The Florin, known to some by ancient names like Ghoran, are a rare and enigmatic species of intelligent plant-people. Their bodies are roughly humanoid in shape, composed of a fibrous plant material resembling woody vines, and their faces are like enormous, vibrant blossoms. They are living testaments to an abandoned science project, sentient flora that ascended from the Outer Sphere through the remains of a forgotten bio-engineering experiment. Each Florin is essentially an ancient spark of life that inhabits, successively, a series of unique plantlike bodies, possessing a form of organic immortality through their seeds.
During the height of a long-lost galactic conflict or a desperate colonization effort, a brilliant, though renegade, xenobotanist or bio-engineer sought to create a plant species that could feed billions even in the most inhospitable cosmic environments. They developed a strain of highly adaptable flora, capable of thriving in diverse atmospheres and resisting various forms of energetic manipulation. They succeeded too well. In the strange, Mana-rich soils of a forgotten research world, or within the confines of an orbital biodome, this flora grew, and soon began to think—and then to walk and speak. These were the first Florin. Despite their new awareness, Florin found that many other sapient species were adept at ignoring inconvenient truths, especially those involving where their next meal or resource might come from. Bit by bit, seed by seed, Florin grew themselves into humanoid forms, hoping to engender sympathy by mirroring the appearance of more common sentient life. It eventually worked, and the Florin gained a small, protected status in some sectors. Even so, time and predation has taken its toll; the population of Florin is small and ever dwindling.
Every few decades, a Florin produces a Mana-infused seed. Their old body withers away as their consciousness and accumulated memories enter the seed, which then swiftly produces a new body. The process brings with it minor shifts in personality and some loss of more distant memories, such that each new Florin is related to their predecessor while still being a distinct individual. The original art of creating more Florin from scratch was lost with their creator, making them a tiny but stable minority in the galaxy, dwindling bit by bit over the centuries as a few fall to violence and mischance.
If you want a character who's an ancient and alien soul, trying to survive and thrive in a strange and hostile galaxy, you should play a Florin. You might offhandedly mention events from thousands of years ago, find "animal" (or "carbon-based") behaviors strange, and constantly make small, subtle changes to your body's structure. Others probably have a hard time recognizing you after not seeing you for a while, are either intimidated or fascinated by how long you've lived and how much you know, and may have heard (perhaps disturbingly) that you're deliciously sweet and herbaceous.
Core Identity: Organic Immortality, Subtle Adaptation, and Ecological Harmony Florin are fundamentally driven by a profound connection to the cycles of life and growth, tempered by the long-term perspective of their successive incarnations. They prioritize balance, sustainability, and the meticulous shaping of their own forms and environments. They believe that true strength lies not in conquest, but in enduring adaptation and the subtle manipulation of organic systems. Every Yom is a moment to grow and reshape, every Dei an opportunity to absorb new experiences and integrate them into their living memory.
They have a great deal of control over the shape and structure of their bodies: with a few hours of effort, a Florin might make themselves taller or shorter, long-limbed or barrel-chested, subtly adjusting their fibrous material. Though they can learn to smile or laugh to fit in with other ancestries, they tend to use a different set of emotional signifiers, fluttering their face-petals to show happiness and making a rustling sound when agitated or upset.
Physical Description
Roughly humanoid in size and shape, a Florin's body is mostly made up of a fibrous plant material resembling a woody vine, with a face like an enormous, colorful flower or bioluminescent blossom. They have a reputation for tasting deliciously sweet and herbaceous. Most people merely find this quality a curiosity and don't attempt to take a bite, but wild fauna or opportunistic creatures in the galaxy will sometimes seek them out and attack them.
Every Florin has a large cavity within their torso that contains a single, prominent seed. When a Florin's body becomes too decrepit to function (typically every 20 years or so, or sooner due to injury), they impart their consciousness and accumulated memories into this seed and plant it into a suitable nutrient medium. Within 1 to 2 months, a new Florin body finishes growing from the seed, and the original Florin collapses into a pile of inert organic matter. This curious method of propagation leaves a Florin vulnerable, and many Florin are highly defensive about this process among non-Florin peoples.
