Arboreal Shepherd
CREATURE 5Shepherds develop an eccentric fascination with local fauna. These shepherds eagerly bear fruit to feed their friends, provide roosts for bats, and invite beasts to gnaw nesting niches directly into their trunks.
An arboreal's abilities gradually change as it grows, explores, and fulfills its forest's needs. After decades of life as an unremarkable tree, an arboreal sapling uproots itself to discover its greater purpose, often guided by elders.
Occult Nutrients
While drawing water, nutrients, and trace primal energy from the soil, an arboreal sometimes absorbs psychic impressions that shape its growth. Taking root in haunted landscapes or abandoned fairgrounds can result in truly sinister or frolicsome arboreals.
A constant spell affects the monster without the monster needing to cast it, and its duration is unlimited. If a constant spell gets counteracted, the monster can reactivate it by spending the normal spellcasting actions the spell requires.
An arboreal shepherd takes 5 additional damage from axes.
The arboreal shepherd encourages its friends to overcome titanic odds. For 1 round, allies with the animal trait in a 50-foot radius gain a +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saving throws. If the animals have the swarm trait, the saving throw DCs to resist their damaging actions gain a +1 status bonus. This bonus increases to +2 for allies whose level is 2 or lower.
Effect: Exalt the Little Ones