Adapted from OPR- Age of Fantasy- Wood Elves
One of my FLGS is hosting an escalation campaign for One Page Rules. From Monday nights until July, we steadily build warbands into armies of 3000 points. Having recently received an FDM printer for Christmas, I’ve been eagerly building my forces to participate.
The Rootmire Conclave is a faction of Heartwood Defenders, the wood elves of Tyria. This is the faction I will be building for my escalation league. The Rootmire Conclave takes on a darker tone than typical wood elves. They do not conform to conventional morality, and a balancing of favors and grievances governs their code of conduct. They are willing to exact vicious ferocity to answer even a slight trespass and are unmatched in their generosity to match a favor.
Rootmire Conclave Faction
Hidden deep within the murky depths of the Heartwood lies the Rootmire, home to those who have embraced the inevitable cycle of death, decay, and rebirth. Their home is a sprawling marsh shrouded by the towering trees of the greater Heartwood and veiled from outsiders' prying eyes. The air hangs heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying vegetation, a testament to the Conclave's reverence for the transformative power of death.
In the heart of Rootmire, the Conclave coexists harmoniously with the forest and its magical creatures. Its central council guides the communities in protecting their sacred fen. Although lightly armored, the elves of the Conclave move swiftly, using their agility to strike from a distance while leveraging the dense thicket of trees and vegetation to obstruct their enemies' advance. Over the centuries, they have faced betrayal from outsiders and their kin who have encroached upon the greater Heartwood. This history of mistrust has fostered increasing suspicion toward outsiders and new ideas. The Conclave remains deeply committed to preserving their traditions, even as their cherished forests dwindle, threatening to engulf them in an ever-encroaching outside world.
Society
The Rootmire Conclave, a faction of the Wood Elves, maintains an unwavering commitment to the Heartwood, which they view as the lifeblood of their existence. Their way of life is deeply connected to protecting and nurturing the delicate balance of the forest. However, they find themselves in a relentless struggle, as outsiders, driven by insatiable greed for timber and land, have encroached upon the sanctity of the Heartwood for centuries. This ongoing threat has compelled the Rootmire to strengthen their resolve, resulting in a more cautious and traditionalist stance within their society.
While other Heartwood Defenders may view death with fear or sorrow, the Rootmire Conclave sees it as an essential part of the life cycle. They understand that death is not an ending but a transformation, a necessary step in the forest's ongoing renewal. This acceptance of mortality allows them to harness the power of decay, using it to foster new life and maintain the delicate balance of their marshland home.
The People of the Rootmire
The Rootmire Dryads are profoundly connected to the wild creatures that inhabit their marshy domain. They find beauty in the grotesque and cherish the untamed spirit of the natural world. This kinship extends to certain clans of beastmen and plague demons, whom they regard as allies in their mission to safeguard the wild places of Tyria. These unlikely alliances affirm the Conclave's belief that all life, regardless of how reviled, has a role in the grand scheme of nature.
Ancestries of the Rootmire
Dryads
As Rootmire suffers from ecological decay and dwindling resources, the population of Treelords has sharply declined in recent decades. The Elves of Rootmire have turned to alternative, more pressing methods to bolster their ranks. They craft Dryads, beings shaped in the likeness of ancient swamp creatures and imbued with the essence of Rootmire's unique spirit. Additionally, they make the ultimate sacrifice: dying elves enter submerged, enchanted pods that gradually transform into beings brought to life by the elf’s spirit, aligning them more closely with the swamp’s mysterious energies.
Treelords
Powerful beings bonded to the Rootmire, Treelords manifest the transition of death into new life, Composting chunks of peat and bone cling to their root, trunk, and vine. Collecting all the fallen swallowed by the Heartsblood river. The Treelords of the Rootsmire relish absorbing their most hated enemies into Thier bodies
Alternative Creations: The Elves of Rootmire create Dryads and transform dying elves into beings more aligned with the swamp's energies, indicating a shift away from traditional Treelord reliance.
Embrace of Decay: The Rootmire Conclave views death and decay as an essential part of the life cycle, which likely influences the nature and appearance of the Treelords, possibly making them appear more weathered or entwined with decaying matter.
Alliances with Swamp Creatures: They have kinship with certain clans of beastmen and plague demons, suggesting the Treelords may also exhibit traits or forms that reflect these swamp-dwelling creatures.
Physical Adaptations: Some "Lesser Treelords" described have "sharpened their claws" or "crafted stone maces on their arms," implying physical adaptations to the Rootmire's specific conditions and challenges.
