Homebrew Dryad Species Details

AN: This is a straight up, stepped out of the forest and starting taking class levels dryad. For obvious reasons, it is nothing resembling a balanced race. Our table just happens to be one of players who enjoy trying out experiments like this and are character oriented enough to not abuse the power. For anyone wanting to give this creature a run as-is, I have done the work for you. :)

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Leering with hungry eyes, snarling, and struggling against their restraints, a trio of chained wolves stood between the party and their only way forward. Without a second thought Quail began the incantation for his favorite fire spell. Only seconds before he could incinerate the beasts wholesale, the new girl Lucia blocked his line of sight. Speaking in tongues even their druid couldn't comprehend, she strode forward while the wolves replied in quiet yips. Soon they were munching happily on berries she'd pulled from nowhere, nuzzling and coddling as their emaciated bodies took on new vitality.

"Poor things, they were starving! Help me get these chains off, we have to take them with us!"

Quail smiled mirthfully toward his companions. One less obstacle and some new pets to show for it? It was obvious this "elf" girl was more than she let on, but at least she carried her weight...

 

Shrouded In Myth

Throughout history, the known "facts" on what exactly dryads are have seen many revisions, as have where they came from, and what (if any) purpose they serve in the world. Stories tell of alluring spirits not above tempting hapless men into amorous slavery. Later tales speak of hideous tree-like beings that would happily pound interlopers into gory paste. Burnished skin like bark, or the pale flesh of elves. Each new report seems to conflict the last.

Most scholars do agree that dryads are a type of universally female fey sprite, closely related to the trees they live with. Some older reports even concluded the dryad was fully bound to a tree and would wither away if she wandered too far, though recent studies claim the dryad's bonds are nothing more than preference and they are perfectly capable of traveling about.

Dulcet But Dangerous

Since the most agreed upon image of dryads is that of a flighty, delicate creature, it comes as no surprise they must face periodic incursions from more savage forest dwellers and less scrupulous members of civilized society. How could such a being hope to survive? Most scholars believe dryads possess several supernatural abilities not unlike the spells of Druid orders. Although not enough to pose a significant physical threat, they do enable the dryad to vanish from sight or assemble a fierce menagerie in a moment's notice. Should that fail, the dryad may resort to her most dangerous weapon - a powerful magic charm she can impose on man or beast at will. No doubt, many would be assailants instead found themselves taking up arms for the dryad's cause.

Keep to Themselves

All the talk of what a dryad might do when angered assumes the dryad wants any conflict at all. Despite some of the more aggrandized tales, most known encounters are that of a benign, intelligent creature who wishes nothing more than to be and let be. This desire for anonymity is probably aided somewhat by the existence of far more legendary fey such as satyr and nymphs. Dryads may occasionally assist travelers, but a dryad taking up the adventurer's life herself is all but unheard of. Whether this is due to any real physiological limitations, the dryad's natural proclivities, or just sheer happenstance is anyone’s guess.

As they are creatures of nature, most Dryads maintain at least some level of neutrality, though due to their nurturing instincts, the majority tend toward good. Evil dryads are unknown, but if such a thing exists it could be a terrifying prospect.

Dryad Adventurers

Dryads might not be inclined to leave the woods, but there's nothing stopping them from doing so. An adventuring dryad could be motivated by all the same reasons that drive any other race. She might have encountered adventures who sparked her interest in the outside world. She may have discovered some looming threat to her home and decided to go forth and meet it head on. Perhaps some threat has come and gone already, leaving her with no home to care for. She could even be seeking power unto itself, not wishing to be a victim in waiting when the occasional ne'er-do-well comes calling.

Dryad Traits

A dryad possess the following traits.

Ability Score Increase

Dryads are elusive, alluring, and highly attuned to the natural world. Your Dexterity and Wisdom scores increase by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 4.

Innate Spellcasting

Like your fey kin, you are gifted with ties to mystic ley lines of the natural world, allowing you to manifest one of several spell effects with force of will alone. Your innate spellcasting ability is Charisma. You can innately cast the following Spells, requiring no material components:

At will: Druidcraft
3/day each: Entangle, Goodberry
1/day each: Barkskin, Pass without Trace, Shillelagh

Magic Resistance

You owe your very existence to a touch of magic, and are thus intimately familiar with the ebb and flow of magical energy. You have advantage on saving throws against Spells and other magical effects.

Speak With Beasts and Plants

Infused with the very essence of nature's wilder things, you live in a world of thoughts, feelings, and voices completely alien to most humanoids. You can communicate with Beasts and Plants as if they shared a Language.

Tree Stride

Many claim to be a part of the woods, but for you, such a statement is nothing short of physical truth. With only a touch, your body melds into a nearby tree's comforting embrace, transporting through root and bramble to a more advantageous position.

Once on your turn, you can use 10 ft. of your Movement to step magically into one living tree within your reach and emerge from a second living tree within 60 ft. of the first tree, appearing in an unoccupied space within 5 ft. of the second tree. Both trees must be large or bigger.

Fey Charm

Occasionally a comely appearance and feminine wiles aren't enough to sway others, but your allure transcends physical beauty and spoken words. When called for, you extend forth a gentle touch into the very hearts of others, making their favor yours to keep.

As an action, you may target one humanoid or beast that you can see within 30 feet. If the target can see you, it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be magically Charmed. The Charmed creature regards you as a trusted friend to be heeded and protected. Although the target isn't under your control, it takes your requests or actions in the most favorable way it can.

Each time you or your allies do anything harmful to the target, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success. Otherwise, the effect lasts 24 hours or until you die, are on a different plane of existence from the target, or end the effect as a Bonus Action. If a target's saving throw is successful, the target is immune to your Fey Charm for the next 24 hours.

You can have no more than one humanoid and up to three Beasts Charmed at a time.

Darkvision

Accustomed to life in the perpetual twilight of a lush forest canopy, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet 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.

Elusive Guardian

Nearly always facing threats from the outside world, dryads are naturally surreptitious, alert, and nearly always surrounded by animal guardians. You are proficient in Perception Skill, Animal Handling Skill, and have expertise in the Stealth Skill.

Languages

Elvish, Sylvan