Being plants, Florin have no innate understanding of gender in the humanoid sense. Florin who find themselves in the company of other ancestries sometimes adopt a more masculine or feminine form, though just as many don't bother.
Societies Across the Spheres
Florin originated from a long-abandoned bio-engineering project, and most reside as tiny minority populations in protected biospheres or hidden sectors. They organize themselves by a silent consensus derived from millennia of experience, with no need for a formal government. Work is apportioned instinctively, as everyone does what they're best at to cover necessary tasks. The addition of new Florin traveling from afar or of members of other ancestries can sometimes throw off this natural rhythm.
Outer Sphere (Verdant Enclaves & Bio-Resource Hubs): Many Florin inhabit secluded, remote communities within immense, self-sustaining biodomes on verdant worlds, or within sprawling, bio-engineered arboreal habitats grown within colossal space hulks. They are extremely skilled at building their abodes so that they don't disrupt the lives of the local flora or the delicate balance of their self-contained ecosystems. These "parks" are often mistaken for recreational public spaces by visitors, and Florin don't typically mind unexpected company so long as visitors are respectful of the environment and the Florin they meet. They tend to be eager to interact, learn about others, and engage in ethical trade of unique bio-resources.
Inner Sphere (Ecological Sanctuaries & Bio-Artisans): In the major ecumenopolises of the Inner Sphere, Florin have built little enclaves of their own in districts featuring sweeping vertical farms and massive bio-towers. They live among the curated flora, typically making their homes within these green spaces. These urban Florin are relatively social and accepting of other ancestries, often serving as highly valued bio-artisans, ecological consultants, or experts in advanced hydroponics for corporations or the Commission.
Frontier (Rift-Bloom Seekers & Terraforming Scouts): Florin with a strong wanderlust sometimes venture into the uncharted Frontier, drawn by the raw, untamed energies of the Rift and the potential for new life. They might be found near nascent planetary biospheres, seeking to understand primordial cosmic life, or within Rift-Burgs where strange and dangerous "Rift-Blooms" flourish. They often hold fragments of ancient lore lost to the outside galaxy for many years, so their journeys can sometimes lead to important new discoveries, particularly concerning the interaction of Mana with organic life. Their silent consensus adapts to analyze newcomers, determining their aptitudes and where they can contribute, sometimes leading to perplexing interactions with other species if not properly communicated.
Beliefs
Florin typically lack driving forces toward extreme good or evil, though their plant-derived values can sometimes make them come across as amoral or detached to species that are not likewise plant-based. They have a slight tendency toward order and balance, especially within their own communities.
While most Florin aren't particularly religious in the conventional sense, spiritually oriented ones tend to revere the fundamental processes of the Green Mana and the Cosmic Bloom – the overarching life force of the galaxy. They rarely find interest in humanoid-centric deities, as Florin have distinctly different thought processes and priorities. Faith is a matter that usually doesn't change much from seed to seed and incarnation to incarnation, and that means that newer deities or factions have almost no foothold in Florin communities. They are seldom cruel, perhaps as a conscious rejection of destructive manipulation.
Connection to the Rift and Chaotic Transformation
The Florin's existence is a living testament to an abandoned science project and sentient flora that ascended through the remains of a forgotten bio-engineering experiment. Their unique life cycle, involving the transfer of consciousness into a Mana-infused seed, links them directly to the flow of Mana and the cycles of cosmic life.
The Rift-Storm Cataclysm and the subsequent emergence of the Maelstrom created new, chaotic environments and concentrations of Mana that influenced Florin development. While their origins are tied to bio-engineering, their continued existence and unique propagation method are deeply intertwined with the galaxy's Mana-networks. Their ability to heal through exposure to Mana-currents (Mana-Core Healing) highlights this connection. Their long-term perspective, gained through successive incarnations, allows them to view the chaotic changes of the Rift with a detached understanding, seeking balance even amidst destruction.
Florin Mechanics
Florin are a Humanoid, Plant, Florin ancestry.
Hit Points: 8
Size: Medium
Speed: 25 feet
Attribute Boosts: Constitution, and one Free Ability Boost.
Languages: Common, Sylvan (or Flora-Code). You can learn additional languages equal to your Intelligence modifier (if it's positive). Choose from Aklo, Draconic, Elven, Gnomish (Vividi), Jotun (Grolak), and any other languages to which you have access (such as the languages prevalent in your region).
