Bisan

A bisan is a lesser spirit linked to one valued tree species, most often camphor, sometimes teak or mahogany. In her true form she is a lovely woman with long dark brown, black or white hair, soft green eyes and a blue or pale green silk robe, appearing as young or old as her tree and often echoing it, with its flowers in her hair or, for mahogany, reddish-brown skin. She seldom shows this form, preferring to be a fruit fly, honeybee or wasp, and she knows only her own language.

Intelligent and touchy, she prefers mischief by spell to open battle and flees at the first chance unless her tree is at stake. She can polymorph self, go invisible and become ethereal at will, and once per round she can cast any of these: animate wood, wood shape, ironwood, quickgrowth, pacify, castigate, elemental turning, cause paralysis, or bless and its reverse, curse. Her touch needs a normal attack roll and deals 1-10.

She fights best as an insect, keeping her spells, hit points, attacks and saves while gaining tiny size and flight (Fl 6, maneuverability C). Intruders are first frightened with quickgrowth, castigate and animate wood, then touched and paralyzed, and cursed only in desperation. She rarely pursues anyone who leaves.

Harming her tree does not hurt her, but if it is cut down, burned, rotted or otherwise destroyed she instantly falls to 0 hit points and vanishes.

She guards all trees of her species in her area, anywhere from a few acres to several square miles but usually one, with her own tree, typically the tallest or sturdiest, near the center. Territories rarely overlap.

Woodsmen and local lore often know where bisan live. She allows people to take sap, branches, fruit or leaves, and to fell trees that are nearing the end of life, but always expects an offering; harvesters who skip it face her anger.

When her tree dies naturally, her essence moves to a nearby sapling. If the gods approve of her work, they may divide her into up to four essences, each sent to a fresh sapling elsewhere in the world, birthing new bisan.

She lives on sunlight and shares her tree's nourishment, and its bark can serve her as a component of potions of healing.