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[✗] -=- Dryads, the Daughters of Cerridwen -=-


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-=- Dryads -=-

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Lore Revision Written by ExoticRoleplay

 

-=- Origins -=-

Dryads are an ancient species of arboreal creatures who have resided within nature for as long as time has been recorded. Once upon a time, they were considered to be entities of legend, capable of great magical power. Though as their population waxes and wanes in sync with some unknown cycle of the natural world, more and more have come to emerge from the wilds, allowing themselves to be known to those who they deem worthy. Others may choose to permanently reside within their forested homes, far away from the watchful eye of the Descendents. They are aloof, and detached from modern society, acting as watchful guardians over the places they consider to be a piece of their natural domain.

 

 

-=- The Blossoming -=-

No true consensus has ever been reached about how Dryads have been made in present day, or even thousands of years ago. Many believe it is a process that comes naturally embedded within the minds of female Wood Elves, and others of more religious belief may interpret it as a blessing granted by the Earth-Mother Cerridwen. The prior is more commonly believed, but both concepts revolve around an innate connection to nature.

 

The process of becoming a Dryad may begin at the age of five, or eight-hundred. Some women may never feel it at all. To some it can be interpreted as a faint desire to abandon the life they have, to live among the trees as was intended for their people- Away from the strife of war and oppressive governments. For an unfortunate few others, it can be a sort of dream-like geas, where they are mindlessly driven from their homes and into the wilderness, functioning upon their instinct alone to guide them to freedom. It is because of this that young children, or even mothers may one day disappear, never to be seen from again by their family.

 

After leaving home, the prospective Dryad will travel far into the wilds, going beyond the sight of any man-made construction and immersing herself completely within the canopies of the surrounding forests, or rolling hills and mesas. During this process it is very common for the woman to abandon her clothing and personal effects, donning herself in paints, ichors, and plants derived from the soils and plants of her surroundings- After which, she will fall into a comatose state, in which they will wander… Before laying down among the roots of a tree or bush which they are compatible with. There they will remain, their bodies soon overtaken and disappearing beneath the twisted roots, as if being embraced by the earth itself.

 

After being absorbed within the roots of the tree, a thick, magically-infused sap will leech outward and layer over their body, solidifying near instantaneously into a ‘pod’ of solid amber. Here they will be sustained, requiring no form of food or water as they are essentially placed into stasis. This is the first step of a transformation, one which may take anywhere from a week, to a year to complete. The tree during this process will be indiscernible from any other, aside from a difference in vibrancy. Additionally, once this happens, the branches and roots of the tree will refuse to do so much as budge by the hand of a Druid, as the natural bond between them forfeits instead to the Dryad.

 

 

-=- Dryad Physiology -=-

Once emerging from their ‘stasis’, the Dryad may not even appear to be the same person that they once were in the form of their Descendent selves. Their body and soul will have now become one with nature, leading them to develop (ironically) unnatural traits that are similar to those of the plant they bound themselves with, adhering even to the seasons. These changes may be subtle, or they may be defining of the Dryad as a whole. Their skin may become textured or colored similarly to the bark of their tree, with rough patches along the spine and the outsides of their limbs. Or, skin that is fibrous and green.

 

Many Dryads will choose to remain wearing clothing- Though there are some ‘purists’ who will choose to make clothing out of sections of their plant that they manage to harvest- Or those that choose not to wear clothing at all, if their natural biology conceals enough to make them appear modest.
For example, a Dryad which binds themselves to a sapling, unless they are a child, may become three to four feet tall. If one binds themselves to a berry or fruit tree, they may sprout flowers that become those respective fruits. Their spit may become sap, and they may cry nectar- And they may even be host to the same insects as their tree, like butterflies. On another hand, they can always embody other natural aspects, such as sprouting antlers or horns of wood, and deer-like legs comprised of flexible wood and bark. Dryads truly are a versatile race of people, though it all depends on the nature of what plants they bind themselves to.
 

 

In addition to the physical alterations that they receive from their transformation, Dryads will also change mentally. In doing so, they may become more aloof and carefree. In fact, almost every Dryad is impartial and pacifistic- Unless it comes to protecting their lands, of course. There are some Dryads who will be entirely untrusting of any person other than members of their own race, and will hide their distaste for the other races behind a facade of airheadedness, to make themselves seem less of a threat… Then again, there are some Dryads who are just as dimwitted as any normal person. So they do truly vary.

