow
but for the stubborn, gnarled branches of elder and voraciously. Hardy wild horses graze across the land,
juniper trees, and the tenacious mosses and lichens warily eyeing those who use its paths, and high above,
daring to grow in the face of such bleakness. In the kites and kestrels float on the thermals, watching
lee of one mountain, protected from the elements, for movement below. Somewhere on this heath is
a verdant meadow grows in surprising dissent – rumoured to be the location of a spring that can heal
snapdragons and foxgloves clinging to the rocky bluffs. all ills. But exactly where it is, no one can say…
Small, arctic foxes hop nimbly through their leafy cover, 3 Once an old farmer’s field, it has been years since
hunting crickets and mice in preparation for the colder this ground has been tilled and planted. Any crop
months. plants have long been strangled out by wildflowers;
and the hedgerow – an old barrier of oak, rowan, and
Scrubland hawthorn – has started to spread to form a tight
thicket of trees. Wild roses grow through its branches,
Scrubland is characterised by an overabundance of short,
long past blooming but heavy with rosehips. At the
shrubby plants, dwarf-sized trees, grasses, and cactuses. It is heart of the thicket, a young deer bleats for its mother,
a dry area with very few rivers or lakes, leaving its flora and and a spider spins her web amongst a set of old bones…
fauna to develop new tactics to survive. With a distinctive
4 This town was once thriving, but for reasons unknown,
summer-winter seasonal pattern unbroken by any milder
it now lies abandoned. In the old square, which once
seasons in between, plants that grow here are often small and saw many markets, festivals, and celebrations, the
hardy, and adaptable animal species such as hares, goats, and paving now sits uneven and neglected. An old basket
jackals thrive. With such intense periods of dry weather, this lies faded and abandoned on the ground; not far away,
habitat is particularly vulnerable to wildfires. a broken wagon wheel is propped up against a wall.
Shaar, the Glaur Barrens, and the Stonelands of Cormyr Boneset, mandrake, and poppies grow through the
are examples of the scrubland biome. cracks, oddly colourful in such a bleak place, and a
raven drinks from the water that has puddled at the
Scrubland Plants Quick-Reference Table base of the old fountain.
Aconite Mandrake
Alder Mosses and Lichens
Aloe Mugwort Tropical Forest
Asphodel Oak Tropical forests are hot, wet ecosystems where the trees
Blackthorn Ocotillo
often grow so densely that daylight rarely reaches the ground
beneath. As a result, many plants here grow tall, learn to
Black Bryony Poppy climb, or even live their entire lives in the canopies of other,
Boneset Rose bigger trees. With high temperatures, high annual rainfall,
Coyotillo Rowan and predators eager to catch their next meal, these areas
are often largely undeveloped, left to nature and the few
Elder Saguaro
adventurers daring enough to visit.
Foxglove Snapdragon Areas of the Forgotten Realms that fit into this biome
Giant Hogweed Verbena include Zakhara and the Jungles of Chult.
Hawthorn Yarrow
Tropical Forest Plants Quick-Reference Table
Henbane Yew Banyan Ferns
Corpse Flower Rattan
Scrubland Roll Table
Datura Sandbox Tree
d4 Environment
Dragon's Blood Tree Upas Tree
1 The sand is packed hard and stony underfoot, a far cry
from the sort of sand found on soft, golden beaches.
This sand is grey in places, sharp and tainted with ash Tropical Forest Roll Table
and old dirt, and when the wind whips it up in the d4 Environment
baking heat, it’s like broken glass scouring your skin. 1 If there was ever a road here, it has long been lost
Ocotillo and saguaro cactuses break up the landscape, to time. The forest is thick and tangled, and only
the only plants well-adapted enough to grow tall in this the sharpest of blades – and the most determined
place, while aloes as wide as a man’s arm-span grow in of travellers – are likely to make it through the
their shade. undergrowth. Rattan grows tall and thin, rattling its
cautions not to go any further to passers-by. Banyan
trees have persisted long enough that their host trees

14
Tropical Forest Roll Table (continued)
d4 Environment
have long since died away, leaving dark hollows inside
the net-like trunks of the vines. Deep inside the forest
comes a single sound – a loud, sharp thump. Perhaps it
is the tikbalang, ready to warn away intruders…
2 Woodsmen have been here, and what was once lush
forest is now an area of open land, scattered with the
trunks of felled trees and piles of greenery ripped from
the ground. Deep grooves indicate where timber has
been hauled away, carving lines through the earth, and
the world seems to have been stilled into silence – no
birds, no animals, only the distant sound of industry
as those trees are turned into furniture, wagons and
weaponry. The forest is still. And the forest is angry.
3 The river’s water is thick with silt, brown and slow and
too opaque to see what beasts lurk just beneath its
surface. Along the banks, mangroves grow so closely
together that their roots form a bridge that can be
walked across. White datura flowers bloom amongst
them, half-submerged, occasionally swaying as
something in the water brushes by. There’s something
down there – and it knows it’s not alone.
4 This is a jungle in the prime of its existence. Huge,
lush, green leaves open to catch the warm rain that
falls, scenting the air with the pollen of a hundred
fragrant flowers. Brightly coloured parrots shriek and
flit between the trees, dipping past the grasping hands
of wide-eyed monkeys and prowling cats. Vibrant frogs
blink and stretch beside pools of rainwater caught in
the trunks of trees, and in the darker recesses, bats
sleep, awaiting the night-blooming trees and the
moths that will visit them. At the heart of the jungle
stands a tree – the land for a mile around it bereft of
life, so potent is the poison that drips from its leaves.
Men have tried to approach it, and men have died in
the process, their bones scattered across the barren
ground to warn the next set of plucky adventurers.
Woodland
These ancient, territorial borders are deep and dense,
filled with swathes of bluebell meadows, veteran trees,
and trickling brooks. Made distinctive by their prominent
number of trees, their interlinked canopies form a
continuous cover over the plant life that grows beneath;
communities of plants and animals that can’t be found
anywhere else thrive here, alongside a wealth of unique
mosses, lichen, and fungi.
Notable woodlands in the Forgotten Realms include the
Neverwinter Wood, the northern Moonwoods, Cloak Wood
in the west, and its neighbouring Wood of Sharp Teeth
(formerly called Glimmerwood).
15
Woodland Plants Quick-Reference Table
Alder Garlic
Anemone Hawthorn
Belladonna Hellebore
Birch Ivy
Blackthorn Juniper
Black Bryony Lady's Mantle
Bluebell Mistletoe
Daisy Mosses and Lichens
Elder Oak
Ferns Pimpernel
Foxglove Rowan
Fraxinella Thyme
Fungi Yarrow
Woodland Roll Table
d4 Environment
1 Spring has come in warm and sunlit, and the woods
have responded in kind. This woodland is full of young,
thin-trunked trees – rowan, alder, and hawthorn
covered in flowering blooms, letting through golden
sunlight that speckles the ground. Basking in that
sunlight is a blanket of bluebells, bright and clean
and perfect, with small white anemones peering their
heads through where they can find space. Along the
borders, lady’s mantle grows small and sweet, filling
the air with the fragrance of flowers.
2 This woodland is so dark and foreboding that few
wander this deeply. Due to a lack of light and an
overabundance of water, most of the trees here died
a long time ago, and where their trunks lie at odd
angles, they have become overrun with moss, ivy
and fungi. Spiders and snakes make their homes in
the damp hollows of the trunks, hunting what small
animals remain. Ferns grow in deep pockets of shadow,
reaching up to what scant sunlight penetrates the
gloom. And further in, where the mushrooms and the
moss are thickest, something emerges from its lair…
3 Old hedgerows once bordered this woodland but have
since begun to grow wild – trees interlinking until they
form a copse so deep and thick that only the wiliest
creatures can wriggle through. Oak, hawthorn, elder,
rowan, and birch all share their canopies, holding safe
in their arms nests of young birds and the dreys of the
squirrels that leap through their branches. At night,
moths and bats will use the hedgerows as pathways,
flitting over the mice that dig their way through the
yarrow and hellebore that bloom beneath the bushes.
4 The edge of this old woodland once bordered fields
that have long since been forgotten. The only thing
that separated the two was a steep ditch to keep cattle
from wandering. Now the ditch has filled with stale
water, a layer of algae floating on its surface. Beneath
the scum the water teems with gummy frog spawn,
half-grown and blind, waiting to grow legs to move
to fresher waters. Crickets call from the grass, and
a pigeon answers. A birch tree leans over the ditch,
yarrow and foxgloves blooming around its base.
16
 Harming Plants
Chapter 5: The Plants Plant Name
Upas Tree
Page
38

I
n this section you will find each plant listed
alphabetically. alongside information about the Yew 39
biomes it might typically grow in, its rarity and Quick reference tables
category, and items in this supplement that it can be Utility Plants
used to craft. Each entry also includes a description to help Plant Name Page
players identify the plant in question, as well as encounter Alder 21
seeds – story hooks inspired by the real-life folklore of these Aloe 21
plants. Encounter seeds can be used as standalone prompts
Asphodel 22
or combat encounters to help a DM introduce new plants to
their players, as well as to make foraging for rarer or more Black Bryony 24
powerful types more challenging. Bluebell 24
The specific items, potions, and spells that can be crafted Boneset 25
from these plants can be found in later chapters.
Butterwort 25
Camellia 25
Healing Plants Daisy 26
Plant Name Page
Datura 26
Aloe 21
Dead Man's Skull 33
Bread Moss 33
Dragon's Blood Tree 27
Lion's Mane 29
Ferns 27
Mugwort 34
Foxglove 28
Ocotillo 35
Fly Agaric 29
Scarlet Fey Cup 30
Garlic 30
Shiitake 30
Goblin Gold 33
Sphagnum Moss 34
Golden Jelly 29
Thyme 37
Hellebore 31
Verbena 38
Henbane 31
Willow 38
Juniper 31
Yarrow 39
Lady's Mantle 32
Harming Plants Mandrake 32
Plant Name Page
Mistletoe 32
Aconite 21
Mountain Clubmoss 33
Anemone 21
Mulberry 34
Azalea 22
Oak 34
Belladonna 23
Ocotillo 35
Blackthorn 24
Pimpernel 35
Black Bryony 24
Poppy 35
Coyotillo 26
Rattan 35
Darnel 26
Roccella tinctoria 33
Elder 27
Rose 36
Fraxinella 28
Rowan 36
Giant Hogweed 30
Saguaro 36
Hellebore 31
Snapdragon 37
Inky Cap 29
Thyme 37
Ivy 31
Verbena 38
Mandrake 32
Willow 38
Poppy 35
Yarrow 39
Rubroboletus 30
Yellow Lichen 34
Sandbox Tree 37

17
Miscellaneous Plants
Plant Name Page
Banyan 23
Birch 23
Calla Lily 25
Corpse Flower 25
Common Plants
Hawthorn 30 Plant Name Page
Anemone 21
Edible Plants
Plant Name Page Banyan 23
Aloe 21 Birch 23
Asphodel 22 Blackthorn 24
Birch 23 Black Bryony 24
Blackthorn 24 Bluebell 24
Camellia 25 Bread Moss 33
Daisy 26 Daisy 26
Dead Man's Skull 33 Ferns 27
Elder 27 Foxglove 28
Ferns 27 Garlic 30
Garlic 30 Golden Jelly 29
Golden Jelly 29 Hawthorn 30
Hawthorn 30 Ivy 31
Juniper 31 Lion's Mane 29
Lion's Mane 29 Mistletoe 32
Mountain Clubmoss 33 Oak 34
Mugwort 34 Ocotillo 35
Mulberry 34 Pimpernel 35
Oak 34 Poppy 35
Ocotillo 35 Roccella tinctoria 33
Rose 36 Rose 36
Saguaro 36 Rowan 36
Scarlet Fey Cup 30 Saguaro 36
Seaweed 37 Scarlet Fey Cup 30
Shiitake 30 Seaweed 37
Snapdragon 37 Shiitake 30
Thyme 37 Sphagnum Moss 34
Verbena 38 Thyme 37
Yarrow 39 Willow 38
Yarrow 39
Yew 39

18
Uncommon Plants Rare Plants
Plant Name Page Plant Name Page
Alder 21 Aconite 21
Anemone 21 Aloe 21
Asphodel 22 Coyotillo 26
Azalea 22 Datura 26
Belladonna 23 Ferns 27
Boneset 25 Scarlet Fey Cup 30
Butterwort 25 Lady's Mantle 32
Calla Lily 25 Mandrake 32
Camellia 25 Dead Man's Skull 33
Darnel 26 Goblin Gold 33
Elder 27
Fly Agaric 29
Very Rare Plants
Plant Name Page
Fraxinella 28
Corpse Flower 25
Giant Hogweed 30
Dragon’s Blood Tree 27
Hellebore 31
Sandbox Tree 37
Henbane 31
Inky Cap 29 Legendary Plants
Juniper 31 Plant Name Page

Mountain Clubmoss 33 Fly Agaric 29

Mugwort 34 Upas Tree 38

Mulberry 34
Rattan 35
Rubroboletus 30
Snapdragon 37
Verbena 38
Yellow Lichen 34

Herbalist’s
Kit

19
20
 Aconite
Registry of Plants
Aconite
Category: Harming
Rarity: Rare
Biome: Scrubland
Edible: No
Related items: Basic poison (page 45), flying ointment
(page 42), hunter’s boon (page 46)
This striking, purple plant contains a deadly poison
commonly used in hunting. For those unlucky enough
to ingest it, death comes within two to six hours, but not
before the victim has suffered the sensation of ants crawling
beneath the skin, numbness in the face, and weakness.
Despite aconite’s mortal properties, those who know it
best also associate it with rebirth and transformation through
magical means. The latter comes from another name for the
plant: wolfsbane. It is said to drive away wolves, and to halt
the transformation of werewolves. Yet, an old rumour also
suggests that encountering it upon a full moon can inflict
lycanthropy on anyone who touches it…
Encounter Seed: Aconite
A local apothecary, Florence Tangleberry, has suffered a series
of thefts from her poison garden. Every few weeks, someone
sneaks in after dark and helps themselves from the aconite
patch – a troubling choice of plant, given its uses, but she’s too
afraid to confront the culprit herself. More worrying still: Grigori
Wandle, the town carpenter, has been looking distinctly unwell
for some time now, and his wife Emma seems oddly evasive on
the subject… Could it be she’s the cause of his sickness?
Talking to Florence about the timing of the thefts will reveal
that they occur regularly every month, a few nights before the
full moon. Setting an ambush or intimating Emma will reveal
that she is, in fact, the culprit, but has been stealing the aconite
to halt Grigori’s werewolf transformations – an affliction he’s
secretly been suffering from since being bitten on a trip back
from market.
Alder
Category: Utility
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Scrubland, woodland
Edible: No
Related items: Alder leaves (page 48), brimstone charcoal
(page 48), sylph’s whistle (page 56), war paint (page 56)
This woodland tree is often favoured by ravens as a nesting
place, and just as frequently visited by wind elementals, who
are attracted to music made by instruments crafted from
the wood of the tree. Blessed as it is, stories suggest that
ingesting the leaves can grant the gift of prophecy, and the
ability to discern omens from birds in flight.
The wood is white when cut, but quickly turns red as
it dries. The charcoal is quick to ignite and can be used to
create explosives and gunpowder.
21
Encounter Seed: Alder
The lively fishing port of Dunstern has suffered the worst spate
of storms in living memory. Hundreds of fishing boats lie moored
at anchor, unable to sail, and the helpless townsfolk grow
desperate as their livelihoods vanish, forced to import goods
from inland. Rumours have begun to circulate that Dunstern’s
Mayor Bradwell Ramsay is to blame. His husband was lost to the
sea some two months past - now he spends his nights on the
beach, playing strange tunes on a pipe made of alder wood, in
the hope his love will hear it and return.
When asked, Mayor Ramsay will explain that the pipe (a
sylph’s whistle) was given to him by a dear friend and local
business magnate, Vaunaghan Vilspire. Unknown to Mayor
Ramsay, the pipe’s music is attracting air elementals to the bay
to thrash up the waters: part of a plot by Vaunaghan to push his
new import business into Dunstern.
DM suggestion: Vaunaghan will give up easily when
confronted and teach the party a dispelling song that will send
the elementals away. Ramsay, horrified by his part in this, will
offer to be the one to play the song. The party will have to
confront 1d4 air elementals out on the water; the song will cause
the elementals to attack whoever is playing the sylph’s whistle.
The dispelling song takes three turns to perform, and requires an
action to do so; if the piper sustains damage and is interrupted,
they must start the performance over.
Aloe
Category: Utility
Rarity: Rare
Biome: Scrubland
Edible: Yes (leaves)
Related items: Healing potion (page 43), oil of
Thay (page 53)
Aloe is a distinctive-looking succulent with long, pointed
leaves edged with small spines. When broken, the leaves
contain a clear, gel-like liquid that has many healing and
antibacterial properties. Due to its medicinal value, it is
highly sought after in many cultures; in Mulhorand, it is
known as the ‘blood of the gods’ and is believed to grant
immortality. It is commonly buried with the dead in the
hopes that it will return them to life, although there are no
records of it actually succeeding.
In the Eastern Heartlands, aloe is used both to summon
and exorcise demons. An oil infused with aloe is employed
by the wizards of Thay, who then use the plant’s magical
properties to command and subdue creatures from the Abyss.
Anemone
Category: Harming
Rarity: Common
Biome: Woodland
Edible: No
Anemones are small, white flowers that form a thick blanket
of groundcover in wooded areas in early spring. Made
distinctive by their musty smell, they are thought to be
carriers of disease, and it’s not uncommon for country folk
to hold their breath whilst running past them to stave off
sickness.
 Azalea
Anemones are also long associated with forsaken love and
jealousy, due to a popular myth about the nymph Anemone –
the daughter of a wind deity – who was transformed into the
first flowers by a jealous lover. Every year she blooms, but
she is so bereft by her plight that when the first winds of the
year blow through the woods, her petals are scattered.
Encounter Seed: Anemone
Olivier Tidrik, a cattle farmer, lives in a farmhouse in the woods
not far from the local town. Lately, his family – a wife and four
children – have fallen deathly ill, and he too is starting to sicken,
leaving his farm neglected. He has put out a call for adventurers
to get to the bottom of this sickness, which he believes to be a
curse from a local witch.
Olivier will not willingly give up the reasons why he believes
his family to be cursed but will point players in the direction of
Marinne Acker: a young woman who lives in the town, who he is
accusing of witchcraft. He will indicate that the best solution for
both his family and the town is to kill her quickly before she can
curse anyone else.
If the party investigate thoroughly, they will discover that
Olivier and Marinne have been having an affair. When Olivier
refused to leave his family for Marinne, she made a pact with
the fey, who encouraged the anemones in the woods to grow
thick and close around the farmhouse. This has created a toxic
atmosphere that is slowly poisoning the Tidrik family.
Attacking Marinne, or removing the anemones, will trigger
an encounter with the mazzeri, or other fey creatures of the
DM’s choosing.
Asphodel
Category: Utility
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Coast, scrubland
Edible: Yes (roots, ground for flour)
Related items: Dreamer’s bliss (page 46), hedge taper (page
51), Ice’s dream (page 60)
Asphodel grows rife along the coastline and in areas of dry
scrubland. With its long stems and small, white flowers,
fields of asphodel at night can look like great plains of
stars in the darkness. Closely connected with the realm of
dreams and sleep, the stalks are protected by mazzeri (page
89), dream fey who stalk the realms of the sleeping to reap
unwary souls.
Foraging note: Entering meadows where asphodel grows
without first appeasing the mazzeri causes bursts of fey fire
to target the intruders. Creatures who are not allies of the
mazzeri and try to pick or uproot an asphodel plant must
make a DC14 Dexterity save at the beginning of their turn,
taking 1d6 fire damage on a failed save and half damage on a
successful save.
Asphodel
22
Encounter Seed: Asphodel
The coastal town of Stillmouth is preparing for Soulsheight, their
yearly festival of the dead. Most important to the festival is the
preparation of food for the souls of the departed, which includes
roots of the asphodel plant. However, the mazzeri that protect
the asphodel meadows have been angered by the town’s recent
expansion, which has seen parts of the meadow destroyed.
Townsfolk can no longer enter without suffering harm, and those
who live on the side of town that borders the meadows have
started falling into a sleep from which they cannot be awoken.
Once the party have found a means of appeasing the mazzeri
and have been successful in doing so, the residents of Stillmouth
will teach them how to make hedge tapers as thanks (page 51).
DM suggestion: When entering the meadows, make the
players roll a Wisdom save. If they fail, they fall asleep for 1d6
minutes and in that time, will be subjected to battle within the
mazzeri’s dream plane. Those who pass the check will have to
battle the mazzeri in the Material Plane, protecting the bodies of
any sleeping companions.
Azalea
Category: Harming
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Mountain, woodland
Edible: No
Related items: Azalea honey (page 45), basic
poison (page 45)
These flowering shrubs can grow large enough to
outmatch some of the smaller trees that grow in the same
environment, and in places, grow thickly enough that they
create their own forests. Highly attractive to bees, honey
made from the pollen of the flowers contains the same toxins
that fill the plant, and any who eat it may be subjected to
hallucinations, madness, anger, unsteadiness, and vomiting.
Encounter Seed: Azalea
The town of Cliffhold has always been renowned for the beautiful
azaleas that grow along its mountainside and around the town
itself. Once a year, visitors flock to see these plants in full bloom,
and in turn, Cliffhold residents hold a festival where they sell
clothes and crafts emblazoned with azalea designs, as well as
showing off local foods and folk music.
It is just one week until this year’s festival, and a swarm of
wild bees has descended on the newly-blooming azaleas. Their
hives are dripping with deceptively delicious honey – and the
townsfolk, unaware that the honey is toxic – have been joyfully
sharing this bounty with family and early visitors. Now the
townsfolk are falling ill, their visitors are strangely quarrelsome,
and worst of all, usually timid beasts are coming down from their
mountain homes and attacking anyone they encounter.
DM suggestion: The beasts stalking the town are honey
beasts (page 87). Use your discretion as to how many to
challenge your players with. They may be joined by other
monsters in the Beast category, or perhaps even afflicted lesser
fey. The nature of the poisoning induces madness, so affected
creatures will not listen to reason; Animal Handling checks will be
made with disadvantage; and saving throws made by the afflicted
against spells such as charm monster or dominate beast are
made with advantage.
The effects of the madness on the townsfolk should be
treated as Poisoning and can be removed by any appropriate
spells or consumables. This solution will also work on any
rampaging beasts.
Banyan carving motifs of it into the building. Though the abbey’s
Category: Miscellaneous exact fate is unknown, the clerics eventually disappeared –
Rarity: Common perhaps succumbing to the madness that long-term exposure
Biome: Coast, tropical forest to this poisonous plant brings – and the abbey now lies
Edible: No in ruins, speckled with the gold and purple shapes of the
belladonna flowers that have reclaimed the land.
Banyan trees grow so densely that their forests can cover
Not just restricted to Wolfspell Vale, belladonna grows
thousands of acres of land. Germinating in the canopies of
prolifically in damp, shady areas such as riversides and
other trees, they grow downwards and engulf their host in
woodlands, and is said to be guarded by a fearsome monster
a cage of roots, eventually smothering it and leaving hollow
sent by Talona to protect her most poisonous plants. As
‘ghost trunks’ of banyan vines.
such, gathering its seductively sweet berries can prove to be a
Due to their peculiar forms, the shadows cast by banyans
job deadlier than the plant itself.
are strange, and the sound of the wind whistling through
Once gathered, however, belladonna has infinite value:
the trunks is said by some cultures to be a warning from
not only is the poison of the berries a potent one, the leaves
the spirits of the forest not to enter their realm. Though
and flowers also carry great power. In rural areas, crowns
the shade that the trees provide is valued by travellers and
made of the vines are worn by maidens to ward against
merchants, these forests are also home to tikbalang, patasola,
evil influence.
and other tree-dwelling fey.

Encounter Seed: Belladonna

Encounter Seed: Banyan
A merchant caravan has put out a call for adventurers to assist
with security. They’re on their way to the famous Oskagar
Emporium, but their road will take them through the equally
infamous jungles of Chult – a maze of skeletal bayans and dead-
end, ruined roads that have swallowed up more than their share
of unfortunate travellers. But rumour has it that getting lost isn’t
the worst misfortune lurking in those trees…
The leader of the caravan – an aarakocra by the name of
Ekrea – will offer the party a handsome fee to escort them
and their wagons through the jungle; half up front, and half
upon completion. The reason that they need extra protection
is because – though Ekrea will not surrender this information
willingly – they are due to pass through lands sacred to the fey,
protected by guardian tikbalangs. Few dare to venture on these
particular paths, but there is fey treasure to be found in the
banyans; and though taking it will endanger the caravan, Ekrea is
willing to take the risk.
On their journey, the caravan will be attacked by a tikbalang. If
it is defeated, Ekrea will reward the party for their work – if there
is no damage done to the caravan or its contents, Ekrea will also
gift the party with the guardian’s warning warhammer.
Belladonna
Category: Harming
Rarity: Uncommon
Belladonna
Biome: Marshland, woodland
Edible: No
Related items: Basic poison (page 45), belladonna’s
kiss (page 45), flying ointment (page 46), potion of
silence (page 47)
Many centuries ago, clerics at Wolfspell Abbey revered
belladonna for the visions that it brought, cultivating it and
A group of scholars from the Order of Delvers wish to excavate
the old dwarven tunnels that the now-ruined Wolfspell Abbey
was built atop of. However, several of their early expedition
parties have come back injured, or not come back at all – the
survivors claiming that a great, ferocious beast guards the ruins.
When the players arrive at Wolfspell Abbey, they will encounter
Cinstita (page 97), who is protecting the belladonna that grows
in the valley and will attack any intruder on sight.
Birch
Category: Miscellaneous
Rarity: Common
Biome: Woodland
Edible: Yes (young leaves)
Related items: Bands of grace (page 58), Evelina’s crown
(page 59), Lesovo’s blade (page 61)
In sympathy with the sorrowing
weeps the birch with long dishevell’d hair.
These white-trunked trees stand out easily in any woodland.
With their pale, papery bark and the eye-like shapes in their
trunks, their leaves seem to shiver in even the faintest of
breezes and turn a bright gold in the autumn. Particularly in
the northern Realms, it is thought that the souls of the dead
use these trees as a path to the afterlife, and the sound of the
wind rustling through the leaves is them sending messages
back to the living. Known in some parts as ‘lady of the
woods’, the tree is often host to a fungus known as witch’s
broom, which clusters like bird nests along the trunk.
In communities across the Moonshae Isles, a birch bonfire
will be lit in the centre of the settlement at midwinter. Every
house will douse their own fire, and then relight it from this

A Deadly Crop
The sweetest – and deadliest – berries are said to be grown by
the Buonna Donna, a coven of sorcerer witches in Rashemen.
Banyan
They cannot die until they find someone to inherit their magic,
and while this longevity suits some of the eldest members, others
have resorted to trying to trick unsuspecting travellers into
accepting their ‘gift’ so that they can pass on.

