Environment

Special abilities

Normal sight 20 | Dark vision 10 | Aura vision 3

At first glance dryads are indistinguishable from human or elven women. They tend to be rather small, of lithe build, with long hair; their eyes are like shining emeralds and their voice like the babbling of a brook. Because they never leave the forest, few notice that their skin has a greenish tinge, which fades away in the forest twilight. They do not smell of sweat like a human, but of crushed oak leaves.

They are shy forest beings. They are closest to druids, but they are bound to the forest even more closely: they are not merely its guardians, but a direct part of it. Only girls are born into their community, and to continue their line they seek out, at the right time, human or elven men, most often druids or forest dwellers.

The life of every dryad is firmly bound to her tree, usually an oak, a beech or a maple. The tree sprouts on the day the dryad is born and perishes together with her.

Dryads live in a loose community led by their queen. Their trees usually grow close together and form a sacred grove. The dryads' mission is to protect the forest, and this grove in particular. In peaceful times they warn intruders and try to drive them out of the forest, but if they have no choice, they are merciless. When the good of the forest or a good cause is at stake, they can even be helpful to strangers.

Combat

Dryads are skilled archers whose arrows rarely miss. They sneak and hide perfectly in the forest, so no one can hide from them in it, and they themselves attack from cover. They also command simple nature magic.