 

A Dryad will instinctively know how to return to her tree, as her soul is tethered to it. She feels as it feels- The changes in the soil, such as drought. When the tree is struck by an axe, it will feel similarly to being stabbed to the Dryad, regardless of how far she may be from it. If the plant is destroyed, then it shall wither away rapidly- Leaving the seed permanently buried beneath the earth until the Dryad is able to retrieve it once again. Additionally, fellow Dryads will consider one another as blood-siblings, more so than their real siblings.

 

-0- Bonsai Dryads -o-

There are only three known circumstances in which a Dryad will be reborn as what has been affectionately referred two as a ‘bonsai’. Named after the Farlander tradition of pruning a plant’s roots and branches to prevent growth, these Dryads tend most often to be connected to host plants which they purposely stunt the growth of. Pruning one’s plant is considered to be a horrifically painful process, as the Dryad feels all of what their plant feels- So it would essentially equate to feeling as if one’s own fingers were being severed with each clip of their roots. The only way to go through this process purposely without inflicting pain is for one to either reshape the roots using their own control over the plant, or to explicitly ask it not to take in nutrients- Thus, causing it to remain in a smaller state. This is most often considered a selfish process, as it does not allow the plant to truly grow.

The only exception to this, is if one was a child prior to transformation, or a fully-grown Dryad binds themselves to an immature plant- Causing them to revert into a smaller form of about 3’-4’. Bonsai Dryads are viewed by other Dryads as the sort of ‘beloved little sisters’, but to others they can be seen as a nuisance, due to their immaturity and rambunctious nature. As the plant ages, so will the Dryad, going through the natural cycle of their life before coming fully grown. This can only be reverted if they reattune to a smaller plant.

 

-=- Connection to Nature -=-

There is a countless number of plants that Dryads can originate from, though typically it is limited to those which can be classified as trees or bushes. Sometimes they may be as mundane as a juniper bush, or as massive as a redwood tree. Though it is usually always something that grows at least to the height of over three feet, not length (like vines). There may be circumstances in which a Dryad may link to a tree of magical nature, which creates a breed all of its own. This is typically not the case however, as the bond is only compatible with natural plants, unless they are formed with some sort of Druidic magic.

 

The abilities of a Dryad are similar to those of a Druid, however they are focused with the intent of communicating and coexisting within nature, rather than restoring it. When in range of their tree or plant, they are able to commune with it- And control it, in a way similar to the Druids, gaining the ability to bend its branches and roots as if they were extensions of themselves. In this regard, it is better to think of their bonded plant as another, sentient person. As anything that it is ‘made’ to do, by proxy, will be through asking permission to do so- Like how some Dryads may request their trees to dig out a section beneath their roots for living space. They can not do anything that is physically unreasonable though, such as turning massive branches ninety degrees- As this will obviously harm almost any tree. However, they can increase the rate in which the blooming of fruits and flowers on their plant happens, though it requires an almost meditative focus. In fact, this is how many Dryads tend to sustain their diet- Though, they still do retain normal dietary preferences aside from this. When a Dryad is killed, they may be subject to simply ‘regrowing’ at the base of their plant, with a lack of memory of what occurred leading up to their death, as one expects. They may also do such a thing known as ‘Melding’, in which they sink through the surface of their tree where allowed, and remain hidden away.

 

 

 

-=- The Amber Seed -=-

After completing their transformation, the amber which surrounded the Dryad during the process of their change soaks back into the surrounding soil, save for a singular piece which can only be seen from beneath the roots of the tree- Embedded in the underside of the trunk similarly to the mouth of an octopus, amid the tendril-like roots. This ovular piece of amber is typically the size of a large apple- And incredibly dense. It is lost upon anybody what its true intention is- As they are coveted by the Dryads. Not even the close relatives of the former Elf would be allowed near it, without facing some sort of forcible removal from the area. It isn’t even entirely certain what the object is to the Dryad themselves.

 

Referred to as an Amber Seed by those who are unassociated to the Dryads, this hefty, glowing gem is usually centered with decorative markings, or filled with mixtures of sprigs, seeds, or fruits. It will refuse to leave where it lies by the hand of anybody other than the Dryad which owns it- And is indestructible by any normal means. There is only two circumstances in which the Seed will require moving, and those are when a Dryad unattunes themselves from nature, or when the Dryad much relocate to a safer region, in the case of natural disaster or any form of colonization of the region, if she can not fight it off herself.

 

When a Dryad removes the Seed from her tree, it will begin to wither and die. Though in the case of relocation, this is more-so a momentary goodbye, as within her hands she holds the only thing that can restore her bond to nature. A Dryad may travel several days or weeks before settling on a perfect location- During which she will be inseparable from her Seed, literally and metaphorically. It will remain embedded into the center of their breast, unable to be removed unless one were to kill them. At which point, it would simply crumble into a mundane, glass-like dust along with the rest of her body- Causing her to awaken among the wilds once again, with no memory of what had occurred.

