DRYADS & SATYRS

dryads and satyr ( sometimes known as satyads or hyleoroi ) are a race of fae that come under the umbrella of nymphs. they are very closely related to hamadryades, alseides, auloniades, leimakides, napaeae and oreads. they are considered protectors of plants, and are often linked to a certain species of plant - but, unlike hamadryades, are not linked to a specific plant. they are thought to be very shy creatures and have powers relating to nature.

## HEREDATORY

### appearance

being a very elusive race, dryads are rarely seen. however, they look human. they're roughly the same size as humans, with their height and build depending very much on the species of plant they represent - for example, oak dryads tend to be quite tall and heavy set, while shrubs tend to be short and skinny, and smaller plants are even smaller. their hair always tends to be green and brown in spring and summer, and often fades to red and brown in the autumn, and fully brown in the winter - similar to how plants change during the year - and some even grow blossoms in their hair when their plant species does. however, it should be noted that evergreen dryads often have fully green hair which will stay that way until they become sick. their eyes are often brown, hazel or green - again, to match their plant - however, there are some dryads who's eyes may match the flower that grows on their plant. dryads have slightly pointed ears - though, not as much so as other fae or elves.

satyrs, the male equivalent, are vastly different. they tend to be a bit smaller that the females, but their size and body shape similarly varies depending on the species of plant they represent. they have, usually very long hair, which is green and brunette in the spring and summer, red and brunette in the autumn, and fully brunette in the winter - similar to the females, and also appear to have flowers and leaves growing from them. their eyes are usually green or brown or hazel and, unlike the females, have horizontal slits as pupils, like a goat. the bottom half of their bodies appear like that of a goat, with cloven hooves and a small tail. along with this, they often have goat like horns or deer like antlers on their heads, and goat like ears.

### personality

generally speaking, they enjoy living away from humans or civilisation, and are considered quite shy towards humans and other humanoids - often only showing their faces to other fae or animals. they're, however, quite curious - and can be tempted out or befriended with food and drinks in particular, despite the fact they don't need to eat. they live quite hedonistic lifestyles - living only for desire or fun, rather than anything else. unlike a lot of creatures, they do not use their powers to help or hinder humans, nor to help or hinder other humanoids, and are solely used for their own pleasure. satyrs tend to be less shy than their female counterparts, but both tend to keep to their own species. both satyrs and dryads are known as lovers of wine, music and dancing.

### powers

dryads and satyrs have plant based powers, often related to their plant species or nature in general. these powers include ecological empathy, enhanced condition, environmental adaptation, nature unity, semi-immortality, supernatural beauty, zoolingualism, botanical communication, esoteric plant manipulation, plant generation, plant growth and wood manipulation - these are all specific to their specific plant. along with this, they might have specific powers related to their plant - such as alcohol or fruit generation for fruit generating plants, or poison generation for poisonous plants. they also play musical instruments and are able to charm people with it.

### lifespan

dryads are more or less immortal, or at least reach a very old age - with some dryads already being thousands of years old when the purge happened. generally speaking, they age like humans until they're twenty seven to fifty, which is when it starts to slow down. however, very few dryads reach much older than humans, roughly eighty to one hundred, due to their plants being chopped down, getting sick and so on.

## SOCIETY

### names

in original dryad language, their names simply sound like the creek of plants or the rustling of leaves to any humans. they, however, have more human names. these names are often names associated with their plant species - such as beech or cypress for beech or cypress plants, or something more hidden like embla for elm dryads or yasen for ash satyrs to avoid having too similar names to their close family. there are a few that'll have two word names, something like cherry blossom or silver birch - though these are more common with anthousai.

it is common for dryads and satyrs to be a type of changeling - meaning there are plenty of dryads and satyrs with just human names, and human names unrelated to plants at that. these dryads and satyr, upon finding out their true heritage, often double barrel their name with their plant, for example thalia eriksson-beech or so on, though that doesn't always happen.

### hierarchy

dryads and satyrs don't have a hierarchy per se. on a small level, there's a slight hierarchy in family, with the older generations being higher up than the younger generations, though upbringings are fairly relaxed and the said 'respect your elders' analogy. however, due to their hedonistic lifestyles, they live in an almost anarchistic lifestyle. while there are family guides, known as the elders, and while many dryads and satyrs are in the äbädä clan and follow the high priest or high priestess or leesis, with some even being a part of the seelie or unseelie court, all they are are *guides* and not figures of authority, and there's no formal hierarchy.

### abode

most dryads and satyrs live anywhere where their particular species of plant comes from, so there's different dryads and satyrs of various connection in a ride variety of places - from the north, to the south. while a few live in the greatwood, it's surprisingly rare for dryads and satyrs to live there since there aren't many normal plants - most of the plants and plants there are living beings in themselves, and not something dryads and satyrs connect to. they, unlike hamadryads, however, do live in the greatwood. while some dryads live in log cabins or treehouses, but most live under the roots of plants and don't have actual houses - instead preferring to be close to nature.

### diet

technically, dryads and satyrs don't need to eat - their green hair, features and eyes all mean that they photosynthesize, and all they need is rain water to keep alive. they, however, enjoy food and drink. it's not something that they need, but it's something that they like. particularly, they enjoy flavourful food ( particularly sweet food ) and alcohol - since they eat for the taste and the fun, and bland food therefore makes no sense to them. also sweet food attracts bees and butterflies, which, as pollinators, dryads and satyrs like. you can gain their trust and befriend them by leaving out food and alcohol for them.

### combat

dryads and satyrs don't usually engage in combat, usually choosing to hide. they, however, are fiercely protective of nature - not just their plants, but other's plants, and animals. they, along with their powers, are usually able to use a bow and arrow and swords and daggers.