Senses: Low-Light Vision (You can see in dim light as though it were bright light and you ignore the concealed condition due to dim light.)
Bio-Synthesis (Photosynthesis): You gain nourishment from ambient stellar light or Mana-currents. You typically don't need to pay for food. If you go without direct stellar light or concentrated Mana-exposure (such as from a Mana-well, a sustained positive energy field, or specially formulated alchemical Mana-nutrients) for 1 week, you begin to starve. Specially formulated alchemical Mana-nutrients cost 10 times as much as standard rations (40 sp).
Florin Heritages
At 1st level, choose one of the following Florin heritages, representing a distinct physical morph or a dominant adaptation from your lineage.
Deep-Rooted Florin (Ancient Ash adaptation): Your memory is exceptionally sharp and clear, spanning countless incarnations. You remember the calm before the Rift-Storm Cataclysm and the emergent biomes after the Maelstrom, the acrid tang of ancient tech and the whisper of forgotten songs. You remember it all. You become trained in one skill of your choice. At 5th level, you become an expert in that skill.
Bio-Luminescent Florin (Enchanting Lily adaptation): You exude a delicate, floral scent or a soft, captivating bioluminescence, like the intoxicating fragrance of lilies or the gentle shimmer of nebulae-moths. You're trained in Diplomacy (or another skill if you were already trained in Diplomacy). You also gain a +1 circumstance bonus to checks to Make an Impression if the target can perceive your fragrance or bioluminescence.
Dense-Fiber Florin (Strong Oak adaptation): Most Florin have bodies of pliable vines and tough stems, but you're covered in sturdy, rough bark or dense bio-polymers, and your legs are stable as roots. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus on your Fortitude or Reflex DC against attempts to Grapple or Trip you. This bonus also applies to saving throws against effects that would grab you, restrain you, or knock you prone. You also gain a +2 circumstance bonus on Acrobatics checks to Balance.
Integrated-Thorns Florin (Thorned Rose adaptation): Your beautiful petals or seemingly smooth skin hide silent barbs to pierce the unwary. Your body is covered with wickedly sharp thorns or retractable crystalline spurs to discourage those that might prey upon you. You gain the Wicked Thorns reaction.
Wicked Thorns [reaction] Frequency once per day; Trigger You're hit with an unarmed Strike or a Strike with a non-reach melee weapon. Several of your thorns break off and hook into your attacker's body. You deal 1d8 piercing damage to the triggering creature. It attempts a basic Reflex save against the higher of your class DC or spell DC. On a critical failure, the creature also takes 1d4 persistent bleed damage as your thorns embed in its flesh. At 3rd level, and every 2 levels thereafter, this damage increases by 1d8, and the persistent piercing damage increases by 1.
Florin Ancestry Feats
You can select Florin ancestry feats from the following options.
1st Level Feats
Ancient Memories (Common, Florin) Feat 1: In the long millennia since your creation, you've done pretty much everything at one time or another. You can choose one skill; you become trained in that skill. Once per day, you can choose to reroll one skill check related to that skill, but you must use the second result.
Flexible Form (Common, Florin) Feat 1: Your body is as supple as a sapling, capable of bending without breaking, a result of thousands of years of iterative bio-sculpting. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Acrobatics checks to Squeeze or Tumble Through.
Florin Lore (Common, Florin) Feat 1: The very first memories Florin have are those of their creation, and even after thousands of years, those memories have never faded for you. You gain training in Florin Lore. If you were already trained in Florin Lore, you instead become an expert.
Florin Weapon Familiarity (Common, Florin) Feat 1: Over the course of your long, long existence, you've had a chance to practice with traditional Florin weapons, often incorporating organic materials and Mana-channels. You gain access to all uncommon weapons with the florin trait (e.g., thorned whips, seed-blasters, root-staves).
Hidden Thorn (Common, Florin) Feat 1: Some bio-luminescent flowers can hide their thorns, and yours happen to be hidden along your arms. You gain a claw unarmed attack that deals 1d4 piercing damage. Your claws are in the brawling group and have the agile, finesse, and unarmed traits.