 

At the end of her travels, the Dryad may find a place to plant her Seed once more, at which point her beloved plant will begin to sprout once again. Unlike the countless years beforehand which it took to grow, a tree or bush may regrow to its original size in a matter of a month- Much to the shock of the surrounding wildlife. There does however exist an exception to this. In the circumstance that a Dryad is unable to find a suitable placement for her Seed, she may embed it among the roots of another plant along with herself, going through another cycle of rebirth in which she adopts the features of her new host. At some point, the Dryad’s original plant may grow too old, at which point it will begin to die- Regardless of the intervention of magic or healing. At which point the Dryad will have to find another plant.

 

 

-=- Reversion to Elfism -=-

There may be a point in which the Dryad can no longer maintain their connection to their tree- by their own choice or otherwise. When this occurs, the Dryad can retrieve their Amber Seed. After a couple of weeks of not having replanted their seed, the Dryad’s features will begin to be stripped from them. Each morning they wake up, they will find more sections of their bark-like skin having been replaced with flesh. Leaves may become hair once again, and after a certain point- Their Seed will finally release itself from the chest of the Dryad, glowing dim. By now, the plant they had been bound previously will have disintegrated to nothingness.

 

Each day that passes however, they will grow fonder of their tree, and desire be around it- An instinct that would require being ignored if one were to truly wish to release themselves from the responsibilities of being a Dryad- Which isn’t common, but may happen if one truly desires to return to their former lives- Which they typically hold no obligation to do.

 

The Amber Seed at this point will have been considered to be inactive. Many former Dryads choose to wear it as an adornment, or hide it away in a chest- As they feel an undying fondness to have it around them or in their hands, as one would treat a child. After a certain point the Seed will reawaken, glowing as brightly as it once did. Only then can it be replanted for the Dryad to resume their bond, unless they genuinely repent to the Aspects beforehand.

 

The realm is a place of strife however. And surprisingly, an inability to replant is actually the least likely reason that many Dryads are disconnected from nature. Just like any other mortal race, Dryads are capable of contracting curses and parasites- Though they can not become undead. If a Dryad happens to be touched by a Fjarriauga Mother, or a Shade Father, the respective curses will root themselves in the body and soul of the Dryad just as any other person.

 

Their bodies will react much more violently to the corruption however, and they may become physically ill, more than what is predicted for the process of transformation. If one were to become a Shade, their tree will begin to rot and turn black- Similarly to the parts of their body which once embodied their tree. If one becomes a Frost Witch, their tree will begin to freeze over, as if going through a black winter. The leaves gracing their tree will fall, and their skin will become brittle. If the normal processes for curing are not sought out, they will eventually succumb and become these cursed entities. They will lose their attunement to nature- And in doing so, their soul will feel shattered, as if a piece of them had been irrevocably torn away, their Amber Seed will simply dissolve into ash.

 

 

-=- Redlines -=-

 

-0- The Transformation Process -o-

Spoiler

 

- If you possess any form of Dark Magic, you can not become a Dryad. You must abandon the magic first, or cure yourself of it.

- One will lose their ability to cast Arcane Magic and connect to the Void upon becoming a Dryad (Magic will be Dropped).

- A pregnant woman can not become a Dryad. The baby will die from the transformation process.

- Dryads can only learn forms of Druidic and Shaman Magic. This is typically only used for their own gain and protection, though also that of the lands surrounding their homes. Because of this, some of the Ancestor Spirits may not be inclined to help them. Additionally, Orcs may not feel inclined to help either.

- If one happened to be a worshiper of any deity, they may find themselves slowly weaned from the powers of their Aengul, unless the Dryad is still somehow accomplishing the will of their patron. Otherwise, they are far too selfish to be kept as Clerics, Paladins, or Ascended. This may be different with some others (Staff Discretion).

You may only attune to a plant that is over 3 feet in height, otherwise you will be transformed into a Bonsai.

- There is a cooldown on transforming back into a Dryad, unless the circumstances were out of your control ICly or OOCly (Going inactive). In which point, one may pray to the Aspects (And then the MT), to have your race back. Switching should require explanation, which can be determined whether or not this is actually deserved. If you are simply dumping being a Dryad because ‘you didn’t like it’, that wouldn’t be good enough.

