Homebrew Dryad Species Details

Dryads (pronounced: /ˈdraɪædz/ DRY-ædz) were fey-maidens who acted as the protectors of forests and trees. They were favored representatives of a great number of deities, such as Baervan Wildwanderer, Corellon Larethian, Eldath, Erevan Ilesere, Hanali Celanil, Mielikki, Rillifane Rallathil, Sharess, Sharindlar, Sheela Peryroyl, Silvanus, Solonor Thelandira, Sune and Thard Harr.

 “As beautiful and welcoming as a sunlit glade in high summer, as terrifying and deadly as a winter gale sweeping through a barren forest—that's a dryad. In the space of moments.”

— Galados of Celduilon

 Description: They appeared to be beautiful women with delicate features seemingly made of soft wood. Their hair seemed to be made of leaves and foliage that changed color with the seasons of the calendar. During the spring and summer months, the hair of a dryad was lush and green, while during autumn it turned red and eventually brown in the winter.

Dryads preferred to live away from civilization, delighting in the savage wilderness away from those that sought to cut their trees. They lived with respect to nature and accepted the company of those that did so as well. Attractive men who were fond of nature were often taken in by a dryad as both her mate and guardian.

Dryads were generally benign and attempted to warn off intruders. Only those who were particularly cruel and determined to destroy a dryad's forest saw the full wrath of these fey.

All dryads were magically bound to a single tree. These trees served as the dryad's life force and home. They fought to the death to protect their bonded tree, as should the tree be cut or destroyed, the dryad died soon afterward. A dryad could not stray too far from her bonded tree without suffering the same fate. If a dryad left the vicinity of her tree for too long, she died.

Along with other fey, dryads spoke Sylvan, Elven and Common.

 Dryad Names:

 Male Names: Adran, Aelar, Aramil, Arannis, Aust, Beiro, Berrian, Carric, Enialis, Erdan, Erevan, Galinndan, Hadarai, Heian, Himo, Immeral, Ivellios, Laucian, Mindartis, Paelias, Peren, Quarion, Riardon, Rolen, Soveliss, Thamior, Tharivol, Theren, Varis

 Female Names: Adrie, Althaea, Anastrianna, Andraste, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia, Jelenneth, Keyleth, Leshanna, Lia, Meriele, Mialee, Naivara, Quelenna, Quillathe, Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Silaqui, Theirastra, Thia, Vadania, Valanthe, Xanaphia

Dryad Traits

Your Dryad character has the following traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 1, and one other ability score of your choice increases by 2.

Age

Dryads reach physical maturity anywhere between 16 and 30 years, depending on the type of spirit tree they are bound to. A Dryad typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 40 and can live to be over 300 years old.

Alignment

Most Dryads take comfort in order and discipline as guardians of the forest, and tend towards law and neutrality. However, there is no shortage of Dryads whose wrath became known when their spiritual tree was threatened or at the desecration of their grove. 

Size

Dryads range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have an immense diversity of builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Dark Vision

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.

Fey

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic cannot put you to sleep.

Natural Armor

Due to your tree like composition and shape of your body, you are ill-suited to wearing armor. The integration of wood on your body provides ample protection, however; it gives you a base AC of 17 (your Dexterity modifier does not affect this number). You gain no benefit from wearing armor, but if you are using a shield, you can apply the shield's bonus as normal.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Languages

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