23

central fire, bringing the community back together to begin
the new year. Later, in the spring, a sweet wine is fermented
from the sap.
Encounter Seed: Birch
When Faedri Hammersong’s foolhardy adventuring partner,
Ulrich Arldorf, went to meet ‘a man about a map’, it was sorry
thing when he didn’t return. But lately, she’s been dreaming of
him: standing in a birch wood, urging her to come and find him;
repeating, over and over, that he has something to tell her. The
trouble is, she recognises those trees – and where they grow is
not the sort of place one goes alone.
If the party agrees to go to the wood to look for Ulrich on
Faedri’s behalf, she will promise a reward of 200 gp, and give
them a scroll granting one use of last words, if the party is not
already able to cast it. Searching the wood will reveal Ulrich’s
body tangled in undergrowth – and provoke a fight with the two
lieschi (page 93) who killed him. Once the lieschi are defeated,
the party may cast last words and speak with Ulrich’s spirit.
Ulrich will pass on the location of the treasure hoard he was
looking for when he died, as well as an apology to Faedri. Upon
receiving this information, Faedri will promise a share of the
hoard once she finds it in gratitude for the party’s assistance.
DM suggestion: If Ulrich couldn’t reach the hoard alone,
the chances are that Faedri will not be able to, either. The party
may want to assist her in her quest; on the way they will likely
encounter lieschi, waldgeister, and possibly even rusalki. Balance
these encounters to match your party’s current level. The hoard,
once split between Faedri and the party, will grant the party
800gp, a bag of invisibility powder, and Lesovo’s blade.
Blackthorn
Category: Harming
Rarity: Common
Biome: Scrubland, woodland
Edible: Yes (fruit)
Related items: Clay body (page 49), pins of
slumber (page 62)
Hunched and bony, the blackthorn tree resembles the
withered form of the Cailleach, the goddess who blessed it
many millennia ago so that it could survive in its bitterly
cold environment. The branches are covered in viciously
sharp thorns which can be used to cast curses, and the scars
caused by gathering these thorns are a mark of the Cailleach’s
favour. It is said that the safest time to gather the thorns is at
a full moon, when the Waldgeister – who typically guard the
tree – are distracted by their moon worship.
Foraging note: Due to their sharpness and tangled way
of growing, the thorns of this tree are notoriously difficult
to gather. When doing so, players must make a DC15
Constitution saving throw – on a failure, they take 3d6
damage and become Poisoned for 1 hour. On a success, they
take the same damage but are not Poisoned.
Black Bryony
24
Blackthorn
Black Bryony
Category: Harming, utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Coast, scrubland, woodland
Edible: No
Related items: Basic poison (page 45), Belgin’s
shot (page 58)
A prolific climbing vine that can be identified by the ropey
strings of red berries that adorn it in the later months of the
year. Though the berries are poisonous, the plant has a much
more desirable use: the roots can be shaped into rudimentary
arrows which are supposedly able to ‘cut a hole through any
door’. This ammunition has historically also been used for
hunting witches’ familiars, and it is said that hares and cats
go to great pains to avoid this plant.
Encounter Seed: Black Bryony
The Pale Flowers are popular folk heroes amongst the peasantry
of the Western Heartlands. This gang of thieves are known to
fleece nobility on the road and burgle the safes of rich merchants
– all to benefit the most downtrodden and deprived in society.
Indeed, the tales say there is no door they cannot get past, no
matter how heavily guarded, locked, or barred; what the tales
don’t say, however, is they go through a lot of black bryony
Bluebell
to make their ammunition, and the supply chain’s just hit a
bit of a snag…
The gang usually harvest their black bryony in secret, on land
owned by a local noble. But the noble has grown wise to their
clandestine comings and goings, and has lately beefed up the
guard. If the Pale Flowers are to resupply again, they’re going
to need help.
The party will be asked to accompany the Pale Flowers’
resident foraging expert, Florin Winholdt, to the gathering
grounds – and will find them guarded by 1d8 human thugs. Once
defeated, the black bryony may be safely harvested.
The Pale Flowers will reward the party with 100 gp for every
bag of bryony that they can provide; but the longer that the party
remain on the gathering grounds, the more likely it is that backup
will arrive. For each bag of bryony that they intend to gather, a
fresh wave of 1d8 thugs will arrive. With each new wave, increase
the difficulty by accompanying the thugs with trained wolves
and warhorses.
Bluebell
Category: Utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Farmland, woodland
Edible: No
Related items: Bell’s warning (page 48), hunter’s looking
glass (page 51)
‘If it be leyd under mann’s head, he shal sleepyn as he were
dead; he shal never drede nor wakyn, till from under his head
it be takyn.’
Bluebells indicate the location of ancient woodland sites such
as ruins, fey courts, and areas touched by magic. Beloved of
the fey courts as they are, a bluebell’s flowers are said to ring
when the fey are near, and the places where they grow are
protected by a myriad of magics that are rumoured to make
unwary travellers fall asleep… and sometimes wake up in

the Feywild. Many tales abound of folk who have wandered
into glades of these flowers, lured by their beauty, never to
be seen again.
Despite their dangers, the bulbs create a sticky substance
that is popular for binding books and fixing fletching to
arrows. This substance acts as a mild insecticide, as well as
aiding sleep if used as an ointment.
Boneset
Category: Utility
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Marshland, scrubland
Edible: No
Related items: Spirit ward (page 54)
A tall, leafy plant that grows clusters of tiny white flowers
throughout the latter half of the year. In rural areas, bundles
of boneset are hung over doorways to repel ghosts and are
also carried by those who come into contact with the dead
as a protection against ghost sickness (see page 89) – a
condition caused when a spirit, severed from its own body,
becomes overly attached to a living host.
Encounter Seed: Boneset
Weeks of heavy rain have disturbed the peace of the Pennycross
marshes – the site of the grisly executions of traitorous ferrymen
in a long-forgotten war – and the local townsfolk are suffering
a plague of ghost sickness. Unable to risk their remaining
unafflicted on a solution, they are in desperate need of someone
to harvest boneset to treat the epidemic…
Fortunately, boneset grows in abundance locally – but the
marshes are unusually flooded this time of year, bringing with
them an unusual number of will-o’-wisps. Whilst foraging, the
party will encounter 1d4 will-o’-wisps, and upon defeating them,
may safely gather enough boneset to help the townsfolk. Those
afflicted by the ghost sickness can now be cured and the restless
spirits banished back whence they came, and the townsfolk will
allow the party to keep 1d4 bundles boneset and offer a further
250 gp in gratitude.
Butterwort
Category: Utility
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Marshland
Edible: No
Related items: Ring of ensnarement (page 62), spirit
ward (page 54)
These small, carnivorous plants are difficult to locate in the
boggy areas where they grow. Highly valued by temples and
mortuaries, they are placed in the doorways and windows
of rooms where corpses await burial to stop the spirits from
rising again. Some stories suggest that the plant’s sticky
leaves don’t just entrap the spirits of the dead; the roots,
knotted into a ring, may bestow the ability of commanding
obedience in others.
25
Bluebell
Calla Lily
Category: Miscellaneous
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Marshland
Edible: No
Calla lilies are large, white flowers most commonly
associated with death and the falsely accused. The pollen on
the spadix gives off a faint glow at dusk, and in the marshy
areas of the High Moor, these lights are said to be set by the
fey to ensure that fishermen find their way home safely. In
some tales, fishermen who have angered the fey have been
led astray by the very same lights, and never seen again...
These lilies grow most commonly on the banks of
streams and rivers, but they have also been seen growing
in execution grounds on the graves of those unjustly put to
death – the flowers’ presence proclaiming their innocence.
Camellia
Category: Utility
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Mountain
Edible: Yes (leaves, flowers)
Related items: Keiko’s judgement (page 61)
Camellias are evergreen, and their voluminous, red flowers
grow only during the coldest of snows. Once they have
bloomed, rather than losing their petals gradually, the entire
flower drops from the branches heavily and suddenly, much
like the fall of a severed head in the midst of battle. For this
reason, it is seen in some mountainous regions as a warrior’s
flower, and is often embroidered on tabards or engraved
into armour as a blessing for a good and honourable death.
The famous warrior Keiko is said to have wielded a hammer
made of camellia wood that never missed a single blow.
Some stories make the eerie claim that these shrubs
eventually gain a sentience of their own, with the oldest
of them able to separate their spirits from the wood and
wander the local area. If the camellia has been well treated in
its lifetime, it will protect the land it grows upon, whereas
those who have been mistreated become vengeful and curse
anyone who comes near.
Corpse Flower
Category: Miscellaneous
Rarity: Very rare
Biome: Tropical forest
Edible: No
Related items: Carrion ring (page 58), gloves of scorching
(page 59), titan’s hood (page 64)
The corpse flower is one of the most striking-looking plants
to be found in any tropical jungle. Lacking in trunk, leaves,
or any other distinctive plant-like growth, it appears out
of the ground as one large pseudo-flower that commonly
reaches ten feet in height. When it blooms, it emits the same
heat as a living creature and a scent indistinguishable from
that of rotting flesh. This scent attracts pollinators in the
form of carrion beetles and other insects.

Coyotillo
Category: Harming
Rarity: Rare
Biome: Scrubland
Edible: No
Related items: Basic poison (page 45), potion of
paralysis (page 46)
A scruffy tree that grows best in scrubland and desert areas.
The seeds inside the berries are highly toxic and cause a
paralysis that starts at the feet, moving next the limbs, then
to the throat and respiratory system. Symptoms can take
days and sometimes even weeks after ingestion to show. It
is named for the coyotes that delight in eating the berries,
spitting out the poisonous seeds as they do so; other animals
who try the same often die.
Daisy
Category: Utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Farmland, mountain, woodland
Edible: Yes (flowers, young leaves)
Related items: Love oracle (page 52)
One of the most common flowers to be found growing wild,
daisies are among the first harbingers of spring, appearing
across farmland and meadows in the early sunny months
of the year.
The very first daisy picked at midnight on a new moon is
said to have magical properties and is a valuable find for folk
looking to wed. Trinkets containing daisies or daisy motifs
are popular purchases for young couples in the spring.
Darnel
Category: Harming
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Farmland
Edible: No
Related items: Basic poison (page 45), darnel
bread (page 45)
Visually similar to other crop foods, darnel grass is
commonly mistaken for wheat and can easily be harvested
alongside its harmless cousin by accident. Though not hugely
poisonous in itself, darnel is particularly vulnerable to the
ergot fungus, which, when ground into flour, can cause
illness and even death.
26
Datura
Encounter Seed: Darnel
There exists among the noble houses of Holreith a time-
honoured tradition of breaking bread with one’s rivals to mark
the end of a feud. A recent instance of this between the rival
families Olbert and Penwill ended in disaster, however, when all
who attended the ceremony at the Olbert estate were struck
down by a mysterious sickness. With casualties suffered on
both sides, each family is accusing the other of foul play, and the
situation threatens to descend back into bitter conflict unless the
truth is revealed.
An examination of the afflicted members of either family, or of
the bread itself, will reveal that this is indeed a case of poisoning.
Investigating the kitchens at the Olbert estate will turn up several
sacks of flour contaminated with darnel; the poisoning was an
innocent accident, and revealing the truth will avert disaster.
Datura
Category: Utility
Rarity: Rare
Biome: Tropical forest
Edible: No
Related items: Flying ointment (page 42), datura powder
(page 49), seeds of delusion (page 47)
The heady scent of datura flowers is so strong that just
smelling the perfume is said to cause hallucinations,
drunkenness, and laughter. However, these hallucinations
are rumoured to impart invaluable information to the one
experiencing them, and there are even scattered tales of
the Red Wizards of Thay using datura in mind control
experiments.
Foraging note: Creatures who stand within a 5ft radius
of the flowers must make a DC14 Wisdom saving throw,
unless they have taken precautions to cover their faces.
On a failed saving throw, they are Poisoned, and take on
a further effect as described in the roll table under datura
powder (page 49).
The First Teachers
Many generations ago, a pair of siblings followed the light
upwards and emerged from the Underworld onto the surface
world. Crowned with white datura flowers, they spent many
years walking the earth, learning from the people there and
sharing what they knew. They taught the people how to see
ghosts, how to sleep well, and how to find lost objects. Once they
were content with all that they had learned, they returned to the
Underworld, leaving behind only the white flowers that they had
worn in their hair. Thus, the first datura flowers came to earth.
Daisy
Dragon’s Blood Tree
Category: Utility
Rarity: Very rare
Biome: Mountain, tropical forest
Edible: No
Related items: Dragon’s blood ink (page 50), war
paint (page 57)
Legend supposes that the first of these great trees came
from the blood that was spilled when two ancient dragons
perished in mortal combat. The tree certainly grows as large
as dragons, with some being recorded at 80 feet tall and with
trunks 75 feet in circumference.
When the wood is cut from a living tree, it bleeds a thick,
dark red resin that is highly valued as a magical component.
Rumours exist that the resin can be used as a replacement for
real blood, as well as in the crafting of magical items.
Other stories tell that the resin is used by spurned lovers
wishing to bring harm to those who have wronged them.
Under a growing moon, burning coals from the hearth must
be placed within a copper vessel. Upon these coals, ground
resin from the dragon’s blood tree must be scattered to burn.
Over the rising smoke, the curse is set:
‘Tis not this Dragon’s Blood I mean to burn,
but my true love’s heart I wish to turn.
May they have no sleep, nor rest, nor pleasure see,
until they shall come back to me.’
Encounter Seed: Dragon’s Blood Tree
In the city of Baldur’s Gate, two separate groups of faithful – the
Temple of Bhaal and the Cult of Afflux – have, after years of
clashes with the city guard, finally agreed to find alternatives to
their ritualistic murders. However, the truce has been an uneasy
one, and blood alternatives – such as resin from the dragon’s
blood tree – have become scarce and extortionately expensive.
The head Bhaalist priest recently went missing, along with the
Temple’s supply of dragon’s blood resin. While the latter remains
missing, the former was eventually found – dismembered, and
dumped in Gray Harbor. The Bhaalists are out for real blood now
and will handsomely reward anyone who will sow discord and
vengeance amongst the Cult of Afflux. If the players accept this
job and the Cult discover them, they will offer equal pay to see
their enemies removed in a similar manner.
Ferns
27
Elder Elder
Category: Harming
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Mountain, scrubland, woodland
Edible: Yes (flowers, berries)
Related items: Clay body (page 49), Mallachtan
blade (page 61)
Trí comartha láthraig mallachtan: tromm, tradna, nenaid.
‘There are three tokens of a cursed site: the elder, a corncrake,
and nettles.’
Though unremarkable in appearance, this tree is wreathed
in whispers of danger and misfortune. Growing only where
blood has been shed, it is a sure sign of cursed ground
nearby; even cutting a branch from the tree is supposed to
bring bad luck, and falling asleep beneath it is said to be fatal.
Those who ignore the warnings will find that elders are
often inhabited by waldgeister (page 86) – wood sprites
who use the trunks as doorways between this world and
their native Feywild. In addition to leading unwary travellers
astray, waldgeister will often protect their tree with tooth
and nail, attacking those who damage it.
To those who do manage to harvest the parts of this
tree, they will find them highly valuable to the intrepid
adventurer. The oil provides potent protection against dark
magic, and the smoke from burning elder wood is said to
reveal witches. A child anointed about the eyes with the juice
of the bark is rumoured to be able to both see and converse
with evil influences.
Ferns
Category: Utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Tropical forest, woodland
Edible: Yes (young leaves)
Related items: Feybane (page 46), ironbind powder (page
51), Jani’s favour (page 52), lucky hand (page 53)
Ferns grow rampant throughout dark and wooded areas,
filling every shadowy nook and corner with their long, leafy
fronds. Though the young leaves are edible, the rest of the
plant has no real magical value: but it does have a rare secret,
the fern seed.
The fern seed is an object of great magical value. It appears
once per year at Midsummer, only for one hour around
midnight, and only to those who know where to look. In
fact, so few people have seen it that information about its
appearance is largely limited to hearsay – but it is said to be
sparkling gold, nestled inside a flower that blooms at the
heart of the fern plant. Any person possessing this seed is
said to know the secret of invisibility.
Other varieties of fern, such as moonwort, are said to
have dominion over iron and other metals. Many have been
quick to take advantage of these anti-ferrous qualities, and
the plants are often used as a component by thieves and
smugglers to open locks and damage iron bars.

Foxglove
Category: Utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Scrubland, woodland
Edible: No
Related items: Lusmore’s cloak (page 61), Lusmore’s gloves
(page 61), war paint (page 56), witch ward (page 57)
Foxgloves are tall, colourful flowers that grow in the shady
patches of meadows and woodlands. Though supposedly fatal
to changelings, one folktale tells of a meadow of foxgloves
so beloved by the fey that they stored their spare spells the
flowers, only to forget which spells were hidden where:
when the buds finally bloomed, the spells were activated,
causing havoc for the local farmers.
Foraging note: To add an element of danger to gathering
these plants, draw inspiration from the folktale above and
sow some hints from NPCs about this mysterious field of
spell-filled foxgloves. While picking the plant, ask your
player to roll a DC14 Dexterity save. On a failure, roll a d100
and refer to the Wild Magic Sorcerer’s Wild Magic Surge
table. All spells are cast by the foxglove, and all effects target
the player character.
Court of the Ashen Fey
Children of Ryemount, a small mining town built halfway up the
mountain Winterscarre Peak, are commonly warned not to climb
to the top of the northern summit. Up there, the story says, is
the Ashen Court – a castle that belongs to the exiled ashen fey.
Though its exact location is unknown, it is said that the castle can
be found by following a trail of foxgloves that winds up the side
of the mountain.
The foxgloves appeared several centuries ago, when Collen – a
newly-appointed priest to the Ryemount church of Torm – made
it his business to shut down rumours of the ‘devils’ living on the
peak. When Gwyn, fey king of the Ashen Court, heard of this,
he delivered a personal invitation to the priest, promising him
feasts of peace and grand revels if he should visit. But when the
hapless priest appeared, the king instead ordered him instead to
be beheaded.
Not to be outdone – and determined not to die on fey
land – Collen picked up his severed head and marched back to
Ryemount, whereupon he lay down in his own bed and finally
died. Where blood fell from his severed neck on the walk back
down the mountain, foxgloves bloomed the following year and
have continued to do so every year since.
Foxglove
FORAGING | REGISTRY OF PLANTS
28
Fraxinella
Fraxinella
Category: Harming
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Woodland
Edible: No
Related items: Fraxinella bottle (page 43)
Fraxinella grows prolifically around water sources in
woodlands and forests, and is beloved by samovila and
samodiva, woodland nymphs who inhabit the same
areas. However, the plant needs no protection from these
guardians, as it protects itself – it surrounds itself with a
flammable atmosphere that bursts into flame the moment
it is touched.
Foraging note: Any character standing within 5ft of
this plant is standing within its aura. If the plant is touched
without the aura having first been dispersed (for example,
by using a spell such as gust of wind), any creature standing
within the 5ft radius takes 1d6 fire damage. If one plant’s
aura is touching another’s, this sets off a chain reaction,
causing a further 1d4 fire damage for each plant in the
chain. The plants and surrounding environment are not
damaged by this.
Fungi
Category: Harming, healing, utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Marshland, mountain, woodland
Edible: Various
Related items: Elfdans’ gift (page 59), forager’s knife (page 59)
Fungi come in many shapes and sizes, and vary wildly
between the edible (and delicious!) and the deadly poisonous.
Spreading underground, they can reach incredible sizes,
though they are often invisible until their mushrooms – the
fruiting bodies of the fungi – appear above ground to spread
their spores. Many cultures have stories concerning how
mushrooms came to exist; in the Western Heartlands, it
is said that they are the fingers of Kelemvor, reaching up
through the earth to feed the poor.
If player characters decide to eat mushrooms they have
found, use the mushroom roll table below to determine
whether the mushrooms are edible or not. If a player has
proficiency with the Herbalism Kit or rolls a successful
Nature check, reveal the results to them before they eat
the mushrooms.
Mushroom Roll Table
d100 Results of ingesting
1 - 10 You enter an hallucinogenic trance for the
next hour. During this time, you receive a
cryptic message from an unknown deity.
11 - 20 You enter a state of ‘battle-spasm’. No
matter your Class, you enter the Rage state
and gain temporary hit points equal to your
current level, and feel compelled to attack
the creature closest to you. If you are a
Barbarian, this does not use one of your
available Rages.
Mushroom Roll Table
d100 Results of ingesting
21 - 30 You are subjected to a period of Short-Term
Madness for the next hour. Use the official
roll table to determine its effect.
31 - 65 The mushrooms are edible, and you gain
1d10 temporary hit points.
66 - 100 The mushrooms are poisonous. You must
make a DC16 Constitution saving throw; on a
failed save, you take 2d10 poison damage; on
a success, you take half that damage.
Mushroom Rings
Tales abound of the toads, dragons, and fey who protect
mushroom rings, and the fates of people who step into them.
The rings mark where the veil thins between the Material
Plane and the Feywild; use the mushroom ring roll table to
dictate the result of stepping into one.
Mushroom Ring Roll Table
d4 Results of Trespassing
1 The creature must make a successful DC12
Constitution save or fall asleep for 1d6 hours.
The creature can be woken by taking damage.
This sleep, if completed, does not count as a
long or short rest.
2 The creature finds themselves suddenly
compelled to dance for 1d6 hours, after
which they take a point of exhaustion.
3 1d4 fey creatures of the DM’s choosing
appear in the ring. The creatures will enter
combat until the players are driven more
than 60ft from the ring, at which point they
disappear again.
4 The ring is the site of buried treasure. Use
the official trinket table to determine what
treasure is discovered.
Fungi: Fly Agaric
Category: Utility
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Marshland, woodland
Edible: No, unless processed (dried, smoked, etc.)
Related items: Basic poison (page 45)
The amanita, or fly agaric, is one of the most distinctive-
looking mushrooms across all the Realms. Said to grow
from the heart of thunderstorms, this mysterious fungus is
a popular hallucinogen and is used in religious and ritual
practices in practically all cultures. Appearing later in the
year, it typically grows beneath birch and spruce trees, and is
instantly recognisable by its red cap and white warts.
In northern parts of the Realms, fly agaric is also called
‘raven’s bread’, in connection with the two ravens, Huginn
and Muninn, who travel with the god Odin. Munins tugga
is also used in skaldic poetry to symbolise corpses, and the
redness of blood (or fly agaric) on snow.
Berserkers from the distant reaches of the Realms use fly
agaric to enter a state of uncontrolled rage and fearlessness.
29
The legendary warrior Cuchulainn, when he entered
this state, would not only become frenzied but could also
perform feats of fearsome strength, generate a great heat
from his body, and was overcome with an unstoppable desire
to kill everyone in sight. In some stories, it is said that he
could burst into flame at will.
In Mulhorand, similar species of mushroom are believed
to have been gifted by the gods as a food of immortality, and
are therefore only eaten by high-ranking nobility.
Fungi: Golden Jelly
Category: Utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Woodland
Edible: Yes
The golden jelly fungus is found commonly across the
Realms. Although it is edible and non-toxic (though
flavourless), it is known in some places as ‘witch’s butter’ and
used to bestow curses. To curse the intended victim, all that
is required is to throw the fungus at them, causing a bout of
bad fortune.
Fungi: Inky Cap
Category: Harming
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Scrubland, woodland
Edible: No
Related items: Basic poison (page 45)
The inky cap is a small, white mushroom that,
once mature, turns black and begins to ‘melt’ in
long, viscous droplets. A common fungus across
the northern Realms, it is entirely edible, unless
ingested alongside alcohol – at which point
it becomes poisonous. The symptoms of inky
cap poisoning can include nausea, vomiting,
agitation, and tingling in the limbs. Though
most recover within a few hours, it has been
known to be fatal.
Fungi: Lion’s Mane
Category: Healing
Rarity: Common
Biome: Woodland
Edible: Yes
Related items: Antidote (page 42)
Lion’s mane is a large, white mushroom that
grows on the trunks of dead trees, particularly oak
and walnut. It is easily distinguished from
other mushrooms, as it hangs from
the wood in long, hair-like strands,
appearing like a beard or a mane.
It is eaten as a delicacy
in many areas, and can be
beneficial in treating ailments
of the stomach.
Fungi: Rubroboletus spp.
Category: Harming
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Marshland, woodland
Edible: No
Related items: Basic poison (page 45), Halling’s
net (page 60)
These large mushrooms may not look remarkable on the
outside, but once they are cut open or bruised, the flesh
quickly turns a vibrant blue. Members of this fungus family
all share this trait but are otherwise varied – R. pulcherrimus
has a ‘netted’ stem, and R. satanas emits the scent of
rotting flesh, and can grow up to two feet wide. They are
all poisonous.
Fungi: Scarlet Fey Cup
Category: Healing
Rarity: Common
Biome: Woodland
Edible: Yes
Related items: Healing potion (page 43)
The scarlet fey cup is a striking-looking fungus that can
be found growing on dead wood throughout early spring.
The bright red cups rarely grow any larger than an inch,
though in the Feywild they are said to grow much larger and
are used as drinking vessels by the fey. Though technically
edible, this mushroom has a bland flavour and tough texture.
However, it can help stop bleeding and encourages faster
healing when applied to wounds as a paste.
Fungi: Shiitake
Category: Healing
Rarity: Common
Biome: Marshland, mountain
Edible: Yes
Related items: Healing potion (page 43)
Shiitake mushrooms are particularly prized in Kara-Tur
for their medicinal properties. They’re so valued that in
some rural regions, a crop of shiitake is planted upon the
birth of a child; when that child comes of age, they are
gifted the mature crop as a fortune with which to begin
their adult life. However, due to the value of these crops,
they are occasionally stolen. In one such case, the crop in
question was stolen from the heir of a noble family, and a
manhunt was launched to find the culprit. The result was
the execution of no less than twenty men and a short, but
bloody, civil war.
Garlic
Category: Utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Farmland, woodland
Edible: Yes (bulb, leaves)
Related items: Dead man’s curse (page 49)
Also known as ‘slayer of monsters’ or ‘sorcerer’s garlic’,
garlic is a powerful protection against magic, and is
30
particularly favoured by miners, who carry it to defend
themselves against the assaults of impure spirits found deep
underground.
There are several unverified legends of spellcasters who
have partaken of a tea brewed with garlic leaves; this tea
allowed them to travel to the Astral Plane, or even to enter
the realm of death and return safely again.
Giant Hogweed
Category: Harming
Rarity: Uncommon Giant
Biome: Farmland, marshland, scrubland Hogweed
Edible: No
Related items: Basic poison (page 45), blisterpaste (page 45)
Giant hogweed is an invasive weed which can take over
ditches and entire fields in the space of one season. It can
reach over ten feet in height, and is identifiable by its large,
white, umbelliferous flowers. Coming into contact with
giant hogweed can induce severe photosensitivity, which
causes extreme burns and blisters upon exposure to light.
This burning can last for days and, in some cases, even years.
Foraging note: Player characters must take care to cover
any exposed skin before gathering this plant. If they fail to
do so, any physical contact with the plant incurs 2d8 poison
damage on a failed DC14 Constitution saving throw, or half
as much on a successful one.
Encounter Seed: Giant Hogweed
It seems that the townspeople of Nadderwell have discovered
a vampire in their midst. The vampire in question is recently-
arrived local botanist Athanan Oriel, whose vehement avoidance
of sunlight has not gone unnoticed – but the truth was revealed
beyond any doubt when Millicent Merryveil, landlady of the
Merryveil Meadery, saw the botanist break out in terrible blisters
on a sunny market day. Athanan, now locked in her house and
awaiting the town’s judgement, protests a difference explanation
for her affliction, however...
If the party speak with Athanan at her shuttered window, she
will inform them that the cause of her burns was an unfortunate
encounter with some giant hogweed. If the party are able to
find and fetch a sample of the plant to her, she will be able to
demonstrate its properties to the townsfolk, substantiating her
own explanation and dispelling their suspicions. Though the
plant grows in many of the ditches and fields around Nadderwell,
the party will find the plant difficult to gather without suffering
burns of their own unless they’re careful.
Hawthorn
Category: Miscellaneous
Rarity: Common
Biome: Farmland, scrubland, woodland
Edible: Yes (berries)
Hawthorns are one of the first trees to blossom in spring. A
common tree found growing in hedgerows and woodlands,
their beautiful white flowers have the distinctive smell of
rotting flesh. Because of this, many legends suggest that their
roots are the gateways to the river Styx. They are particularly
favoured by both Kelemvor and the Flower Brides.

