Editing Leshy (section)

==Vine Leshy==
[[File:Vine leshy.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
The last of all the leshys so far, Vine Leshys debuted in ''Ultimate Wilderness''. These leshys are created from spirits with an unusual fascination for humanoid culture, civilizations and races; they yearn to know more about the strange meat-creatures that rule the world, in comparison to the monomaniacal focus on just looking after plants of other leshys. As such, rather than sticking around a single area to guard it, vine leshys are natural nomads, wandering freely across the world, stopping to care for many different wards for short periods throughout their lifetime. [[Druid]]s create these leshys mainly to get more nature-loving allies in their parties, it's implied, and in that, they do quite well. But one must remember that, even though no leshy is a servant, vine leshys are particularly independent; their creators are seen as friends and allies, not parents.

As you would expect, a  vine leshy’s body is made of masses of twisted vines and leaves, sometimes incorporating flowers and fruits as well. Their appearance is mostly determined by the species of vine used in their creation, but most have a large cluster of leaves that forms a face with round eyes, a small mouth, and no visible nose. Consistent with the plant species from which they derive their bodies, vine leshys recognize a spectrum of genders. Some vine leshys are exclusively female or male, while many vine leshys are both. The biological features of a leshy’s flowers do not necessarily indicate its gender, as the nature spirit that inhabits the leshy plays a strong role in determining the leshy’s identity.

Because of their ritual-based genesis, vine leshys obviously do not have a traditional family structure. They form strong friendships with those who accompany them on explorations or who assist them in protecting a natural site. Unlike most leshys, vine leshys usually feel a strong desire to seek out the one who created them.

Vine leshys love storytelling, but they place more importance on the meaning and message of the story than the details, both because they can’t always remember the details and because they find many details to be unnecessary. A story that has passed through several vine leshys is likely to undergo significant changes in characters and setting but usually retains its core message.

Vine leshys are, as mentioned above, deeply interested in learning about the cultures of many other races. Their initial attitudes when they encounter new races are based on biases from the nature spirit’s past incarnations, but they evolve over time through the leshy’s experiences. In unfamiliar situations, vine leshys prefer to blend in with vegetation to observe before venturing out and introducing themselves.

Vine leshys have an unusual relationship with other leshys, for unlike standard leshys, vine leshys are not grown to be servants. They are free-willed and individualistic creatures. Whether or not an individual vine leshy views the servitude other leshys endure as akin to slavery or as something more like an honorable tradition of service to a powerful druid depends on the vine leshy’s opinion and alignment. While it’s unusual for a vine leshy to take on another leshy as a minion in the traditional way, it’s not unusual to see vine leshys take on sponsorship of a sort over other leshys, treating them almost as adopted children or wayward exiles in need of guidance and protection from those who would force their servitude.

Vine leshys see themselves as part of the ancient cycle of nature. They care for their friends and any natural areas under their care, but rarely feel compelled toward either charity or malice. Most vine leshys are truly neutral, and they almost always have at least one neutral aspect to their alignments. Religion is not particularly important to vine leshys. Those who do find faith tend toward worship of Gozreh, a green man (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 6 152), or one of the Eldest of the First World, but the Green Faith is the most common philosophy followed by vine leshys.

Like most leshys, vine leshys typically do not fear death (but don't actually have any special protecting from fear effects aside from the +1 will save their high wisdom gives.). They know that if their bodies die, their spirits will return to the natural world and may someday find themselves in new bodies. This lack of fear combined with their curiosity leads them to take risks. However, they typically avoid excessively dangerous activities, as they would rather gather a story from their adventures to tell later. Vine leshys gravitate toward classes that let them use their connection to nature, such as druid and ranger.

Vine leshys’ names change throughout their lives. A young vine leshy typically names herself after her physical characteristics or a natural feature that she particularly enjoys. As vine leshys age, they modify their names to better reflect their personality and experiences. A leshy may even have several names that she cycles among, such as one name for each season. Most vine leshys select names that are at least two words long. Example vine leshy names include Burbling Waterfall, Lovely Triple Leaves, Masterful Sun Drinker, Snowy Pine Branches, Verdant Taleweaver, and Vibrant Tree Climber.

===Vine Leshy Stats===
::+2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, –2 Intelligence: Vine leshys are hardy and insightful, but sometimes forgetful.
::'''Leshy:''' Vine leshys are plants with the leshy subtype but lack the immunities to mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison, polymorph, sleep, and stunning that the plant type usually grants, and they lack the immunity to electricity and sonic that the leshy subtype usually grants. 
::'''Small:''' Vine leshys are Small creatures and gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a –1 penalty on combat maneuver checks and to their Combat Maneuver Defense, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks.
::'''Slow Speed:''' Vine leshys have a base speed of 20 feet.
::'''Darkvision:''' Vine leshys can see in the dark up to 60 feet.
::'''Low-Light Vision:''' Vine leshys can see twice as far as humans under conditions of dim light.
::'''Pass without Trace:''' Vine leshys have ''pass without trace'' as a constant spell-like ability (caster level 2nd).
::'''Change Shape:''' Vine leshys can transform into vines, with results similar to tree shape. In this form, the leshy appears as a particularly healthy Small vine. The leshy can assume plant form or revert to its true form as a swift action.
::'''Plantspeech:''' Vine leshys can speak with vines as if subject to a continual ''speak with plants'' spell.
::'''Verdant Burst:''' When slain, a vine leshy explodes in a burst of fertile energies. All plant creatures within 30 feet of the slain leshy regain hit 1d8 points, and vines quickly infest the area. If the terrain can support vines, the undergrowth is dense enough to make the region into difficult terrain for 24 hours, after which the plant life diminishes to a normal level; otherwise, this plant life has no significant effect on movement and withers and dies within an hour.
::'''Unassuming Foliage:''' Vine leshys gain a +4 racial bonus on Stealth checks in forests.
::'''Climber:''' Vine leshys gain a +2 racial bonus on Climb checks.
::'''Languages:''' Vine leshys begin play speaking Common and Sylvan. Vine leshys with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Aquan, Auran, Aklo, Elven, Gnome, Goblin, Terran, or Undercommon.

===Alternate Vine Leshy Racial Traits===
'''Agile:''' Agile vine leshys are quicker but less tough than a typical vine leshy. Replace the leshy’s +2 racial bonus to Constitution with a +2 racial bonus to Dexterity.
::This alters the vine leshy’s ability scores.

'''Poisonous:''' Vine leshys made from poison ivy vines carry natural poison in their bodies. As a swift action, the leshy can imbue its vines with this irritating substance. The next time the leshy hits a creature with an unarmed strike, the creature is affected by the following poison:
:::'''Vine Leshy Toxin:''' Unarmed strike—injury; save Fort DC 10 + half the vine leshy’s Hit Dice + the leshy’s Constitution modifier; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect sickened for 1 round; cure 1 save.
The leshy can use this ability a number of times per day equal to its Constitution modifier (minimum 1). A vine leshy is immune to its own poison, but not to those of other vine leshys.
::This replaces plantspeech and change shape.

'''Swamp Leshy:''' Some vine leshys are made from plants that naturally grow in swamps. These leshys gain a +2 racial bonus on Swim checks and a +4 racial bonus on Stealth checks in swamps.
::This replaces climber and alters unassuming foliage.

'''Grapevine:''' A vine leshy made from a grapevine can produce magically infused fruit that can heal her allies. She can cast goodberry once per day as a spell-like ability, with a caster level equal to her character level.
::This replaces pass without trace.