Nightshade [Forgotten Realms]

Spirits of poison plants such as hemlock, foxglove, belladonna and mistletoe, wood woses resemble stocky, willow-supple woodland dwarves with dark brown skin and leaves and vines knotted in their beards and hair. They wear woven vests and kilts, carry bronze or copper arms, and speak their own tongue plus those of plants, fungi and quicklings.

They fight with bronze short swords or spears. Wooden weapons of every kind, even magical staves and shillelaghs, cannot hurt them, but fire deals double damage. In one round a wose can smear its sap on a blade, which stays toxic for 10 rounds in open air; each failed save vs. poison drains 1 Dexterity. Under 3 the victim is paralyzed; under 1 he dies and rises as a nightshade at the next full moon. Hitting one bare-handed stings the attacker for 1-4, and a creature held for a round loses 1 Dexterity and takes 2-5.

At will they speak with plants and pass without trace; each can entangle and use plant door once daily. Bands of six or more include a mage with 5th-level druid spells, and seven or more can, monthly, drink blood and chant for six turns to call a shambling mound that serves them all night.

Elusive night hunters, they hide by day in caves and hollow logs. Pairs mate for life, rarely producing more than two young. Small, semi-nomadic bands make camp in dark, echoing groves, abandoning them when the forest goes quiet and leaving poison rings, twisted trees and mistletoe behind. Cold-hearted, they seize trespassers to sacrifice to their high queen, sedating dangerous ones, and value potions and poisons far above gold. Active only in the growing season, they hibernate through winter. Their queen, Thornwither, the eldest and smartest, wields 7th-level druid power and rules by fear and blackmail.

They eat blood and bone and seldom breed; most are made by necromancy-dabbling druids or priests who toy with venom. Treants, druids and rangers hunt them, and only hook horrors will eat one past the first bite. They are friendly with korred, needlemen and evil myconids, and trade poisons to quicklings for weapons.