Homebrew Walking Dryad Species Details

 One with nature

  Dryads are exceptionally beautiful, although traditionally they are depicted as women this doesn't have to be the case. Many Dryads follow in their bound trees footsteps, not having any gender, after all, what use if gender to a fey bound to a tree? Appearance wise dryads have green skin, with long dark hair, often with different plant matter and foliage growing in it (such as flowers, moss or leaves). It is said their hair changes hues with the seasons, taking on greener tones in spring, yellow tones in summer, orange in autumn and blue in winter. They are seen wearing dresses made of plant matter but this doesn't always have to be the case, very rarely they could also have simple clothes. 

  Dryads typically do not lay in favour of good nor evil typically preferring neutral. They have one purpose, to guard their part of the woodlands and so will defend it if anything happens but shall not go out of their way to protect others from what they deem "natural" events (though what they call this down is down to the particular Dryad). In a few cases, you shall get Dryads leaning towards one alignment, that can be dictated on the type of tree they are bound to, what they have experienced and the people they have met. (Dryads though generally hide away from others, they do have interactions with druids). Varying alignments are most common with the Walking Dryads as they are exposed to many more aspects of life.

Shy but proud

  Unlike their unmoveable kin who prefer to hide, Walking Dryads don't mind showing themselves when out travelling, favouring to express who they are, aiming to educate others about the forest and gathering knowledge to help keep the forests safe. That being said Walking Dryads do not typically like built-up areas like cities, as although they have their tree on them, being away from nature be it trees, shrubary or meadows, makes them feel unsafe and makes their longing for the forests ever stronger.

Names

Some dryads keep their mortal name, though few remember it. Many get given Sylvan or Fey names either by those who bound them to their tree, or the druids in their area.

Sylvan names: Ruvaen, Iliphar, Isarrel, Kymil, Malon, Ivasaar

Fey names: Ceanag, Dolidh, Muireall, Una, Sorcha

Walking Dryad Traits

Beautiful but ever mysterious the Dryad watches over their tree and woodland keeping it safe.

Ablility Score Increase

Your Dexterity increases by 2 and your Wisdom by 1

Age

Walking Dryads and Dryads, in general, live as long as their tree does, they can be centuries old or only 1 or 2. They do not have an age at which they reach maturity, instead they stay at the age they are once soul bound to the tree. This is generally at the age their first race reaches maturity as it is rare for anyone younger to warrant such punishment.

Size

Dryads are medium, with their height ranging from 4' - 6', they generally tend to be on the lighter side being 100-190Ibs 

Alignment

Walking Dryads are typically neutral, tending towards chaotic, but can easily be  true neutral or lawful.

Darkvision

Used to life in a sheltered dense forest where you can spend long periods with minimal light, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern colour in darkness, only shades of grey.

Speak with Beasts and Plants

Due to your life in the forests and connection to your tree spirit, you are able to talk to beasts and plants as long as a language is shared.

Fey Nature

When consdiering the effects of spells and traits your are considered as Fey.

Nature in you Blood

You can use the druidcraft cantrip. When you reach 3rd level you can cast faerie fire. At 5th level you learn either spike growth and pass without a trace which you can use once per short rest.  Wisdom is your spellcasting ablility for these spells. You also get proficiency on nature checks

 

Fey Ancestory

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put you to sleep.

Sleep

Walking Drayds do not require sleep, much like their Fey ancestors, they enter a meditative state for 4 hours, you are aware of your surroundings. In this state you become one with the ground, even in some cases having roots growing from your body connecting you to the nature around you, becoming almost tree-like. 

Natural Armour

Due to your link to your tree spirit you have a natural armour, which is 11 + your Dexterity modifier. When wearing your natural armour you still gain normal benefits of a shield.

Language

You can speak, read and write Common and Sylvan