 

 

-0- Dryad Appearance and Physiology -o-

Spoiler

 

 - You can only link yourself to a plant that can be considered a tree, bush, or similar. It must be capable of growing taller than 3 feet, unless one is purposely stunting its growth (Such as bonsai trees).

Your height limitation as a Dryad of varying species will be hard-capped at a flat 3’-7’. Your musculature will be poor, however. As trees that tall are just as equally thin, lending the balance of mass not to be on the side of strength. Not to mention, you are also an Elf.

- Bonsai Dryads aren’t common in the slightest, unless they are children.
- Keep anything inappropriate or sexualized off the server, please. You’ll give everybody a bad name, not just yourself or Dryads.

- Things such as cacti and rose bushes can be attuned to, but refrain from using it for things such as combat. Not only are plant thorns poor in combat compared to things such as real weapons, but they can be easily abused. And you’ll likely not find any support if you try using them for such a purpose.

- Trees and plants classified as poisonous should require approval from staff before using. You will not be able to sweat or bleed poison. (That’s stupid.)

- Don’t abuse the control you have over your trees. That goes without saying.

- Using Dryad magic requires as much time and concentration as any other form of magic, and should not be abused.

- Dryad magic is not a side-step to Druidic magic. If you learn Druidic magic, then you are expected to start off the same as anybody else. You have a magical bond with this single plant in particular, not all of nature.

- A Dryad can only meld within their own plant, as they are capable of shaping only it.

- Dryad trees and bushes can not be discerned by any person other than other Dryads, who are able to interact with them solely for the sake of this.

- There are no such thing as Half-Dryads.

- As stated before, Dryads can not become Undead of any variety. Their souls are owned by nature, so to speak. As well, becoming a Fiend of any sort will have the same consequences if one were to become a Frost Witch or Shade, which is to say, not good.

- Dryads may be of any sort of traditional ‘alignment’, however their allegiance will always remain to their bond.

- Druids can not use Control to move a Dryad’s plant in any way. Unless the Dryad allows it, that tree will only bend to the will of its inhabitant.

 

 

-0- Dryad Mentality -o-

Spoiler

 

- Dryads are impartial to anything involving the established world that they believe does not pose a threat to themselves or their domain. For example, there is no reason to vote on town elections unless urged to by a friend, or as a favor.

- If a Dryad’s tree is considered to be its partner, then their real partners are typically comparable to very close friends. And their past family are treated more along the lines of normal friends.

- A Dryad will never purposely attempt to carry a child, and doing so is only possible once the Dryad has already become an Elf once again. Even then, this is extremely uncommon, and a Dryad will feel just as much of a compulsion to leave their child behind once they rejoin their tree if such is possible. While capable of forming intimate bonds, to the point of romanticism, this is reserved almost exclusively to other Dryads. The only other exception is if the Dryad manages to rejoin with a partner they abandoned.

- Unattuning from being a Dryad will cause one to feel a distinct mixture of fondness, nostalgia, and melancholy toward their Amber Seed, which they will normally carry on them at all times. However, it can be stolen from the Dryad- But not planted without permission.

- Being forcibly unattuned by a Curse will cause you to lose your ability to turn back into a Dryad. Once your Amber Seed dissolves, that piece of your character’s soul will permanently be shattered.

- The process of ‘corruption’ can not happen accidentally. Your Dryad will feel the part of her that is dying, and will actively pursue ways to fix it. Unless you manage to be held prisoner for the time that it takes to become a T1 Frost Witch or Shade, or your character is incompetent, this shouldn’t be a problem.

 

 

 

 

Spoiler

This is a lore submission for a much-needed Dryad update. If you don’t see any redlines that you think should be there, just let me know (kindly), as it was more than likely an oversight. I’m posting this here to act as a refining stage for the community, so I will be actively updating it until prepared for assessment.

Credit goes to those who wrote the original lore and concepts, as well as @B7W4 for semi-relieving the job of the lore revision concept to me.

Edited by The Transcendent
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So you’re saying their skin is made of bark? Interesting... because even though it says no where in the lore anything about their skin and level of barkness, I had a friend that was yelled at for having a dryad who had skin that was made of bark.

 

3 hours ago, The Transcendent said:

Their spit may become sap

 

Good luck ashwood dryads, was nice knowing you lol.

(I realize this says may, was just joking.)

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8 minutes ago, Master Baiter said:

I had a friend that was yelled at for having a dryad who had skin that was made of bark.

 

Seems somewhat unreasonable for a species of plant people, if you ask me. I think the staff may be worried that it can be abused to the point of being used as a ‘shield’ or something of the like. Considering the way bark functions, one would be hard-pressed to have much movement in their limbs if it covered every inch of them, unless it was fairly thin.

