Dryad

Dryads are immortal forest beings shrouded in mystery. Some tales say they can simply slip inside of a tree using magic. They are, in fact, a race of aloof, magical, female creatures that can shapeshift from a tree to an elven form at will. It is rumored that dryads are a primordial race of elves, the elves that were created even before the ljosalfar.

Appearance

Dryads vary widely in appearance based on their particular tree. However, in general, they can transform between tree and elf forms at will. Their humanoid forms are very elven in appearance, with pointed ears and strikingly beautiful features. Their hair colors may range anywhere from green to white to a more ordinary color, depending on their race. Their eyes are always greenish, though shades vary wildly. All dryads are female.

Culture

By and large, dryad culture is unknown, if it even exists at all as a "culture," per se. Dryads worship no particular god or goddess, instead befriending those who love nature. Artemis in particular, an Olympian goddess, is known for the train of dryads who wait on her. Achaeans often refer to elves as nymphs, but occasionally they use this term interchangeably for dryads as well.

Abilities

Dryads lead mostly solitary lives among the oldest trees, though a few may form small communities, but they never construct any form of buildings. Living like plants, they harm no living creature, neither flora nor fauna. They can speak to all the spirits of nature, including animals, and they can transform into trees to varying degrees, able to grow bark-like skin and long, branch-like fingers, or simply turn completely into a tree. Other stories claim they can also transform into animals, but these stories are untrue. They are born proficient in some spiritual magic, though what exactly they can do with their magic remains largely unknown.

Races

For a list of dryad races, see Category:Dryads.