Homebrew Dryad Species Details

Originally of the Feywild, dryads are trees given humanoid bodies and sentience--either as a blessing, or a curse. Their new bodies retain some elements of their arboreal form--skin resembling wood, branchlikes horns and antlers rising from their heads, sap and nectar flowing through their bodies rather than blood. They are usually given a purpose with their existence, and use that purpose to drive their new life forward.

Creating Your Character

Ability Score Increases

When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. Follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. You can follow those suggestions or ignore them, but you can’t raise any of your scores above 20.

Languages

You know Sylvan as well as Common.

Creature Type

You are a fey.

 

Dryad Traits

As a dryad, you have the following additional features.

Ability Score Increase

One of your ability scores increases by two, and another increases by one. Alternatively, three different scores increase by one.

Arboreal Arcana

You know the druidcraft cantrip.

Starting at 3rd level, you can cast the speak with animals spell with this trait. Starting at 5th level, you can also cast the spike growth spell with this trait. Once you cast speak with animals or spike growth with this trait, you can’t cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast either of those spells using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level.

Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells when you cast them with this trait (choose when you select this race).

Natural Connection

You are proficient in the nature and medicine skills.

Fey Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the charmed condition on yourself.