Wood Elves
As ancient people, the Elves have seen great change and have a perspective that can only come from watching the arc of history. After leaving the world in ancient times, they returned to a changed land, and they still struggle to reclaim their ancestral homes, most notably from terrible demons that have invaded parts of their lands. To some, the elves are objects of awe—graceful and beautiful, with immense talent and knowledge. However, the elves place far more importance on personal freedom than on living up to these ideals.
Creatures of the Heartwoods
Great Owls
Great Owls are seen as messengers of the gods, protectors of the forest, and symbols of wisdom and guidance. Their presence could be interpreted as a sign of good fortune or a warning of impending danger. The Wood Elves might have rituals or traditions that involve interacting with Great Owls, such as leaving offerings, seeking their advice, and interpreting their calls and behaviors.
Scourfloor Beetles
Scourfloor beetles are forest scavengers that help reabsorb fallen trees, dead animals, and forest waste into Heatwood’s ecosystem. They symbolize the natural cycle of life and death, reflecting the forest's ability to renew itself. The Defenders regard them as diligent workers, maintaining the forest's health by breaking down and recycling organic matter. They also find practical uses for the beetles, such as crafting with their shells and utilizing their secretions for medicinal purposes.
Mustering the Rootmire
340 pts
Parras, Blightfang Dryad Narrative Hero
65 pts
(Quality 4; Defense 5) Blightfang Staff:(A3, Poison) (Caster 2, Hero, Rot Touch, Strider, Tough 3, Unique Yrana)
Struck down in a skirmish with the High Elves, Parras’s body was carried by the Heartsblood River to the Rootmire. There, her anger festered as her soul communed with the blackened waters of the swamp. Manifesting in a tangle of cypress roots, Parras found her reborn body comprised of the living wood of the Rootmire, her rage completely undiminished. Parras is now gathering a force around her to confront the incursions of the civilized peoples.
Lashing Coven Treemen (3)
35 pts
(Quality 5; Defense 5) Weaving Branches:(12”, A1), Claws:(A1) (Furious, Strider)
Among the first to respond to Parras’ call to arms, these newly awakened dryads have proven themselves as steadfast defenders of the Rootmire. They have cultivated fleshboring Weave vines into their arms, enabling them to take on the skirmisher role for Parras’ defense of the deep places of the Heartwood.
Flensing Boughs Treemen (3)
35 pts
(Quality 5; Defense 5) Branch Claws:(A1, Rending) (Furious, Strider)
Particularly ferocious dryads of the Rootmire. Drawing elemental bone from the primordial churn, the Boughs formed hardened claws at the ends of their branches. These warriors have developed a fundamental distrust of animal forms, and their taproots have a taste for flesh.
Tearing Mangroves Treeman Brute (1)
55 pts
(Quality 4; Defense 5) Branch Claws:(A4, Rending) (Furious, Strider, Tough 3)
Lesser Treelords of the Rootmire, the mangroves have sharpened their claws to be hard and sharp. Sensing the cries from the wood's western edge as it burned, these treelords had mobilized before Parras’ call to arms.
Cypress Brute Treeman Brute (1)
50 pts
(Quality 4; Defense 5) Branch Mace:(A3, AP2) (Furious, Strider, Tough 3)
Lesser Treelords of the Rootmire, the Cypress crafted stone maces on their arms. Cypress took part in Parras’s first skirmish against the change cultists.
Night Parliament Giant Owls (2)
100 pts
(Quality 4; Defense 4) Rending Claw:(A1, Rending) (Fast, Flying, Impact 2, Tough 3)
The Lesser Treelords of the Rootmire, the Cypress, wielded stone maces on their arms. The Cypress participated in Parras’s first skirmish against the change cultists.
The Queen’s Swarm Beetle Swarm
15 pts
(Quality 6; Defense 6) Swarm Attack:(A3, AP1) (Scout, Strider, Tough 3)
The Queen’s Swarm is a Colony of Scourfloor Beetles enlisted into Parras’ service. These scavengers carefully cultivate the fallen that are absorbed into the strength of the Rootmire’s defenders.
Key Features
Golum Pits: Areas of living mud that can animate to swallow invaders. This mud could slow down their movement, entangle them, or even rise up to form temporary barriers.
Whispering Reeds: Patches of reeds in the Rootmire that carry whispers and illusions, disorienting intruders and providing the Rootmire forces with early warnings.
Savage Blooms: Unique, bioluminescent flowers that grow in the Rootmire release spores that attract and enrage dangerous creatures.
Bone Groves: Areas within the Rootmire where the bones of fallen creatures are cultivated and shaped into raw resources. These groves provide resources for crafting equipment and constructing reinforcements.
