Humblewood

Humblewood is a third-party campaign setting for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, produced by the folks at The Deck of Many. Its big selling point is its focus on classical heroism in a world in chaos, its central theme revolving around the mystical associations of nature, and its use of beastfolk instead of demihumans.

Official Write-up

Humblewood is an exciting new Campaign Setting for 5th Edition that includes ten original player races, new monsters, magic items, and a compelling adventure for 1st to 5th level characters.

In the world of Everden, nestled between the mighty Crest mountain range and the vast marshes of the Mokk Fields, lies a mystical forest known as Humblewood that hums with the Great Rhythm of nature. It has been ruled for generations by the birdfolk who inhabit the Great Tree City of Alderheart. Humblewood has endured for centuries thanks to the industry and compassion of its people but now the fires have come, and the Woods have been thrown into chaos. Flames ravage the land and destroy the homes of the humblefolk, stoking a growing resentment against the birdfolk, whose cities have managed to avoid the worst of the fires so far. Hatred burns in the hearts of those who have lost lives they cherished, and these once peaceful peoples now take up the sword and turn to banditry. The disaffected turn their gaze on Alderheart, and threaten to reduce an age of peace to ashes. Yet there is still hope. Even in these dark times, brave heroes can be found within the Wood. Only they can quell the raging flames that have been unleashed upon the land, and restore balance to the realm.

Races

In Humblewood, races are divided into major groupings.

Firstly, and most iconically, there are the Birdfolk: a collective of anthropomorphic avians consisting of the Luma (Pigeons), Corvum (Crows/Ravens), Raptors (Hawks/Eagles), Gallus (Wildfowl) and Strig (Owls). These can be considered the most powerful of the races, as the largest (and only) city-state within Humblewood, the treetop city of Alderheart, was constructed by birdfolk and is predominantly inhabited by them. Birdfolk make up the Birdfolk Council of Alderheart, which is effectively the ruling body of Humblewood, politically speaking.

Secondly, there are the Humblefolk, based on assorted medium-to-small forest mammals: the Vulpins (Foxes), Mapach (Raccoons), Jerbeen (Jerboas/Kangaroo Mice), Hedge (Hedgehogs) and Cervans (Deer). These are not one race, but instead a collective of races whose former warring and banditry was brought to an end by peace treaties brokered by the birdfolk of Alderheart. Officially equals, in practice they are more a vassal race in collective, and ever since the flames scorched the Humblewood, old inequalities and resentments are starting to bubble to the surface.

Subclasses & Backgrounds

Three new subclasses are presented in Humblewood; the College of the Road is a jack-of-all-trades nomadic path for the Bard; the Cleric Domain's of Community and Night, and the Scofflaw, a Fighter archetype representing roguish warriors who live by the creed of "anything goes", and exploit all manner of dirty tricks to ensure that they come out of battles victorious.

The setting also features three new backgrounds; the Bandit Defector (a former member of the Bandit Coalition, turned rogue); the Grounded (a birdfolk who chose to live on the ground rather than in trees, giving them greater rapport with the humblefolk); and the Wind-Touched (a birdfolk believed to be marked for destiny by the spirits of the wind).

Religion

The birdfolk and humblefolk both worship a pantheon known as the Amaranthine, a collection of nature deities who each take responsibility for a specific aspect of nature. There are twelve Amaranthine in total; one spiritual patron for each of the beastfolk races of the setting, plus a duotheistic pair of pantheon leaders who, whilst depicted as birds, are regarded as above such a divide and thusly are connected to all races equally.

• Altus
• Ardea
• Cairith
• Clhuran
• Gaspard
• Gesme
• Hanera
• Hath
• Reya
• Henwin
• Kren
• Tyton

Gallery

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  They didn't blow their whole budget on the map