Carved from the very wood of the high peaks, the Barkborn are a paradox of rugged durability and ethereal beauty. They are reclusive warriors who view the act of consuming a plant as a form of kin-slaying, choosing instead to draw their vitality from the deep earth while they sleep. If you seek to play a spiritual powerhouse with skin like ironwood and a soul tied to the ancient groves of the world, the Orestian path is yours.

Barkborn Orestians possess features that are strikingly human in their symmetry and grace, often appearing as idealized statues carved from wood. Their skin is their most defining trait, textured and colored exactly like the bark of the tree species from which they were birthed, ranging from the papery white of a mountain birch to the rugged, blackened plates of an ancient pine. Despite their woody exterior, they move with a fluid, athletic grace. Their eyes often resemble polished semiprecious stones like amber, emerald, or tiger-eye, and their hair typically manifests as thick, fibrous strands or soft, vibrant moss.

Their culture is one of silent vigil and martial discipline. Barkborn live in small, reclusive groves located high above the clouds where the air is thin and the stars feel close. They consider themselves the immune system of the natural world, particularly the high-altitude biomes. Because they share a biological lineage with flora, they find the consumption of vegetables, fruits, or grains abhorrent, viewing it as a barbaric practice. Their social hierarchy is determined by the age and health of the 'Mother Tree' from which a settlement’s members emerged. They value beauty and strength in equal measure, often spending decades perfecting a single poem or a single sword technique.

Barkborn are intensely spiritual, though they rarely worship personalized deities. Instead, they revere the 'Great Pulse' of the world's Ley lines. Most tend toward Lawful Neutral or Neutral Good alignments, as they are bound by strict codes of conduct regarding their protection of the mountains. They believe that all life is a gift from the soil, and they are the chosen stewards who must return that gift through service.

Their dwellings are rarely built but rather grown. Using subtle primal magic, they coax living trees into shapes that provide shelter, creating interconnected canopy villages that hang over precipitous mountain drops. These homes are decorated with crystals and wind-chimes that catch the thin mountain air to produce a constant, low-frequency hum that aids in their communal rooting rituals.

They are wary of the shorter-lived species, particularly those who engage in logging or intensive farming. They hold a grudging respect for mountain-dwelling stone-kin and dwarves, as they share a love for the heights, though the Barkborn find the soot and smoke of smithing offensive to their sensitive lungs. To gain the trust of a Barkborn is a legendary feat that usually requires saving a sacred grove or showing an incredible act of floral preservation.