Swamp Lights: Ethereal lights that drift through the Rootmire, manifesting the spirits of the transformed elves. These lights have various effects, such as healing allies, revealing hidden enemies, or disorienting foes.
Secrets of the Heartwood
The True Nature of Transformed Elves: Players could uncover the specific rituals or processes involved in transforming dying elves into the swamp's entities. They might learn about the sacrifices involved and the potential loss of identity.
The Source of the Swamp Lights: Discovering the origin of the ethereal "Swamp Lights" could reveal a deeper connection to the spirits of the transformed elves or even a hidden power source within the Rootmire.
The Purpose of the Bone Groves: Players might learn that the "Bone Groves" are not just for resources but also serve a ritualistic or magical purpose, potentially linked to communing with the dead or empowering the Rootmire's defenders.
The Reason for the Unusual Alliances: Uncovering the history behind the alliances with beastmen and plague demons could reveal a past threat or shared goal that binds them to the Rootmire Conclave.
The Weakness of the Living Mud: Finding out a specific vulnerability of the "Golum Pits" (living mud) could provide a tactical advantage, such as a substance that hardens it or a sound frequency that disrupts it.
The Truth Behind the Whispering Reeds: Players might discover that the "Whispering Reeds" are not just illusions but contain actual messages from past events or trapped spirits, revealing hidden history or warnings.
The Control of the Savage Blooms: Learning how the Rootmire Conclave controls or manipulates the "Savage Blooms" and their spore release could offer a way to turn the hazard against their enemies.
Parras's True Intentions: Delving into Parras's backstory and current actions might reveal more complex or hidden motivations beyond simply defending the Rootmire. Players could find she has a personal vendetta, or a larger plan that involves more than just protecting the swamp.
The Dwindling Treelord Population: Discovering the true extent and cause of the Treelord decline could lead to quests to find a way to restore them or understand the ecological issues plaguing the Rootmire.
The Ancient History of the Heartwood: Unearthing ancient texts or encountering ancient beings could reveal the true history of the Heartwood and the Rootmire, possibly showing that they were once very different or had a different purpose.
Adventurer Hooks
Direct Threats/Conflicts:
Timber Poaching: A nearby town or kingdom is aggressively logging in the Heartwood, and their operations are encroaching on the Rootmire. The Rootmire Conclave, led by Parras, is retaliating, and the players could be hired to stop the conflict or mediate.
Demonic Incursions: The document mentions demons invading elven lands. Players might be tasked with investigating demonic activity near the Rootmire, only to find the Conclave dealing with the same issue in their own way, perhaps through their unusual alliances.
Cult Activity: Parras's backstory involves a "change cult." The players might reencounter this cult, and their activities could be centered around or threatening the Rootmire, drawing the players into the conflict.
Mysteries/Investigations:
Dwindling Treelords: Other Heartwood Defenders could hire players to investigate the decline of Treelords in the Rootmire, which is affecting the entire forest. This would lead them into the Conclave's territory and their unique methods.
Missing Persons: People have gone missing near the Rootmire. Local authorities or families hire the players to find them, and the trail leads into the swamp and the secrets of the transformed elves.
Strange Lights/Whispers: Locals report seeing strange lights or hearing whispers coming from the Rootmire. Players are hired to investigate the phenomenon, uncovering the Swamp Lights and Whispering Reeds.
Alliances/Requests:
Unusual Request: A representative from the Rootmire Conclave (perhaps a dryad or a talking owl) approaches the players with a strange request. They need help with something specific, and the players must navigate the Conclave's unusual customs and allies.
Beastman Alliance: Players encounter a group of beastmen who are fleeing persecution. The beastmen ask for help, revealing their alliance with the Rootmire and leading the players to the swamp.
Seeking Knowledge: A scholar or mage is seeking ancient knowledge hidden within the Heartwood, specifically about the Rootmire's history or the transformation of elves. They hire the players to explore the swamp and find this information.
Ecological Concerns:
Plague or Blight: A strange plague or blight spreads from the Rootmire, affecting the surrounding lands. Players are hired to find and stop the source, which involves dealing with the Rootmire's unique ecology and defenses.
Resource Depletion: The Rootmire suffers from resource depletion, and the Conclave is taking increasingly desperate measures. Players might be hired to help find a solution or negotiate a compromise with other factions.
Balance of Nature: A druidic order or nature spirit asks the players to investigate a disturbance in the natural balance of the Heartwood, which leads them to the Rootmire and the Conclave's unusual practices regarding death and decay.
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