Homebrew Dryad Species Details
In my youth, you could always find a tree sprite in the Realms if you knew where to look…
Forest Nymphs
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.
Old as the oak
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.
Nature-Bound
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.home.
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
Dryad Traits
Your firbolg character has the following racial traits.Ability Score Increase
Your Wisdom score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.
Age
Your lifecycle is often parallel to that of your tree species or even a specific specimen you attach yourself to. Thus, a dryad may reach adulthood anywhere between 15-80 years. Some have been known to live several millennia.
Size
Depending on your age and species of tree, you are between 5-8 feet tall and weigh between 300 and 500 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Barkskin
You have a naturally occurring tough skin covering you from head to toe. When unarmored, your Armor Class is equal to 12 + your Dexterity modifier.
Dryad Magic
You can cast druidcraft
and thorn whip with this trait, using Wisdom as your spellcasting ability for them.Tree Stride
Once per short rest, a dryad can use 10 ft. of their movement to step magically into one living tree of the same species within their reach and emerge from a second living tree of the same species within 600 ft. of the first tree, appearing in an unoccupied space within 5 ft. of the second tree. Both trees must be large or bigger.
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.
Forest Blend
You have advantage on Stealth checks made to hide among foliage, trees and other plant life.
Speech of Beast and Leaf
You have the ability to communicate in a limited manner with beasts and plants. They can understand the meaning of your words, though you have no special ability to understand them in return. You have advantage on all Charisma checks you make to influence them.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and Sylvan.
Comments