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12 minutes ago, The Transcendent said:

 

Seems somewhat unreasonable for a species of plant people, if you ask me. I think the staff may be worried that it can be abused to the point of being used as a ‘shield’ or something of the like. Considering the way bark functions, one would be hard-pressed to have much movement in their limbs if it covered every inch of them, unless it was fairly thin.

 

Yeah, I can see how it may be abused, but in most art of dryads that is used, they have bark skin. What I was trying to get was that the LT’s were trying to enforce lore that didn’t exist about dryads at the time and punishing players for it, and it was something that you brought up, that’s all.

 

3 hours ago, The Transcendent said:

deer-like legs comprised of flexible wood and bark

 

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   As a Bonsai Dryad player, I somewhat feel like an afterthought and brushed aside.

 

   Can you elaborate more on Bonsai Dryads? They are a big part of what drew me to the current iteration. I like the permanent childlike appearance particularly; it’s much more convenient than making a string of children characters for child RP and losing all character progression every two months or so.

   Everything seems to be there to make what could pass as an existing Bonsai Dryad, though a section or sub-section under appearance about “Small Dryads” or “Childlike Dryads” would help a ton when my character’s validity comes into question. Also, having confirmation that a Dryad that transforms into a childlike appearance will always look like a child would help as well.

 

   Additionally, the transformation process complicates bonding to an already existing bonsai tree. And without Druid intervention, you can’t ungrow the tree back into a bonsai afterwards.

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I’m not close enough to the Dryad community to know whether or not this rewrite would be a welcome change or not, but as an outsider I can say I like the rewrite itself enough that I’d welcome it onto the server.

 

That’s just my opinion, though.

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Good submission, but I truly believe dryads add to the lore bloat, unless you can tell me what exactly niche this fills? I’ve played several dryads in the past, and I cannot think of a place it fits that other things do not.

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1 hour ago, Sky said:

Good submission, but I truly believe dryads add to the lore bloat, unless you can tell me what exactly niche this fills? I’ve played several dryads in the past, and I cannot think of a place it fits that other things do not.

Its simply something that fleshes out the current lore without harming the existing playerbase. The new abilities and clarified information helps to draw in more individuals to apply and create Dryads without feeling like they will constantly be reserved to one setting, with limited ability to form any sort of meaningful relations with other characters outside of being tied at the waist to a random oak tree in the middle of nowhere like a pipeline protester. Said simply, its a patch, and shouldn’t bloat the server any more than it already is.

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On 10/21/2018 at 11:01 AM, The Transcendent said:

 

Seems somewhat unreasonable for a species of plant people, if you ask me. I think the staff may be worried that it can be abused to the point of being used as a ‘shield’ or something of the like. Considering the way bark functions, one would be hard-pressed to have much movement in their limbs if it covered every inch of them, unless it was fairly thin.

If its who I think it is, then yeah I’m willing to bet cash that in a CRP situation said player would be able to twist the situation into them being invincible. Due to them forming a bond with an ashtree, that in lore in unreasonable indestructible. I’m sure they’d abuse it. Probably something that needs to be clarified in the lore is that their skin may feel bark like but add no real protection what-so-ever.

On 10/21/2018 at 7:53 AM, The Transcendent said:

The abilities of a Dryad are similar to those of a Druid, however they are focused with the intent of communicating and coexisting within nature, rather than restoring it. When in range of their tree or plant, they are able to commune with it- And control it, in a way similar to the Druids, gaining the ability to bend its branches and roots as if they were extensions of themselves. In this regard, it is better to think of their bonded plant as another, sentient person. As anything that it is ‘made’ to do, by proxy, will be through asking permission to do so- Like how some Dryads may request their trees to dig out a section beneath their roots for living space.

Asking for clarification. I’m all good with dryads being able to commune and control their tree specifically, but other aspects of nature is just basically snapping your fingers and instantaneously giving them druidism which causes a slew of problems as Druidism is a magic that has a tier system to it and different aspects. Also, what would come from a situation where a T5 druid waltzed up to a Dryad’s tree and started to control it. Would it listen to the Dryad with priority, or the druid? 

 

On 10/21/2018 at 7:53 AM, The Transcendent said:

- Dryads can only learn forms of Druidic and Shaman Magic. This is typically only used for their own gain and protection, though also that of the lands surrounding their homes. Because of this, some of the Ancestor Spirits may not be inclined to help them. Additionally, Orcs may not feel inclined to help either.

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