Hellebore
Category: Harming, utility
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Woodland
Edible: No
Related items: Basic poison (page 45), invisibility powder
(page 51), weapon paste (page 47)
Hellebore is an attractive flower that comes in many
different colours, and most often blooms in the cold months
of winter, even when it’s snowing. Despite its innocent
appearance, it has a long history of use in warfare, either in
poisoning urban water sources in times of siege or being
ground into a paste and smeared onto weaponry. Folk tales
also tell of army-conscripted sorcerers who are able to move
about unseen through the enemy by concealing themselves
with clouds of powdered hellebore root, although verifiable
sources of this are hard to find.
Henbane
Category: Utility
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Coast, mountain, scrubland
Edible: No
Related items: Basic poison (page 45), flying ointment
(page 42), powder of invocation (page 54)
Henbane is a small, flowering plant, made distinct by the
dark purple veins that pattern its yellow leaves. Closely
connected with death, it is said to be able to invoke restless
souls and demons, to aid in prophetic visions, and to calm
unsettled spirits on their way to the afterlife. However, its
effect on living people is the exact opposite – it is said to turn
even the most placid people angry and quarrelsome.
When the dried leaves are burned and the smoke is inhaled
by a Cleric, for the next hour that Cleris has a higher chance
of being successful when using Divine Intervention. During
this time, when the percentile dice is rolled, the deity will
intervene when a number is rolled that is equal to or lower
than the Cleric level plus Proficiency Bonus.
Ivy
Category: Harming
Rarity: Common
Biome: Farmland, woodland
Edible: No
Related items: Ivy ale (page 46)
A well-known climbing plant, ivy is as commonly found in
settlements as it is out in the wild, providing a valuable food
source for moths, birds, bats, and other pollinators. Though
not necessarily poisonous, some unscrupulous gangs use it to
spike alcoholic drinks to make the target drunker than usual.
Typically, this is done prior to a robbery; it is also often done
on the night before elections, to ensure that victims will be
too hungover to partake in the voting – a practice known
as ‘hocusing’.
Juniper
31
Ivy
Encounter Seed: Ivy
The streets of Bridgfirth have recently borne witness to a
spate of late-night robberies – and Watch Lieutenant Anlon
‘Hal’ Halloren is determined to get to the bottom of them. All
victims have been found curiously unharmed, save for a horrific
hangover the following day, though the local innkeeper swears
that none ever bought more than a drink or two in the tavern.
So, like any good lawkeeper, Hal’s setting up an undercover sting
– and he could use some unfamiliar faces to back him up.
Whilst sitting with Hal in the taproom, a successful DC16
Wisdom (Perception) check will reveal that the innkeeper is
adding something to the ale of a random patron; alternatively, a
successful DC12 Intelligence (Nature) check to examine the ale
itself will reveal that it has been spiked with dried and crushed
ivy leaves. Upon being questioned, the innkeeper will attempt to
escape: pursuing him will result in a confrontation with 1d6 thugs
in the alley outside. Once the thugs are defeated, Hal will make
his arrests and close the case – rewarding the party with 250 gp
for their assistance.
Juniper
Category: Utility
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Mountain, woodland
Edible: Yes (berries)
Related items: Counting kit (page 49), juniper
incense (page 52)
Traditional ‘guardians’ of the dead, juniper trees are
commonly planted over graves or in cemeteries to nurture
the souls of those interred there until they are ready to be
reincarnated. However, the juniper’s spirit is not so kind to
other trees – in Luskan, it is believed that the juniper and
ash are sworn enemies; if a juniper is planted on one side of
a tree and an ash on the other, the tree in the middle will be
split apart by their disdain for each other.
The tiny, numerous leaves are also a point of frustration
to undead, who, upon seeing the leaves, are seized with an
irresistible mania to count all of them.
Hellebore
Lady’s Mantle
Category: Utility
Rarity: Rare
Biome: Woodland
Edible: No
Related items: Agua aurea (page 48)
This small plant, with its clusters of yellow flowers, is easily
overlooked on the woodland floor. Its large, cup-shaped
leaves gather rain when it falls, and the raindrops separate
on their surface, taking on an odd, metallic sort of sheen.
This water, known to those who seek it as ‘agua aurea’, is
considered to have magical properties, and is highly valued
for its ability to increase the potency of potions. Some even
believe it to hold the secret of turning base metals into gold.
Encounter Seed: Lady’s Mantle
Legend tells of three fey siblings who dwell in the forested valley
of Emerald Veil. As powerful as they are beautiful, they are said
to reward any who succeed in finding them with a sip from a
wondrous chalice – a sip of agua aurea. None in living memory
have found this bounty, and some who seek it never return at all;
still, the story persists, and there is rarely smoke without fire.
The reality of the legend really is the existence of a glade of
lady’s mantle, hidden deep in the Emerald Veil by illusory magic
– and while its residents certainly appear to be three beautiful
fey siblings at first glance, they are quickly revealed to be a coven
of three green hags in disguise. Only once the coven has been
defeated in its entirety may the party safely gather agua aurea
from the cupped leaves. There will be enough here for three vials
of the liquid.
Mandrake
Category: Harming, utility
Rarity: Rare
Biome: Mountain, scrubland
Edible: No
Related items: Basic poison (page 45), mandrake
charm (page 53)
Mandrake can be difficult to locate, but is most reliably found
growing beneath hanging gallows and at crossroads where
murderers and witches are buried. It can also be located at
night, as it emits a soft, glowing light that vanishes when it is
approached.
For anyone intending to gather this plant, warnings are
best heeded: not only does it emit a fearsome screech when
it is unearthed, but the roots are said to be so long that they
lead all the way down to the Underworld, and any unwary
person may fall down the hole after pulling up the plant. All
parts of the mandrake are poisonous.
Foraging note: As it is the roots of this plant which are
most useful, the entire mandrake must be pulled up when
foraging. When uprooted, the plant emits a piercing shriek
and deals 3d6 thunder damage to anyone standing within
a 10ft radius, unless they succeed on a DC18 Constitution
saving throw. On a success, half damage is taken.
32
Encounter Seed: Mandrake Mistletoe
Nils Silverhand, a once-struggling merchant, has suddenly come
into great success and fortune. Only a month ago he was barely
able to support himself, but now he is opening stores across the
city, wearing the finest clothes, and his greatest financial rivals
seem to have mysteriously disappeared. Rumours are starting to
spread that Nils may have in his employ an alraune – a devilish
man-made spirit created from the roots of a mandrake – and
local traders are worried that they may be next to fall prey to
Nils’ greed.
Speaking with Nils will reveal that he has indeed made a
contract with an alraune. This creature has helped double his
wealth, removed a few inconvenient merchant rivals, and told
him secrets which he has used to blackmail his way to success –
but every day, its demands for meat and gold grow greater, and
he fears that it will kill him if he cannot keep up with its appetite.
After revealing this, he will ask the party for help in killing the
creature in exchange for some of his wealth.
Mistletoe
Category: Utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Farmland, woodland
Edible: No
Related items: Bird lime (page 48), staff of disarming (page 63)
Mistletoe is an epiphyte, growing on the branches of other
trees and stealing resources from them. It can go its entire
lifetime without ever touching the ground. In many rural
areas, it is gathered and hung from the rafters of the home all
year round to protect against poverty.
Plant of Peace
Mistletoe has long been touted as a plant of peace and is said
to encourage compassion in those who meet in anger beneath
it. It is so effective that the town of Westwend, which lost half
of its population to a brief fashion for ‘honourable’ duels, has
woven mistletoe into the walls and doorways of every building,
where it maintains an enforced peace throughout the town.
Consequently, Westwend hasn’t seen a duel fought within
its boundaries in over twenty years… although the nearby
woodlands are the location of many clandestine affrays.
Mosses and Lichens
Category: Healing, utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Marshland, mountain, scrubland, woodland
Edible: Various
Humble though they may be, mosses and lichens are
beneficial as both food source and magical component.
Found growing abundantly over trees, rocks, buildings, and
ground, mosses are typically thicker and spongier in texture,
whereas lichens are dry and thin. Both are slow-growing;
mosses typically grow only one inch every 25 years.
 The Moss People
In the High Forest are told tales of the Moss People: a secretive
race of small humanoids, aged and clad in mosses, who live quiet
lives in the woods. Hunted almost to extinction by the Wild Hunt,
they will occasionally appear to travellers to ask for a favour or
much-needed item, compensating them generously in return.
They are ruled by a mysterious and pragmatic matriarch called
the Shrub Grandmother.
Mosses and Lichens: Bread Moss
Category: Healing
Rarity: Common
Biome: Mountain, scrubland
Edible: No
Related items: Antidote (page 42)
A scruffy, pale green lichen most commonly found in harsher
northern climes. During the long, dark winters, this moss is
a valuable source of nutrients to those living off the barren
landscape, and is often baked into bread, or included in
porridges and gruels.
Mosses and Lichens: Dead Man’s Skull
Category: Utility
Rarity: Rare
Biome: Mountain, woodland
Edible: Yes
Related items: Dead man’s potion (page 42)
This thin, anaemic-looking lichen favours cold regions,
particularly those such as Cold Wood and the Frozen Forest.
Though it is most commonly found on branches of trees, it
has also been noted that it grows prolifically on the bones,
and particularly skulls, of corpses. The lichen gathered from
these is said to make a man’s own skull ‘so impenetrable as to
not be pierced by any arrow’, making it a valuable resource
for traders and adventurers alike. In some southern cities,
where it is harder to import it, less scrupulous traders have
‘acquired’ their own skulls on which to grow it. However,
whether this home-grown lichen has the same properties as
its wild, northerly counterpart is questionable.
Mosses and Lichens: Goblin Gold
Category: Utility
Rarity: Rare
Biome: Marshland, mountain
Edible: No
Related items: Goblin’s deception (page 50)
Goblin gold is a short, scrubby moss that grows in dark,
damp caves and shady bogs where other plants can’t survive.
It is best known for the faint light that it gives off, even in
the darkest of caverns. Many adventurers have leapt into
such places, imagining that they’ve discovered emeralds or
riches – only to find that the ‘treasure’ turns to dirt in their
hands. This cruel trick is the crux of many bardic songs.
Mandrake
33
Encounter Seed: Goblin Gold
The once-peaceful foothill community of Nath Lynoch has
been plunged into chaos. A red dragon wyrmling has taken up
residence in the nearby caves, where an abundance of goblin
gold moss is known to grow. Mistaking the stuff for an unguarded
horde, the wyrmling now guards its phony wealth jealously,
leaving the cave only to hunt sheep – and the odd villager – at
dusk and dawn.
The party may either confront the red dragon wyrmling when
it leaves its lair to hunt, or seek it out in the caves. Once the
wyrmling is defeated, the party will receive 400 gp from the
villagers as thanks and will be able to safely harvest some of the
goblin gold moss.
Mosses and Lichens: Mountain Clubmoss
Category: Utility
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Mountain, scrubland
Edible: Yes
Related items: Loaf of sight (page 43)
This tall, spindly moss grows in small clumps of heather-
like fronds. Native to alpine regions and rocky scrubland,
ingesting clubmoss is considered to improve eyesight,
though any magical properties attributed to the plant depend
on the night that the moss is gathered. To have any magical
value as a component, it must be gathered on the night
of a new moon.
Encounter Seed: Mountain Clubmoss
Children in the alpine village of Gruutilde sing a song about
Old Grandmother Crag, who lives on the mountain above. Old
Grandmother Crag, so the song goes, has a magical garden of
wonders that only appears at night – but so beautiful is this
garden, she is said to be fiendishly possessive of its contents,
watching over it with eyes that see all and punishing anyone who
dares set foot on its grounds.
The garden does indeed exist and can only be found at night,
if the party chooses to venture up the mountain. Once there, the
party may choose to roll a DC16 Dexterity (Stealth) check to
covertly harvest mountain clubmoss from its patch; on a failed
check, however, or should the party forego the check altogether,
they will be confronted by one annis hag – Old Grandmother
Crag herself. No more plants may be safely harvested until Old
Grandmother Crag is defeated. Once she is slain, the party will
find on her body a small selection of coins, a forager’s knife,
and a loaf of sight.
Mosses and Lichens: Roccella tinctoria
Category: Utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Scrubland
Edible: No
Related items: War paint (page 57)
Roccella is an unremarkable, scrubby, brown lichen
that grows in dry, hot, and rocky areas. Despite its plain
appearance, it creates a vibrant purple dye that is prized by
tradesmen of various disciplines.
Mosses and Lichens: Sphagnum Moss
Category: Healing
Rarity: Common
Biome: Marshland
Edible: No
Related items: Healing potion (page 43)
Sphagnum moss is a thick, soft moss that grows prolifically
in swampy areas and damp marshlands. Even once gathered
and dried, it retains the ability to hold large amounts of
water, which can be squeezed back out when needed. Its
boggy environment is home to will o’ the wisps: the moss
glows faintly in response to their presence and as such can be
a useful warning to lost travellers.
The moss is also highly valuable to soldiers and fighters, as
it can be packed into open wounds to keep them clean and
staunch bleeding. Its antibacterial properties and ability to
absorb moisture makes it a vital addition to any healer’s pack.
In addition to its medical uses, it’s commonly used to line
the cradles of babes as a ward against being switched with a
changeling child.
Mosses and Lichens: Yellow Lichen
Category: Utility
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Mountain
Edible: No
Related items: War paint (page 57)
Yellow lichen grows only where the air is clean and pure,
most commonly on the higher peaks of mountains. A vibrant
golden colour, it is easily spotted, even from a distance. It is a
popular fabric dye and paint colourant.
Mugwort
Category: Healing
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Farmland, scrubland
Edible: Yes (leaves and buds)
Related items: Ointment of soothing (page 43)
Encounter Seed: Mugwort
The Abbey of Sheltering Boughs is in crisis: an infestation of
feldgeister has descended on the fields, preventing the monks
from harvesting vital ingredients for their medicines. Every day,
the feldgeister run amok; the Abbey’s stores run lower; and the
monks’ patients are put at ever-greater risk. Most sorely needed
of all are mugwort coals, but the specific conditions in which
they must be gathered makes the task nigh impossible in the
current circumstances. With precious few options left, Brother
Bheid Ironhelm is asking for outside help in resolving the issue –
but time is quickly running out.
Bheid will request that the party gather 2d4 coals from a field
out the back of the abbey, emphasising the conditions in which
they must be harvested. Whether the party attempt to harvest
the coals at noon or midnight, they will be attacked by a rabble of
1d8 feldgeister. Once the coals are handed over to Bheid, he will
reward the party with 50 gp as thanks for their assistance and
allow them to keep half of the coals that they have collected.
34
Mugwort is a profoundly useful plant, utilised for its ability
to repel insects, disease, madness, and fatigue, amongst other
maladies. It is often laid inside shoes before a long journey
to ease the pain of sore feet; doing so is also said to protect
against accidents on the road, thieves, and unexpected delays.
The most powerful part of the plant is the knotted roots,
known as the ‘coal’, which must be unearthed at either noon
or midnight.
Mulberry
Category: Utility
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Farmland, mountain
Edible: Yes (fruit)
Related items: Silk archer’s gloves (page 63), sunstrike
bow (page 64)
Small and hardy, mulberry trees are of particular interest to
weavers and silk merchants as they are the favoured food
of silkworms. Often represented alongside the image of a
three-legged sunbird – a mythical creature said to nest in a
mulberry tree at the end of the world – these trees are the
symbol of archers everywhere, as the wood is flexible and
makes (what some claim to be) the most superior bows.
Arrows made of this wood fly true, and can supposedly slay
any evil spirit.
Oak
Category: Utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Farmland, scrubland, woodland
Edible: Yes (acorns)
Related items: Oak gall ink (page 53)
Oaks are some of the largest trees that can be found in
temperate climates. Living for hundreds of years, they are
more frequently struck by lightning than almost any other
species – a trait which often sees them associated with gods
of storms and lightning.
Many kinds of wasp lay their eggs on oak leaves. The oak
then grows a protective cocoon – known as an oak gall –
over the egg. Once these eggs have hatched, the empty galls
can be gathered and used to make ink. They also have a use
in divination: if a gall is opened up, finding a worm inside
indicates a year of pleasant and benevolent weather. A spider
indicates a bad year, and if the gall is empty, then a period of
disease is due to strike.
The Great Disaster
At the centre of the coastal city of Moonbright there once grew
a great oak. Legends say that the famous wizard Eregrus was
birthed within the trunk of that tree, and placed upon it a spell
which would protect the city, but also bring disaster if the tree
were ever felled. The oak lived to a great age before it was struck
by lightning, but even afterwards, the burned trunk was kept
behind railings for a century. Eventually, the rotting stump was
removed by the council… and the city flooded only a few days
later, leading to the deaths of many.
Ocotillo
Category: Healing, utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Coast, scrubland
Edible: Yes (flowers)
Related items: Candlewood cloak (page 58), desert’s
blessing (page 42), staff of the warden (page 64)
Children’s burial, children’s burial
I come upon, where ocotillo flowers enclose me:
Such I come upon.
Red rock hill, red rock hill;
I watch, where the burned bows lie crumbling.
While I watch, my heart hurts.
Ocotillo is a thorny, red-flowered shrub that grows on the
fringes of deserts. These plants can often be spotted by the
tiny, jewel-coloured hummingbirds that feed off them. In
some areas, ocotillo is also known as ‘little torch’ due to the
brightness of its red flowers.
The oldest specimens can grow up to 20 feet tall, and their
thorny stems are perfect for use as living fences in some
villages where the plant thrives. These fences are particularly
popular around sombre sites such as graveyards – especially
those where children are buried – as the flowers bring a
cheerful brightness to the air.
Encounter Seed: Ocotillo
There is a cheery little plot in Evanta’s Quarter of the Dead
known as the Orphans’ Garden. Bordered by bright hedges of
flowering ocotillo, this is where the city buries the children who
lived their short lives on its streets – the waifs and strays who
have no family to visit their final resting places. The Garden
is usually tended to by kindly locals, but no one has dared to
venture there in several weeks – not since something dark and
reeking of rotting flesh was seen disturbing the graves.
If the party choose to investigate, they will encounter the
ghost of an orphan girl, Anetta, hiding behind the ocotillo hedge.
Anetta will inform them that the creatures responsible are a pack
of ghouls and will beg the party to return at night to intercede
before anymore of her friends have their peace disturbed. Upon
returning to the Garden after dark, the party will encounter 1d4
ghouls; defeating them will result in Anetta reappearing to thank
the party. She will guide them to a part of the cemetery where a
thief once hid their treasure, but never returned for it. The party
will unearth 150 gp and a staff of the warden.
Pimpernel
Category: Utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Marshland, mountain, woodland
Edible: No
Related items: Waywort’s barometer (page 57)
Pimpernels are tiny red or blue flowers that grow best in
mossy and grassy areas. Loved by travellers and farmers
alike, they can predict the weather for the day ahead – on a
fine day, they open in full bloom, but when rain is due, they
close their petals in advance.
35
Odetta’s Lament
Forbidden by their parents from marrying, Odetta and Fiete
planned to run away together. Having agreed to meet at a local
crossroads after dark, Odetta waited for Fiete… and waited,
and waited, unaware that her beloved had changed his mind.
After days of lingering and weeping, she lay down and died of
hertbreak. Where she lay, tiny, star-like pimpernels sprung up
from the grass to continue her vigil, and the pimpernel came to
be known as the ‘watcher of the road’.
Poppy
Category: Harming, utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Coast, farmland, mountain, scrubland
Edible: No
Related items: Basic poison (page 45), counting kit (page
49), flying ointment (page 42)
These cheerful, red-headed flowers may bring about
thoughts of lazy summer days, but they are also entwined
with tales of their somniferous and quieting effects – or, in
the wrong hands, their ability to kill. Deities with affinities
for death, grief, and sleep – such as Kelemvor, Dendar, and
Shar – are often depicted as being crowned with poppies.
Originally used to calm colicky children, the seeds can be
used to soothe, bring sleep, and sedate the injured, and can
be taken crushed, mixed with alcohol, or in a tea. However,
overuse can lead to drunkenness, comas, and death.
Suprisingly, this hasn’t lessened the seeds’ popularity as
a baking ingredient. In some rural towns, young, unwed
people will bake a poppyseed cake and then toss it out the
door, before sending a dog out to fetch it back. The direction
from which the dog returns is the direction from which their
future love will appear.
Rattan
Category: Utility
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Tropical forest
Edible: No
Related items: False bones (page 50)
Rattan is a tall, sturdy climbing plant that can grow up to
300 feet tall. Once cut, the leaf stems are flexible, and are
popular materials for weaving. The wood of the trunk can
also be shaped and heated into a material that is all but
indistinguishable from bone.
The stems and leaves are often home to colonies of ants,
which, when threatened, will drum their bodies against the
plant, making the tall stems rattle warningly. This ghostly
warning sound has often been attributed to forest spirits and
malicious demons.
Poppy
 Rowan
Rose
Category: Utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Farmland, mountain, scrubland
Edible: Yes (hips, flowers)
Related items: Rose oil (page 43), rose petals (page 54)
Wild roses grow voraciously in even the most difficult
of environments, climbing trees to reach great heights or
rooting themselves in the smallest cracks in cliffs and walls.
Garden favourites though they may be, they are also long
associated with the dead, with the flowers being used as
bloodless sacrifices to pacifist gods such as Eldath or Rao, and
the oil being used to anoint corpses to keep bodies fresh.
In some societies, they are also representative of secrets
and hidden things. A rose hung from the ceiling indicates
that any conversation taking place beneath it must be kept
confidential, and some secret societies wear a stylised rose to
indicate membership.
Encounter Seed: Rose
When old Dowager Duchess Rathbone died, she had but one final
wish: that when her body be taken to the house of the dead, it
should be anointed with an oil made from the flowers that grow
on her family’s estate. The Rathbones were famous for their
roses – but the jewel in the crown was the Rathbone Ruby, a rare
and exquisite variety red as blood and matchlessly perfumed. The
Rathbone Estate lies in ruins, now, the family’s glory days long
behind them – yet rumour has it there’s no better place to find
the Rathbone Ruby growing in abundance…
Rathbone Ruby roses can indeed be found in the grounds,
thriving amongst the family tombs. The Rathbones are very
protective of this rarest of their cultivars, however – even in
death. Four skeletons and two zombies will climb from the tombs
to fight any intruders; no roses can be safely harvested for the
anointing oil until the Rathbones have been defeated.
Rowan
Category: Utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Woodland, scrubland, mountain
Edible: No
Related items: Lyre of the muses (page 53), rowan
wine (page 44)
Rowan trees love growing at altitude, and can be found in
abundance in rocky areas, growing from tiny crevices in
cliffs. For the latter half of the year, the rowan is covered
in red berries. The colour red, especially when it occurs in
nature, is one of the most powerful colours in the context
of magic (hence the popularity of red thread or cloth in
charms); consequently, the tree is also popular for use in
making magical charms, the uses of which range from
protection against ill-omens to the granting of second sight.
36
Particularly beloved of Oghma, the deity of invention,
rowan trees are called the ‘tree of bards’ and are said to
bring inspiration to any person lacking it – they need simply
sit beneath the canopy for a while. Not only are musical
instruments and crafting tools of rowan wood said to be
blessed by Oghma – any song or tale carved into a tablet of
rowan wood is protected from being changed or stolen by
mischievous spirits.
Friends in High Places
Shipwrights in Luskan believe that using rowan wood in their ship
building will ensure that no storm will overturn the ship, and that
no man upon it shall be drowned. However, they also believe that
rowan and juniper trees are close friends, and that if a boat is
built with rowan wood and no part of its timbers include juniper,
the ship will sink itself.
Saguaro
Category: Utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Scrubland
Edible: Yes (fruit)
Related items: Duskbloom (page 50), sandwalker’s gorget
(page 62), spear of life-giving waters (page 63)
Of all the cacti found in the heat-blasted deserts of Faerûn,
the saguaro is the most common – and the most distinctive.
With their tall, central stem and two arms turned upright
to the hot sun, they can reach heights of anywhere between
40 and 80 feet. Inside each cactus is a vast store of rainwater,
and in times of drought, they provide food and habitat to
many other desert-dwelling creatures. When the flowers
bloom in early summer, they do so after the sun has set,
attracting bats and doves to drink from their nectar.
The lifespan of a saguaro often exceeds 150 years,
and some believe them to be immortal. One particularly
notorious cactus, growing somewhere in the Anauroch
desert, is said to still have embedded in its trunk arrowheads
from the last, chaotic years of Netheril before the region was
turned into the desert it is today.
Roses
 Encounter Seed: Saguaro
Thom Glazier, a young perfumier, has come to the town of Arulil
with one purpose in mind: to sample the scent of night-blooming
saguaro flowers for his latest creation. However, sinister rumours
abound about the local saguaro forest, and Glazier has been
warned repeatedly by the locals not to venture there after dark…
After all, they can all hear the thin, hair-raising song a-drift on the
wind in the small hours. Glazier, however, is not to be deterred.
Glazier will offer a reward of 400 gp if the party escorts him
into the saguaro forest after sundown. Speaking to locals for
further information will yield tales about a lady who disappeared
in the forest some years ago, but no more. Upon venturing into
the forest, the party and Glazier will be confronted by a woman’s
ghost (a patasola), crowned with saguaro flowers, who will attack
them. She can either be defeated in combat, or, if the party is
diligent in checking the area before she appears, they may discover
one cactus that stands out from the others. This one is twisted
and bulbous-looking, with a long-healed, jagged scar about its
crown. When it is cut open, the woman’s waterlogged remains will
be discovered inside. Disposing of the remains via immolation or
laying them to rest will appease the patasola and allow her to pass
on, resolving the encounter. If the patasola is defeated in combat
but her remains not discovered, she will reappear in 1d4 days.
Once the ghost is dealt with, Glazier—who will keep his distance
from combat—will take his sample of the flowers and readily pay
the party. He will also gift them with a duskbloom.
Sandbox Tree
Category: Harming
Rarity: Very rare
Biome: Tropical forest
Edible: No
Related items: Curare (page 45), sandbox mine (page 54)
The sandbox tree grows almost exclusively in Zakhara,
where the caustic sap is used to tip hunting arrows with
poison. Growing to approximately 130 feet tall, it is
recognisable by its bark, which is covered in thousands of
tiny, dark spines that extend over its trunk and branches.
Most notable, however, are its fruits – they have the
appearance of small pumpkins, but once they are ripe,
they explode, flinging their seeds at up to 160mph in all
directions. Locals avoid the tree around the time that the
fruits fall, as they are responsible for injuries and even
deaths every year.
Encounter Seed: Sandbox Tree
Disaster has struck at the Tamalak Hunter’s Guild. A clerical
oversight means that the Guild’s supply of sandbox poison has
run dry… right before the guild’s yearly test for new recruits, a
time at which this poison, in the form of curare, is used in great
amounts. The sandbox trees are laden with ipe and explosive
fruit, making the task of resupplying infinitely more dangerous.
The Hunter’s Guild will ask the party to help them collect
eight vials of sandbox tree poison. For each vial filled, the party
member collecting the poison must roll 1d6. On an even number,
they safely fill the vial without incident; on an odd number, a
nearby fruit explodes, and the party member must roll a DC16
Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, they are struck by the flying
seeds and take 3d10 piercing damage; on a success, they take
half damage.
If all four vials are successfully filled and returned to the
Hunter’s Guild, the party will be allowed to keep one vial of
sandbox poison as thanks for their trouble.
37
Seaweed
Category: Miscellaneous
Rarity: Common
Biome: Coast
Edible: Yes (all parts)
There’s not a shoreline along the Sword Coast that isn’t
strewn with various types of seaweed. The fishing villages
along these coastal stretches rely on this vegetable to
bolster their winter diets: near to the dwarven fortress of
Thornhold, one small island is so reputed for its reliable
seaweed harvest that it is colloquially known as the ‘honeyed
rock’. Many fisher families also use seaweed to predict
the coming day’s weather – a dried frond is hung in a
doorway and will rehydrate long before a storm is visible on
the horizon.
A Gift of the Sea
Glaucus, a fisherman who lived along the Sword Coast, lived a
long and full life fishing the waters and sailing his small vessel.
One day, when the wind was particularly cold, he began to
lament loudly about how his ageing body was slower and
more painful than it had been in his youth. Procan, hearing the
complaints, came to him in his dreams that night and advised him
that if he ate the seaweed caught in his nets the following day, he
would be granted immortality and his pains would disappear.
Greedy for another chance at life, Glaucus did just that. But
upon eating the weeds, his aching legs were transformed into a
strong tail, and he grew gills and fins – and was forced to dwell
forever in the ocean, never to return to his beloved shore again.
Snapdragon
Category: Utility
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Scrubland, mountain
Edible: Yes (flowers)
Related items: Antidote (page 42), snakebane
bracelet (page 63)
These colourful little flowers get their name from a children’s
game of squeezing the flower to make its ‘mouth’ open,
revealing flames and a tongue inside, before it snaps shut
again. Because of their similarity in appearance to dragons
or snakes, snapdragons are said to provide mild protection
against poisons. In winter the flowers turn into skull-like
seedpods, which are said to break curses when stepped upon.
Thyme
Category: Utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Farmland, woodland
Edible: Yes (all parts)
Related items: Tea of courage (page 44)
A common kitchen herb, thyme is reported to bestow great
courage before a fight. Rashemaar warriors bathe in thyme-
steeped water before battle, and the orcs of Vastar drink
a tea of it for the same purpose. In more gentle lands, the
plant is known for granting strength to anyone in need –
not just warriors. A cup of thyme beer is an old-fashioned
cure for shyness, and some young suitors braid thyme into
their hair for bravery before confessing to the subject of
their affections.
In the Moonshae Isles, it is thought that the souls of the
dead – particularly those of murder victims – dwell in thyme
flowers before they move on to the afterlife, gathering their
courage to make the final transition between life and death.
It is customary to plant thyme on graves and in cemeteries
for this exact reason.
Upas Tree
Category: Harming
Rarity: Legendary
Biome: Tropical forest
Edible: No
Related items: Upas poison (page 47)
The upas is a legendary tree thought to exist somewhere in
the jungles of Chult. Stories suggest that it emits a gas so
lethal that the land for 15 miles around it is devoid of life,
leaving the ground dry and barren – even birds refuse to fly
over it for fear of suffocation. Beneath the spiny bark, the sap
of the tree is so toxic that just a drop of it is said to possess
the potency to kill ten men.
Encounter Seed: Upas Tree
Bo Edlund, a canny trader and questionable jack-of-all-trades,
has made land in Port Nyanzaru to offload his current cargo. He
has heard tales of the upas tree and thinks that he can charge
a pretty price for its poison if he exports it to Waterdeep.
However, approaching the tree carries the risk of almost certain
death, and so Edlund is offering a handsome sum to anyone who
can go in his place and bring back at least five vials of the poison.
DM suggestion: Approaching the tree is difficult, but not
impossible. Players can do so by approaching with the wind
behind them, whilst wearing leather gloves, hood and mask, with
glass-lensed eye holes to see their way. They can gather this
information and the necessary apparel by talking to locals about
the tree, but each person they will speak with wants something
in exchange. One village will provide the hood and gloves, but
wants a vial of the poison in order to end a three-generational
dispute with the neighbouring settlement. The residents of the
rival village in question will provide information about how to
approach the tree safely, but only in exchange for the tree being
cut down so that they no longer have to live under threat from
their neighbours. Whatever the players decide, tension between
the two factions is at breaking point and they seem likely to
descend into an all-out war at any moment.
Verbena
Category: Utility
Rarity: Uncommon
Biome: Marshland, mountain, scrubland
Edible: Yes (leaves, flowers)
Related items: Fenland’s friend (page 42)
Verbena is easily spotted in rocky, open ground thanks to its
tall, slender stems and tufts of purple flowers. It is difficult
to uproot – leading to its nickname, ‘ironherb’ – but once
picked, it is invaluable in its uses. Predominantly, it is used in
the attraction and taming of animals. Dovecots can be refilled
38
Willow
by lining them with the leaves, and in some fenland areas,
verbena is laid in the water to attract eels, either for hunting
or to aid in the search for drowned bodies.
In some academic circles, apprentice wizards learning
the art of summoning will weave and wear crowns of fresh
verbena, under the assumption that its calming effects on
animals will work the same way on summoned spirits – and
the nervous apprentices themselves.
Willow
Category: Utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Marshland
Edible: No
Related items: Lyre of the muses (page 53), willow
stake (page 57)
Of all trees the willow is the most mournful, carrying out
its lonely vigil on the banks of rivers and marshlands, with
its trunk bent beneath the weight of the knowledge that it
carries. In fact, willows are quite remarkable at listening to
secrets – an old Najaran adage warns never to speak a secret
near one, or it might later be repeated to someone else.
There is a particular sort of magic to the flexible branches
and, more specifically, to the art of knotting them. The
nature of this knot magic varies; some knots are said to
grant wishes (so long as the knot is untied after the wish
is granted), and there have been stories of warlocks and
paladins who have broken their bonds by tying a knot in
a branch and so passing their oath on to the tree. Some
sorcerers have even developed a form of spell weaving via
knots, storing spells in complex designs and releasing them
gradually by undoing them again.
Another use for the willow lies in a funerary rite reserved
for murderers and traitors. A short, sharp stake is driven
through the heart of the accused to stop them from returning
for vengeance, before the body is laid to rest at a crossroads.
These stakes can continue to grow even after being cut and
buried, leading to the common sight of willows growing at
the roadside – their roots secretly bound about the corpse
of a criminal beneath the earth. These trees are sometimes
thought to be filled with the lingering malice of the corpse.
A Shared Origin
In rural areas of Murghôm, it is believed that the human
backbone was originally formed from a willow branch. When a
child is born, a willow tree is planted near its home, and as the
child grows, so does the tree, the two of them sharing fortunes
and vitality. It is not uncommon to visit the tree throughout one’s
life, bringing it gifts and caring for it in exchange for a long and
healthy existence.
 Yarrow

Yarrow
Category: Healing, utility
Rarity: Common
Biome: Mountain, scrubland, woodland
Edible: Yes (leaves, flowers)
Related items: Healing potion (page 43), Knyghten’s
lots (page 52)
These tenacious plants grow rampant in shady spaces,
recognisable by their clumps of white flowers and feathery
leaves. Also called ‘thousand-seal’, yarrow is said to be
imbued with an affinity for clairvoyance and second
sight. The leaves are also medicinally valuable, making an
effective staunch for bleeding wounds, as well as aiding in
disinfection. Additionally, strewing the leaves throughout a
household, or hanging dried bundles of them from doorways,
is thought to protect the property’s inhabitants from illness
and evil influence.

Yew
Category: Harming
Rarity: Common
Biome: Farmland, scrubland
Edible: No
Related items: Basic poison (page 45), guardian’s watch
(page 59), weapon paste (page 47)
Yews are closely associated with death and rebirth, and so
are commonly planted in cemeteries, where their roots are so
fine that they entangle the bones of the dead. A great storm
in the Moonshae Isles once uprooted an old yew, unearthing
the remains of numerous bodies in its roots; the incident
reignited the belief that the roots of a yew would grow
through the eyes of the dead to stop them from seeing back
into the living world and yearning for their previous lives.
Centuries of use have proven yew wood to be, to this day,
one of the best for making weaponry. Most prized is the
wood of a yew that has grown in a cemetery, as it has been
nourished by corpses and craves the touch of life.

Tree of Eternity
Of all the trees found growing across Faerûn, the yew is amongst
the longest-lived – no doubt one of the reasons it has become
synonymous with immortality and resurrection. Some yew trees
are thought to be at least 2,000 years old, and one famous such
tree in Waterdeep is said to be at least 9,000 years old. The
tree is part of the grounds of Helm’s Hall, and is said to have
been ‘bleeding’ red sap for at least the past 700 years. A local
legend claims that the tree weeps for the innocence of a young
priest of Helm, who was wrongfully hanged for a crime that he
did not commit.

