Half-dryad

ON HALF-DRAYDS

"We had more in common than she'd like to admit, that's for sure! Pity she didn't see it that way!"-Tupperpal-Songtrance, piper bard and notorious womanizer, shortly after being slapped by an unappreciative half-dryad.

"She told us not to cut down that tree, said her mum lived in it. The tears she tried we're pure as rainwater. Anyways, we boys were so moved we cut somewhere else. Damnedest thing."- Franz, human woodcutter, explaining to his boss why his team changed directions during the shift.

"The green hair made it plain, she was tress blessed, daughter of the dryads. I knew this druidic circle was one not to be taken lightly."-A recovered field report from Vunkul, hobgoblin commander, shortly before his company vanished into the forest.

"Careful what you say in the forest! The trees have ears!"- Vlavith, katane rogue, not incorrect.

Drayds are beautiful, carefree fey spirits resembling women who dwell in the ancient forests of Apia, bound to a singular tree that serves as their home and their shelter. They enjoy the company of animals, nature and other fey creatures who dwell in the woods around them. If sentient beings cross through their woods, without malice in their hearts, dryads let them pass. If these sentient beings include a few handsome men in the party...perhaps they might be, persuaded to remain? Dryads are found of collecting those they find attractive, typically with the use of charm magic though this isn't always necessary given the beauty of a dryad, and they'll frolic with them until they grow bored or tragedy strikes. While dryads and other fey produce dryads, dryads and men from human, elf or other races, usually produce a half-dryad. Dryads delight in their daughters and happily raise them as best they can. Still, half-dryads are not bound to a solitary tree as their mothers are and, when they come of age, typically develop a wanderlust that drives them out into the wider world, to seek adventure and excitement.

Appearance: Half-dryads take much of their appearance from their mother, resembling elf or human women of great beauty, though the traits of the father are there as well, for instance a half-dryad with an orcish father will likely have small tusks. Their ears are distinctly pointed, and their brows are notably slanted. They have eyes that are a deep, rustic color and skin that can have a soft brown or green tinge to it. The hair of a half-dryad is long and free, sometimes blowing even if there is no breeze about. Some have hair that is green or autumn red in color but this isn't guaranteed. In a similar way, many have hair that changes with the seasons, going yellow in spring, green in summer, orange in fall and white in winter but again, not always. Many decorate themselves with tattoos that resemble bark, leaves or vines, to more attune themselves with the nature they feel is a part of them. Most wear simple clothing, made from natural ingredients, shunning metal armor as unnatural; often they decorate their hair with flowers or feathers. Some also abstain from eating meat or using animal skins for clothing but not all do, nature involves death after all, even the dryads know this.

History: Half-dryads, while more common than half-nymphs, are still not a common sight across Apia. Historically, they have always appeared on the side of good when needed, joining their fey counterparts in preserving the world around them. As enemies of the aberrations who ruled for millennia, dryads and their daughters grew quite good at waging war against the beholders and their spawn and it is said that a mighty contingent of forest spirits marched with Latrell during his rebellion against them, including fauns, satyrs, treants, dryads and a company of half-dryad bladesingers, whose steel was as sharp as their beauty. After the rebellion was over, these half-dryads spread about the continent and islands, with some going as far as Itisal. Half-dryads are a rare thing indeed to be allowed to live among the elves on their island home, though admittedly most of those who live on Itisal have elven fathers. Historically, many half-dryads have found great success as mighty druidesses or priestess in the temples of Rila and Bromis. Others have gone on to be mighty adventurers, using their powers against those who would dare despoil nature. While no half-dryad has built a mighty kingdom, or razed a nation to the ground, they have brought much light and life to the small communities that welcome them and have, in their own ways, shaped Apia's history and forests.

Geography: Half-dryads can be found everywhere. Many are located on Itisal, being half-elven. Others are found in the Haunt Woods, the Southbour Blackwoods and in Latrellus. Taskanda and Vittoedel are known to have sizable populations. Druz also has mighty pine forests that are home to dryads and the heart druzi men often captivate their interest, leading to a sizable population of "pine-tree" half-dryads, many who become the delight of their stoic fathers. Still, as dryads can be found anywhere, so can their daughters.

