Verthod

By far the most populous of the tribes, the Verthod are what most people imagine when they speak of the Banyari. Wrapped in living leaves and vines, the Verthod would seem at first glance to be more plant than animal, although a closer inspection reveals that tell-tale mammalian face beneath the tree-like exterior and patchy fur. Their fingers are often hidden beneath the foliage trailing from their forearms, but make no mistake — they have fully functional hands under it all. The Verthod also have complete conscious control over their more plant-like appendages, moving them about like tentacles or prehensile tails. These vines, in every way that matters, are part of the living being.

At the heart of the Great Forest of Banyan lies the Hearthwood Tree of the Verthod. The trunk of this gargantuan elder of the forest is larger around at its base than even the Grand Council Chamber in Haark, with trailing vines and moss and enormous buttress roots. Entire ecosystems of countless tiny animals and plants thrive within its branches, and even some of the Verthod themselves have been known to sleep on the lower boughs, which extend almost horizontally from the impressive trunk.