Yew

39
40
Part 2: Crafting & Items
Chapter 6: A Primer on Crafting
T T
he magic in almost all the items included
here comes not from the crafter, nor from any
deity or spellbook, but instead from the plants that
are used in the crafting process. Each plant has
its own properties, its own personality and allegiances; for
all of the items, using the correct component is crucial. For
example, the wind-summoning power of the Sylph’s Whistle
comes specifically from the alder tree – pipes made from any
other wood simply wouldn’t have the correct properties. As
a result, many of the more powerful items in this chapter
require components that are harder to find, or more difficult
to gather. Use the encounter seeds in the Plants chapter for
suggestions on how to make foraging more challenging.
Herblore isn’t an academic study, or one that can be learnt
from books. It has to be learnt with the hands, through trial
and error, and often, through collaboration. Many of the
items in this chapter require use of a spell slot to channel
this magic, or collaboration with someone who understands
the plants themselves – but these wise botanists are seldom
found in fine academies or palaces. If your players don’t
have the correct proficiencies, they can visit one of the
guildhouses of the Botanist’s Guild to find NPCs who can
assist them. They may also find wandering foragers in the
deep wilds on their adventures. Use the Backgrounds
chapter for inspiration for these.
Potions and Poisons
As the potions and poisons found in the next two chapters
are items which are intended to be crafted by player
characters, there is always a potential for varying levels of
potency and accuracy in the end product, depending on
the character’s proficiencies. Included in many of the item
descriptions are ‘crafting notes’, which suggest how to
approach variations in recipe or customise intended potency
and effect. A DM may also require further rolls at their
discretion when determining a character’s success in safely
creating an item.
Trial and Error
Although these items are designed specifically for Herbarium,
you may notice that in the Plants section of this book, many
plants have been assigned magical qualities that are not
further explored within the items listed. These are intended
as prompts to inspire the DMs amongst you, drawn from the
real-life lore of these plants and providing plenty of scope for
you to create your own potion or item variants. For example,
a base potion could be crafted from asphodel that grants one
use of the sleep or dream spells, whilst a liquid imbued with
the adhesive properties of bluebell bulbs could be used to
create a sticky glue that traps unwary enemies. Perhaps these
qualities could even be gained simply by mixing the plants
into food! Many of the old students of herblore discovered
their magics through trial and error, and there is no ‘right’ or
‘wrong’ way to approach crafting in this manner.
41
Chapter 7: Potions, Oils, &
Ointments
he items in this section provide direct buffs
to player characters. They aren’t just potions;
there are oils, ointments, teas, wines, and even
food. If you wish to change the manner in which
a mixture is used for the sake of additional narrative flavour,
there are plenty of common ways to apply them, as below:
Tisane
A tisane is prepared from the dried parts of a plant, chopped
roughly into a ‘teabag’ of cotton or paper. Alternately, they
can be steeped in an infuser. Unlike tea, a tisane needs longer
to steep, in not-quite-boiling water to avoid burning the
ingredients.
Syrup
Syrups are a practical way to prepare barks, roots, and berries
well in advance of needing them. The components are boiled
on a low heat, then strained and added to honey and water. A
good syrup keeps for up to six months. A more enterprising
character might consider adding their favourite alcohol –
particularly brandy! – to the mix…
Oils & Tinctures
Plant oils and tinctures keep for about a year. The essential
difference is in the base that is used; an oil is created with
a base of oil, and best used for external application, such as
on sores and bites. A tincture is created with a base of pure
alcohol and is best for ingestion; it can be added to drinks
and food, or applied directly to the tongue.
Fresh plants are chopped and placed in a jar until it is full,
then the jar is topped up with oil or alcohol. The mixture
is shaken daily for three weeks, before the plant parts are
filtered out and the liquid returned to the container.
Poultice
A poultice is most applicable for wounds, bites, or infections.
Take a mixture of appropriate plant parts, and then boil,
steam, or pound them until they form a paste. A touch of
water, alcohol, vinegar or flour can be added to amend the
consistency of the mixture. The poultice is then applied
directly to the skin, held in place with a wet dressing or cloth,
and covered over with a clean bandage.
Compress
In contrast to a poultice, a compress is a cloth that has been
soaked in a premade herbal solution, such as a tisane or oil-
infused water. It is applied directly to the skin and covered
with a bandage. Alternately, a compress can be laid directly
over a poultice before binding. A compress can be applied
either hot or cold. The general rule to bear in mind is that
heat draws, and cold restricts – a hot compress is best for
infection or fever, and a cold compress will lessen swelling.
Registry of Items
Antidote
Potion, uncommon
A potion that, when drunk, will end the effects of the
poisoned condition. Any ongoing damage from the poisoned
condition no longer takes effect.
Crafting note: If agua aurea is used during crafting, the
antidote has an increased potency and heals half of the hit
points most recently lost to poison damage.
Crafting requirements
• Any one of the following: bread moss, lion’s mane,
snapdragon seeds
• Any non-viscous liquid (such as water, alcohol, etc.)
• Agua aurea (optional)
• Proficiency with herbalism kit or alchemist’s supplies, or
collaboration with a character with one of these proficiencies
Dead Man’s Potion
Potion, very rare
This potion, made with moss gathered from a dead man’s
skull, is said to grant the drinker better fortune than
the skull’s wretched owner. With its warm and grassy
odour, many advise holding your nose and downing this
potion quickly.
Drinking this potion grants a +1 bonus to AC
for 10 minutes.
Crafting requirements
• Dead man’s skull, gathered from the bones of a humanoid
corpse
• Any non-viscous liquid (such as water, alcohol, etc.)
• A handful of bones, crushed
• Proficiency with herbalism kit or alchemist’s supplies, or
collaboration with a character with one of these proficiencies
Desert’s Blessing
Potion, rare
This potion can protect even the weariest of travellers from
lack of sleep. Ingesting this potion gives the benefits of a
short rest, as well as protecting the drinker from taking
any points of Exhaustion for 24 hours. The potion does not
take effect immediately, and requires 10 minutes before it
takes effect.
Crafting requirements
• A single ocotillo flower, gathered from a gravesite
• Any non-viscous liquid (such as water, alcohol, etc.)
• Powdered silver
• Proficiency with herbalism kit or alchemist’s supplies, or
collaboration with a character with one of these proficiencies
42
Desert’s
Blessing
Dew of the Sun
Potion, uncommon
A pleasant-tasting concoction that revives both heart and
soul. When drunk, you gain 1d8+2 temporary hit points and
have advantage on one attack roll, saving throw, or ability
check made within 1 hour of drinking the potion.
Crafting note: If agua aurea is used during crafting, the
number of temporary hit points gained increases to 2d8+2.
Crafting requirements
• Dew gathered from a carnivorous plant
• Agua aurea (optional)
• Sugar, vanilla, and ginger
• Water and alcoholic spirits
• Proficiency with herbalism kit or alchemist’s supplies, or
collaboration with a character with one of these proficiencies
Fenland’s Friend
Adventuring gear, common
An oil expressed from the leaves of the verbena herb.
Rubbing the oil into your hands grants proficiency in
Animal Handling for 1 hour. If already proficient, you gain
expertise instead.
Crafting requirements
• Verbena, dried
• Animal fat, suet, or similar greasy substance
• Proficiency with herbalism kit or alchemist’s supplies, or
collaboration with a character with one of these proficiencies
Flying Ointment
Wondrous item, rare
A thick, black ointment that smells of herbs and lard. After
taking 10 minutes to apply the ointment to the underside of
the wrists or the inside of the elbows, you gain a flying speed
equal to your walking speed for up to 10 minutes. If you are
still flying at the end of the ointment’s effective duration, you Crafting requirements
descend safely at a rate of 30 feet per round until you land. • Any three of the following plants: aloe, rowan, scarlet fey
One jar of ointment contains approximately five uses. cup, seaweed, shiitake, sphagnum moss, thyme, verbena,
Crafting note: When applying this ointment, roll 1d6. willow, yarrow
On rolling a 6, use of the ointment not only grants the flying • Agua aurea (optional)
effect but also grants one immediate use of the commune spell. • An empty bottle
It is not known to the player which deity or divine proxy is • Any non-viscous liquid (such as water, alcohol, etc.)
answering the questions asked. • Proficiency with herbalism kit or alchemist’s supplies, or
Crafting requirements collaboration with a character with one of these proficiencies
• Animal fat, suet, or similar greasy substance
• Soot Loaf of Sight
• Oil from at least three of the following: aconite, belladonna, Wondrous item, uncommon
datura, fly agaric, hellebore, henbane, mandrake, poppy, A loaf of bread baked with dried clubmoss. The loaf is only
rowan large enough for one person, and must be consumed entirely
• Proficiency with herbalism kit or alchemist’s supplies, or to impart its effects.
collaboration with a character with one of these proficiencies After ingesting this loaf, you gain one use of the
clairvoyance spell. The spell must be cast within 1 hour and
Fraxinella Bottle can only use the sense of Sight.
Adventuring gear, uncommon Crafting requirements
A bottle containing oil from the leaves of a fraxinella plant. • Clubmoss, dried
The container smells faintly of lemons. • Flour, yeast, salt
When ready to use, the string is inserted into the bottle as • A fire or oven
a wick to absorb the oil. Once this has been done, the bottle • A period of 1 hour in which to bake the loaf
cannot be defused. The oil takes 1 action to be absorbed,
after which point the bottle becomes highly volatile and will
burst into flame the moment it is touched or damaged. If Ointment of Soothing
placed next to another fraxinella bottle, this will also ignite, Wondrous item, uncommon
causing a chain reaction of up to 5 bottles. Each bottle An ointment made from the roots of the mugwort plant.
causes 1d6 fire damage to anyone standing within 15 feet When applied to the temples and inner wrists of a creature
of the bottle. suffering from short-term and long-term madness, the
Crafting note: The leaves and oil of this plant are highly condition is lifted. This does not apply to the effects of
flammable. When crafting this item, roll a DC14 Dexterity indefinite madness.
check; on a failure, the mixture will be ignited, causing 1d6 Crafting requirements
fire damage to anyone within a 5-foot radius. If you have
• A mugwort coal, dried
proficiency with herbalism kits or alchemist’s supplies,
• Animal fat, suet, or similar greasy substance
you make this roll with advantage. The ingredients are not
• Proficiency with herbalism kit, or collaboration with a
damaged by this but lose all volatility for 1 hour.
character with this proficiency
Crafting requirements
• An empty bottle Rose Oil
• A short piece of string Adventuring gear, uncommon
• Crushed fraxinella leaves Oil that has been expressed from fresh rose petals and blessed
by magic. A corpse that is anointed with this oil is considered
Healing Potion subject to the same effects as the gentle repose spell, though
Potion, common the body must be reanointed once every 24 hours. This effect
A healing potion that has been brewed via botanical means, only lasts for up to 10 days, after which point the body begins
rather than created by magic. to decompose as normal.
Crafting note: When creating this item, make a proficiency Crafting note: If agua aurea is used during crafting, the
roll with either the herbalism kit or alchemist’s supplies to corpse only needs to be reanointed once every 72 hours.
determine the potency of the potion. If agua aurea is used Crafting requirements
during crafting, the roll is made with advantage.
• A handful of rose petals
1-15 Potion of healing (2d4+2 healing)
• Agua aurea (optional)
16-24 Potion of greater healing (4d4+4 healing)
• An empty vial or bottle
25+ Potion of superior healing (8d4+8 healing)
• One available spell slot (of any level), to be expended in the
process of crafting

43

Rowan
Wine
Rowan Wine
Potion, rare
A deep red wine made from rowan berries, fermented with
the intention of granting second sight.
Drinking this wine causes hallucinations in any who ingest
it. A creature who drinks this must roll a d100 to determine
what they experience, and a DC18 Wisdom saving throw to
see how successful they are in interpreting the hallucinations.
1–30: You smell an inexplicable aroma that you know is of
significance. With a successful Wisdom saving throw,
you can deduce whether you have encountered this
scent before.
31–70: You hear a short phrase spoken by a disembodied
voice. With a successful Wisdom saving throw, you
can determine the identity, or an identifying feature,
of the voice.
71–90: You see a vision of a face that will somehow be of
importance to you. With a successful Wisdom saving
throw, you are able to determine something about this
person’s location.
91–100: You witness a few seconds of an event that has
not happened yet. With a successful Wisdom saving
throw, you can focus on a situation that may happen to a
character of your choosing.
Crafting requirements
• Two handfuls of rowan berries
• An empty bottle
• Any clear alcohol
• Proficiency with alchemist’s supplies, or collaboration with
a character with this proficiency
• A period of 2 weeks during which to ferment the berries
(these can be carried whilst travelling)
Tea of Courage
Potion, common
A grassy-flavoured tea made of steeped thyme leaves. When
drunk, you gain +1 to either Constitution- or Charisma-
based saving throws made within 1 hour of drinking. You
must choose which stat gains this bonus at the time of
drinking. You can only imbibe this bonus once per day.
Crafting requirements
• Thyme leaves, fresh or dried
• Hot water
• A period of 5 minutes during which to steep the leaves
44
Chapter 8: Poisons
M
any of the plants in this supplement have an
element of toxicity. All can be used to craft
poisons that can be administered via contact, or
else inhaled, ingested, or applied to a weapon. The
strength of the poison depends on the potency of the plants
it comes from, the skill of the crafter, and occasionally, the
result of a crafting roll. Refer to the A Primer on Crafting
section (page 41) for more information on the crafting of
potions and poisons.
As per the official 5e rulesets, poisons can be administered
in four different ways:
Contact
Contact poison is used to coat an object, affecting any
creature who then touches that surface with exposed skin.
The poison remains potent until it is either touched or
washed off. Contact poisons are often mixed with oils, or
mixed into a sticky paste, and are difficult to wash off.
Ingested
Ingested poisons are the most commonly used, but are also
more likely to be identified, either before or after the target’s
death. To cause the intended effects, an entire dose of this
poison must be ingested by the target. If a partial dose has
been ingested, it is at the DM’s discretion that a partial effect
may occur, such as the poison only dealing half damage, or
the target having advantage on the saving throw.
Inhaled
Inhaled poisons come in the form of gasses or powders
that affect any who inhale them or stand in a space where
they have been released. Holding your breath against the
cloud is ineffective. When released into a space, an inhaled
poison generally fills a 5-foot cube before dissipating after
inhalation; however, some poisons may specify a differently-
sized area of effect.
Injury
Like contact poisons, injury poisons are also used to coat
a surface, though they are typically applied to weapons,
ammunition, or traps that deal piercing or slashing damage.
The poison typically remains potent for 1 hour, until
delivered through wounding, or until washed off.
Registry of Items
Azalea Honey
Poison (ingested), uncommon
Honey made from the pollen of azalea flowers, gathered by
the wild bees that feed on them. The plant is highly toxic,
and so is the honey. Any creature who ingests it must make
a DC14 Constitution saving throw; on a failed save, the
creature will become subject to the madness condition in
the form of hallucinations, unsteadiness, and vomiting.
The honey is not fatal and recovery from the effects occurs
in 1d4 hours.
Basic Poison
Poison (ingested/inhaled/injury), common
A basic poison that has been brewed via botanical means,
rather than created by magic. A creature subjected to this
poison must make a DC12 Constitution saving throw. On a
failed save, it takes 1d12 poison damage and is poisoned for
1 hour. On a successful save, the creature takes half damage
and isn’t poisoned. A poisoned creature can repeat the saving
throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the poisoned
effect on a successful roll.
Crafting notes: When creating this item, make a
proficiency roll with either the herbalism kit or alchemist’s
supplies to determine the potency of the poison.
1-15 Basic poison (1d12+2 poison damage, DC12
Constitution saving throw, poisoned for 1 hour)
16-24 Potent poison (2d12+4 poison damage, DC15
Constitution saving throw, poisoned for 2d4 hours)
25+ Deadly poison (3d12+6 poison damage, DC18
Constitution saving throw, poisoned for 24 hours)
At the DM’s discretion, this may also come with further
complications, such as madness or paralysis, for the duration
of the poisoned effect. Many of the plant entries suggest the
specific nature of these complications.
Crafting requirements
• Any three of the following plants: aconite, azalea,
belladonna, darnel, fly agaric, inky cap, black bryony,
coyotillo, giant hogweed, hellebore, henbane, mandrake,
poppy, rubroboletus, yew
• An empty bottle
• Any non-viscous liquid (such as water, alcohol, etc.)
• Proficiency with herbalism kit or alchemist’s supplies, or
collaboration with a character with one of these proficiencies
Belladonna’s Kiss
Poison (contact/ingested), common
A potion made from crushed belladonna berries. A
creature subjected to this poison must succeed on a DC13
Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 hour. If the
saving throw fails on a roll of 8 or less, the creature is also
subject to the madness condition while poisoned.
Crafting note: The toxicity of belladonna is unreliable.
When this poison is created, the DM must roll a d10 in
secret. On a roll of 1 or 2, the poison is less potent, and the
45
drinker need only pass a DC8 Constitution saving throw
when determining its effects. If the character creating the
poison has proficiency with the poisoner’s kit, this only
happens if a 1 is rolled, and they may be given the potential
to roll to determine that the batch is flawed.
Crafting requirements
• Belladonna berries, fresh
• Any non-viscous liquid (such as water, alcohol, etc.)
• An empty bottle
Blisterpaste
Poison (contact), uncommon
A sticky paste made from the sap of giant hogweed plants.
Coming into physical contact with this plant causes blisters
and burns to appear on the skin, but only once the affected
area is exposed to sunlight. Due to this effect, it can be
difficult to determine exactly when and where the poison
was encountered, and any ability check made to discern this
information is made with disadvantage.
Any creature who has come into contact with this poison
must make a DC14 Constitution saving throw or take 2d8
poison damage the first time that they move into an area of
sunlight. After this, they roll a further 1d8; the result of this
roll determines the number of rounds that they will continue
to take the 2d8 damage, which henceforth should be treated
as fire damage. The paste can be removed with a successful
DC14 Constitution saving throw or with a Medicine check
of the same DC, both which require an action to do so.
Crafting requirements
• Giant hogweed stems, fresh
• Any viscous liquid (such as oil, gum arabic, etc.)
• Proficiency with herbalism kit or poisoner’s kit, or
collaboration with a character with one of these proficiencies
Curare
Poison (injury), rare
Curare is made from the sap of the sandbox tree and used
to tip the ends of arrows, most commonly used in hunting.
After using 1 action to apply this toxin, the affected
ammunition causes an extra 1d6 poison damage on successful
attack rolls for the next minute. The target must roll a
successful DC16 Constitution saving throw or become
blinded until the end of their turn.
Crafting requirements
• Sap from the sandbox tree
• Proficiency with poisoner’s kit, or collaboration with a
character with this proficiency
Darnel Bread
Poison (ingested), rare
A loaf of bread made from flour infected with ergot
fungus. Any who eat this bread must succeed on a DC14
Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1d8 hours.
Symptoms of the poisoning include hallucinations,
convulsions, paralysis, and the sensation of being on fire.
Crafting requirements damage. If encountered by a wolf or lycanthrope, the damage
• Flour made from darnel wheat is rolled twice and the higher damage is applied.
• Yeast, salt Crafting requirements
• A fire or oven • Aconite flowers, dried and ground
• A period of 1 hour in which to bake the loaf • Any viscous liquid (such as oil, honey, etc.)
• Proficiency with herbalism kit or poisoner’s kit, or
Dreamer’s Bliss collaboration with a character with one of these proficiencies
Poison (ingested), common
A potion made by steeping asphodel flowers for their
soporific qualities. When mixed with food or drink, it is
largely undetectable, but adds a faintly floral flavour. Any
person who ingests this potion must succeed on a DC14
Constitution saving throw or be treated as subject to the
effects of the sleep spell.
Crafting requirements
• Asphodel flowers, fresh
• Any non-viscous liquid (such as water, alcohol, etc.)
• Proficiency with herbalism kit or alchemist’s supplies, or
collaboration with a character with one of these proficiencies

Feybane
Poison (inhaled/contact), rare
This rare powder, made from dried moonwort leaves, is
so fine that it hangs in the air and adheres to any surface
it comes into contact with. When a bag of this powder is
thrown (range 30ft), it will explode on impact to create a
thick cloud with a 15 foot diameter based on the point of
impact. The affected area becomes heavily obscured, and
any fey creature within the cloud must succeed on a DC14
Constitution saving throw or take 1d10 poison damage upon
impact, and a further 2d10 poison damage every time they
end their turn within the cloud. Hunter’s
Once the cloud has dispersed after 1 minute or by being Boon
cleared with a spell such as gust of wind, the powder remains
upon all surfaces in the impact area until a period of 30
minutes is used to clear the area. During this time, any
fey who touches one of these surfaces must succeed on
a DC14 Constitution saving throw or take 1d10 poison Ivy Ale
damage. If the area is not cleared, the powder loses potency Poison (ingested), common
after 30 minutes. A tankard of ale (or other alcoholic beverage) that has been
Crafting requirements spiked by soaking ivy leaves in it. Any creature who drinks
this concoction must make a DC14 Constitution saving
• Moonwort leaves, dried throw or become drunk twice as fast as usual, and the next
• Proficiency with herbalism kit, or collaboration with a morning will suffer one level of exhaustion.
character with this proficiency
Crafting requirements

Hunter’s Boon • Ivy leaves, fresh or dried

Poison (ingested/injury), rare
A poison made from aconite, and regularly used by hunters
to kill predators and other aggressive creatures. This poison
is particularly effective against wolves and creatures affected
by the lycanthropy curse.
Any creature who encounters this poison, either by
ingestion or being injured by a poisoned weapon, must
make a DC16 Constitution saving throw or take 3d6 poison
• Any alcoholic liquid
Potion of Paralysis
Poison (ingested), very rare
A poison made from the crushed seeds of coyotillo berries.
Symptoms of ingestion can take days or even weeks to show,
but begin with paralysis of the feet, followed by the legs and
arms, before spreading to the tongue and respiratory system.

46
 Once the effects of the poison begin (see crafting note
below), the target must make a successful DC16 Constitution
saving throw or be poisoned and have their movement speed
halved. After an hour, the target may make a second saving
throw of the same DC; on a failure they are subject to the
Incapacitated condition. In the second hour, a third failed
DC16 Constitution save means that they become Paralysed,
and upon the third hour, the target must succeed on a DC18
Constitution saving throw or take 6d10 poison damage.
On a successful save, the target takes half of this damage. If
the target succeeds on any of the saving throws, there is no
further effect. If the target fails all of their saving throws, the
effects of the poison end after the final damage is taken.
Crafting note: It is highly difficult to predict how long
it will take for this poison to have an effect. When creating
this poison, the DM must roll a d10 in secret. The resulting
roll is the number of hours that pass before the target begins
to show symptoms. If the character creating the poison has
proficiency with the herbalism or poisoner’s kit and can
succeed on a DC20 ability check with one of these kits, the
DM may share the result of this roll with them.
Crafting requirements
• Coyotillo berries, fresh
• Any non-viscous liquid (such as water, alcohol, etc.)
Potion of
Paralysis
Potion of Silence
Poison (ingested/injury), uncommon
A mild poison made from berries from the belladonna plant,
and diluted to decrease potency. A creature who experiences
the effects of this poison, either by ingestion or being injured
by a poisoned weapon, must succeed on a DC14 Constitution
saving throw or be muted for 1 hour. If the saving throw
fails by 5 or more, the creature is also crippled by nausea for
the duration of the poison’s effects.
Crafting note: The toxicity of belladonna is unreliable.
When this poison is created, the DM must roll a d10 in
47
secret. If a 1 or 2 is rolled, the poison is much more potent
than intended, and the drinker takes 4d6 poison damage on a
failed saving throw, and half as much on a successful throw.
If the character creating the poison has proficiency with the
Herbalism or Poisoner’s Kit, this only happens if a 1 is rolled.
Crafting requirements
• Belladonna berries, fresh
• Any non-viscous liquid (such as water, alcohol, etc.)
Seeds of Delusion
Poison (ingested), rare
Dried seeds gathered from the datura plant. Infamous for
their ability to cause madness and amnesia, these rare seeds
are favoured by those with ill intentions.
Any creature who ingests these seeds must succeed on a
DC16 Wisdom saving throw or be subject to the effects of
madness for 24 hours. During this time, they continue to
act as usual but have disadvantage on charm spells such as
command, geas, and suggestion.
A bag of these seeds has one use.
Upas Poison
Poison (ingested/injury), legendary
Poison from the highly dangerous and legendary upas
tree. Vials of this poison rarely enter the market due to its
notoriously deadly harvesting requirements – it is said that
only one in twenty men who try to gather it come back with
their lives.
A creature subjected to this poison, either by ingestion
or being injured by a poisoned weapon, must make a DC18
Constitution saving throw, taking 10d10 poison on a failed
save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Weapon Paste
Poison (injury), uncommon
A thick and sticky paste made from a variety of poisonous
plants. A creature can use their action to apply this to a
weapon. Once applied, the paste is effective for 1 minute and
adds additional poison damage to each attack made with the
affected weapon.
Crafting notes: When creating this item, make a
proficiency roll with the poisoner’s kit to determine the
potency of the poison.
1–15 1d4 poison damage to each attack
16–18 1d6 poison damage to each attack
19–24 1d8 poison damage to each attack
25+ 1d12 poison damage to each attack
Crafting requirements
• A bundle of hellebore or aconite
• Yew berries
• Proficiency with poisoner’s kit, or collaboration with a
character with this proficiency
Chapter 9: Magic Items
T
he magic items in this book are introduced
here in alphabetical order. Some of them can be
crafted by players with the right proficiencies and
the right items; others cannot be crafted but may
be purchasable or discoverable in the wider world. Common
and uncommon items are typically available to characters
from level 1, and rare items are available at level 5. At level
11, very rare items are discoverable, and legendary items are
typically reserved for characters of level 17 and upwards.
Registry of Items
Agua Aurea
Wondrous Item, rare
This vial is filled with rainwater that has been gathered from
the leaves of a lady’s mantle plant. This water has magical
properties and can be used when creating potions to increase
their potency.
The vial contains enough water for one use.
Alder Leaves
Alder Leaves
Wondrous Item, uncommon
Leaves gathered from an alder tree. To have any magical
potency, the leaves must have been gathered within
the proximity of a nest of ravens. They lose all magical
properties an hour after gathering.
Placing one of these leaves under the tongue grants the
user one use of the augury spell. Rather than learning their
answer via the casting of items, the user must spend 1
minute observing birds in flight and receives their answer via
this method instead.
Bell’s Warning
Wondrous item, common
These stalks of bluebells, which have been dried in the
smoke of a fire made on the new moon, still retain some of
the magic that they held whilst growing close to the barriers
between the Material Plane and the Feywild. Placed upright
in the ground to form a barrier no more than 30 feet in
48
diameter, the bells will ring when an aberration, celestial,
elemental, fey, fiend, or undead comes within 5 feet of the
barrier for the first time, waking any creature inside the
barrier who is not unconscious or asleep by magical means.
When you place the barrier, you can designate any
creatures you choose, and the barrier will ignore them.
Crafting requirements
• Fresh-cut bluebells (at least 6 stalks)
• A fire
• A period of 8 hours to dry the stalks; must be done during a
new moon (can be done during a long rest)
Bird lime
Adventuring Gear, uncommon
An adhesive substance used for trapping birds and other
small animals. After taking 1 action per 1 foot of space
to apply the substance, any Tiny creature who enters the
affected space must make a DC14 Dexterity saving throw or
become subject to the restrained condition for 1d4 hours.
Crafting Requirements
• 1 handful of mistletoe berries (for enough lime to cover 1
foot of space)
Brimstone Charcoal
Adventuring Gear, rare
A powder created from the ground charcoal of alder wood.
This powder ignites easily and is highly explosive. If exposed
to water, it cannot be lit until the powder has been laid out
and dried over a period of 8 hours. When lit, the resulting
explosion causes 3d6 fire damage to all creatures and items
within a 15-foot radius. A successful DC14 Dexterity saving
throw halves this damage.
The charcoal can be stored in portable pouches, or in
heavier kegs. A keg of charcoal, if lit, causes 10d6 fire damage
in a 30-foot radius. The following crafting requirements
make a single pouch of charcoal. Ten pouches are required to
fill a small keg.
Crafting Requirements
• Five lengths of alder wood, dried and stripped of bark
• An iron pot
• A fire
• A period of 8 hours to create the charcoal (can be done
during a long rest)
Clay Body
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
This clay poppet may appear humanoid, but it is cold and
oddly heavy. The items used to craft it stick out of the clay at
strange and uncomfortable angles.
The clay body can be activated by attuning to it (the
attunement must be maintained during use of the item),
focusing on the intended target, and uttering the words:
‘From the river you cometh,
and to the river you return’.
The target is affected by this curse until it dies, or until 7
days have passed, at which point the curse is removed. A clay
body works for one person only, and afterwards becomes a
mundane object. While the curse is active, you must utter
the awakening phrase each morning.
The clay body can be used in one of two ways. If it is stuck
through with thorns, the intended target of the curse must
succeed on a daily DC14 Constitution saving throw or take
2d6 piercing damage at the dawn of each day. If the same part
of the body is pierced each day, on the seventh day the target
suffers paralysis in that part of their body, if the curse is not
removed beforehand.
Alternatively, the clay body can be placed in a running
stream. As the water wears away the body’s shape, the target
of the curse must succeed on a daily DC14 Wisdom saving
throw or receive 2d6 psychic damage each dawn, and on the
seventh day takes three levels of exhaustion.
The effects of the clay body can be nullified with a spell
such as remove curse. In this situation, the clay body crumbles
into dust once the curse is removed.
Crafting Requirements
• The inner wood of an elder branch
• The earth of a new-made grave
• The rib bone of a dead man
• A black spider
• River clay
Clay Body
Counting Kit
Wondrous Item, uncommon
A pouch filled with a handful of tiny dried leaves or seeds,
such as poppy seeds or juniper leaves. When scattered in
a 5 foot area, any undead creature passing through the
space must succeed on a DC14 Wisdom saving throw or
be compelled to stop and count the scattered contents
of the pouch, reducing their speed to 0 feet for the rest
of their turn.
Datura Powder
Wondrous item, rare
Pollen gathered from the flowers of the datura plant. When
inhaled, the target is subject to the poisoned condition for
49
1 hour and suffers overwhelming hallucinations. During
this time, roll 1d4 and use the table below to determine an
additional effect of the powder:
Datura Powder Roll Table
d4 Results of Inhalation
1 The target gains some knowledge of an item
that has been lost to them, or that they have
been searching for.
2 The target gains one immediate use of
speak with dead to interact with a nearby
wandering spirit, which is undetectable to
the rest of the party.
3 Upon their next short or long rest, the
target can return to full hit points without
expending hit dice.
4 The target gains one use of inspiration.
A bag of powder has three uses before it needs to be
replenished.
Dead Man’s
Curse
Dead Man’s Curse
Wondrous item, uncommon
A bag of earthy-smelling powder. When scattered across an
area no larger than 100 square feet, it causes the following
effects to any creature who enters the affected area:
• Any mount must succeed on a DC12 Dexterity saving
throw or is knocked prone, forcing the rider to dismount.
If dismounted, the rider must succeed on a DC15 Dexterity
saving throw or is also knocked prone.
• Siege equipment suffers damage to wheel mechanisms,
causing them to move at half speed until a 24-hour period
is taken to fix them.
One bag has a single use before it requires replenishing.
Crafting requirements
• Wild garlic
• Dirt from a cemetery
• A dead man’s bone, ground to powder

