Dryads, Ornaeian (3.5e Race)

Ornaeian Dryad

Across the Paradise Plateau are spread the great Ornaeian Redwoods, great trees that grow to an average height of 450 ft, and stand for thousands of years. Nourished by the many mineral rich streams of the plateau, they have thrived, and are the principle species atop the plateau. However, upon reaching the edge of the plateau, they could expand no further, and as a result, the Ornaeian Dryads were created. Approximately once every hundred years, the redwoods will grow a white seed cone. This cone will grow to about 8 inches in diameter, and a foot tall, before falling to the ground. Cushioned by the thick bed of fallen needles and underbrush, the cone will stay for a few days until a rainstorm. Triggered by the deluge, it will split open, and the newborn Dryad will crawl into the world. They develop rapidly within the first few weeks, and appear to be a human child of about 7 or 8, at which point they begin their wanderings. To protect themselves on their journeys, they are able to merge with trees to sleep. However, any damage the tree takes at this time is transmitted to the Dryad instead. By the time they are ten years old, Ornaeian Dryads look to be about 20. They remain youthful in appearance for approximately 50 years, then begin to age until they die at the age of around 120.

The life of an Ornaeian Dryad is quite simple. They have two goals; find a mate, and find a home. If the Dryad finds a mate first, they will travel with their partner in search of a suitable place to grow a new grove. If they locate a suitable grove site before a mate, they will create a home, and roam around it in ever growing circles, looking for a mate. At any rate, once they have found both a mate and a home, they begin a ritualistic dance. This dance is rarely witnessed, but it is said to be a dance of great grace and wonder, unequaled by any other. While this dance is performed, pollen is shed in the vicinity, creating the effect of a Plant Growth spell within a radius of 500 feet. After the dance, the Dryads entwine themselves and stand in the center of their new home, and shed their flowers, until at last a rainstorm comes. They remain standing until the deluge ends, at which point they step back, revealing a sprout, grown from their dropped flowers. This sapling will grow into an Ornaeian Redwood, tended by the Dryads, beginning the cycle anew. The Dryads will remain in the grove until they die, performing the dance every year on the anniversary of the first, and tending the saplings. Ornaeian Dryad children are uncommon, but not unheard of. Those born of two Dryad parents often spend their lives tending the grove in which they were born.

Personality

Ornaeian Dryads are a very outgoing race, made all that much easier by their fey nature. They hold a strong dislike for cities, but are often found around them, searching for information. They frequent taverns, and query travelers and locals alike, hoping for news of a mate or home. They often attach themselves to groups of travelers, but are prone to leaving as easily as they joined.

Physical Description

Ornaeian Dryads are willowy beings, yet hardy. Their skin is usually very pale, like the inside of a pine branch, and green whorls twist their way from the back of their necks down their arms, torso, and legs. Their bewitching eyes glow green with life force, and pulse slowly to their heartbeat. Accordingly, their eyes pulse faster with strong emotions. Their ears are short, but pointed, like an elf, and their slow growing hair is never cut, regardless of gender. Flowers adorn their hair, grown from their skin, then separated and shed after a few days. These are often worn in the hair, or around the neck or wrists, and serve as a type of cultural expression. Their hair varies from browns to black, and their flowers are most often white, although blue, red, purple, and other bright colors are not unheard of.

Relations

Ornaeian Dryads are very friendly with many races, most particularly elves and halflings, as well as all creatures of the forests.

Alignment

The majority of Ornaeian Dryads are True Neutral, but Chaotic Good Dryads are not unheard of.

Lands

Ornaeian Dryads are the spawn of the Ornaeian Redwood that cover Paradise Plateau of Artoria. Although they originated there, they are wanderers, each seeking a place to grow a grove of their own. Notable groves have appeared along the in the Skyrange Mountains, as well as throughout the Great Forest.

Religion

Ornaeian Dryads honor the trees they are created from, but do not practice religion.

Language

Common, Sylvan

Names

Ornaeian Dryads are given names by the first civilized populations they encounter, and as such have a very diverse pool of names, but they are frequently in contact with elves, and their names tend to reflect this.

Example Male Names: Dirosar, Elroth, Imil, Rhanos

Example Female Names: Syr, Finduilye, Minerde, Arien

Example Surnames: Redwood, Briarheart, RoseCrown, LilyThroat

Racial Traits

• +2 Strength, +2 Charisma, -2 Wisdom, -2 Intelligence : Despite their willowy appearance, Ornaeian Dryads have an oaken strength in their limbs, and their fey appearance endears many to them. However, they follow their task of
• Fey: Ornaeian Dryads magical and natural origins make them Fey.
• Medium: Ornaeian Dryads have no penalties or bonuses from their size.
• Ornaeian Dryad base land speed is 30 feet
• Ornaeian Dryads gain a +2 racial bonus to Survival, Knowledge(Nature), and Knowledge(Geography)
• Cold Iron Vulnerability (Ex): Ornaeian Dryads take an additional 4 damage from all cold iron weapons.
• Forest's Friend (Su): Dryads can use speak with animals and speak with plants at will.
• Spell-Like Ability: 1/week—Ritual Dance of Rebirth. Treat as both modes of Plant Growth with a radius of 500 feet for Overgrowth.
• Spell-Like Ability: 3/day—Enter Tree. As a full round action, an Ornaeian Dryad can press him or her self against a tree to enter it. While within the tree, they are treated as invisible, and can only be discerned with a detect magic spell. Any damage taken by the tree is transmitted directly to the player before hardness or damage reduction would be applied.
• Automatic Languages: Common, Sylvan. Bonus Languages: Elven
• Favored Class: None

Vital Statistics

Table: Ornaeian Dryad Random Starting Ages

Adulthood	Simple	Moderate	Complex
10 years	+1d6	+2d6	+3d6

Table: Ornaeian Dryad Aging Effects

Middle Age1	Old2	Venerable3	Maximum Age
35 years	70 years	120 years	+ 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: Ornaeian Dryad Random Height and Weight

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	5' 9"	+1d2	110 lb.	× (2d8) lb.
Female	5' 8"	+1d2	100 lb.	× (2d6) lb.

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