Personality: Half-dryads can take after their mothers in many respects. They are a curious people, who love life and nature. Exploring every nook and cranny, listening to the bubbling of a brook and tracking across a mountain invigorates them. Because they aren't tied to a solitary tree, that curiosity can take them across the world, looking for new delights to explore. They are peaceful and benign to animals and plants, many have some of both as pets that they raise and care for. All are aware of nature's power and its role in shaping the lives of sentient people. Because of this, most of them are drawn to smaller towns and villages, rather than the bustling urban centers that chock out nature's life. Many raised by their mothers lack the understanding of civilized customs; something like money is foreign to them and others don't understand things like handshakes or rules regarding dress and modesty. Indeed, for women used to being nude or near nude for most of their young lives (those raise by their mothers anyways) the switch to clothing can be difficult to comprehend or deal with. Like their mothers, they are often drawn to attractive men, though they lack the power to charm them magically and must rely on their looks and wits (of which they have ample supply) to draw them. Others, however, reject their mother's ideals of attracting a new toy every few years and seek either a permanent companion or none at all. Half-drayds raised by their mothers or fathers can have different outlooks. Dryads delight in their daughters nurturing them and raising them in the forest with the young dryads and satyrs, giving them a life as much like their own as they can, yet ultimately a half-dryad cannot have the same life as her mother's and must ultimately leave, though this is done with great sadness by both as a half-dryad's life is typically happy. Many remain close to their mothers after they leave and try to visit them often. Half-dryads can be raised by their fathers, either because the dryad believes herself unfit to care for her child or because of tragedy. These half-dryads are somewhat more world-wise and likely can blend in with "regular" society more easily, however, they still have the curiosity, gentle spirit and love of nature that defines all dryads. They can be something of a handful for their fathers but remain as charming as ever. While they are often gentle and peaceful their wrath can be as fearsome as the forests itself when roused. There are even some half-dryads who go hunting the enemies of nature, undead, demons and aberrations, rather than letting them fester and risk them coming to their home forests. These "bladesingers" are beautiful, dangerous engines of nature's wrath against the unnatural.

Society: Like their mothers, half-dryads can be quite sociable with others of their kind when they meet. It is so rare for a half-dryad to meet another of her kind that she'll often talk for hours, if not days with her new friend, sharing experiences and life stories of the forest. They will congregate in villages with others of their kind, including half-nymphs, pipers and feybloods, creating little "Fey districts," that are as close to nature as one can get within a village. They rarely take leadership roles as these would require commitment to one thing for a long period and half-dryads are particularly flighty. Most serve as minstrels, story-tellers, wise women, alchemists, wizards, rangers, healers or druids, putting their natural abilities to use. Many villages long for the presence of a half-dryad druid who can help ensure children are born healthy, animals are tended too and crops are maintained. Similarly, half-dryad wizards are highly prized for their innate magical prowess, particularly with charm spells. Still, many are happiest on the road as traveling adventurers, seeing the great forests, rivers and hills, and discovering new and exciting things, unfettered by the requirements of settled life.

Religion: Most half-dryads worship either Bromis or Rila, some chose both with equal measure. Occasionally, a particularly harsh half-dryad will chose to honor the Green Lord instead.

Alignment: Most half-dryads are chaotic good. Like their mothers they are creatures with mostly good intentions, though they can have wild, mischievous streaks that surprise even them. A few are neutral or even lawful good. Still, half-dryads can be of any alignment as they do have a father's influence.

Relations: Half-drayds are quick to befriend anyone who shows great love and reverence for nature but they especially get along well with other fey, fauns, pipers, half-nymphs, elves and gnomes. Centaurs, lucantusks and wemics are all quite friendly with half-dryads. Many find gnolls to be harsh and aggressive and see orcs as destructive brutes. Half-undead are unnatural as are warforged and empty men, though these bias can be overcome. They are also not fond of dwarves, who are often crude and, in their own way, destructive. Still, they can ultimately find friendship in even the most unlikely places as some warforged have been known to become druids and half-undead can save forests. History tells us that the first warforged druid on Apia had a half-dryad mentor.

Language: Half-dryads speak the father's language, usually common and sylvan.

Adventurers: Adventuring is a natural way of life to a half-dryad. Their boundless curiosity and love of nature compels them to seek out forgotten, overgrown places and bask in their beauty. They must tend to the forgotten glades and heal polluted rivers. Some go adventuring to take the fight to those enemies of nature, aberrations, undead and fiends are the most common, rather than passively waiting for such creatures to enter their home forests.

Names: Any name popular among fey, or the father's race is acceptable and those lists can be used. However, there are names that are commonly given to half-dryads by their mothers.

Example half-dryad names: Daisy, Meadow, Willow, Popper, Autumn, Brooke, Holly, Heather, Spring, Violet, Rose
Traits: Half-dryad traits are described below...

-2 Strength, +2 Wisdom, +2 Charisma. Half-dryads are wise and beautiful but physically quite weak.
Medium sized Humanoid
Base speed 30 feet
Low-light Vision
Increase the DC of mind-affecting spells they cast by +2.
Speak with Plants spell-like ability as a Druid of the same level, usable 1/day or Charisma bonus times per day, whichever is higher.
Forest Walk: Ignore difficult terrain based on non-magical forest growth
Favored Class:Druid.