Dragon’s
Blood Ink
Dowsing rod
Wondrous item, uncommon
A forked hazel branch which bends easily. When held,
on a successful DC12 Intelligence (Nature) or Wisdom
(Survival) check the branches will bend towards any natural
phenomenon specified by the holder, such as a water source,
wildfire, or natural cave system.
Dragon’s Blood Ink
Adventuring Gear, very rare
A pot of deep, red ink created from the sap of the dragon’s
blood tree. Though not inherently magical itself, this ink
imbues an extra level of intent to any talisman or magical seal
drawn with it.
When using this ink to create a glyph of warding or any
other spell or ritual requiring a drawn component, one or
more (at the DM’s discretion) of the following effects apply
depending on the nature of the spell:
• If the spell requires an unallied target to make an ability
check, they make it with disadvantage.
• If the spell requires the caster to make an ability check, they
make it with advantage.
• Damage caused by the spell can be increased by the caster’s
proficiency modifier.
• The range of the spell is increased by an extra 50%.
• The duration of the spell is increased by an extra 25%.
One pot of ink has ten uses before it needs to be replenished.
Crafting Requirements
• Sap from the dragon’s blood tree, dried and ground
• Any viscous liquid (such as oil, gum arabic, honey, etc.)
• Proficiency with alchemist’s supplies or calligrapher’s
supplies, or collaboration with a character with one of these
proficiencies
50
Duskbloom
Duskbloom
Wondrous item, rare
A flower from the saguaro cactus, gathered on an auspicious
night. Although it has been cut away from the cactus, it
blooms at dusk every night, and emits a faint light and
pleasant scent.
At night when this flower blooms, you can sit with it for
10 minutes, inhaling the scent. Doing so will send you into
a trance state that lasts no more than 1 hour. In this time,
you may use the dream spell without using a spell slot, even
if it is not a class spell for you. For each use of the spell, one
petal falls from the flower. Once all of the petals are gone, the
flower loses all magical properties. The flower has ten petals.
False Bones
Wondrous item, uncommon
A wooden object that is indistinguishable from humanoid
or animal bone. It can be used to fix disastrous injuries,
and in some regions is used as a substitute for live
sacrificial offerings.
Crafting requirements
• 1-foot length of rattan stalks
• A furnace
• A source of calcium (e.g. chalk, limestone, or shells)
• A period of 8 hours to shape and harden the bones (can be
done during a long rest)
Goblin’s
Deception
Goblin’s Deception
Wondrous item, rare
This small item is composed of a handful of fresh goblin gold
moss, tied into a bundle and intended to act as a distraction.
It is particularly favoured by thieves, smugglers, and other
ne’er-do-wells.
When placed in an area of dim light or non-magical
darkness, any creature not aware of the item’s true nature
must succeed on a DC15 Wisdom saving throw or be
distracted by the item’s charm effect. While distracted, the
creature has disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks
and must use their movement to move towards the item.
Once they are close enough to pick it up, its true nature is
revealed and the diversion ends. The item has no effect if
deployed during combat.
Crafting requirements
• Fresh goblin gold
• A length of twine
• Fragments of glass, common metals, or other low-value
shiny items
Hedge Taper
Hedge taper
Wondrous item, uncommon
Crafted from a dried stem of asphodel dipped in fat, this
torch burns steadily for up to 1 hour. If it is dropped, doused
in water, or has burned for 1 hour, it is extinguished and
loses all magical properties. If used as an improvised weapon,
it deals 1d4 bludgeoning damage and then breaks, upon
which it is extinguished and loses all magical properties.
Whilst lit, the hedge taper emits bright light in a 20-foot
radius and dim light for a further 20 feet. The air within this
40-foot radius takes on a faint, grassy scent, and all creatures
within this area are considered subject to the effects of the
protection from evil and good spell, but have disadvantage on
Dexterity (Stealth) checks.
Crafting requirements
• One asphodel stem, dried
• A handful of moss, dried
• A length of twine
• Fat, suet, or other greasy substance
Hunter’s Looking Glass
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)
A long time ago, a poacher insisted upon hunting in lands
that were protected by the fey. Seeking to be rid of him,
they left in his path a mirror that would reflect whatever
it faced as a more beautiful version of itself. Seeing it, the
hunter picked it up and fell in love with his own beauty,
eventually wasting away at the roadside in favour of studying
his own reflection. Fearing the damage it could do if it was
found by anyone else, the fey then shattered it into glittering
fragments. Though the original looking glass was broken,
fragments have occasionally been discovered and turned into
smaller mirrors, though most of the original magic seems to
have dissipated.
51
While the looking glass is attuned to and held, you can
use a bonus action to create a beam of light with a range of
90 feet extending in a straight line from the mirror’s surface.
Any creature in its path who is also in your direct line of
sight must succeed on a DC15 Intelligence saving throw or
be distracted until the end of their next turn.
While the target is distracted, you gain one of the
following benefits of your choosing:
• The next attack roll against the target is made with
advantage.
• You, or one ally of your choosing, has advantage on their
next Dexterity (Stealth) check against the target.
• The target has disadvantage on any Dexterity, Wisdom, or
Intelligence saving throws.
The looking glass can be used three times before requiring a
long rest to recharge.
Hunter’s
Looking Glass
Invisibility Powder
Adventuring gear, rare
A powder made from the ground roots of a hellebore plant.
A living creature sprinkled with this powder is considered
subject to the effects of the invisibility spell for the next
10 minutes. Anything the target is wearing or carrying is
invisible as long as it is on the target’s person. The effect ends
early if you attack or cast a spell. The powder has one use to
cover a single Tiny, Small, or Medium creature.
Crafting requirements
• Hellebore roots
• Proficiency with herbalism kit, or collaboration with a
character with this proficiency
• One available spell slot (of any level), to be expended in the
process of crafting
Ironbind Powder
Wondrous item, rare
A fine powder made from a single fern seed. When blown
through the keyhole of a lock or other intricate iron
mechanism, the DC to open the lock or use the mechanism
is reduced by 5. The powder can also be used to loosen or
damage any items made of iron, such as nails and horseshoes.
Any item damaged in this way takes 2d10 acid damage. One
bag of powder has five uses.
Ironbind
Powder
Jani’s Favour
Wondrous item, very rare
A delicate cloth that is so thin it is almost translucent. The
edges are embroidered with tiny, white, interlapping fern
leaves. The cloth measures 1 square foot.
Draping the cloth over a Small or Tiny object makes the
object invisible. The object cannot be affixed to anything
and must not be currently being held. The object must be
completely covered by the cloth to receive its effect, and only
one object at a time can be affected. If the object is damaged,
impacted by environmental effects, or if the cloth is removed
(either intentionally or unintentionally) the invisibility ends.
Crafting requirements
• A fern seed
• 1 square foot of fine cloth
• Fine embroidery threads
• Proficiency with weaver’s tools, or collaboration with a
character with this proficiency
Jani’s
Favour
Juniper incense
Wondrous item, uncommon
Branches of juniper that, when burned, act as a fragrant
incense that can be used in place of standard incense. When
being burned as an offering to infernal deities, the branches
52
are preferred to be green (undried), and if being burnt to
ward away evil, the berries are more potent than the wood.
Knyghten’s Lots
Wondrous item, uncommon
Dried yarrow stalks that have been blessed and imbued with
a connection to a deity of the creator’s choosing. By casting
lots, answers can be divined from the way in which the
sticks fall.
Using these sticks, you can ask the specified deity up to
three questions that can be answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’
response. You receive a correct answer for each question,
however, you may receive an answer of ‘unclear’ if the
information is outside of the deity’s knowledge, as per the
commune spell.
The casting and reading of the answers require 15 minutes
of quiet reflection.
Crafting requirements
• Fifteen stalks of yarrow, dried and stripped of leaves and
flowers
• A blessing by a cleric or priest (this person must pass a
DC14 Intelligence (Religion) check)
Knyghten’s Lots
Liffson’s Ice Box
Wondrous item, uncommon
Created by the visionary botanist Lovjeri Liffson, this
portable pack keeps gathered plants fresh for longer. Any cut
plant placed within the box retains its potency for an extra
10 days. The box can carry up to 4 cubic feet and/or 10lbs of
contents, whichever is greater.
Love Oracle
Wondrous item, uncommon
A common love charm amongst young romantic hopefuls is
the ‘they love me, they love me not’ form of love divination,
in which petals are pulled from a daisy whilst repeating the
aforementioned words. If the final petal is pulled on ‘they
love me’, the object of their affection is thought to return
their feelings.
The first daisy picked at midnight under a new moon has
a similar magical property. When counting the petals, roll
a d20 – if the resulting roll is odd, take this as a ‘they love
me’; if even, then ‘they love me not’. If ‘they love me’ and the
stem of the daisy can be successfully hidden upon a target’s
clothing or body, then the target will have disadvantage
against being charmed for the next 24 hours.
Crafting requirements
• A daisy with odd-numbered petals, picked at midnight

Lucky Hand
Lucky hand
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
This charm is created from a sturdy stem of bracken. All but
five of the fronds have been cut away to form the impression
of a hand with hooked fingers; this has then been dried
and hardened in the smoke of a fire lit on the night of a full
moon. Due to the nature of this purification ritual, only one
‘hand’ can be crafted at a time.
When the creature attuned to this charm receives damage
that would reduce it to 0 hit points, it drops instead to 1 hit
point and cannot fall below this until the beginning of its
next turn. Once the bearer has made use of this effect, the
lucky hand loses all magical properties.
Crafting requirements
• A stem of bracken
• A knife blessed by a priest or cleric. This knife must be re-
blessed once per month at the new moon by passing a DC12
Intelligence (Religion) check.
• A fire made on an auspicious day
Lyre of the Muses
Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement)
This ornate instrument is made of equal parts rowan and
willow wood; playing it regularly fills the user with a
renewed desire to compose poetry and music. The bard who
possesses it gains one extra Bardic Inspiration die (equivalent
to the type of die permitted by the bard’s current level) whilst
the lyre is carried upon their person. If the lyre is possessed
by any other class and has been played at least once in the last
24 hours, once per long rest the user can apply an additional
1d6 to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw.
Lyre of
the Muses
53
Mandrake Charm
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
A talisman made from part of a mandrake root. Once per
long rest, whenever you make an attack roll, ability check,
or saving throw, you may roll an additional 1d20 and choose
which dice result to use. You can use this ability after the
original roll, but before the outcome is revealed.
Curse: Anyone who purchases this talisman is entering
into a contract, and the spirit of the root is bound to the
owner until death. The only way to rid yourself of this item
is to sell it for less than it was originally purchased for, at
which point the contract transfers to the new owner. If the
talisman is given away, thrown away, or lost, the owner
cannot attune to any new items for 1 week.
Mandrake
Charm
Oak Gall ink
Wondrous item, uncommon
A dark brown ink made from ground gall nuts. This
rudimentary product can be used in place of mundane ink
that needs to be bought from a store.
Crafting note: If agua aurea is used during crafting, the
ink is imbued with a property that makes it suitable for
transcribing spells and rituals, as per fine inks and rare inks.
One pot of ink made in this way has three uses before it
needs to be replenished.
Crafting requirements
• Dried gall nuts, ground
• Gum arabic
• Water
• Agua aurea (optional)
Oil of Thay
Wondrous item, rare
A concoction made from aloe leaves steeped in black oil for 9
days. When anointed across the forehead with this oil on the
tenth day, you can use an action to cast summon lesser demons
at base level without using a spell slot or components, even if
it is not a class spell for you. On a successful DC16 Wisdom
saving throw, you can use a second action to banish the
demons back to the Abyss.
One bottle contains three uses.
 Sandbox Mine

Crafting requirements
• Aloe leaves, fresh
• Black oil
• An empty bottle
• Proficiency with alchemist’s kit, or collaboration with a
character with this proficiency

Powder of Invocation
Adventuring gear, uncommon
A powder made from dried and crushed henbane roots.
Scattering this powder over a corpse or pile of bones casts
the animate dead spell on that one target only. At the end
of the 24-hour period, roll 1d6; on a 1–4 the spell disperses
harmlessly, and the corpse or bones return to their original
state. On a 5–6 the target enters an enraged state that lasts
for 1 hour, attacking any creature within a 30-foot radius
until it is either slain or the hour expires, at which point it
returns to its original state.
One pouch of powder has a single use.
Crafting requirements
• Henbane roots, dried and powdered
• One available spell slot (of any level), to be expended in the
process of crafting
Powder of
Invocation
Sandbox mine
Wondrous item, rare
A volatile item crafted from the fruit of the sandbox tree
and stabilised to prevent it from exploding – for now. The
seedpod has been augmented with thorns from the trunk of
its parent tree, which adds an extra, toxic level of damage… if
the initial explosion doesn’t kill the target outright.
When triggered by movement within 10ft of the mine, it
flings thorns and hard seeds outwards in a 15-foot radius. All
creatures within range must make a DC14 Dexterity saving
throw, taking 3d10 bludgeoning damage and 1d6 poison
damage on a failed save and half damage on a success.
Crafting notes: The components for this item are highly
volatile. The crafter must roll a DC14 Dexterity (Sleight of
Hand) check to keep all components steady whilst crafting;
on a failure, the item will explode during the crafting process
and anyone within a 10 feet area of the mine must roll a
DC14 Dexterity saving throw or take 2d6 bludgeoning
damage. This does not damage the components.
Crafting requirements
• Ripe sandbox fruit
• Thorns from the trunk of a sandbox tree
• 1 foot of string

Spirit Ward
Rose petals Wondrous item, uncommon
Wondrous item, uncommon A bundle of dried plants that can be hung in doorways or
Rose petals that have been dried and blessed with magic. windows. It must be left in a static position and has no
When scattered in an area no larger than a 20-foot radius, magical potency when carried on a creature’s person. When
that area is considered under the effects of the silence spell for present, the area in a 15-foot radius around the ward is
up to 1 minute. Once the petals have been used in this way, protected by the turn undead spell. Any undead attempting
they lose all magical properties. to enter the area must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw
Crafting requirements equivalent to the spell modifier of the creature that created
the item. Upon a failure the undead is repelled and cannot
• A handful of rose petals, dried
enter the area. The ward is effective for 1d4 hours (rolled
• One available spell slot (of any level), to be expended in the
by the DM – this result can be kept secret if desired)
process of crafting
after placement.
Crafting requirements
• Stalks of dried boneset or butterwort
• Red thread
Rose Petals • A blessing by a cleric or priest (this person must pass a
DC14 Intelligence (Religion) check)

54
 Stones of
Augmentation
Stones of Augmentation
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)
Imbued with the innate magic of plants, these mystical
gems enhance the properties of the items that they are set
into. They are not easy to locate, and doing so requires the
most determined of hunters. Some form steadily in caves,
created by the constant drip of moss-soaked water from
rocky ceilings; some come in the shape of fossils that still
hold leaves and petals aloft in their amber depths. Some are
even created deep in the throats of carnivorous plants over a
period of many years – the pearls of the plant world.
Some tinkerers have devised ways to synthetically create
these stones, though research into this technique is still rare.
As such, these stones can very occasionally be found on the
market but command a very high price.
The stones can be mounted into non-magical items only
by someone proficient with leatherworker’s tools (for
light and medium armour augmentations), smith’s tools
(for weaponry and heavy armour), woodcarver’s tools (for
ammunition), or through collaboration with a character with
one of these proficiencies. A period of 24 hours is required
to mount a single stone into an existing piece of armour or
weaponry, or to split and set the pieces of one stone into ten
pieces of ammunition. Magical items cannot be augmented
with these stones.
Stone of Flame
A stone formed in the heart of a volcano, and brought to the
surface during an eruption. Light and porous to touch, there
is still a strange heat to be felt emanating from its heart.
Armour: When you are hit with a successful melee attack,
you can use your reaction to ignite your armour, causing
your attacker to take 2d8 fire damage on a failed DC14
Dexterity saving throw, or half as much damage on a
successful save. The stone has three charges and regains all
expended uses after a long rest.
Weapon: When a weapon augmented with this stone is
driven into the ground as an action, it triggers a tectonic
shift that shakes the ground and forces all creatures within
30 feet to succeed on a DC14 Dexterity saving throw or
be knocked prone. This ability can only be used once
per long rest.
Ammunition: Once at least three of these pieces of
ammunition have been fired, a command word can be
used to trigger a charge in all of them. So long as each
piece is within 30 feet of another, they will explode
when the command word is spoken. If the ammunition
was originally fired at a creature, that creature takes an
55
additional 1d8 fire damage per piece of ammunition
they’ve been hit with. If the ammunition has been fired
at a static point, all flammable, inanimate objects within a
radius of 5 feet catch on fire.
Stone of Hunger
A stone formed in the throat of a carnivorous plant.
Hardened by years of biting acid, this tough, dark pebble is
filled with an insatiable hunger.
Armour: Armour augmented with this stone seems to have
its own appetite, and whenever your blood is spilled, it
feels as though it never quite makes it to the ground…
While wearing this armour, if you have less than half of
your maximum hit points, you can draw on the energy
that the armour has stored from consuming your blood,
granting you immunity to all non-magical damage for up
to 1 minute. While this feature is active, you cannot regain
hit points through any form of healing. The feature can
only be used once per long rest.
Weapon: Once per turn, you can use one charge from this
stone and deal an extra 1d10 necrotic damage to your
target. You then regain half of this damage as temporary
hit points. The stone has three charges and regains all
expended uses after a long rest.
Ammunition: When fired at an armoured opponent this
ammunition has a corrosive effect, and on a successful
attack any target wearing non-magical armor takes a -1
penalty to AC until their armour can be fixed or replaced.
The effect only can only be used once per opponent.
Stone of Light
A stone so bright that it’s difficult to look at directly. It is
thought that these stones come from areas that have been
soaked so intensely in sunlight that the stones themselves
carry a fragment of the sun inside them.
Armour: Once per long rest, you can imbue your armour
with the radiance of the sun for up to 1 minute. Your
figure is engulfed in bright light, and any creature that
depends upon vision to target others in combat has
disadvantage on melee attack rolls against you for the
period duration of the effect. During this time, however,
you cannot take the Hide action, and you automatically fail
any Stealth rolls.
Weapon: Once per turn, you can deal an extra 1d6 radiant
damage on a successful attack roll. Furthermore, when a
successful attack is made against a creature you can choose
to trigger an effect that causes the creature to be engulfed
in light, and the next attack against them is made with
advantage. You can use this feature a number of times
equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all expended
uses when you finish a long rest.
Ammunition: Once per turn, a creature struck with this
ammunition must make a DC14 Constitution saving
throw. On a failure, they are blinded until the end of
their next turn.
Stone of Preservation
A clear, golden stone formed in the heart of an ancient tree.
When held up to the light, you can see insects and plants
trapped within.
Armour: Once per day, you can speak a command word
to encase your armour in a thick layer of amber. For
1 minute, you gain temporary hit points equal to your
level. Once these temporary hit points have been lost, the
effect ends.
Weapon: A weapon augmented with this stone gains one
charge every time it lands a successful attack and can
store a maximum of three charges at any one time. The
power of these three charges can then be unleashed in a
devastating blow, dealing an extra 2d10 radiant damage on
your next successful attack.
Ammunition: On a successful attack against a target, this
ammunition melts into a thick, viscous liquid. A creature
struck with this ammunition has their movement halved
for 1 minute. This effect can be stacked.
Stone of Stars
A fragment of a stone that has fallen from the skies on the
darkest of nights.
Armour: Once per day, when an opponent makes a
successful attack against you, you can use your reaction to
cause your armour to ignite in a shower of bright sparks.
All creatures within 15 feet of you must succeed on a
DC15 Constitution saving throw or be blinded until the
end of their next turn.
Weapon: As a reaction, you can intercept an incoming
melee attack and redirect the damage to another creature
within 5 feet of you, as long as the attack roll would still
hit against the new target’s AC.
Ammunition: When fired at a static point, this
ammunition shatters and can strike up to three creatures
within a 15-foot radius of the target point, so long as the
attack roll is high enough to be considered a successful
attack on each targeted creature. The damage dealt is the
standard weapon damage.
Stone of Storms
This stone was created at a point where lightning struck
sand, turning it to a clear, glass-like material. When turned
in the light, electricity can still be seen crackling inside of it.
Armour: When wearing armour mounted with this stone,
you can rebuke attackers with a strike of pure electricity.
When a creature hits you with a successful melee attack,
you can use your reaction to cause the creature to take
2d8 lightning damage on a failed DC14 Dexterity saving
throw, and half as much damage on a successful one. The
stone has three charges and regains all expended uses after
a long rest.
Weapon: Once per turn, any weapon augmented with this
stone deals an extra 1d6 lightning damage on a successful
attack roll. Any creature struck in this way takes 1d6
additional lightning damage if they choose to move 5ft or
more before the end of their next turn. This second effect
occurs only once per creature.
Ammunition: Any ammunition mounted with this stone
explodes with thunderous force upon impact. When
you make a successful attack roll with this ammunition,
every creature within 10 feet of the ammunition’s point
of impact must make a DC14 Constitution saving throw.
56
On a failed save, a creature takes 2d6 thunder damage and
is pushed 10 feet away from the point of impact. On a
successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and
remains in place.
Stone of Water
A dull, grey stone shaped by the steady dripping of water
inside of a damp cave.
Armour: While wearing armour augmented with this
stone, you gain the ability to breathe underwater and a
swimming speed of 30 feet.
Weapon: Once per turn, each successful attack made with
this weapon deals an extra 1d6 cold damage, soaking the
target with a splash of cold water. A creature that has
been struck by this weapon at least once is vulnerable to
lightning damage until the end of their next turn.
Ammunition: Striking the ground with this ammunition
causes an area 30 feet in diameter to erupt with rocky
stalagmites. All creatures in the affected area must
succeed on a DC15 Dexterity saving throw or take 1d6
bludgeoning damage, and the area becomes difficult
terrain until cleared.
Sylph’s
Whistle
Sylph’s Whistle
Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement)
A simple whistle made out of the hollowed branch of an
alder tree. Though its music is simple, when played, it seems
to always conjure a fresh and playful breeze.
Once attuned to this item, playing it will allow the user to
cast either gust of wind or warding wind without expending a
spell slot, even if the chosen spell is not usually a class spell
for you. Once the whistle has been played in this way, its
magical properties return after a long rest.
Crafting requirements
• A branch from an alder tree, hollowed
• 1 foot of string or ribbon
• Proficiency with woodcarver’s tools, or collaboration with a
character with this proficiency
War Paint
Wondrous item, rare
Paints made from various botanical components. This
thick paint can be smeared on the face and body in designs
of the wearer’s choosing and will grant various boons to
the wearer. The paint’s magical effects last for 1 hour after
application, and a single pot of paint has three uses.
Crafting requirements
• One of the following: ash from burned elder branches, kino
from a dragon’s blood tree, foxglove flowers, ground rocella
tinctoria, dried yellow lichen
• River clay
• Animal fat, suet, or similar greasy substance
Dragon’s blood tree (red): The colour red is synonymous
with blood across many cultures of Faerûn. This paint
imbues the wearer with a furious bloodlust. Once you
have been reduced to less than 50% of your maximum
hit points, once per turn you can add an additional 1d8
necrotic damage to your attacks.
Elder (white): White is typically reserved as a colour of
mourning. When adorned with white paint, when casting
any healing spells, you may reroll the die and choose
whether to use the new result.
Foxglove (black): Black paint, particularly worn under the
eyes, is used by travellers in hot regions to reduce sun glare
and improve the eyesight of the wearer. When wearing
this paint, you have advantage on sight-based Perception
checks, and cannot be blinded.
Roccella tinctoria (purple): Among the nomadic tribes of
Zakhara, purple is seen as the colour of bravery. This paint
renders you immune to being frightened and grants you
temporary hit points equal to your level.
Yellow lichen (gold): The Uthgardt tribes of the northern
Realms view gold as the colour of one who is ready to
die honourably. When wearing this paint and fighting
a single, hostile opponent, you gain advantage on your
attacks. To trigger this feature, both you and your
opponent must be engaged in single combat with only
one another.
Willow Stake
Wondrous item, common
A short, sharp stake cut from a willow branch, typically
driven into the hearts of criminals to stop their bodies from
returning to life and haunting their executioners.
When driven through the heart of a corpse, the corpse
cannot be raised by any means (including spells such as
animate dead and raise dead) until the stake is removed again.
Willow Stake
Witch Ward
Wondrous item, uncommon
A pot of black dye made by boiling foxglove leaves and alum
mordant. By taking 10 minutes to paint lines and crosses
on the ground in a space up to 30 square feet in size, any
creature within the affected area is considered under the
protection from evil and good spell for the next 10 minutes.
One pot of dye can be used to create a single ward for a
30-square-foot area.
Crafting requirements
• Foxglove leaves
• Alum mordant
• An iron pot
• A fire
• A period of 8 hours in which to boil the dye (can be done
during a long rest)

Witch Ward

War Paint

Waywort’s Barometer
Wondrous item, common
These dried pimpernel flowerheads can help predict the day’s
weather. By holding them in your hand, they will divine
what the weather in your location will be like for the next
24 hours. This may be shown by the flowerheads opening,
closing, wilting, or behaving in some other way which the
holder will be able to successfully interpret.

57
Chapter 10: Armour, Weapons,
& Apparel
Bands of Grace
Bands of Grace
Wondrous item, very rare
A set of bangles carved from birch wood. When worn, the
bracelets give off a faint, woody scent that is calming to
anyone within 5 feet of you.
When encountering a deceased body, on a successful DC16
Charisma saving throw you instinctively know the identity
of the corpse. By sitting with the body for 10 minutes or
more, you are able to discern their dying thoughts. The body
must have been dead for no longer than a year to hear these
thoughts, but their identity can be discerned no matter how
long ago they died.
This feature can be used a number of times equal to your
Charisma modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all
expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Belgin’s Shot
Belgin’s Shot
Ammunition, rare
A single root of black bryony is soaked and straightened,
then fletched and sharpened to serve as ammunition that
be crafted either for either a bow or crossbow. When
you strike an inanimate object with this ammunition,
you deal the maximum possible damage for the weapon
type. You also have advantage on attack rolls made against
inanimate objects.
Crafting requirements
• Black bryony roots
• A source of fresh water
• Feathers (for fletching)
• A period of 4 hours to soak the roots (can be done during
a long rest)
58
Candlewood
Cloak
Candlewood Cloak
Wondrous item, uncommon
This cloak, sewn by craftsmen in the heart of the Anauroch
desert, is created from thousands of tiny hummingbird
feathers. When the light catches it at different angles, it
seems to shimmer and change colour.
While wearing this cloak, you are able to cast dim light
in a 20-foot radius centred on yourself. The light can be
summoned or dismissed as a bonus action. While light is
being cast, you also emit a faint warmth to all creatures
within 5 feet of you.
Carrion Ring
Carrion Ring
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
Some years ago in the city of Waterdeep, a great crowd
gathered to witness the rare blooming of a corpse flower.
Once the blooming was over and the petals peeled back,
inside the flower was discovered a jumble of bones… and this
ring. The bones have never been identified, and the maker of
this ring is unknown.
While attuned to this ring, once per day you can summon
a swarm of beetles for 1 minute. The swarm occupies the
same space as you, and deals 1d6 piercing damage once
per turn directly after your attack, directed at the same
target that you have attacked. Whenever you summon this
swarm, you are surrounded by the faint scent of rotting
meat for 1 hour.

Elfdans’
Gift
Elfdans’ Gift
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)
Legend says that the original mortal owner of this ring was
gifted it by Titania, the Queen of the Seelie Court, after being
tricked into joining a month-long fey ball. When, come the
end of the revels, the woman had not died of exhaustion,
Titania was so impressed by her fortitude that she gave
her the ring – and the ability to summon her own revels
whenever she desired.
While attuned to this ring, you are able to cast hexenringe
once per day without using a spell slot, even if it is not a class
spell for you.
Evelina’s
Crown
Evelina’s Crown
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
A headpiece forged of brass in the style of intertwined birch
leaves. Traditionally, this crown belonged to one particular
family line, and is passed down from grandmother to
granddaughter. The family has long been rumoured to be
able to speak to ghosts.
Whilst attuned to this item, you are able to cast last words
once per day without using a spell slot, even if it is not a class
spell for you.
Forager’s Blade
Dagger, uncommon
A dagger forged from an unknown metal. Commonly carried
by botanists and foragers, this blade is enchanted to protect
the bearer against toxic plants.
When any food or organic matter with poisonous
properties is cut by this knife, the blade turns blue for 1
minute or until it is cleaned. What is considered poisoned
depends on the creature who is holding the blade. For
example, if the creature is immune to poisons, the blade
59
Forager’s
Blade
will remain unchanged even if the organic matter is
considered toxic to others.
Gloves of Scorching
Wondrous item, rare
A pair of gloves created by Claus Dekker, a revolutionary
tailor. Commissioned by an adventuring client who wanted a
pair of gloves that could resist the fiery nature of a phoenix’s
nest, Dekker experimented by using leather made from
the spathe of a corpse flower, which creates its own heat
when in bloom. The experiment was unsuccessful, and the
gloves were soon on the market again – as part of the client’s
estate sale.
While wearing these gloves, if your attack roll is a crit, you
can cast burning hands at its base level as your bonus action
without using a spell slot, even if it is not a class spell for you.
You can cast this spell at a higher level if desired but doing so
will use a spell slot of the relevant level. This feature can only
be used once per day.
Gloves of
Scorching
Guardian’s Watch
+1 Polearm (any), rare (requires attunement)
A polearm crafted from a great yew tree that has stood over a
gravesite. Its years as a guardian of the dead have turned the
wood grey and cold. When it strikes, an almost supernatural
presence seems to thirst for the life source of its target.
When attuned, this weapon acts as a +1 polearm.
When making an attack roll with this weapon, you can
use one or more of the weapon’s five charges to deal a
bonus 1d6 necrotic damage for each charge spent. If the
fifth and final charge is used, roll a d20. On a 1, the Watch
turns its hunger back on its wielder, causing them to take
2d10 necrotic damage, and then breaking.
The Guardian’s Watch has up to five charges. All
expended charges are regained after a long rest.
Guardian’s
Watch
Halling’s Net
Net, uncommon
This net is so fine that when it is stored, it can be folded
down to a fraction of its full size and fit in a pocket. Its
fineness belies its strength: even the sharpest blade would
struggle to cut through it.
When a creature is restrained by this net, they must
make a DC15 Constitution saving throw at the beginning
of each of their turns. On a failed save, they take 1d8 poison
damage. The net cannot be removed by slashing damage; the
restrained creature can only escape by making a successful
DC14 Strength check or being assisted by an ally who passes
the check in their stead.
Halling’s Net
Ice‘s Dream
Quarterstaff, legendary (requires attunement)
Twisted and strange, this silver staff looks every inch the
Unseelie creation that it is. Once belonging to the leader of
the Dark Hunt, this fey quarterstaff grants its wielder power
over the realms of dreams and sleep, and all the dangers that
come with them…
Once per long rest, the wielder can sever their soul from
their body whilst sleeping and become a dream walker. For
1 hour (or until the walker uses an action to end the effect),
their physical body cannot be woken, and their soul can
wander through their surrounding environment but cannot
physically affect it.
Whilst in this state, the walker’s spirit is vulnerable to
magical effects; if attacked by magical means they take double
damage (unless the walker already has resistance to magical
attacks, in which case they take normal damage) and make
saving throws against magical effects with disadvantage.
60
If the walker’s spirit is killed whilst in this state, the
character is mechanically dead, and their physical body will
remain unconscious until it wastes away or is possessed by
another spirit.
• Whilst in this state, the walker has access to the following
spells, even if they are not class spells for them: sleep (3 per
day), charm person (3 per day), banishment (1 per day)
• Whilst in this state, the walker can encounter, and speak
with, any lingering ghosts or spirits in the area. Neither
walker nor spirits can attack each other.
• The walker can observe and listen in on any creature
without detection, so long as that creature does not have
True Sight.
• When entering this state, the walker can choose to bring
up to three willing creatures with them. However, this
increase in spiritual presence will attract the attention of
mazzeri and other fey of the Unseelie Court, who will
locate the walkers within 1d10 minutes (rolled by the DM
in secret). Any fey attempting to reclaim the staff will be
blind to everything but the attuned person wielding it, and
all other walkers will count as being under the effects of pass
without trace, except for the holder of the staff, who cannot
hide whilst holding it.
• If the staff is dropped, the walkers will return to their
physical bodies immediately and the staff will be reclaimed
by the Feywild.
Ice’s Dream
Keiko’s Judgement
+2 Warhammer, legendary (requires attunement)
The legendary travelling monk Keiko once owned a great
warhammer made of camellia wood. It is said that he never
once missed a single blow whilst wielding this weapon,
and after his death, the hammer was placed upright over
his grave. Come spring, the hammer began to grow roots
and soon was a great camellia, larger than any other on
the mountain. Weapons made with the wood from this
bush are thought to be imbued with some part of Keiko’s
indomitable spirit.
When attuned, this warhammer acts as a +2 warhammer.
Whenever you have advantage on an attack roll using this
weapon, you can reroll one of your damage die once.
Additionally, once per turn, your first successful attack
with this weapon forces the target to succeed on a DC15
Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the beginning
of their turn.

