Thanilvala are a race that were inspired by Wood-elves.

Origin:


Appearance:

A Thanilvalan is generally tall and thin, but strong. Their eyes are various shades of green, and their hair varies according to the species of tree they came from. Often, leaves grow in their hair, making it look messy when in reality they are just as much a part of their body as the hair. Their skin is tough, and usually darkly tanned, like a farmer's, but again it depends on the kind of tree they came from.

Diet:

The Thanilvalans are omnivorous, though they prefer vegetables and fruits. They can make a meal out of any plant as long as it is not poisonous, and their bodies, being so like plants themselves, are more resistant to plant-based poisons.

Skills:

Thanilvala are (can you guess?) masters of woodcraft.
The weapon most of them are proficient in is the bow. They make the bows and arrows themselves.
The Thanilvala still claim their powers over trees and plants, even though they are no longer attached to them.

Ask questions, please, I need to develop them more.

Considering that they carve and eat of plants, how do they feel about them?

Is it only trees and shrubs or are their grass people or mistletoe people as well?

Toward which temperament are they more prone?

Do they tend to house themselves and in what manner?

Do they hunt often, who are their natural enemies?

Plants are their creators, the givers of their life. They respectfully eat what they need, make what they need, etc. I'm thinking about making them worship plants as gods or something, but I haven't gotten that far yet in the story.

Every plant has a spirit, but only the stronger ones, such as trees, were able to detach themselves from their hosts thousands of years ago. The rest of them are dormant.

They're nice enough, happy, unless an outsider steps foot in their land. Then they're mean and angry.

Yes, in treehouse-esque things. Think Lothlorien, but more realistic-looking. Sort of like the Ewok village...

They do not hunt often, being that they prefer a life of vegetarianism. I haven't thought up any natural enemies for them yet, or decided whether they have any.

Thanks for the awesome questions! Got any more for me?

I'll let you know when I have more.

How do they build their homes: with what materials?

Considering that they come from plants, why would they not eat animals?
Also, since they originally came from plants, do they breathe carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen?
Can they convert light into energy (as plants can)?

Good questions, Strono!

I'm not sure yet if I'll make them able to still manipulate the trees to their will (and therefore make houses in them) or if they're just skilled carpenters and they have a network of wooden treehouses above the ground. A bit of both, perhaps.

They just tend not to like meat. It's not principle or anything, it's just their taste.

That's an interesting idea! I'll have to think on that. Probably yes.

Another interesting idea.
Probably a little bit (because there are leaves in their hair, and the green parts of a plant are what collect light for photosynthesis, if I remember correctly), but not nearly as well as if they were still total plants.
Thanks for the awesome questions!

If they are carpenters, would they cut down trees to use for materials? Or would they only use dead branches, which would make their homes more unsteady...

That makes sense in a way, but in another way it doesn't make sense. If they come from trees and plants, then why would they eat what they come from? Wouldn't it be more ethical to eat something that is completely unrelated to them? Sort of why vegetarians eat plants, because they don't wish to kill animals. In the same way, wouldn't the people wish to eat animals because they don't want to harm plants?

Also, ever heard of compost? Plants eat other plants. I'm just not making my Thanilvala eat rotten stuff.

And yes, they cut down trees when they have to, when they can't shape the tree into what they need by magic.

Okay, that makes sense!

Good, I was worried it wouldn't!

These guys are really neat! Are they war-inclined, or do they shy away from controversies?

They're very private. They keep to their forest and usually only socialize with their own race. They don't like to fight, but they will if they have to.

That's super creative, Short. I really like these beings.

Do they require sleep, or are they impossible to fatigue?

If they fought, what types of weapons would they use?

What is their speech like?

Thanks, Tarzan!

They require about as much sleep as humans, though they can go longer without it, if they need to.

Bows, staves, hammers, slingshots. There aren't many swordsmen.

I'm contemplating creating a language for them... but I'm not sure. I haven't written them yet, and usually a character's speech patterns and way of talking come up as I'm writing them.

I like how your imagination works.


That makes sense.


That makes sense.

As a matter of interest, do they fear fire? Being descended from trees, that seems to be a valid concern for them. So that begs the question, when they do eat meat, and if they don't like fires, how do they cook it? Do they eat everything raw?

Ooh, that's a good one. Hmm...
I don't think they'd be afraid of fire per se, just extra cautious around it.

The Thanivalians sound kind of like Indians, only different. I like your idea Twin. I have a few questions about them.
Do they have any special healing powers or powers at all?
Are they naturally good climbers?
Does each Thanivalian's personality resemble its species of tree at all?
Are they born with special knowledge of plants, or is that something they learn?