Homebrew Dryad Species Details

 

"The operation was a success...er, it was anyway, till we reached a certain area of the woods. All our axes were destroyed and some of my men had vines go places where the sun don't shine. You'll either have to get someone else to get lumber for your village for pay a hell of a lot more." -- Ggerik Slog, Head of Slog Lumberyard

Travellers entering a forest might catch a glimpse of a feminine form flittering through the trees. Warm laughter hangs on the air, drawing those who hear it deeper into the woods. Those who seek to harvest the forest for resources will face the anger of mother nature, while those who seek safe passage will be allowed through.

Treebound

Powerful fey will sometimes bind lesser fey spirits to trees, transforming them into dryads. This is sometimes done as a punishment when a fey spirit falls in love with a mortal, which is forbidden by both the Seelie Court and Unseelie Court. A dryad can emerge from the tee and travel the lands around it, but the tree remains its home and the roots its world. As long as the tree remains healthy and unharmed, the dryad stays forever youthful and alluring. If the tree is harmed, it suffers. If the tree is ever destroyed, the dryad descends into madness. On a very rare occasion, a dryad may leave the forest they live in to defend its home, knowing if they do not act they will be powerless to stop something that plans to destroy it, and its tree.

Reclusive Fey

Dryads act as guardians of their woodland demesnes. Shy and reclusive, they watch interlopers from trees. A dryad stuck 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. 

Woodland Magic

Dryads can speak with plants and animals. They can teleport from one tree to another, luring interlopers away from groves. If pressed, a dryad can beguile humanoids with their enchantments, turning enemies into friends. They also know a handful of useful spells. 

Dryad Names

Dryads do not have conventional names or anything that most would call a name. They usually go by a sound in nature, or the name of the forest they live in. Sometimes when required for a name, they will give the name of the type of tree they are connected to.

Dryad Traits

Your Dryad character has a number of traits in common with all other Dryads.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom increases by 2, and your Charisma by 1.

Age

Dryads do not age in the typical sense. Their life span is tied to the tree they are connected to, and while they can outlive the tree if it is destroyed they are often killed soon after in their self-destructive vengeance.

Alignment

Dryads care only to protect the forest they grow in giving them a neutral stance on most things. Thye do not lean towards good or evil, only obeying the laws of nature

Size

Dryads stand a little taller than humans, though a little leaner, at about 6 feet to 7 feet. They are surprisingly light compared to their size, being about 90 to 110 pounds. Your size is medium.

Darkvision

Used to the natural world and its cycles, you can see in the night just as well as in the day. You can see up to 60 feet in the non magical dark or dim light.

Nature's Conduit

You know the Druidcraft cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast Entangle 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 Barkskin 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.

Magic Resistance

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

Tree Stride

Once per short or long rest, you can step magically into one living tree within your reach and emerge from a second 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.

Symbiotic Relationship

You do not require to sleep, rest, eat, or drink as long as you spend 4 hours meditating, spiritually reconnecting to your tree.

Languages

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