Homebrew Dryad Species Details
Formed when a fey spirit is bound to a tree, a Dryad is the result. A being bound to the tree itself as well as the forest around it. This happens for many reasons: A forbidden love tryst between a fey and mortal, a reward for great service upon request. Only the Dryad themselves may know the truth of it. The resulting creature appears female and elven, but may have many other exotic traits revealing their tree spirit nature: Green, brown, or golden skin, leaves or roots for hair, eyes the color of acorns or fireflies.
Their warm laughter and captivating song echoes through the woodland realms, rich and enticing, yet rare and elusive. Despite their alluring appearance, they are shy creatures, leading few mortals to ever glimpse one — except for the druids, with whom they share the duty of forest guardianship. Those who do see one do so mostly from afar, stealing a mere glance from the corner of their eye of a lithe beauty flitting between the trees. A lucky, handsome mortal may be fortunate enough to be approached by one, for a dryad is a curious creature, at the peril of the dryad bewitching them with a fey spell. Few Dryad leave their groves, but the ones that do often have a purpose.
Despite having a bond with a tree there is no limit to how far a Dryad may roam, so long as their tree remains healthy they may go where they please. Dryads cannot sense what is happening around their tree but are always aware of it's general wellbeing.
Dryad Traits
Dryads have specific traits relating to their fey and tree natures.Ability Score Increase
Dryads increase three of their traits by +1.
Age
A dryad's spirit is bound to a tree. They remain young and alluring as long as the tree is healthy. If the tree is ever killed or destroyed, a dryad can live on in a wilting, maddened state for roughly a year before dying. If a powerful fey or druid binds their spirit to a new tree, both their mind and their captivating beauty is restored.
Alignment
Dryads are most often neutral, with their main focus on tending to nature around them. Dryads working in union with other forest creatures in some form of alliance may tend toward lawfulness. Those deeply isolated in wild, untamed lands may be chaotic.
Size
Dryads are between 4 and a half and 6 feet tall. Your size is medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
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.
Verdant Voice
You can communicate with beasts and plants as if you shared a language.
Fey Nature
You are a Fey and a Plant. You have advantage on saving throws against spells that specifically target plants.
Tree Spirit Magic
You know the druidcraft cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the charm person spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the barkskin spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Tree Stride
Once on your turn, you can use 15 feet of your movement to step magically into one living tree within 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. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency modifier, and regain it after a short or long rest.
Treebound Armor
Your spirit is magically bound to a tree, imbuing you with several tree-like aspects, including their durability. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish and Sylvan.
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