Twig blights were small blights, bloodthirsty plant creatures spawned by Gulthias trees.[4][3]
Description[]
Twig blights were the smallest type of blights, resembling humanoid, leafless shrubs, complete with limbs and a head. They could root themselves in soil, becoming indistinguishable from regular, dead shrubs. Groups of rooted twig blights could resemble piles of firewood or debris. Twig blights were very dry, causing them to be especially susceptible to fire.[1]
They could see up to 60 feet (18.2 meters) in front of them, but were blind to anything beyond that radius.[1]
Behavior[]
Although twig blights were independent creatures, most of them were directly controlled by a Gulthias tree.[4]
Twig blights could subsist by drawing nutrients from the ground through their roots, but vastly preferred to feast on blood.[3]
When unable to find living prey, twig blights often sought out watering holes and campsites, taking root and disguising themselves as shrubs to ambush potential victims.[1][3]
Combat[]
Twig blights generally fought by raking opponents with treelike claws.[1]
Ecology[]
As with other blights, twig blights were created by Gulthias trees, a type of malevolent tree created when a plant became contaminated by an evil mind. As the roots of a Gulthias tree spread, it infested surrounding plants and trees, either killing them or turning them into blights. These blights further spread the influence of the Gulthias tree, removing competing flora and replacing it with brambles, toxic plants, and other blights. Blight infestations could spread very rapidly, taking over large swaths of forest, and swallowing up roads, buildings, or entire villages in the space of days.[4]
Unlike many normal plants, twig blights reproduced through their root systems rather than through producing fruit.[3]
Rumors & Legends[]
According to legend, the very first blights were spawned from the stake that pierced the heart of the dread vampire Gulthias of Nightfang Spire. The stake grew to become the first Gulthias tree sapling, watched over and cared for by a mad druid.[4]
Some nature spirits that could form bonds with rangers took on the form of miniature twig blights.[5]
History[]
The Talontar blightlord Anammelech and the Rotting Man counted twig blights in their forces as of 1373 DR.[6]
As of the late 15th century DR, twig blights were present in Neverwinter Wood and would sometimes accompany parties of eladrin out of New Sharandar.[7]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Video Games
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Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 32. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Matt James, Sterling Hershey, Steve Townshend (December 2011). Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 109. ISBN 978-0-7869-5838-2.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Ed Bonny, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Skip Williams, and Steve Winter (September 2002). Monster Manual II 3rd edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 197. ISBN 07-8692-873-5.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 31. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ Jeremy Crawford (November 17, 2020). Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 60. ISBN 978-0786967025.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell (July 2004). Lady of Poison. (Wizards of the Coast), chaps. 15, 29, pp. 147, 274. ISBN 978-0786931613.
- ↑ Matt Sernett, Erik Scott de Bie, Ari Marmell (August 2011). Neverwinter Campaign Setting. Edited by Tanis O'Connor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 126. ISBN 0-7869-5814-6.