Dryad (Pathfinder Race)

Dryads

Dryads are tree-fey who prefer secluded woodlands far from humanoids in need of lumber. Dryads’ main interests are their own survival and that of their beloved forests.

Physical Description

This strange, beautiful woman has flesh that seems made of wood and vibrant hair that resembles leaves and blossoms.

Relations

Dryads are more likely to be friendly to non-evil druids and rangers, as they recognize a mutual respect for or empathy with nature.

Alignment and Religion

Dryads tend to be Chaotic-Good, and usually worship gods of the forest.

Adventurers

Their tree dependence make adventuring impossible for most Dryads, but some will bond to livewood or greenwood that can be carried from place to place without dying and in this way they are able to travel the world. They are most often Druids, and sometimes Rangers.

Dryad Racial Traits

• +2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, −2 Strength
• Fey (Dryad)
• Medium
• Normal base land speed: 30 ft
• Automatic Languages: Plantspeech, Sylvan. Dryads may learn Common, Elven, Gnomish, or Treant with their Intelligence modifier.
• Natural Armor +2
• DR 5/cold iron
• Woodcraft (Ex): +6 bonus to Craft rolls involving wood.
• Spell-Like Ability: Constant—Speak With Plants
• Spell-Like Ability: At Will—Tree Shape
• Spell-Like Ability: At Will—Tree Meld (As Meld Into Stone but into a tree, with indefinite duration)

Tree Dependence: A dryad is mystically bonded to a single tree and must never stray more than 300 yards from it. Most dryad trees are oak trees, but other trees function as well (often having subtle influences on a specific dryad’s personality and appearance). A dryad who moves 300 yards beyond her bonded tree immediately becomes sickened. Every hour thereafter, she must make a DC 15 Fortitude save to resist becoming nauseated for an hour. A dryad that is out of range of her bonded tree for 24 hours takes 1d6 points of Constitution damage, and another 1d6 points of Constitution damage every day that follows—eventually, this separation kills the dryad. A dryad can forge a new bond with a new tree by performing a 24-hour ritual, which is completed with a successful DC 20 Will save (If the save fails, the Dryad may try again at no penalty, but continues to take Consititution damage as normal).

Alternate Racial Traits

• Wild Empathy as a Druid of her character level (does not stack with Druid levels), with a +6 bonus. (Replaces Woodcraft)
• Spell-Like Ability: 1/day—Tree Stride (Replaces Tree Shape)
• Spell-Like Ability: At Will—Wood Shape (Replaces Tree Shape)
• Spell-Like Ability: 3/day—Charm Person (Replaces Natural Armor)
• Spell-Like Ability: At Will—Entangle (Replaces Woodcraft)
• Spell-Like Ability: 1/day—Suggestion (Replaces Woodcraft)

Vital Statistics

Table: Dryad Random Starting Ages

Adulthood	Simple1	Moderate2	Complex3
200 years	+2d20	+10d20	+20d20
This category includes barbarians, oracles, rogues, and sorcerers. This category includes bards, cavaliers, fighters, gunslingers, paladins, rangers, summoners, and witches. This category includes alchemists, clerics, druids, inquisitors, magi, monks, and wizards.

Table: Dryad Aging Effects

Middle Age1	Old2	Venerable3	Maximum Age
600 years	1000 years	2000 years	+100d100 years
At middle age, −1 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. At old age, −2 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. At venerable age, −3 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha.

Table: Dryad Random Height and Weight

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
Male1	5' 10"	+2d10	145 lb.	× 5 lb.
Female	5' 8"	+2d10	135 lb.	× 5 lb.
Dryads are almost never male.

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