Keiko’s
Judgement
Lesovo’s Blade
Shortsword, legendary (requires attunement)
This shortsword is always slightly cool to the touch. It
has no maker’s mark, and no two smiths are able to agree
on who may have made it. The only certainty is that it
was discovered deep in the forest, thrust into a tree and
overgrown with branches. When wielded in combat, its
woody appendages seem to reach up and wrap about its
bearer’s hand.
Once per day, you can use your action to summon a
lieschi (page 93), which appears in an unoccupied space
within 10 feet of you. In combat, the lieschi shares your
initiative roll and takes its turn immediately after yours. It
obeys simple commands: if no commands are given, it takes
the Dodge action and uses its movement to avoid danger.
After 1 hour, it is no longer obedient to your will. At this
point, the DM rolls a d4: on a 1–3, the lieschi flees, and on a
4, it becomes aggressive and attacks the summoner.
Lesovo’s Blade
Lusmore’s Cloak
Wondrous item, legendary
The famous thief Lusmore made a pact with the fey in
exchange for the ability to appear and disappear without
making a sound. It is said that this ability aided him in the
theft of treasures so valuable that the families of his victims
are still recovering from their losses to this day. Though the
nature of his pact remains unknown, items that supposedly
belonged to him sell for high amounts under the belief that
they must be magical in nature.
Any time that poison damage is dealt by the wearer of
this cloak, the damage die is rolled twice. Any damage dealt
in this manner also ignores a target’s resistance to poison
damage, if any.
61
Lusmore’s Gloves
Wondrous item, legendary
Gloves purported to have belonged to the legendary thief
Lusmore. Though their location was thought lost after
Lusmore’s death (or ‘retirement’, if you believe the gossip),
they recently re-entered the public eye when they were
found on the corpse of a man who had been proclaiming
himself to be ‘the greatest thief since Lusmore’.
Whilst wearing these gloves, you have advantage on
Dexterity (Stealth) checks made in dim light conditions
(unless detected by a creature with Dark Vision), and
advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made in total
darkness, even against creatures with Dark Vision.
Lusmore’s
Cloak and
Gloves
Mallachtan Blade
+1 Rapier, rare (requires attunement)
Said to have been crafted with the sole intention of winning
a duel, the Mallachtan blade was forged with such malice that
it ended its intended target’s life with one blow, after which
it – and its creator – disappeared forever.
When attuned, this sword acts as a +1 rapier.
When you hit a creature with an attack using this weapon,
you deal an extra 1d6 necrotic damage to the target, which
takes this extra damage only once per turn. Hit points lost
in this way can only be regained by means of a short or long
rest, rather than by regeneration, magic, or any other means.
Cursed: The Mallachtan blade thrives on hatred, and
bears a deep-seated grudge against any who wield it. It is
impossible to use this blade without being pierced by the
thorns that cover its hilt, and any who have drawn it are left
with deep scars across their dominant hand. The first time
that the blade is unsheathed each day, it inflicts 1d6 necrotic
damage on the wielder; these hit points can only be regained
by means of a short or long rest.
Mallachtan
Blade
Phantom’s Warning
Warhammer, rare (requires attunement)
Deep within the forests of Chult lurk the tikbalang: horse-
like phantoms sent to guard entrances to the Feywild and
stop mortals from entering. Though few who encounter
these creatures live to tell the tale, the phantom’s warning
is supposedly fashioned from a tikbalang’s great hoof
and has been carved in its likeness to channel the same
ferocious energy.
When making a successful attack with this weapon, you
may use your bonus action to enhance your attack with the
tikbalang’s strength. The hammer strikes the ground rather
than the targeted creature, making the earth shudder and
crack. All creatures within a 15-foot radius of the point of
impact must make a DC14 Strength saving throw. On a
failure, they are knocked 10 feet backwards and take 2d8
bludgeoning damage. On a success, they take half damage
and remain in place.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your
proficiency bonus and regain all uses after a long rest.
Guardian’s
Warning
Pins of Slumber
Ammunition, uncommon
Thorns gathered from the blackthorn tree. The thorns are
long and fine, and are suitable to be fired from a blowgun.
The pins deal 1d4 piercing damage, and on a successful
attack, the target must succeed on a DC15 Constitution
saving throw or be paralysed for 1d4 minutes. The target
can continue to repeat the saving throw at the end of each
of their turns; if they succeed before the 1d4 minutes have
elapsed, the paralysis effect ends early.
62
Ring of
Ensnarement
Ring of Ensnarement
Wondrous item, uncommon
This item is formed of a handful of roots from the
butterwort plant, skilfully braided and knotted into a simple
ring. When in possession of this ring, the user has one use of
the charm person or charm monster spell, so long as the target
shares a common language with the caster.
The spell can be cast in one of two ways. If the ring is
placed under the caster’s tongue, the spell is cast verbally,
and the target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw in
keeping with the typical spell parameters or be charmed.
Alternatively, the user can cast the spell via touch by slipping
the ring onto the target’s finger, in which case the target
must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or be charmed.
All other typical parameters and effects of the chosen spell
remain the same.
Once the ring has been used in this way, it loses all potency
and becomes a mundane item.
Crafting requirements
• Nine butterwort roots
• Proficiency with weaver’s tools, or collaboration with a
character with this proficiency
Sandwalker’s
Gorget
Sandwalker’s Gorget
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)
This piece of armour has been crafted from cactus leather.
This gorget increases the wearer’s AC by +1, and provides
advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks made in desert and
scrubland environments.
If the gorget has been worn for at least 8 hours per day for
a year, the wearer’s natural lifespan is doubled for as long as
the gorget continues to be worn in this manner. After this
point, if it is removed for any longer than 1 week, the wearer
ages quickly and, after 1d4 years, is slowly transformed
into a saguaro.
 Silk Archer’s
Gloves
Silk Archer’s Gloves
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
The silk used to create these gloves was created by silkworms
fed solely on mulberry leaves. The gloves always feel slightly
warm to the touch, and those who wear them report that
their hands never feel unsteady.
When wearing these gloves and using a ranged weapon,
you gain access to the true strike cantrip, which can now be
cast as a bonus action once per day.
Snakebane
Bracelet
Snakebane Bracelet
Wondrous item, uncommon
Legend has it that a great snake’s venom was once
responsible for so many deaths that the fields were filled
with the skeletons of its victims. When flowers finally grew
through the bones their seeds appeared as skulls, shaped
by the tragic ghosts of the dead. A bracelet made of these
seeds protects against repetitions of the past, and any wearer
becomes resistant to poison.
Crafting requirements
• Snapdragon seeds
• A thin, golden chain
• Proficiency with jeweller’s tools or tinker’s tools, or
collaboration with a character with one of these proficiencies
63
Spear of
Life-Giving
Waters
Spear of Life-Giving Waters
+1 Spear, rare (requires attunement)
A spear, forged from metal ore gathered in the heart of the
desert, and combined with parts of a saguaro cactus. Though
the cactus was drained of water when it was cut down, it still
feels cool and damp to the touch.
This spear acts as a +1 spear.
While attuned to this weapon, you can place the spear
base-first into the ground as an action, upon which an
amount of clean water up 30 feet diameter and up to 5 feet
deep is summoned up through the ground, even if you are
indoors. Once the spear is removed from the ground, the
water disappears.
If this feature is used outdoors in an arid or desert climate,
the amount of water summoned is 60 feet wide and up to 20
feet deep. As long as the area of water is contained, once the
spear is removed the water does not disappear, and instead
remains in place as a permanent oasis.
Staff of Disarming
Quarterstaff, uncommon
A solid staff made from braided mistletoe wood. The end
consists of a heavy, solid lump of wood made from a branch
of the host tree.
Once per turn, when you hit a creature with a successful
weapon attack, you can use your bonus action to attempt to
disarm the target, forcing it to drop one item that it’s holding
of your choice. Roll a Strength (Athletics) check, contested
by the target’s own Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity
(Acrobatics) check (the target chooses which ability to use).
On a failed contest, the target drops the object you choose.
The object lands at its feet. This feature can be used up to
three times before replenishing on a long rest.
Staff of
Disarming

Staff of the
Warden
Staff of the Warden
Quarterstaff, uncommon
This staff is made out of a single ocotillo stem that has been
grown specifically for this purpose. Though long cut from
the ground, every dusk, the staff still blooms with red,
scented flowers.
Once per day, the staff can be planted base-first into the
ground. Within 1 minute, up to six new stalks will grow in
an evenly spaced circle no larger than 30 feet in diameter and
will remain in place for up to 8 hours. During this period, if
a creature other than the user or any creature designated by
the user comes within 10 feet of one of the stalks, the stalk
will burst into flame and cause 1d6 fire damage, unless the
creature succeeds on a DC14 Dexterity saving throw. Once a
stalk has been triggered, it is destroyed.
Sunstrike Bow
Sunstrike Bow
+1 Shortbow, rare (requires attunement)
A bow carved from mulberry wood. Weapons of this type
are favoured by rangers of the Rauvin Mountains. The image
of the three-legged sunbird, said to nest in a great mulberry
tree at the end of the world, is carved into the bowstave – a
blessing which ensures that every arrow flies true.
When attuned, this bow acts as a +1 bow.
64
On each of your turns, your first successful ranged attack
against a Large, Medium, Small, or Tiny creature forces
the target to succeed on a DC15 Strength saving throw, or
knocks them back 20 feet.
Once per long rest and whilst wielding this bow, you can
call on the sunbird for strength. So long as you have less than
half of your maximum hit points left, you gain advantage on
all attack rolls until the end of your next turn.
Titan’s Hood
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
This hood is said to have been created by a tailor who
desired to possess the might of dragons and live a life larger
than his quiet, rural existence. Little is known of whether
he succeeded, or what became of him after he created
the hood… but perhaps the mending to the stitching is
telling enough.
Once per day, you can use the hood to increase your size
for a period of up to 1 hour. Anything you are wearing or
carrying is also affected by the transformation as long as it
is on your person. You must use your action to trigger the
transformation, and the transformation will not happen if
you lack the space to reach your new size. This item cannot
be worn by a Huge or Gargantuan creature.
Titan’s Hood
Winter’s Shillelagh
Quarterstaff, uncommon
A staff crafted from a young blackthorn sapling for use in
traditional Moonshae stick fighting. Although the branches
have been cut away, the entire trunk has been used, with the
heavy rounded knob at the top of the staff formed from the
knot of roots that once sat at the base of the tree. The wood
is always cold to the touch, and carrying a weapon of this sort
is said to protect a person whilst walking in cursed places.
 Whilst wielding this item, the user has advantage on
saving throws against any effect that would cause them to
become frightened.
Additionally, any critical hit made with this weapon causes
the target to become wounded. At the start of each of its
turns, the creature takes 1d4 necrotic damage for each time
the user has wounded it. It can then choose to use its action
to make a DC15 Constitution saving throw, ending the effect
of all such wounds on itself on a success. Alternatively the
wounded creature, or a creature within 5 feet of it, can use
an action to make a DC15 Wisdom (Medicine) check, ending
the effect of any such wounds on a success. Hit points lost
to this weapon’s damage can be regained only by means of a
short or long rest, rather than by regeneration, magic, or any
other means.

Winter’s
Shillelagh

65
Part 3: The Players
Chapter 11: Backgrounds
T
he background that you choose for your
character decides where they came from, how
others in the world treat them, and what skills
they learned before they became an adventurer.
These important story cues can reveal a lot about your
character’s identity, including their view of the world and
how they interact with it.
The following character backgrounds propose a few
nature-themed backgrounds for Herbarium players.
Whether your character has spent their life as a hedgewitch,
gardener, or purveyor of botanical brews, the following
options will help you flesh out the beginning of their story
before the campaign starts.
Alchemist
There is something meditative to be found in the clink of
glass vials and the smell of reagents. Never more at home
than when surrounded by empty bottles awaiting salves,
oils, and potions, you’re a dab hand at measuring the exact
ingredients for each of your concoctions: and whatever the
problem, you’re never without a bottled answer to hand.
Skill Proficiencies: Medicine, Persuasion
Tool Proficiencies: Alchemist’s supplies, herbalism kit, or
poisoner’s kit
Equipment: Empty glass bottle (2), a large glass jar, a
mortar and pestle, a thermoscope, a pair of scales, a pouch
containing 15 gp
Feature: Bottle it Up
You’ve made so many concoctions during your life, you
could practically do it in your sleep. With steady hands and
a perfect eye for measurements, you have advantage on any
checks required whilst crafting potions and poisons.
Feature: Canny Trader
You have regular contacts who are able to source most
common ingredients for you, often at a discount. They are
also more likely to put you in touch with people who can
source rarer components, and you have advantage on rolls
pertaining to acquiring resources for potions and poisons.
Your DM will rule how easily and affordably these items can
be acquired.
Feature: A Familiar Face
If you spend more than a month in any location, you gain a
reputation for your wares and can earn enough to maintain a
comfortable lifestyle (2 gp per day).
66
Feature: Nose For Trouble
You’re familiar enough with commonplace potion
ingredients that you can identify the nature of most
components at a glance. By spending a few moments
examining an unidentified plant, liquid, or powder, you can
determine whether its properties are poisonous or healing.
You have advantage on any further checks required to
determine the substance’s exact nature.
Forager
You have spent your life relying on the earth to provide that
which you can’t find elsewhere. Perhaps you come from a
simple background that made food and medicines hard to
afford, or perhaps you learnt young about the magic to be
procured from nature’s bounty. Whatever the reason, you
soon came to know the infinite value of the plants you could
grow and gather. Anywhere that plants grow is a second
home to you now, and you always know exactly what to
harvest, and how.
Skill Proficiencies: Nature, Survival
Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism kit, navigator’s tools
Equipment: 5m of twine, a walking stick, a small trowel,
a bag of various common seeds, a hand axe, a pouch
containing 10 gp
Feature: Grow on the Go
With nothing but a green thumb and your own
determination, you have created a technique for growing
plants in containers whilst travelling. You can grow a regular
supply of two common or uncommon plants using this
feature. Once every fortnight, you can change which plants
you grow in these containers.
Feature: A Budding Community
You have an ‘in’ with everyone else in the business. From
trading seeds to sourcing plant food and picking up on
rumours about the locations of rarer specimens, you have
advantage on Charisma-based rolls when speaking with
other botanical merchants.
Feature: The Knowledge
When travelling, you have advantage when it comes to
identifying plants that you encounter, as well as their
primary uses. You may also select one type of biome listed
in the Climates & Biomes chapter and gain intimate
knowledge of the plants that grow in that biome. If you
spend at least 1 minute observing or interacting with your
environment, you can deduce what sort of plants might be
found in the immediate area.
Wise One
You have spent years studying rural magic and folk customs.
People come to you for your trinkets and talismans, and
whether it’s for good luck or protection, there’s no charm
that you don’t know how to create… with a bit of time and
the right ingredients. Closely connected to the outside world
and its magic, you serve as a go-between for the spirits and
the people hoping for their blessings. For the purpose of the
items you create, their magics are so inherent that they are
mechanically considered mundane.

Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, Religion

Tool Proficiencies: Tinker’s tools, jeweller’s tools, or
woodcarver’s tools
Equipment: A silver spoon, a dowsing rod, a small knife,
a needle and thread, a small amount of fabric, a pouch
containing 10 gp
Languages: One of your choice

Feature: At One with Nature

You are as attuned with the inherent nature of the world as
it is with you. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception)
checks relating to natural magics and creatures. Additionally,
you have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks made in
natural environments.

Feature: Like Recognises Like

You have enough of an affinity with the natural magic of
the world to recognise it for what it is. You gain the use
of identify as a ritual spell, even if it is not typically a class
spell for you.

Feature: Trusted Trader

You’re well accustomed to selling the small magics that you
make, and even when on the road, can often find someone
interested in what you’ve got in stock. If you spend at least
12 hours in a location, you can find someone interested in
buying the items you have crafted. One common trinket
takes 1 week to craft and can be sold for 15 gp.

67
Chapter 12: Guilds Lovjeri Liffson
Lovjeri (LG NB human commoner) is one of the Roots of
The Botanist’s Guild the Botanist’s Guild. They have been a part of the Guild for
most of their life and couldn’t be convinced to leave for all

T
he Botanist’s Guild is an established the gold in the world; growing plants is their passion, and if
craftsman’s and trading guild with outposts across there’s only one thing they love more, it’s inventing things
the Realms. It is responsible for the cultivation and to make their life easier. While their colleagues frequently
growth of rare, magical, and useful plants, as well have to barter and call in favours for the seeds and fertilisers
as the development of herbal potions and medical supplies. they need, Lovjeri knows the value of paying adventurers for
Most famed for developing techniques to keep rare plants their help, and will often have a request or job on hand when
alive for the purposes of transport, the Guild’s members are asked. Payment may be delivered in coin, plant components,
mostly composed of gardeners, apothecarists, and botanical the location of rare plants, or – if the players are lucky –
scholars. Plant cultivars developed by members of this Lovjeri’s very own ice box invention.
guild are highly sought after by nobles for display in their When speaking with Lovjeri, roll a d6 and consult the
orangeries and gardens, and a bidding war over one such table for available jobs.
specimen – an asphodel said to burst into harmless flames
every dusk – is rumoured to have been the reason for the
outbreak of the great Silverymoon Noble Brawl.
Membership of the Botanist’s Guild costs 1 gp a month. In
exchange, members have access to the Guild’s public research
projects and are offered a discount on items or components
purchased through the Guild.
Motto: Whatever befalls, spring returns

Botanist’s Guild Ranks

Renown Rank
Saplings are the lowest ranked in the
Botanist’s Guild, and also the most
1 Sapling numerous. Saplings provide mundane work,
admin, financial support, and man the
guildhouses.
The Roots are the foundation of the
Botanist’s Guild. Gardeners, herbologists,
3 Root and botanists, they grow everything the
Guild needs to keep functioning, as well as
cultivating new variants both magical and
mundane.
This is the rank reserved for apothecarists
of the Botanist’s Guild. These members
have perfected the art of turning the
10 Leaf plants that the Guild grows into useful
potions and ointments and are known to
work closely with the Guild’s botanists,
frequently commissioning new cultivars
with which to develop new recipes.
Sepals are some of the most respected
botanical scholars and researchers in the
Realms. With years of travel and practical
25 Sepal experience behind them, there is little
about the natural world they do not know
– and they dedicate their days to filling in
these remaining blanks, or to cultivating
the rarest (and most valuable) plants.

50 Seed This rank is reserved for the Guildmaster of

the Botanist’s Guild.

Lovjeri
Liffson

68
Liffson’s Jobs Adrie Bos
d6 Job Biome Complications The most senior of apothecarists at the Guild, Adrie Bos (CG
1d100 2d4 feldgeister are also out female halfling noble) is a no-nonsense woman who runs her
bunches gathering plants for a fey workshop as tightly as any ship. Once of sailing stock, she
festival. They do not take
1 of fresh, Scrubland found her way to the Guild some years ago, turning her skills
common kindly to anyone else trying
to take flowers from their for potions to better use than treating seasick sailors.
plants Adrie is keenly interested in acquiring components
chosen site.
The fraxinella plants are
for her work without having to gather them herself. She
A bundle of will pay a fee equal to the market rate for common and
2 fraxinella guarded by a revelry of 2d4
Woodland uncommon plants gathered (see Buying, Selling, and
leaves samovila, who attack when
their territory is entered. Trading, page 7), and 50% more than the market rate for
Harmless though the task rare and legendary plants. These plants must be fresh when
A vial of dew might sound, the Numian delivered. At the DM’s discretion, she is also a reliable source
3 from the Farmland
plant is famed for having for rare and legendary items, though she does not outwardly
Numian Plant eaten the last several advertise this fact. She is particularly attached to her rarest
adventurers who dared
of items, and may have to be bribed or flattered out of
approach it.
possession of them.
A small bag of The belladonna banks are
freshly-picked guarded by a slumbering
4
belladonna Marshland Cinstita. The only time that
berries Cinstita leaves this site is on
the night of a full moon.

Honey from Honey beasts are animals

the corpse of that have been driven mad by
5
a maddened Mountain eating poisoned azalea honey.
honey beast On their quest, the party will
encounter 1d4 honey beasts.
A waldgeister council is
currently in session, deep in
A bundle the trunk of the elder tree
of soft that Lovjeri wants the wood
6 wood from from. Disturbing them could
Scrubland
young elder cause political disaster (for
branches the waldgeister, at least),
and will trigger an attack
from 1d6 waldgeister guards
and 1 waldgeister captain.

Liffson’s Icebox
Wondrous item, uncommon
Lovjeri’s passion is invention, and their most recent
accomplishment is Lovjeri’s Ice Box – a portable ice house
for keeping new cuttings fresh for longer. This may be
gifted to adventurers for completing a task, or can be
purchased for 150 gp.
Created by the visionary botanist Lovjeri, this portable pack
keeps gathered plants fresh for longer. Any cut plant placed
within the box retains its potency for an extra 10 days. The box
can carry up to 4 cubic feet of contents.

Adrie Bos

The Guildhouse
Though its headquarters are based in Silverymoon, established
members of the Botanist’s Guild travel frequently, regularly
relocating to different offices in order to further their knowledge
and skills. As a result, the NPCs mentioned in this section can
easily be placed in any location that your players are likely to
visit. Guildhouses are usually surrounded by working gardens,
and can be distinguished by green hanging signs emblazoned with
a gold leaf.

69
70
Chapter 13: Spells Spell Descriptions

M
agic suffuses the Forgotten Realms, and
though the magically-inclined have studied it for Corpse Crushed
thousands of years, it is impossible that every 2nd level necromancy
application should have been discovered. There is Casting Time: 1 Action
wild magic to be found in the depths of the forests, known Range: 60 feet
only to the practitioners of the old ways, and only rarely are Components: S, M (a handful of earth from a grave site, a
these spells recorded. palm-sized rock)
This chapter features new spells for the adventurous and Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
inventive alike, recently discovered in a grimoire of old, You summon a nearby spirit of the dead to aid you. You
wild magics. The chapter begins with the spell lists for the choose a target that you can see within 60 feet of you, forcing
spellcasting classes, followed by the spell descriptions (in them to make a Constitution saving throw against your spell
alphabetical order). save DC. On a failure, the spirit attaches itself to the target
and the target’s movement is halved. They may repeat the
Spell List saving throw at the beginning of each of their turns; upon
each successive failure, they become grappled, then prone,
Bard Spells then incapacitated. The spell ends either when you choose to
Jordfast end it, your concentration is broken, or the target succeeds
Offring on their Constitution saving throw.
Trollhare
Watcher of the Roads
Deathlight
Cleric Spells 4th level abjuration
Corpse Crushed Casting Time: 1 Action
Deathlight Range: 60 feet
Last Words Components: S, V
Offring Duration: Up to 1 minute
A warding light is cast over one creature within range.
Druid Spells While the spell is active, the creature has advantage on any
Hexenringe death saving throws made. If the creature succeeds on three
Last Words death saving throws or is stabilised, they are immediately
Mother’s Blessing healed for a number of hit points equal to 2d8 + your
spellcasting ability modifier.
Paladin Spells
Deathlight
Jordfast Hexenringe
Last Words 2nd level conjuration
Trollhare Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: 30 feet (30-foot diameter)
Ranger Spells Components: S, V, M (a handful of earth from a fey-
Hexenringe touched location, a drop of blood)
Mother’s Blessing Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
Trollhare You trigger a momentary fluctuation in the barrier between
the Material Plane and the Feywild, causing a ring of fey-
Sorcerer Spells touched mushrooms to burst forth. The ring materialises in
Hexenringe any space you can see within 30 feet of you, and can be of
Offring any diameter of your choosing, up to a maximum of 30 feet.
Trollhare The ring cannot be moved once cast. The mushrooms are no
Watcher of the Roads
taller than ½ foot each and can be discerned as magical with a
successful Wisdom (Perception) check against your spell save
Warlock Spells DC. When casting the spell, you choose from one of the two
Corpse Crushed following rings:
Hexenringe Ring of Harm: On your turn, you can use your action to
Watcher of the Roads choose up to three creatures who are standing inside the
ring. These creatures must make a Charisma saving throw
Wizard Spells against your spell save DC, taking 2d8 poison damage on a
Corpse Crushed
failed save, and half as much on a success.
Deathlight
Jordfast

71
Ring of Health: On your turn, you can use your action
to grant temporary hit points to up to three creatures
who are standing inside the ring. The creatures gain
temporary hit points equivalent to 1d4 + your spellcasting
ability modifier.
Up to three creatures still within the ring when the spell ends
must make a Charisma saving throw against your spell save
DC. If there are more than three creatures within the ring,
three are randomly chosen. On a failed save, a d4 is rolled
and the creatures suffer the corresponding effect:
Hexenringe Roll Table
d4 Results of Spell End
1 The creature takes one level of exhaustion.
2 The creature takes a -1 penalty to Charisma-
based ability rolls and saving throws until the
end of their next long rest.
3 The creature is subjected to the effects of the
banishment spell until the end of their next turn.
The plane they are banished to is the Feywild.
4 The creature is randomly teleported to an
unoccupied spot within 30 feet of their original
location. There is a one in four chance that
this spot is 10 feet above the ground, upon
which instance, the creature falls and takes 1d6
bludgeoning damage.
Jordfast
3rd level transmutation (ritual)
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: Touch
Components: S, M (a piece of rock from the root of a
mountain, diamond dust worth at least 100 gp)
Duration: Up to 24 hours
When cast upon an inanimate object that is not currently
being held by a creature, the object cannot be moved by any
means for the next 24 hours or until the spell is voluntarily
ended by the caster. If the object weighs in pounds more than
10 times the caster’s casting stat, this spell has no effect on it.
Last Words
2nd level divination (ritual)
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Self
Components: S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
You take a moment to listen to the sound of the wind in the
trees. You are able to discern the voice of one of the spirits
of the dead passing through the leaves and may ask one
question of them. Additionally, they may impart a further
message of their own choosing to you. You must ask your
question before the spell ends.
The spirit only knows information that it knew in life,
but may make an educated guess (which may not be correct)
regarding information it does not know. The manner of
the spell negates any requirement to share a language,
but the voice can only be heard if you are sat in an area of
relative silence.
72
Mother’s Blessing
3nd level abjuration (ritual)
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Self (60 foot diameter)
Components: S, V, M (four blackthorn branches)
Duration: Up to 10 hours
You choose the diameter of the area which is to be affected
by the spell. For the duration of the casting, you must lay the
branches in a cross in the centre of this area, and set them on
fire. Whilst they burn, you walk in a circular motion around
the fire, chanting the virtues required for the blessing until
the branches are reduced to ash. Once the ash is gathered, it
must be spread immediately across the desired area – a circle
up to 60 feet wide. The blessing must be cast in the same area
that the branches are burnt.
The blessing can be any one of the following and must be
chosen prior to casting.
Blessing of Antimagic: An area given this blessing is
surrounded by a low-level antimagic field. If a spell of
third level or below is cast at a target standing within the
area, or cast within this area, the caster must make a spell
attack roll against your Spell DC. On a failure, the spell is
Counterspelled (as per the spell). Spells of a higher level
still act as usual and magic items retain their abilities.
Blessing of Foresight: All creatures within the area
of this blessing are protected against the blinded and
deafened conditions.
Blessing of Steadfastness: An area given this blessing
is protected against becoming difficult terrain for the
next 24 hours.
Blessing of Vision: Spells such as darkness, invisibility, and
other illusion-based spells cannot be cast within this area.
Blessing of Reprieve: Any creatures taking a short rest in
the blessed area may regain the maximum amount of hit
points per die.
Offring
4th-level evocation
Casting Time: 1 bonus action
Range: Self
Components: V, S
Duration: Up to 1 minute
With every death begins a new life. If you drop to 0 hit
points while this spell is active, up to three creatures of your
choosing within 60 feet of you instantly regain hit points
equal to 3d8 + your spellcasting ability modifier. This spell
has no effect on undead or constructs.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot
of 5th level or higher, the healing increases by 1d8 for each
slot level above 4th.
Trollhare
2nd level conjuration (ritual)
Casting Time: Instantaneous
Range: Self (10 feet)
Components: V, M (a tuft of animal hair)
Duration: Up to 1 minute
You summon a spirit that takes the form of a spectral hare.
This creature appears in an unoccupied space within 10 feet
of you, and can be commanded to bring you any common
or uncommon mundane item worth no more than 10 gp.
It will disappear whilst doing so, and return with the item
within 1 minute.
These items are delivered with the intention of being
used or admired, and if the objects are too often summoned
merely to be sold or traded, the spirit may begin to retaliate
by bringing inferior goods, or by stealing back the coins or
objects traded for.