5th Level Feats
Florin Weapon Practice (Common, Florin) Feat 5: Prerequisites Florin Weapon Familiarity. With plenty of practice, the memories of previous fights from previous incarnations come flooding back. Your proficiency rank for simple and martial weapons that have the florin trait increases to expert.
Murderous Thorns (Common, Florin) Feat 5: Prerequisites Hidden Thorn or Integrated-Thorns Florin heritage. Your thorns are many, vicious, and sharp, capable of deterring aggressive fauna or hostile incursions. Increase the damage die of your Wicked Thorns reaction (if you have it) by one step (e.g., 1d8 to 1d10). If you have Hidden Thorn, your claw unarmed attack's damage die increases by one step.
Commune with Flora (Speak with Flowers) (Common, Florin) Feat 5: At your very heartwood, you're a flower animated by elder Mana, and with a little effort, you can speak to your kindred. You can communicate with non-sentient plant creatures and manipulate non-magical flora (e.g., causing vines to grow, flowers to bloom).
Biogeosynchronic Ward (Tree's Ward) (Common, Florin) Feat 5: You've lived among complex ecosystems for so long they recognize your presence and seek to protect you from harm. When you are within a dense patch of natural or cultivated flora (such as a jungle, forest, or advanced hydroponic farm), you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to AC.
9th Level Feats
Endless Memories (Common, Florin) Feat 9: Prerequisites Ancient Memories. You've lived a thousand lives and done a hundred-thousand things. You become an expert in the skill you chose for Ancient Memories. Additionally, once per day, you can Recall Knowledge as a free action, even if it's not your turn.
Floromancy (Flower Magic) (Common, Florin) Feat 9: Certain Mana-signatures in the galaxy flow easily through your sap, allowing you to manipulate plant-based energies. You gain one common spell from the primal or occult spell list (your choice) that affects or involves plants (GM's discretion). You can cast this spell once per day as an innate spell, heightened to a spell rank equal to half your level rounded up.
Pheromone Cloud (Perfume Cloud) (Common, Disease, Florin) Feat 9: You issue a cloud of your fragrance like a full-body sneeze—but one that might save your life as the powerful perfume makes your attackers' eyes sting and water. As a 1-action activity, you can emit a cloud of irritating pheromones in a 5-foot burst. Creatures entering or starting their turn in the burst must succeed at a Fortitude save against your class DC or spell DC (whichever is higher) or become sickened 1.
Stellar Rejuvenation (Common, Florin) Feat 9: The warmth and light of a star gives you life, healing you directly. Once per day, as a 1-minute activity while exposed to direct sunlight (or equivalent stellar radiation), you regain 3d8 Hit Points.
13th Level Feats
Eternal Memories (Common, Florin) Feat 13: Prerequisites Endless Memories. You have lived longer than most realize, and due to your many lifetimes of practice you remember almost everything from your previous incarnations now. You become a master in the skill you chose for Ancient Memories. Furthermore, once per day, when you fail a skill check, you can reroll it and use the better result.
Florin Weapon Expertise (Common, Florin) Feat 13: Prerequisites Florin Weapon Familiarity. It's as if you've been training for a thousand years. Your proficiency rank for simple and martial weapons that have the florin trait increases to master.
Look but Don't Touch (Common, Florin, Poison) Feat 13: Many bio-luminescent flowers are beautiful to look upon but deadly to touch—and you're one of them. Your Wicked Thorns reaction gains the critical specialization effect of the piercing weapon group.
Animated Tendrils (Violent Vines) (Common, Florin) Feat 13: When angered, you can imbue nearby vines or bio-fibers with your wrath, provoking them into a murderous rampage. Once per day, as a 2-action activity, you can animate a patch of natural vines or bio-fibers (up to a 10-foot square) within 30 feet. These animated tendrils make a single Strike against a creature within their reach (using your unarmed attack statistics).
17th Level Feats
Florin's Wrath (Common, Florin) Feat 17: You have such a strong connection to the natural Mana-network of the world that you can inspire it to attack those who threaten you. Once per day, as a 3-action activity, you can cause sharp thorns, grasping vines, or corrosive sap to erupt from the ground in a 20-foot burst centered on a point within 60 feet. Creatures in the area take 6d8 piercing damage (basic Reflex save).
