Dryad

A dryad is a tree nymph or tree spirit in Greek mythology. Drys signifies "oak" in Greek, and dryads are specifically the nymphs of oak trees, but the term has come to be used for all tree nymphs in general. They were normally considered to be very shy creatures except around the goddess Artemis, who was known to be a friend to most nymphs.
Dryads, like all nymphs, were supernaturally long-lived and tied to their homes, Dryads are an integral part of their trees, such that if the tree dies, the Dryad associated with it dies as well. For these reasons, Dryads and the Greek gods punished any mortals who harmed trees without first propitiating the tree-nymph associated with Oak trees.
Dryads are noted as being shallow. Like most of the more spirit like nymphs (not Fauns) they are not creatures of deep emotion or thought. They breeze by existence without care. They exult in neither great joy or crushing sorrow. Some have claimed this detachment is what allows them to live so long. The effect is you are never going to get a deep meaningful conversation out of them.
Dryads are fed by their tree. They do not possess normal appetites, except for sex. They do have an appetite for sex. And that leads to the main problem with Dryads. If they find a pretty boy they like, they will steal him, and keep him. They do not recognize Human needs, so said young man will wither way, stave to death, in perfect bliss. The Dryads never seem to grasp why.
Scholars from Greyhawke are divided as to whether Dryads are truly people or lessor fey creature driven solely by their natures. Some have a glimmer of a spark, the very old that have much society with mortals.
Category:Creatures
Category:Supernatural
Category:Greyhawke