Homebrew Fae Dryad Species Details

Physical Description

Dryads are humanoids who live within the woods. They blend in with nature itself due to plant-like properties that grow out of their bodies, like twigs, grass hairs, bark skin, leaves, and even flowers. For the most part, dryads are almost exclusively female, though some may be androgynous, as they are merely spirits of nature in the end. Dryads embody the trees usually, but some are found in other plants like river reeds and flower bushes. They usually wear loose clothing made of plant material. Dryads are typically described as fleeting and beautiful.

History

Origins for dryads starts with the trees. Primal forces of nature within nature mature and form a humanoid form to protect and tend to the forests. These are the dryads. They are usually bound to the trees they inhabit as a result. Some dryads will even die if their home tree does. There are also stories of dryads born through the communion of nature gods, created to be attendants by Chauntea and such.

Society

As dryads are bound to their forests, they fear encroaching modernity from civilization. Usually, they live in the forests their whole lives, particularly for their tree's sake. Within these woods, they are usually frequented by travelers and other interlopers within the natural world. Many dryads host parties with fey entities like fairies, leprechauns, and boisterous satyrs. They otherwise live very simple lives, merely subsisting off the nature around them. Even the dryads who adventure, having been able to leave their forest, live sparsely. They feel uncomfortable in cities and will rarely indulge in excess.

Dryad Names

A dryad takes their name from something in nature or a name that relates to their home plants.

Male: Dryope, Erato, Eurydice, Balanos, Epimeliades, Igeiros, Olivis, Oake

Female: Chrysopeleia, Phigalia, Tithorea, Kraneia, Daphnaeae, Morea, Kissiae, Meliae

Fae Dryad Traits

Humanoids made of Wood. Guardians of the Forest. Watchers of Nature.

Ability Score Increase

Increase one ability score by 2 points and one score by 1 point.

Age

Dryads have life spans just as long as the eldest trees, living to be hundreds or even thousands of years old.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Plant

Your creature type is both fey and humanoid. Given that your physiology is primarily composed of plant matter, you are vulnerable to fire damage.

Darkvision

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 color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Woodland Magic

You know the druidcraft cantrip.

Starting at 3rd level, you can cast the entangle spell with this trait. Starting at 5th level, you can also cast the barkskin spell with this trait. Once you cast entangle or barkskin 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).

Bark Skin

Your base AC is 12 + your dexterity modifier when you you aren't wearing any armor, due to the thick bark that makes up your skin. Although , being made of plant matter does make you especially vulnerable to fire damage.

Fae Magic Resistance

You have advantage on charisma saving throws against spells and other magical affects.

Tree Strider

Once per day, you can use 10 feet of her movement to step magically into one living tree within her reach and emerge from a second living tree within 60 feet of the first tree, appearing in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the second tree. Both trees must be Large or bigger.

Speak with Beasts and Plants

You can communicate with beasts and plants as if you shared a language with them.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and Sylvan.