Here are a few adventure hooks designed to appeal to a Florin Player Character, leveraging their unique origins, life cycle, and connection to the Starfall Galaxy's ecological and Mana systems:
Adventure Hooks for Florin Player Characters
The Withering World-Garden:
Hook: A renowned Vaelen bio-engineering facility, known for its vast, self-sustaining "world-garden" biodomes, is experiencing a catastrophic ecological collapse. Plants are withering, and the Mana-currents that sustain them are inexplicably draining, causing a subtle Rift-Taint to spread. A desperate Lashunta botanist, or an Automaton designed for ecological preservation, seeks the Florin PC. They believe the Florin's profound connection to the Green Mana and their Bio-Synthesis ability makes them uniquely suited to diagnose the root cause of the decay and restore the delicate balance before the entire ecosystem is lost.
Florin Appeal: This hook directly challenges the Florin's core identity of ecological harmony and sustainability. The PC would be driven to save the world-garden, using their Mana-Core Healing to revitalize affected areas, Commune with Flora to understand the plants' distress, and Deep-Rooted Florin heritage (if applicable) to access ancient memories of similar ecological crises.
The Seed of a Lost Lineage:
Hook: While exploring a forgotten pre-Cataclysm research outpost in the Outer Sphere, the Florin PC discovers a perfectly preserved, Mana-infused seed – one that resonates with an ancient, almost forgotten lineage of Florin, perhaps even a direct descendant of their original creator. This seed contains fragmented memories and unique genetic data that could reveal secrets about the Rift-Storm Cataclysm or unlock new forms of bio-engineering. However, a ruthless Klaris Legion or a Mega-Corporation is also seeking the seed, intending to weaponize its unique properties or exploit its bio-resources.
Florin Appeal: This hook appeals to the Florin's organic immortality, their connection to their lineage, and their long-term perspective. The PC would be motivated to protect the seed and uncover its secrets, using Ancient Memories or Endless Memories to piece together its history. Their Flexible Form or Dense-Fiber Florin heritage might be useful for evading capture or defending the precious seed.
The Predator's Feast:
Hook: A new, highly aggressive species of Scarred or a pack of Khashadab scavengers has begun to target Florin communities in a remote Outer Sphere region. These predators have developed a disturbing taste for Florin, drawn by their "deliciously sweet and herbaceous" nature, or they seek to harvest the Mana-infused seeds for their own nefarious purposes. The Florin PC's community is under threat, forcing them to take a stand. They must find a way to deter or neutralize the predators, perhaps by using their unique physical defenses or by forming an alliance with unexpected allies.
Florin Appeal: This hook directly confronts the vulnerability of the Florin's physical form and their need for self-preservation. The PC would be driven to protect their community, using Integrated-Thorns Florin heritage and Wicked Thorns or Look but Don't Touch to defend themselves. Pheromone Cloud could be used to disorient attackers, and Biogeosynchronic Ward might offer defensive advantages within their home environment.
The Rift-Bloom Safari:
Hook: Reports surface from the uncharted Frontier of a newly manifested "Rift-Bloom" – a colossal, ever-shifting plant-like entity born directly from a volatile Rift-Burg. This entity is a source of immense, raw Mana, but it's also highly dangerous, creating unpredictable temporal distortions and spawning chaotic Rift-Entities. A Triosam "Corrector," seeking to stabilize the Mana flow, or a Vividi drawn by the unprecedented novelty, offers a significant reward for a Florin PC to embark on an expedition. The mission: to safely explore the Rift-Bloom, document its unique properties, and perhaps even find a way to "harvest" its Mana without succumbing to its chaotic influence.
Florin Appeal: This hook appeals to the Florin's wanderlust, their connection to the Rift, and their fascination with new forms of life. The PC would be motivated by the promise of new discoveries and the opportunity to understand the interaction of Mana with organic life in its most raw form. Their Floromancy could be invaluable for navigating the plant-based dangers, Stellar Rejuvenation might provide healing in the Mana-rich environment, and Animated Tendrils or Florin's Wrath could be used to control the chaotic flora.
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