Homebrew Dryad Species Details

Travelers entering a forest might catch a glimpse of a feminine form flitting through the trees. Warm laughter hangs on the air, drawing those who hear it deeper into the emerald shadows.

Treebound. Powerful fey will sometimes bind lesser fey spirits to trees, transforming them into dryads. This is sometimes done as a punishment when the fey spirit falls in love with a mortal and that love is forbidden.

A dryad can emerge from the tree and travel the lands around it, but the tree remains her home and roots her to the world. As long as the tree remains healthy and unharmed, the dryad stays forever youthful and alluring. If the tree is harmed, she suffers. If the tree is ever destroyed, the dryad descends into madness.

Reclusive Fey. Dryads act as guardians of their woodland demesnes. Shy and reclusive, they watch interlopers from the trees. A dryad struck by the beauty of a stranger might investigate more closely, perhaps even try to lure the individual away to be charmed.

Dryads work with other sylvan creatures to defend their forests. Unicorns, treants, and satyrs live alongside them, in addition to druids that share the dryads' devotion to the woods they call home.

Dryad Traits

As a dryad, you have the following racial traits.

Creature Type

You are a Fey.

Size

You are Medium or Small. You choose the size when you select this race.

Forest Blend

You have advantage on Stealth checks made to hide among foliage, trees and other plant life.

Speed

Your walking speed is 30 feet.

Photosynthesis

While in an area of bright light, you can use a bonus action to regain a number of hit points equal to 1d10 plus your constitution modifier. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and regain all expended uses on a long rest.

Barkskin

While not wearing armor, you armor class is equal to 12 + your dexterity modifier.

Spirit of Nature

You know the speak with plants spell and can cast it at will.

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