Watcher of the Roads

3rd level abjuration
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: Self
Components: V, M (dried pimpernel flowers)
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes
Small flowers grow in your footsteps, vanishing again a few
seconds later. Any movements that you make while this spell
is active cannot be tracked by non-magical means, spells of
level three or below, or items and abilities that replicate the
effects of spells of level three or below. Animals also cannot
scent your trail.
At higher levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot
of 4th level or higher, the time period that this spell is active
for increases by 10 minutes for each slot level above 3rd.

THE PLAYERS | SPELLS

73

Chapter 14: Subclasses
Bard: Bard College
The way of a bard is gregarious. Bards seek each other out to
swap songs and stories, boast of their accomplishments, and
share their knowledge. Bards form loose associations, which
they call colleges, to facilitate their gatherings and preserve
their traditions.
At 3rd level, you delve into the advanced techniques of a
bard college of your choice. Your choice grants you features
at 3rd level and again at 6th and 14th level.
College of Arcanists
A bard’s words are laced with magic. Even beyond the tales
they weave, they can rouse someone’s courage, heal their
wounds, and even make them fall in love… But what holds
the magic once the words have faded? Bards from the College
of Arcanists have learned to weave their stories not into
words but into talismans, charms, and amulets. Bestowing
luck and fortune – and sometimes even curses – to anyone
who owns a piece of their craft, these bards have found a
way to make the magic of their stories last longer than the
telling itself.
Inky Fingers
3rd-level College of Arcanists feature
You gain proficiency with calligrapher’s tools. These tools act
as an arcane focus where required.
Little Blessings
3rd-level College of Arcanists feature
Once per day, you can spend 10 minutes making a small
charm that can either be used by you, or given to another
creature of your choice. You choose which type of charm you
are making at this time. The charm’s magical effect lasts for
24 hours, after which point it becomes a mundane item. You
can make only one charm per long rest.
Apple: A single apple pip, drilled through and hung on a
silver chain. The first time that the creature bearing this
charm is given a Bardic Inspiration die after acquiring this
charm, it can be given without expending one use of the
Bardic Inspiration feat.
74
Basil: A dried sprig of basil, folded into a paper packet. As
an action, the creature that has been given this charm can
choose one ability score to increase by 1 for the duration
of 1 hour. If the increased ability score results in a higher
ability modifier, the increased modifier should also be
applied for the duration of the charm’s effect. After the
hour has passed, the creature’s ability score reverts to its
usual value and the charm becomes a mundane item.
Bramble: This touch charm is made from a smoothed piece
of bramble wood, tied with red thread. The creature
carrying this charm can reroll one attack roll, saving
throw, or ability check. Upon doing so they must use the
new roll. After use, this charm becomes a mundane item.
Mint: This charm, made from mint leaves sewn into a red
cloth envelope, is commonly tucked in a pocket or sewn
into clothing. While in possession of this talisman, the
bearer gains one use of the message cantrip; after using this
cantrip once, the charm becomes a mundane item.
Birch: This paper talisman is made from the bark of a birch
tree. At any point, the creature in possession of this charm
may recall the tune or story that was performed the last
time that you used the Song of Rest Bardic feature. In doing
so, they may benefit from healing equivalent to your
current Song of Rest level, after which the charm returns to
being a mundane item.
Sword Letters
6th-level College of Arcanists feature
Having made plenty of charms in your lifetime, you’ve now
learnt how to adapt those trinkets into paper talismans
suitable for battle. As with the Little Blessings feat, this trinket
can be made in 10 minutes and lasts for 24 hours. Only one
talisman can be created per long rest.
Calculating Letter: On a successful attack roll, one of the
damage dice can be rerolled, and you can choose which
result to use. This can be done three times before the letter
loses all magical properties and becomes a mundane item.
Lucky Letter: The bearer of this letter may roll with
advantage on one attack roll, saving throw, or ability check
of their choice, after which the letter loses all magical
properties and becomes a mundane item.
Reviving Letter: The bearer of this letter is protected
from the inevitability of death: the first time that they
are reduced to 0 hit points, they drop to 1 hit point
instead. After this ability is used, the letter becomes a
mundane item.
Shielding Letter: The bearer of this letter has one use of the
shield spell. After use, the letter loses its magical properties
and becomes a mundane item.
Vicious Letter: The bearer of this letter deals extra psychic
damage once per round when making a physical attack.
This damage is equal to your proficiency bonus. Once a
bonus action is used to activate the Letter, it is active for
the next minute and then becomes a mundane item.
Masterpiece
14th-level College of Arcanists feature
You’ve reached the peak of your craft and are now able to
craft items that only masters can dream of creating. Once per
month, you can create a Masterpiece item. This can be any
small-sized item, such as an amulet, crown, ring, etc. The
item can be kept by yourself or given to another creature of
your choosing. The Masterpiece takes 8 hours of downtime
to make, which can be spread across several days if desired,
and its magical efficacy lasts for a month before it becomes a
mundane item.
Masterpiece of Determination: The metal for this
Masterpiece comes from a tool or weapon that has been
broken during use. When lowering the hit points of a
creature to 0, or when landing a critical hit on an attack,
you may make one extra attack as a bonus action.
Masterpiece of Enchantment: A Masterpiece reforged
from an old spellcasting focus. Once per day, the holder
can cast any spell at one level higher than the spell’s base
level without having to expend a higher slot to do so, but
only if they are able to cast spells of that higher level. The
original spell slot is still expended.
Masterpiece of Relocation: This Masterpiece is made
from an item worn at a wedding or pairing ceremony.
This Masterpiece consists of two matching pieces, which
can be given to two separate creatures. The pieces allow
one bearer to use their reaction to swap positions with the
other, if they are willing and within 100 feet of each other.
This can be done three times before requiring a long rest.
Masterpiece of Spirits: This Masterpiece is made by
trapping a wandering spirit inside the item during its
creation. This spirit appears as a glowing ball of light when
summoned and can be called upon once per day for up to
1 hour. Whilst the Masterpiece is active, the bearer has
advantage on Wisdom and Charisma saving throws, and
gains immunity to being charmed or frightened.
Masterpiece of Unmaking: A Masterpiece made from
natural and earthly materials, untouched by magic. When
the bearer is attuned to this Masterpiece and makes a
successful attack against a spellcaster, the spellcaster must
make their Constitution saving throw for concentration
with disadvantage.

College of
Arcanists Bard
SUBCLASSES | BARD
75

Paladin: Sacred Oaths
Becoming a paladin involves taking vows that commit
a person to the cause of righteousness, an active path of
fighting wickedness. The final oath, taken when they reach
3rd level, is the culmination of all the paladin’s training.
Some characters with this class don’t consider themselves
true paladins until they have reached 3rd level and made
this oath. For others, the actual swearing of the oath is a
formality, an official stamp on what has always been true in
their heart.
Oath of the Endling
The world changes fast, with no concern for what is left
behind along the way. Old magics die out, gods who have
gone unworshipped for centuries fade away, and the last
born of a race eventually dies alone. The Oath of the Endling
is taken by those who see the passing of these relicts and are
filled with a burning desire to ensure they are not forgotten.
These paladins are the sworn guardians of the those left
behind, lending their strength and spirit to make sure that
which is gone does not disappear from the world.
Those who take the Oath of the Endling may begrudge the
speed at which things move on; maybe they encountered the
last of a people who encouraged them to join their cause, or
perhaps they themselves are the end of their own lineage.
These paladins often pray to Ilmater, the god of endurance,
or Helm, the god of guardians.
Tenets of the Endling
Above all else, survive: For paladins who swear the Oath
of the Endling, survival is the most essential goal. The
world is cruel, but it will not claim us.
The world is lesser without us: It may not be immediately
noticeable when an old magic dies out, or a god fades from
existence – but if too much disappears, the world will be
lesser for it.
Death is not always the end: A thing is only truly dead
once it has been forgotten. In instances where those who
came before could not be saved, it is our duty to record the
facts of their having existed.
Oath Spells
3rd-level Oath of the Endling feature
You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed in the Oath
of the Endling Spells table. Once you gain access to an oath
spell, you always have it prepared. Oath spells don’t count
against the number of spells you can prepare each day.
76
If you gain an oath spell that doesn’t appear on the
paladin spell list, the spell nonetheless counts as a paladin
spell for you.
Oath of the Endling Spell Table
Paladin Level Spells
3rd Faerie Fire, Longstrider
5th Enhance Ability, Hold Person
9th Feign Death, Protection from Energy
13th Offring, Stoneskin
17th Greater Restoration, Reincarnate
Channel Divinity
3rd-level Oath of the Endling feature
Your oath allows you to channel divine energy to fuel
magical effects. When you take this oath at 3rd level, you
gain the following two Channel Divinity options. When
you use your Channel Divinity, you choose which of the two
options to use. You must then finish a short or long rest to
use your Channel Divinity again.
Some Channel Divinity effects require saving throws.
When you use such an effect from this class, the DC equals
your paladin spell save DC.
Tiding
You can use your Channel Divinity to tap into an extra sense
known as Tidings. These Tidings are magical indications,
interpretations, or visions that give you a deeper insight into
the dying magic of the world. When using this feature, you
choose which Tiding to tap into.
Aning: This unsettling feeling of spiritual worry indicates
the possible shape of things to come, or of events
happening elsewhere. When tapping into this sense, roll
a d6; on a 1–5, you receive a general feeling that indicates
the likely outcome of a near-future event. On a 6, you
receive a much clearer prediction of the same.
Dromsyner: The next time you sleep, you receive a cryptic
vision regarding a future event.
Varsel: You are visited by a dying or dead person’s spirit.
The spirit imparts a verbal warning about a current event
happening elsewhere.
Stamma
To use your Channel Divinity in this way, you repeat the
tenets of your oath whilst walking in the shape of a triangle,
repeating one oath for each corner. This summons your
Vard – a spiritual guide unique to you that takes on the form
of a small, floating light – which will accompany you for up
to 1 hour. The summoning takes 5 minutes.
While your Vard accompanies you, an attack roll counts as
a crit on a 19–20.
If the Stamma is performed at an auspicious location
such as a crossroads, threshold, or burial site, you also
gain advantage on your next saving throw while the
Vard is active.
Ingivelse
7th-level Oath of the Endling feature
Starting at 7th level, you can use a bonus action to summon
your Vard. The Vard then attaches itself to any target that
you can see, and casts suggestion upon them, prompting the
standard parameters of the spell. This does not use any of
your spell slots. At 18th level, you can choose to place the
target under the effect of geas instead of suggestion.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until
you’ve completed a long rest.
Sjörå (Lake guardian): You gain the ability to breathe and
speak underwater and gain a swimming speed of 30 feet.
Skattrå (Treasure guardian): You gain truesight with a
range of up to 120 feet.
Skogsrå (Forest guardian): If you fail a saving throw, you
can use your reaction to reroll it. You must use the result
of the new roll.
Vägrå (Road guardian): Enemy creatures within 10 feet
of you have disadvantage on saving throws against any
paladin spells that you cast.

Han Vitar
15th-level Oath of the Endling feature
You have learned how to use your magic to mete out justice
on those who deserve it. When you roll a crit on your attack
roll, you can choose to cast a justified curse on the target,
upon which they have the chance to roll a single death saving
throw, and on a failure are instantly slain. Any creature
killed in this way cannot be resurrected, raised, or spoken Oath of
with. This feature does not have an effect on creatures with the Endling
Paladin
Legendary Actions.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until
you’ve completed a long rest.

Rådare
20th-level Oath of the Endling feature
At 20th level, once you have used Channel Divinity to
summon your Vard, you are able to summon other spirits
alongside them. These Rå (pronounced ‘Roh’) are spiritual
guardians that will aid you in various ways. When using this
ability, choose three Rå to summon. They will remain for 1
minute before disappearing,
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until
you’ve completed a long rest.
Bergrå (Mountain guardian): You have resistance to
bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from both
magical and nonmagical weapons.
Gårdsrå (Farm guardian): You are surrounded with an
aura of warmth and abundance, gaining advantage on all
Charisma checks.
Gruvrå (Mining guardian): As a bonus action, you can
take the dash or disengage action.
Havsrå (Ocean guardian): At the start of each of your
turns, you are imbued with a feeling of refreshment, and
you gain 2d6 temporary hit points.
Kyrkrå (Church guardian): Whenever a creature hits you
with an attack, it takes radiant damage equal to half the
damage you take from that attack.
Kyrkogårsdrå (Cemetery guardian): Your allies have
advantage on death saving throws while within 30
feet of you.

77

Rogue: Roguish Archetype
At 3rd level, a rogue gains the Roguish Archetype feature,
which offers you the choice of a subclass. This is the
school of training that you have followed in order to learn
your skills.
Poisoner
Your study has made you an expert in the way of quick and
untraceable deaths. Perhaps you learned out of a necessity to
earn coin through the art of death; perhaps you had a family
member or spouse who required a quick dispatch. Whatever
the case, poison has become your weapon of choice. You
know where to find the deadliest plants, how to combine
the right compounds, how to brew potions and coat your
weapons. Assassin, murderer, opportunist – whatever they
call you, you’ll be sure to have the last laugh.
Master of Death
3rd-level Poisoner feature
When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you gain
proficiency with the poisoner’s kit and Dexterity (Sleight of
Hand) checks. All rolls pertaining to the creation of poisons
can be made with advantage.

Deadly Touch
3rd-level Poisoner feature
At 3rd level, you can apply a poison to your current weapon
with a bonus action: if desired, this can be done subtly with
a successful Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check. This poison
remains on your weapon for either up to one hour, or until a
creature is successfully injured by it. You can use any poison
currently in your inventory, or a standard poison that you
always keep to hand so long as it adheres to the following:
A creature subjected to this poison must pass a
Constitution saving throw that is equal to 8 + your
proficiency bonus + your class level. On a failed save, it
takes 1d12 poison damage and is poisoned for 1 hour.
On a successful save, the creature takes half damage and
isn’t poisoned. The creature can repeat the saving throw
poisoner at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself
rogue on a success.

Untouchable
9th-level Poisoner feature
Beginning at 9th level, you have experimented with so
many poisons and antidotes that you now have immunity to
poison damage.

Inevitable Demise
13th-level Poisoner feature
Starting at 13th level, your poisons are almost impossible to
detect, and any creature attempting to do so makes their roll
with disadvantage. Additionally, you have advantage on rolls
that pertain to detecting poisons.

The End Comes to All

17th-level Poisoner feature
By 17th level, you’ve perfected the art of silent death. Your
poisons can no longer be resisted by a saving throw. If the
poison is applied through an injury and the attack roll is a
crit, it applies maximum damage for that poison type.

78
 Green Magic
1st-level Deep Roots feature
Your link to the earth allows you to learn additional spells
when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown on the
Green Magic table. Each spell counts as a sorcerer spell for
you, but it doesn’t count against the number of sorcerer
spells you know.

Sorcerer: Sorcerous Origin Green Magic Spells

Sorcerer Level Spells
At 1st level, a Sorcerer gains the Sorcerous Origin feature;
the source from which your innate power comes. 1st Animal Friendship, Earth Tremor
3rd Barkskin, Locate Animals or Plants
Deep Roots 5th Plant Growth, Wind Wall

From earth you came, and to earth you will return. There’s 7th Control Water, Grasping Vine
power to be found in the forest, and the orchards, and the 9th Commune With Nature, Wrath of Nature
harvested fields. As a sorcerer you’ve managed to tap into the
deep wells of ambient power beneath the ground, and this
link grants you an affinity with plants and nature that few
others can understand.
It’s up to you to decide how your powers came to you.
Perhaps a fey helped your mother to birth you and touched
you with their gift, or perhaps a lifetime working in the
fields has bestowed upon you a knowledge of the seasons
far beyond the everyday. Rolling a d6 (or simply choosing
for yourself), use the Deep Roots Origins table below for
inspiration as to the origin of your power.

Deep Roots Origin

d6 Origin
1 Working in the fields during the harvest, you
were attacked by unknown creatures. When
you awoke, you weren’t sure how you survived,
but animals now avoid you whenever you come
near.
2 At some point in your life, you befriended a fey
creature who taught you how to command the
natural world around you. You also learned the
dangers of sharing your true name… after giving
it to your new ‘friend’.
3 Roots and bones, dirt and stones. Laid out in
the grass on a clear, sunny day, you felt yourself
sinking deep into the earth. You formed a bond
with the steady, solid power of soil and roots,
and you can now sense tremors of a mysterious
origin in the ground below you.
4 You encountered a ruin that had become
overgrown by nature. Something dark and
ancient called out to you and offered you
untold power in exchange for its freedom.
deep roots
Sometimes, you can still hear it whispering to
you.
sorcerer

5 While entering a forbidden place, you

encountered a devil of the deep woods. When
you use your powers, you have a horrible
suspicion that the shadows are watching you…
6 Your family never speaks of your ancestors, and
you’ve never known why they look at you with
such concern. Only when your innate magic
began to manifest did they tell you of your fey
heritage.

79
Nature Child
1st-level Deep Roots feature
Being far from the bustle of civilisation feels like second
nature to you. From 1st level, if you don’t already have it,
you gain proficiency in Survival and Nature checks.
Soft Ground
1st-level Deep Roots feature
At 1st level, the earth already recognises you as its own.
When natural ground is beneath you, it responds to your
needs by changing its shape about you. Difficult terrain,
if caused by natural materials, doesn’t affect you. When
landing from a height onto natural ground, thick moss grows
to soften your fall, giving you resistance to this manner of
falling damage. When climbing natural objects such as trees
and cliffs, you always seem to find good purchase; when
making any climbing-related checks such as Athletics or
Acrobatics, do so with advantage.
Allelopathic Reaction
6th-level Deep Roots feature
Starting at 6th level, you gain resistance to poison and
acid damage. Whenever you start casting a spell that
deals poison or acid damage, choose one of the following
additional effects:
• The air around you takes on a toxic quality. One creature
of your choice within 5 feet of you takes an additional 2d6
poison or acid damage, depending on the damage type of
the spell you are casting.
• Acid or poison (depending on the damage type of the spell
you are casting) suffuses the earth within a 30-foot radius.
Up to four creatures of your choosing within the affected
area take 1d6 of the applicable damage type.
Sticks and Stones
14th-level Deep Roots feature
Beginning at 14th level, the ground beneath you is as familiar
to you as your own body and you are able to emulate its
profound steadiness. As a bonus action, you can enter this
meditative state and gain resistance to piercing, slashing,
and bludgeoning damage for up to 1 minute. Additionally,
while this state lasts, you make any concentration checks
with advantage.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you
finish a long rest, or unless you spend 5 sorcery points to
use it again.
Master of All
18th-level Deep Roots feature
At 18th level, you gain immunity to acid and poison damage.
In addition, any spell you cast or any effect that you create
ignores resistance or immunity to acid and poison damage,
and deals damage as normal.
80
Warlock: Otherworldly
Patrons
At 1st level, the Otherwoldly Patron feature provides
warlocks with a patron through whom their powers are
granted. Below are two new patrons for warlocks who feel a
greater pull towards the power of nature.
The Flower Bride
Spring blooms sweet and eager, bringing with it new
growth, sunlight, and most importantly… life. The creatures
who identify themselves as Flower Brides are inextricably
connected to the earth and the warmer seasons. By binding
yourself to one of them, you have made a pact to uphold
their values: aiding creation, healing blight, birthing new
beginnings from the ashes of endings. The Brides are life
itself, and their servants act to further their work.
The warlocks who serve the Brides do so for many
different reasons. They may wish to see nature reign
victorious over civilisation’s creeping presence, or perhaps
they seek to protect others where they themselves were
abandoned. Whatever the reason you’ve made your pact,
you’re sure to feel the benefits of the Brides’ patronage. But
be warned: what is given is easily taken away, and the Brides
are not always benevolent…
The Flower Brides are commonly higher-ranking fey of
the Summer Court, but can also be minor nature gods, such
as aspects of Mielikki or Chauntea. The most powerful of the
Brides is the goddess Blodeuwedd.
Expanded Spell List
1st-level Flower Bride feature
The Flower Bride lets you choose from an expanded list of
spells when you learn a warlock spell. The following spells
are added to the warlock spell list for you.
Flower Bride Expended Spells
Spell Level Spells
1st Cure Wounds, Druidcraft
2nd Healing Spirit, Lesser Restoration
3rd Life Transference, Revivify
4th Aura of Life, Offring
5th Deathlight, Enervation
Helping Hand
1st-level Flower Bride feature
At 1st level, you gain the ability to perform a healing
blessing on someone. As a bonus action, choose one creature
(including yourself) that you can see within 30 feet of you;
this creature is blessed by you for up to 1 minute. The
blessing ends early if the target dies, if you die, or if you are
incapacitated. Until the blessing ends, the target gains the Blodeuwedd
following benefits:
• The target gains an additional 1d4 hit points from any
healing spells or effects.
• When an attack roll is made against the target, roll a d4 and
subtract the number rolled from the attack roll.
You can’t use this feature again until you finish a short
or long rest.

Mutual Beneficiary
6th-level Flower Bride feature
At 6th level, when you are reduced to 0 hit points, the ally
closest to you receives healing for half of the damage that
you received from the attack that dropped you to 0 hit
points. If that same ally then revives or stabilises you, you are
revived with the same number of hit points that they initially
received from you.

Hungry Grass
10th-level Flower Bride feature
Beginning at 10th level, as a bonus action, you can send forth
a lush expanse of fresh, green growth in a 20-foot radius that
surrounds you until the end of your next turn. Allies within
the affected area have advantage on all saving throws and
enemies have disadvantage on the same.
You may also, if desired, use your action while this effect is
active to cause long grass to grow within the area of growth.
Any hostile creatures of your choosing must succeed on a
Dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC or be
restrained by the grass for the duration of the effect.

Not on My Watch
14th-level Flower Bride feature
When you reach 14th level, you can channel your patron’s
power and cast mass cure wounds once per long rest without
using a spell slot. Additionally, once per long rest, you can
extend your patron’s protection to a single ally who is at 0
hit points. If they are within 30 feet of you, you can stabilise
them even if you are not within touching distance.

The Flower Brides

The Brides are ruled by Blodeuwedd, the First Bride. Wed to
the great hero Lleu Llaw Gyffes, Blodeuwedd was created from
flowers of oak, broom, and meadowsweet. Not content to exist
solely to be someone’s wife, however, she conspired to slay Lleu.
The attempt failed, and Lleu banished her from the Material
Plane, cursing her to return only in the form of an owl, the most
hated of all birds.
Mourning her freedom more than she regretted her crime,
Blodeuwedd set about using her charms and cunning to find and
recruit women who had been similarly cursed—and through her
leadership, the Brides have begun to regain some semblance of
their previous power…

81
 The Crone
The darkness is full of old gods, and never more so than
in the long hours of winter. On a ragged peak, in a twisted
forest, or the peat-soaked fens… if you’re out after dark,
you might just encounter one of the old gods known as the
Crones. The Crone and her ilk come from the coldest of
mountaintops, from the hearts of storms, from wintry tides,
walking the thin line between life and death.
If you’ve made a pact with one of these creatures, you
may find that you owe your powers to one of the winter
fey, a yuki onna, or perhaps even the oldest of them all - the
Cailleach, the Old Queen of Winter.
Those who make a pact with the Crone are bringers of
balance and restitution, keepers of the darkness necessary for
the return of the light. They are bringers of both contagion
and protection from disease – healers who also know how to
bring about a quick death. All coins have two sides, and just
as the Crone and her kind bring death so that life can begin
anew, many of their followers also wear two faces. Their
ranks include thieves who also support the destitute, loving
spouses who abandon their families for noble reasons, and
the power-hungry who disguise themselves as humble men.
Which mask do you wear?

Expanded Spell List

1st-level Crone feature
The Crone patron lets you choose from an expanded list of
spells when you learn a warlock spell. The following spells
are added to the warlock spell list for you.
The Crone Expended Spells
Spell Level Spells
The 1st Absorb Elements, Ice Knife
Cailleach 2nd Dragon’s Breath, Rime’s Binding Ice
3rd Elemental Weapon, Glyph of Warding
4th Offring, Deathlight
5th Cone of Cold, Hallow

On Thin Ice
1st-level Crone feature
At 1st level, you can cloak yourself in ice to repel an enemy.
When a creature within 5 feet of you that you can see hits
you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to force
the creature to make a Dexterity saving throw against your
spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature takes 2d6 cold
damage, and half as much on a successful roll.
You can use this ability a number of times equal to your
Charisma modifier (a minimum of once). You regain all
expended uses when you finish a short rest.
The amount of damage dealt by this feature increases by
1d6 at 5th, 11th, and 17th levels.

The Darkest Night

6th-level Crone feature
Beginning at 6th level, you are now at home even in the
deepest of winters. You gain resistance to cold damage and,

82
if you did not have it already, possess Darkvision up to 60
feet. If you already have Darkvision, this is now extended by
a further 60 feet.

Avalanche
10th-level Crone feature
At 10th level, you learn the spell ice storm. It counts as a
warlock spell for you, but it doesn’t count against the number
of spells you know. You may cast it once without using a
spell slot, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish
a long rest.

Pact Improvement
14th-level Crone feature
Starting at 14th level, depending on the Pact Boon that you
chose, you gain one of the following:
Pact of the Blade: When you hit a creature with your pact
weapon, the attack hits with an explosion of ice and deals
an extra 3d6 cold damage to the target. You can use this
ability a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier
(a minimum of once) and regain all expended uses when
you finish a long rest.
Pact of the Chain: Your familiar inherits a variation of the
On Thin Ice ability. So long as you have taken damage on
your previous turn, your familiar may use their action
to force a creature of your choosing that is within 5 feet
of them to make a Dexterity saving throw against your
spell save DC. On a failed saving throw, the creature takes
3d6 cold damage, and half as much on a successful one.
Your familiar can use this feature a number of times equal
to your Charisma modifier (a minimum of once). They
regain all expended uses when you finish a short rest.
Pact of the Tome: By writing a question in your Book of
Shadows, you can receive an indication from your patron
as to the outcome of a course of action, as per the augury
spell. This benefit can be used a number of times equal to
your proficiency bonus, and all expended uses are restored
when you finish a long rest.
Pact of the Talisman: When the wearer of the talisman
fails an ability check, they can add a d8 instead of a d4
to the roll, potentially turning the roll into a success.
This benefit can be used a number of times equal to your
proficiency bonus, and all expended uses are restored
when you finish a long rest.

The Old Queen of Winter

Cailleach, the Old Queen of Winter, reveals herself as an old
woman at the turn of the autumn equinox to take over from
the summer gods. Wearing a blue veil, and with a raven on one
shoulder, she carries a staff made of blackthorn wood with which
she calls down storms and rough weather. Her dark and twisted
form is often mistaken on misty nights for the gnarled old trees
that grow on the mountainsides where she lurks. To those
who live in these areas, she’s often known as the Dark Crone
of the Woods.

SUBCLASSES | WARLOCK
83
84
Part 4: Creature Statistics Feldgeister
A farmer’s enemies are many: blight, wild animals, herd
sickness, a failed crop. Out in the rural country, these
are all often caused by the same thing – families of small,
mischievous harvest goblins called feldgeister. These
creatures take great pleasure in disrupting a farmer’s
livestock and trampling shapes in their crops. Arriving in
loud, squabbling packs, these chaotic beings take the forms of
animals and plants, or a mixture of both. Neither strong nor
intelligent, their danger lies in their numbers and mad desire
to cause mischief.

Feldgeister
Small fey, chaotic neutral

—
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 72 (18d6 + 18)
Various
Speed 30 ft.
Feldgeister
—
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
12 (+1) 18 (+4) 12 (+1) 8 (-1) 10 (+0) 14 (+2)
—
Skills Acrobatics +3, Sleight of Hand +5, Stealth +5
Senses Darkvision 120 ft, passive Perception 10
Languages understands Common and Sylvan, but can’t speak
Challenge 1 (200 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
—
Shared Spellcasting. When three or more feldgeister are within
30 feet of one another, they can each cast the following spells,
but must share the spell slots among themselves. For casting
these Spells, each Feldgeister is a 4th-level spellcaster that uses
Charisma as a Spellcasting ability, with a spell save DC of 13 and a
spell Attack bonus of +3.
4/day each: Identify, Expeditious Retreat, Hellish Rebuke,
Witch Bolt
3/day each: Darkness, Invisibility, Spider Climb

Strength in Numbers. If a feldgeister is unsuccessful on its

attack roll, it can opt to use its bonus action to attack again; if
it misses a second time, it can use its reaction to do the same
once more.

Natural Disguise. At will and without requiring spell slots, a

feldgeister can change its appearance for up to an hour, or until
it uses an action to dispel the effect. It can only take on the
image of something mundane and natural no larger than its usual
form – for example, a rock, tree stump, or small animal. This
illusion can be seen through if a suspicious creature succeeds on
a DC13 Intelligence (Investigation) check.

Reactions
Controlled Chaos. When two or more feldgeister are within 30
feet of each other, as a reaction to being attacked, a feldgeister
can misty step to a space next to its ally without expending a
spell slot. Upon using this reaction, a d6 is rolled. On a 1–2, the
two feldgeister switch places, and if the attack hits, the second
feldgeister takes the damage that was intended for the first.

Actions
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) slashing damage.

Pine Needles. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 30/60 ft.,

one target. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) piercing damage.

85
Waldgeister Waldgeister
Captain and
Waldgeister are small wood sprites who guard old trees, Guards
particularly blackthorn and elder. Fiercely protective and
militaristic in hierarchy, they attack anyone who damages
their arboreal homes, and are capable of using the trunks
as gateways, both to other trees and to the Feywild.
Higher-ranking waldgeister are known to raise and train
tree-dwelling animals such as raccoons, monkeys, and
large squirrels as mounts. The waldgeister seem to follow
a primitive form of moon worship and can be avoided by
travelling during a full moon, when they are distracted by
their veneration.

Waldgeister Captain
Small fey, neutral evil

—
Armor Class 14 (hide armour)
Hit Points 110 (20d6 + 40)
Speed 30 ft.
—
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
14 (+2) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 10 (+0)
—
Skills Acrobatics +3, Intimidation +3, Stealth +3
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages Common, Sylvan
Waldgeister Guard
Small fey, neutral evil
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
— Proficiency Bonus +2 —
Armor Class 14 (studded leather)
One With the Forest. The waldgeister captain has advantage on
Hit Points 78 (12d6 + 42)
Dexterity (Stealth) checks when hiding in terrain that contains at
Speed 30 ft.
least one living tree.
—
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Trained Rider. The waldgeister captain has advantage on melee 12 (+1) 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 14 (+2) 10 (+0)
attacks made while riding a mount. If dismounted, the mount will
flee at a speed of 30 ft. —
Damage Vulnerabilities fire
Languages Sylvan
Tree Walk. The waldgeister captain can move across and climb Challenge 1 (200 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
trees and wooden surfaces without needing to make an ability
check. Additionally, difficult terrain composed of wood or —
One With the Forest. The waldgeister guard has advantage on
plantlife doesn’t cost it extra moment. Dexterity (Stealth) checks when hiding in terrain that contains at
least one living tree.
Actions
Tree Walk. The waldgeister guard can move across and climb
Multiattack. The waldgeister captain makes two attacks, either
trees and wooden surfaces without needing to make an ability
with its shortsword or its crossbow.
check. Additionally, difficult terrain composed of wood or
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one plantlife doesn’t cost it extra moment.
target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.
Actions
Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 80/320 ft., Multiattack. The waldgeister guard makes two attacks, either
one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage. with its shortsword or its bite.
Commander of the Pack. The waldgeister captain uses their Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
action to shout a command to all allies who can hear them. The target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.
allies can then immediately use their full movement to change
positions as a reaction. This movement still results in any normal Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
opportunity attacks. 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage.

