After losing a number of friends to an evil cult, Young Nailbark was laid up for a time, both healing and waiting for better armor, planning a rescue attempt once he was returned to full strength.  The chance never came, but for the best of reasons.  A group of adventurers from the Prime Material happened upon the cultists holding friends and family hostage, and freed them.

Such a debt should be repaid.


His name is both inhereted and quite literal, the heads of iron nails visible amidst the crags of his bark, making decorative patterns in much the same way fleshier races might use needles and ink.  Elder Nailbark gains more use of his, the iron tattoos enchanted in various ways, but Young Nailbark hasn't yet gotten such magics added.

Aside from the nails, his 'flesh' is that of a live oak, already somewhat gnarled in places, particularly around a scar on his right leg where it appears a lumberjack once took an axe to him.  And indeed, that's precisely what happened many years ago.