The Cucurbita Regrow, and Smell Like Autumn Itself

The worlds of fantasy RPGs can be populated by things that defy imagination. That's what draws people to playing them year after year. The beings of myth, and the wild creation of game masters the worlds over mean that anyone can embody anything.

We've seen one other race entry for your 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons games. The mysterious Selkies of Celtic Myth populate the shy, coastal towns of many worlds. Hidden, reclusive, and well in tune with the ebb and flow of the world and its waterways. Their shape changing nature means they can walk fairly freely. Some people may draw more curiosity, such as the satyr and centaur. Then come the truly bizarre. There have been plant-like people in past editions of this game, but none quite as visually striking as The Cucurbita.

The Cucurbita

There's an insidious look to the Cucurbita; a remnant from the lands of the faeries, that have somehow trickled down our world through unknowable doors and gates.

Their form is striking, and it immediately makes their form very obviously not quite like you, I, or most who walk the worlds of fantasy fiction. Their bodies are made of woven plant fibres. They stand up with vines that cascade down from their immense heads into the usual humanoid shapes. Strong plant matter, resembling wood naturally grows around these vines to form plant bones.

Pumpkin Head Jack by Jarrett Moore

The striking part, which makes the Cucurbita recognisable, is the head. Immense, orange pumpkins sit on the shoulders of these beings. Natural sections in the skin depress into the fruit as the Cucurbita grows making uneven shapes for eyes, nose, and an elongated shape for the mouth. For many cultures on many worlds, the carved face in a pumpkin is a figure of fear on certain days of celebration. This may be where that tradition originated – and some Cucurbita appreciate the representation, while others are horrified by the wanton cutting of fruit for just one day.

The noteworthy thing about Cucurbita is the immense growth afforded by their plant existence. Their resilience is unparalleled by most other living peoples. Death for a plant is very different for an animal, because a part of their living (but not thinking or conscious) essence is still there in the limb of the tree.

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 2 and any score other than Constitution increases by one.

Age. Cucurbita mature within one week of their first planting. They naturally live to roughly twenty years, beginning to wilt and wither at the 15/16 year mark.

Alignment. Recognising their short lifespan and the repetitive nature of their regrowth keeps them fickle and chaotic. They can easily flit between the Good and Evil alignments, as is their want.

Size. The Cucurbita can grow to heights between three and six feet, but never exceed more than 100lbs. Your size is medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Skill Versatility. You have proficiency in one skill of your choice.

Regrowth. If the Cucurbita dies, that's not the end. When they die, if their body is not destroyed, the pumpkin head breaks letting out 1d4 seeds. If the seed is planted within 24 hours, the Cucurbita will regrow in a number of days equal to 5 minus your Constitution Modifier. You regrow with your abilities intact and the memories up to and including the moment of your death.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write common, and another language of your choice.

The Pumpkins Patched

With these strange plants wandering around the worlds, we want to hear from you. Would you bring Cucurbita into the worlds you GM? Would races with their origins in odd things like plants or the elements be worth exploring? Let us know on our discord server or down in the comments below.

Adam Ray contributes much for adventurers here on Apotheosis Studios. As co-founder of fantasticuniverses.com , he writes about card gaming and PC gaming to a corner of the internet he carved out himself. On Youtube, he can be found game mastering for No Ordinary Heroes, or editing the antics on The Hostile Atmosphere. Follow his Twitter @IzzetTinkerer.