86

Honey Beast
Wolves, bears, and other wild beasts are dangerous foes to
encounter at the best of times. The wary traveller is wise
to give them a wide berth, and these beasts will usually do
likewise – but the same cannot be said for those among
them driven mad by feasting on poisoned honey. No longer
in their right minds, these creatures have been known to
terrorise local settlements, and pose a formidable challenge
for any adventurer sent to deal with them.
Sweet Deception
Honey is a rare treat for any who discover it, especially when
harvested wild from the bees that build their hives in the deep
forests. But not all honey is as sweet as it tastes; indeed, some is
as toxic as the flowers that provided the nectar. Contaminated
honey, especially honey made from azalea bushes, can cause
symptoms such as violent drunkenness, fits of madness,
despondency, and vomiting.

Honey Beast
Large beast, unaligned

—
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 98 (14d10 + 28)
Speed 40 ft.
—
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
18 (+4) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 8 (-1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0)
—
Skills Stealth +3
Condition Immunities frightened, poisoned
Senses passive Perception 14
Challenge 3 (700 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
—
Rampage. The honey beast reduces damage from all attacks by
5 (2d4). If this reduces the damage to 0, the honey beast can use
its reaction to make an attack against a creature within 5 ft of it.

Takedown. If the honey beast moves at least 15 ft towards a

creature and then uses a Bite attack in the same turn, the target
must succeed on a DC14 Strength saving throw or be knocked
prone. If knocked prone, the honey beast can use its bonus
action to make a second Bite attack.

Pack Tactics. The honey beast has advantage on attack rolls

against a creature if at least one of the its allies is within 5 feet of
the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.

Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.

Bonus Actions
Swarm (1/day). A swarm of insects is summoned, which act as
allies of the honey beast and attack any unallied creatures. The
swarm remains for 1 hour, or until the honey beast dies. Once
the swarm has appeared, it cannot be summed again until the
next dawn.

Honey
Beast

87
Samovila and Samodiva
Samovila and samodiva are woodland spirits who gather
around water sources. They have been known to be either
playful or wildly aggressive towards intruders, depending
on which mood takes them at the time. They are fiercely
protective of the fraxinella bushes that grow near to their
ponds and streams.

Samodiva
Medium elemental, chaotic neutral

—
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 195 (30d8 + 60)
Speed 30 ft, fly 50ft
—
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
12 (+1) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) 15 (+2) Samovila
—
Saving Throws Dex +5, Con +3, Wis +5
Condition Immunities charmed
Senses passive Perception 18
Languages Common, Primordial
Samovila
Medium elemental, chaotic neutral
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +4
—
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
—
Innate Spellcasting (Humanoid form only). The samodiva’s
Hit Points 104 (16d8 + 32)
spellcasting ability is Wisdom (Spell save DC 16, +7 to hit with
Speed 30 ft.
spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring
only somatic components: —
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
At will: Fire Bolt, Produce Flame 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 13 (+1)
3/day each: Burning Hands
1/day each: Fireball, Wall of Fire
—
Condition Immunities charmed
Senses passive Perception 14
Illumination (Humanoid form only). The samodiva sheds Languages Common, Primordial
bright light in a 20 ft radius and dim light for an additional 20 feet. Challenge 3 (700 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
This can be extinguished at will for up to 10 minutes at a time.
—
Innate Spellcasting (Humanoid form only). The Samovila’s
Flyby (Avian form only). The Samodiva doesn’t provoke spellcasting ability is Wisdom (Spell save DC 13, +4 to hit with
opportunity attacks when it flies out of an enemy’s reach. spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring
only somatic components:
Bonus Actions At will: Fire Bolt, Produce Flame
3/day each: Burning Hands, Scorching Ray
Samorel. The samodiva can use its bonus action to transform
into a large, flaming bird. It can also use a bonus action to return Illumination (Humanoid form only). The samovila sheds
to its humanoid form. Its statistics are the same in both forms. It bright light in a 20 ft radius and dim light for an additional 20 feet.
reverts to its true, humanoid form if it is reduced to 0 hp. Once This can be extinguished at will for up to 10 minutes at a time.
in its avian form, it can continue to cast spells, as well as gaining
a flying speed (50 ft) and use of the Talons attack. Pack Tactics (Wolf form only). The samovila has advantage
on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of its allies is
Actions within 5 ft. of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Multiattack. The samodiva makes two attacks - when in
humanoid form these are made with a shortsword, when in Avian Bonus Actions
form these are made with its talons. Samovulk. The samovila can use its bonus action to transform
into a white wolf. It can also use a bonus action to return to its
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one humanoid form. Its statistics, other than its AC, are the same in
target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) slashing damage. both forms; in its wolf form, its AC becomes 16. It reverts to its
true, humanoid form if it is reduced to 0 hp. It cannot cast spells
Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
in its wolf form.
Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) slashing damage.

Actions
Bite (Wolf form only). Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage.
Woodland Revels If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 14 Strength
Samovila flock to older, wiser nymphs known as samodiva, saving throw or be knocked prone.
which are often observed riding on the back of a great, white
deer. When attacked, the samovila will transform into wolves to
protect their leader. The samodiva herself isn’t defenseless, and
stories tell of her ability to transform into a monstrous, fiery bird.

88
Mazzeri
These Undead creatures were once protectors of mortals,
hunting spirits in dream planes during their sleep and
severing the souls from the bodies of those doomed to die.
After their own deaths their bodies were claimed by the Fey,
and they now live in a world of half-dreaming, half-waking,
protecting borders of the Feywild with their magics.

Mazzeri
Medium undead, lawful evil

—
Armor Class 13 (leather armor)
Hit Points 126 (28d8 + 0)
Speed 30 ft.
—
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
10 (+0) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 16 (+3)
—
Damage Resistances cold
Condition Immunities charmed
Senses darkvision 120 ft, passive Perception 14
Languages Whatever languages it knew in life
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
—
Actions
Multiattack. The Mazzeri makes two attacks with
their Quarterstaff.

Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one

target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage.

Dream Trance (1/Day). The Mazzeri forces up to two creatures

of its choice within 60 foot of it to make a DC14 Wisdom Saving
Throw. On a successful save, nothing happens. On a failed save,
the creature or creatures enter a trance state and are considered
Unconscious for the next 1 minute, or until they take damage.
The unconscious creature can repeat the saving throw at the end
of their turn.

Soul Hunter (3/day). The Mazzeri attempts to sever the soul

from the body of their target. The target must make a DC14
Wisdom Saving Throw; on a failure they take 10 (3d6) psychic
damage and half damage on a success. If this attack is aimed at a
creature who is Unconscious, the maximum amount of damage
is dealt whether the creature passes their saving throw or not.
However, On a failed Save the creature becomes affected by
Ghost Sickness (see below).

Ghost Sickness
A creature who contracts this spiritual disease suffers a severing
of the body and spirit. Whilst infected, the sufferer takes 1d6
psychic damage per hour, for a period of hours equivalent to
1d12 plus the target’s Constitution modifier. At the end of this
period, the spirit is severed entirely and the creature dies, unless
the affliction is removed via a spell or item that removes curses
or diseases.
Once a creature dies of this condition, their spirit cannot pass
onwards. It is left to wander, seeking an empty body to possess.
These spirits can become overly attached to a still-living host,
causing them to be the next target of Ghost Sickness until the
spirit is removed via the remove curse spell.

89
Numian Plant
Numian plants vary in shape and size dependent on the
environment that they grow in. Some are formed of twisting
vines coated in a sticky mucus to trap their prey; others grow
pitchers with digestive enzymes inside to devour the unwary.
They all have one thing in common: They’re hungry.
Numian Dew
The liquid that Numian plants use to trap and digest their prey is
known as Numian dew. Due to the dangers that come alongside
gathering it, it is highly prized by botanists and alchemists. Its
mildly acidic properties make it a valuable component in many
potions, and even in some recreational drinks.

Numian Plant
Large plant, unaligned

—
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 112 (14d10 + 42)
Speed 0 ft.
—
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
19 (+4) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 5 (-3) 11 (+0) 15 (+2)
—
Damage Resistances acid
Senses passive Perception 12
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
—
Allure. The Numian plant emits an alluring scent in a circle 60 ft
wide, centred on itself. Any creature within this area must make
a DC14 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for up to 1 minute.
Affected creatures may repeat the saving throw at the beginning
of each turn.
While Charmed, the affected creatures must use all of their
movement and the Dash action (if required) to move towards
the Numian plant by the safest available route, unless there is
nowhere to move. If the creatures end their turn in a location
where they do not have line of sight to the Numian plant, they
can make an additional Wisdom saving throw. On a successful
save, the charm effect ends for that creature.
Once a creature has been charmed in this manner, it cannot
be affected again for the next 24 hours.

Actions
Grasping Vine. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 15 ft.,
one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
Upon a successful attack roll, the target must succeed on a
DC15 Strength saving throw or be grappled. At the start of each
of their turns that they are grappled, the creature takes an
additional 2d8 acid damage.

Plunge. This action can only be taken on a creature that has

been grappled by the Grasping Vine action. Unless the creature
succeeds on a DC15 Strength save, the Numian plant plunges
their prey into an acid-filled pitcher and then releases them
there, whereupon they take 9 (2d8) acid damage. On their turn
they must succeed on a DC15 Dexterity (Athletics or Acrobatics)
save to climb back out, or will continue to take the damage at the
end of each turn.
If the pitcher is attacked from the inside and reduced to 0 hp
(AC 12, 25 hp), it is destroyed. A Numian plant has 1d4 pitchers
and after all have been destroyed, the Plunge attack can no
longer be used.

Numian
Plant

90
Patasola
On the road, at home,
on the mountain and the river,
in the air and in the clouds,
all that exists is mine...

In far jungles and mountainous regions, tales abound of a

beautiful woman who lures lone men into the undergrowth Patasola
before devouring them. Her singing can be heard from
some distance away, and is said to be so sweet that many are
instantly charmed by it.

Patasola
Medium undead, neutral evil

—
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 132 (24d8 + 24)
Speed 30 ft.
—
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
12 (+1) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 16 (+3)
—
Skills Perception + 3, Persuasion + 5
Senses darkvision 120 ft, passive Perception 12
Languages Whatever languages it knew inProficiency
life Bonus +3
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
—
Salt in the Wound. When a creature within 30 feet of the
Patasola fails a saving throw, the creature takes an additional 7
(2d6) psychic damage instantly and the Patasola gains that much
as temporary hit points.

Actions
Multiattack. The Patasola makes two attacks with either her
Bite or with Hurl Darkness.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 30 ft., one target.

Hit: 9 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage.
The target must make a DC15 strength saving throw or be
grappled. Once grappled, the Patasola can use future actions to
attack with her Bite without having to make an attack roll.

Hurl Darkness. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft.,

one target. Hit: 18 (4d6 + 4) psyhic damage.

All that Exists is Mine. The Patasola targets a creature within

60 feet of her, luring them in with her hideous song. The target
must make a DC 15 Charisma saving throw or lose the ability to
speak, cast spells, and concentrate. They may make the saving
throw again at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect
on a success. By using a full Action to focus their will, they have
advantage on the roll. Whilst under the effects of this ability,
the target has disadvantage on saving throws against attacks by
the Patasola.

91
Alraune
The alraune is a homunculus created from the roots of a
Alraune
Small fiend, lawful evil
mandrake plant. Though knowledge of how to do this is
rare, it is said that possession of such a creature can bring —
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
great fortune – so long as it is kept well fed. Though a new Hit Points 165 (30d6 + 60)
alraune is no bigger than a man’s hand, a well-cared for one Speed 30 ft., burrow 20ft.
can grow to the size of a small child, with an appetite for —
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
fresh meat to match. These creatures can often be appeased 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 7 (-2)
with food, though they are capricious and quick to turn to —
Senses darkvision 60 ft, passive Perception 14
cruel temper.
Languages Common
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3

—
Burrow. The Alraune can use its action to burrow into the
ground, completely obscuring itself from sight. It can use up
to 20ft of movement either vertically or horizontally, and in the
same action decide to either reemerge in a location within range
of its burrowing movement, or remain in its tunnel. If choosing
to remain obscured, it can use the movement on its next turn to
reemerge in a location within range of its movement allowance.
Whilst obscured, it cannot be targeted by attacks, unless
it is an attack that affects an area beneath the ground. Its
approximate location can be determined with a successful
DC14 Perception check. The Alraune cannot burrow into solid
ground, such as stone or brick, but may be able to pry up some
constructed ground types, such as floorboards.
Alraune
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.
On a successful attack, the target must make a DC16 Dexterity
saving throw or have the alraune latch onto them. The alraune
occupies the same space as the target and moves as the
target does, until removed by a DC16 strength saving throw
by either the target or any other creature within 5 ft. Whilst
latched on, the alraune will continue to Bite the target once per
turn, dealing an additional 7 (2d6) piercing damage with each
successful attack.

Screech. (Recharges on 5-6) The alraune emits an ear-piercing

screech. All creatures within 60 ft of the alraune must make a
DC15 Constitution saving throw or be deafened and stunned
until the end of their next turn.

No Mercy. Grabbing roots burst forth from the ground and fill
an area no larger than 20 square feet in an area that the alraune
can see until the end of its next turn. For the duration, this area
is considered to be difficult terrain.
When a creature enters the affected area for the first time
on a turn or starts its turn there, the creature must succeed
on a DC14 Dexterity saving throw or take 2d6 bludgeoning
damage and be restrained until the spell ends. A creature that
starts its turn in the area and is already Restrained takes 2d6
bludgeoning damage.
A creature restrained by the roots can use its action to make a
DC14 Strength or Dexterity check. On a success, it frees itself.

92
Lieschi
Uncle Lieschi, Uncle Lieschi.
Ascend thou, not as a grey wolf,
not as an ardent fire,
but as resembling myself…

In a forest of birch trees, it’s easy to feel like you’re being watched.
And perhaps you are… The Lieschi stalk through the forests they
call home, moving almost invisibly through the trees, aware of
every creature who crosses their path. And they don’t take kindly
to intruders…

Lieschi
Medium fiend, unaligned

—
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 165 (30d8 + 30)
Speed 30 ft.
—
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
12 (+1) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 10 (+0)
—
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +7
Damage Vulnerabilities fire
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 feet, passive Perception 16
Languages understands Sylvan, but can’t speak
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3
—
Treemerge. The Lieschi can merge with a source of living
wood. It may move up to 50 ft and reemerge (treat this as
teleportation). In addition, the Lieschi may choose to remain
merged with the wood at the end of this movement. While
merged it may not be seen or targeted by attacks. It may use the
ready action to reemerge and make an attack when a target or
opponent comes within range.

Tree walk. The Lieschi can move across and climb trees and
wooden surfaces without needing to make an ability check.
Additionally, difficult terrain composed of wood or plantlife
doesn’t cost it extra moment.

Actions
Multiattack. The Lieschi makes two attacks: one with its claws,
and one with its spines. When its spore attack is available, it can
use this in place of its spines.

Spines. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 30 ft., one

target. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) piercing damage.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

Hit: 14 (3d6 + 4) slashing damage. Lieschi

Spores (Recharge on a 6). A 15-­foot-­radius cloud of toxic

spores extends out from the Lieschi. Each creature in that area
must succeed on a DC16 Constitution saving throw or become
poisoned. While poisoned in this way, a target takes 4 (1d8)
poison damage at the start of each of its turns. A target can
repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending
the effect on itself on a success.

Rootbind (1/day). The Lieschi calls on nearby living trees to lift

their roots above the earth. Each unallied creature within 30ft
of the lieschi must make a DC16 Dexterity saving throw or be
grappled until it uses its action to pass a DC16 strength check.

93
CREATURE STATISTICS | TIKBALANG
94
Tikbalang
Lurking in the shady depths of tropical forests, the Tikbalang
is a bony creature with a horse-like head and hooves, and legs
that are uncannily long, to the extent that when it crouches
down, its knees reach above its head. A dedicated guardian
of gates to the spirit world, it waits inside of hollow trees
to lead passing travellers astray, or return them to the same
path no matter how far they might try to walk. Occasionally,
encountering a Tikbalang can result with it becoming
spiritually attached to the passer-by, causing illness and
misfortune to follow them even beyond the edges of the forest.

Tikbalang
Large monstrosity, lawful neutral

—
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 170 (20d10 + 60)
Speed 30 ft.
—
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
18 (+4) 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 15 (+2)
—
Skills Athletics +10, Intimidation +5
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages understands Sylvan and Abyssal, but can’t speak
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3
—
Guardian’s Warning. As a reaction to being hit by a melee
attack, the Tikbalang can use its reaction to make one Kick attack.
If it is against the creature that hit it, the Tikbalang has advantage.

Sentinel. Whenever the Tikbalang hits a creature with an

opportunity attack, the creature’s speed drops to 0 for the rest
of the turn. This stops any movement they may have been taking.

Actions
Multiattack. The Tikbalang makes two Kick attacks with
one action.

Kick. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
16 (3d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage.

Hoof Bash (recharges on a 5-6). The Tikbalang drives its back

hooves into the ground, making the ground shudder and crack.
All creatures within 30 ft must make a DC17 Strength saving
throw. On a failure they are knocked 30 ft backwards and take
6d6 bludgeoning damage. On a success they take half damage.

Tikbalang

95
 Rusalka
Tales abound of unwary travellers who set foot into a
willow grove without first asking permission of the rusalka
(pl. rusalki) who guards it. Rusalki are violently protective
creatures, who wind their magic into their long, branch-
like hair, encapsulating spells within the knots. Stories exist
of rusalka who have married and reproduced with other
humanoid races, but these encounters are rare, as the rusalki
are more often than not instantly violent towards any non-
fey who enter their homes.

Rusalka
Medium Fey, lawful evil

—
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 210 (28d8 + 84)
Speed 30 ft.
—
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
17 (+3) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 20 (+5)
—
Savng Throws Dex + 4, Wis + 2. Cha + 5
Skills Deception + 4, Perception + 4
Condition Immunities charmed
Senses Darkvision 120 ft, passive Perception 17
Languages Common, Sylvan
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +4
—
Innate Spellcasting. The Rusalka’s spellcasting ability is Wisdom
(Spell save DC 15, +6 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately
cast the following spells, requiring only somatic components:
At will: Gust of Wind, Water Walk
1/day: Wind Walk

Unstoppable. The Rusalka can concentrate on any number

of spells, and only makes one Constitution saving throw for
concentration. On a failure the Rusalka drops concentration on
only one spell, which is chosen randomly. At the start of each
turn, if it is concentrating on more than one spell, it takes 3d6
psychic damage.

Illusory Appearance. The Rusalka covers herself and anything

she is wearing or carrying with a magical illusion that makes her
look like an average humanoid creature of her choosing. The
effect ends if the Rusalka takes a bonus action to end it, or if
she dies. A creature must take an action to visually inspect the
illusion and succeed on a DC 16 Intelligence (Investigation)
check to discern that the Rusalka is disguised.

Actions
Multiattack. The Rusalka makes two attacks with her claws.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

Hit: 16 (3d6 + 6) slashing damage.

Knot Magic (3/Day). Once per turn, the Rusalka can unknot
one of the braids tied into her willow-hair. Each spell cast stacks
on top of the other.
The first knot casts Control Winds.
The second knot casts Investiture of Wind.
The third knot casts Whirlwind, after which the Rusalka cannot
take any further actions (apart from controlling the spells, within
their standard parameters) until she uses a bonus action to drop
the effects.

96
Cinstita
Huge and monstrous, Cinstita is a guardian spirit who
was sent to the Material Plane by the deity Talona to deter
travellers away from grounds where the most deadly poisons
grew – and to protect them from thieving hands. Taking
form as a huge, fearsome bird, its cry is said to summon
storms, and the spurs on its legs drip with a deadly poison.

Cinstita
Large monstrosity, lawful evil

—
Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points 272 (34d10 + 102)
Speed 30 ft.
—
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
19 (+4) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0)
—
Damage Resistances lightning, thunder
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 feet, passive Perception 14
Languages understands Abyssal, but can’t speak
Challenge 14 (11,500 XP) Proficiency Bonus +5
—
Heart of the Storm. Cinstita is resitant to thunder or lightning
damage. Additionally, the next time that Cinstita makes an attack
that hits, then half of the lightning or thunder damage that has
been taken by Cinstita since the end of its last turn is added to
the attack’s regular damage. This extra damage takes the same
form as the initial damage type.

Actions
Multiattack. Cinstita makes three attacks: two with its beak and
one with its spurs.

Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

Hit: 18 (4d6 + 4) piercing damage.

Spurs. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) slashing damage.
If the attack hits, the target must succeed on a DC15 Constitution
saving throw or else take 14 (4d6) poison damage and be
Poisoned for up to 1 minute. If the target succeeds on the saving
throw they take half of the damage and do not become Poisoned.
While Poisoned, the target takes 4 (1d8) points of Poison damage
at the start of each of its turns. Afflicted creatures may repeat
the saving throw at the end of their turn, and on a success are
cured of the poison’s effect.

Guardian’s Warning (1/Day). Cinstita summons a burst of

thunderous force in a line that is 30 ft long and 10 ft wide. Each
creature in that line must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw,
taking 49 (11d8) thunder damage on a failed save, or half as
much damage on a successful one.
Cinstita can choose to use their next action to continue
the attack, converting its damage type to lightning. All targets
who were struck by the first attack must make another DC 14
Dexterity saving throw, taking 49 (11d8) lightning damage on a
failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Cinstita

97
98
PART 5: credits
Writer: Fez Inkwright (main text, encounter seeds
for asphodel, azalea, belladonna, dragon’s blood tree,
mandrake, upas tree), Kit Buss and Matt Reiner
(encounter seeds for aconite, alder, anemone, banyan,
birch, black bryony, boneset, darnel, giant hogweed, ivy,
goblin gold, mountain clubmoss, mugwort, ocotillo, rose,
saguaro, sandbox tree)
Editing and Proofreading: Kit Buss
Design and typesetting: Fez Inkwright
Cover illustration: Fez Inkwright
Interior Illustrations
Houda Belgharbi www.houdabelgharbi.com
Character artwork: Character backgrounds, Lovjeri
Liffson, Adrie Bos, Samodiva
Margarita Bourkova www.margawart.com
Item artwork: Bands of grace, candlewood cloak, carrion
ring, desert’s blessing, duskbloom, Evelina’s crown, gloves
of scorching, Lesovo’s blade, sandwalker’s gorget, spear of
life-giving waters, staff of the warden, titan’s hood
Anna (Newt) Doušová www.annathenewt.com
Chapter page: Contents (page 2), introduction (page 4),
registry of plants (page 20), credits (page 98)
Character artwork: Rusalka, waldgeister
Item artwork: Clay body, dragon’s blood ink, Elfdans’ gift,
forager’s blade, goblin’s deception, Halling’s net, hedge
taper, hunter’s boon, hunter’s looking glass, Jani’s favour,
lucky hand, lyre of the muses, ring of ensnarement, rowan
wine, sandbox mine, snakebane bracelet
Spot Illustrations: Mossy branch (pages 6-7), foggy river,
mushrooms (pages 8-9), scrubland (page 13), moss (page
15), autumn woodlands (page 40), marshland (page
65), stormy skies (page 73), evening sky (page 75), dark
woodland (page 83), autumn field (page 84)
Fez Inkwright www.rosdottir.com
Item artwork: Alder leaves, Belgin’s shot, dead man’s curse,
flying ointment, ironbind powder, Keiko’s judgement,
knyghten’s lots, silk archer’s gloves, sylph’s whistle,
willow stake
Spot illustrations: Herbarium logo, herbalist’s kit (page
19), all illustrations in Registry of Plants (pages 21-39),
woody nightshade (page 44) subclass logos (pages 74,
76, 78, 79, 80)
Ivyteas www.ivyteas.wixsite.com/puddlesong
Chapter page: Crafting & Items (page 40)
CoupleOfKooks www.instagram.com/highchaoskooks
Character artwork: College of Arcanists Bard, Oath of the
Endling Paladin, Poisoner Rogue, Deep Roots Sorcerer,
the Flower Bride, the Crone
99
Item artwork: Lusmore’s cloak, Lusmore’s gloves,
mallachtan blade, sunstrike bow
Christopher Lindkvist www.artstation.com/zoica
Chapter artwork: Spells (page 70)
Character artwork: Alraune, mazzeri, patasola
Item artwork: Guardian’s watch, mandrake charm,
phantom’s warning, potion of paralysis, powder of
invocation, staff of disarming, war paint, winter’s
shillelagh, witch ward
Martin Mottet www.martinmottet.com
Spot illustrations: Coastland (page 10), garden (page 16),
Tropical Forest (page 94)
Mariya Svirincova www.instagram.com/hanghul
Character artwork: Cinstita, feldgeister, honey beast,
lieschi, numian plant, tikbalang
Co-Creators
The following names backed the original crowdfunding
campaign at a pledge level that allowed them to request a
plant to be included in the book. Three items in matching
sets were then designed for these plants.
Cameron Nelson: Corpse Flower; Carrion Ring, Gloves of
Scorching, Titan’s Hood
Kaisa Boese: White birch; Bands of Grace, Evelina’s Crown,
Lesovo’s Blade
Sara ‘Surrah’ Evangelista: Ocotillo; Candlewood Cloak,
Desert’s Blessing, Staff of the Warden
Sam Dawley: Rubroboletus spp; Elfdans’ Gift, Forager’s
Blade, Halling’s Net
Will & Meredith Lavasque: Saguaro Cactus; Duskbloom,
Sandwalker’s Gorget, Spear of Life-Giving Waters
Further Thanks
Further thanks to the real-world inspirations for all of the
stories within this book, including but not restricted to:
The Old Guardians (page 7): Inspired by the Sacred
Guardian Trees of Ireland
A Deadly Crop (page 23): The Buonna Donna being
traditional herbalists and ‘wise women’ of Italy
The First Teachers (page 26): Inspired by South American
origin stories of the Datura plant
The Court of the Ashen Fey (page 28): Inspired by the
Cornish folk tale of St Nectan’s death, and also the Welsh
legend of St Collen and Gwyn ab Nudd, the lord of
the Otherworld
Fungi (page 28): Regarding fungi being Kelemvor’s fingers
reaching up to feed the poor; based on a Lithuanian belief
about Velnias, the god of the dead
Fly Agaric (page 29): Containing tales of the Norse Huginn
and Muninn, and also the Irish hero Cuchulainn
Hawthorn: In which the roots are believed to be the
gateway to the Welsh Otherworld, particularly the roots
of the famous Hawthorn that grows on Glastonbury
Tor in Somerset
Juniper (page 31): The legendary ‘hatred’ between juniper Mazzeri (page 89): Corsican ‘dream hunters’, who could
and ash trees is a belief held in Iceland foretell future local deaths by hunting souls at night
The Moss People (page 33): A race of Germanic elves, Numian plant: A combination of carnivorous plants
known as schrat, similar to the old Norse skratti, or goblins reported to have existed by early explorers in the 15-1700s
Mulberry (page 34): The Chinese believe that a sunbird Patasola (page 91): A Colombian vampire
nests in an ancient mulberry tree in the eastern sea, Alraune (page 92): A Germanic helper spirit said to be
linking the earth and the Eastern Heaven. The very first created from mandrake roots
bow was crafted from a mulbery tree by the legendary Lieschi (page 93): A Slavic forest spirit
archer Huangdi Tikbalang (page 95): A trickster spirit of Philippine
The Great Disaster (page 34): Merlin’s Oak in the Welsh folklore, thought to protect portals between the spirit and
town of Carmarthen, blessed by the wizard himself to mortal worlds
protect the town, until it was removed in the same year Rusalka (plural rusalki, page 96): A Slavic water sprite,
that a great flood then devastated the town said to live within river banks and willow trees
Odetta’s Lament (page 35): A German folktale told to The Cinstita (page 97): A great black hen said in Italian lore
explain the origin of the pimpernel plant to guard the Devil’s poisons.
Friends in High Places (page 36): Another Icelandic tale
about the friendship between rowan and juniper Made with the support of 1,956 backers on Kickstarter.
Gift of the Sea (page 37): A Greek legend about the mortal Thank you for your support, feedback, enthusiasm,
fisherman Glaucus and passion.
Upas Tree (page 38): A ‘real’ tree supposed to have
existed in Java, as per reports by naturalist John Nichols Open Game Content: This book is made under the Open
Foersch in 1773 Gaming License. The content of this book that falls under
A Shared Origin (page 39): Inspired by a belief of the the Open Gaming License includes locations and deities of
Japanese Ainu people Faerûn, creature names, spell names, and effects. No other
Hunter’s Looking Glass (page 51): The Romans tell tales portion of this work may be reproduced in any
of an object called Venus’s Looking Glass. This mirror form without permission.
reflected everything as a more beautiful version of itself.
When a shepherd picked it up and fell in love with his
own beauty, Cupid shattered it for fear of such an item
causing war between vain humans. The shards turned into
the first bluebells
Keiko’s Judgment (page 60): Inspired by a similar hammer
wielded by the Japanese Emperor Keiko (71—130AD)
Sandwalker’s Gorget (page 62): Taken from a belief of
the Pima people of Arizona, who believe that the saguaro
are ancestors who were transformed into cactuses to keep
watch over them
Spells (pages 71-73): Thanks to Swedish traditional magic,
which inspired many of the spells included in this book, as
well as the Oath of the Endling paladin
Blodeuwedd (page 80): A Welsh mythological figure and
wife of the hero Lleu Llaw Gyffes
The Cailleach (page 82): A Gaelic deity of
winter and storms
Feldgeister (page 85): Germanic harvest goblins of varying
malignance, including characters such as the Gerstenwolf
(barley wolf), Windkatze (wind cat), îserne Range
(iron sow), Weizengeiß (wheat goat), and Getreidehahn
(grain rooster).
Waldgeister (page 86): Germanic forest spirits, trusted
guardians of old trees
Honey Beast (page 87): Inspired by an account by the
Greek military leader Xenophon, of the results of eating
corrupted honey in 401BC
Samovila and Samodiva (page 88): Belgian forest nymphs
said to guard streams and lakes

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