Southern Dryad

The dryads of the End of the World, like their northern cousins, are fae tree spirits. As oak trees are unknown in the southern part of the world, these southern dryads are bound to the ancient araucaria that dominate the southern forests.

A southern dryad has the superficial appearance of an elven woman, with fine features and lithe bodies, pointed ears and large expressive eyes. But dryads are never mistaken for elves by any but the most naïve, for the features that they share with their trees are striking. Southern dryads have grayish-brown skin the color of their trees' bark, and eyes of nut-brown to deep green. As their trees are evergreen, their hair color does not change with the seasons, but remains the dark, glossy green color of their trees' blade-like leaves.

Southern dryads usually do not wear clothing, as they are comfortable in any weather that their trees can withstand. Some dryads, used to dealing with non-fae, may keep a few simple pieces of clothing around to put others at ease when interacting them.

Habitat/Society   By necessity, dryads live in the primeval forests where their trees grow, and are not found elsewhere. These forests are often far from civilization and its thirst for lumber. Because of this, dryads are often suspicious of those of the civilized races, who must earn their trust or be treated with borderline hostility. Those who demonstrate a respect for nature are accepted, while those who seek to exploit the forest earn only enmity.

Dryads are often found alone, but rare groves of particularly notable trees are known that are home to several dryads. These rare families are close-knit and loving, and the members will always come to the aid to their kin.

With their enforced solitude, dryads often befriend other fey and forest creatures. With the aid of these others, they are often well informed of happenings, even those from far beyond their trees.

Ecology    While all trees possess souls, only the rarest manifest their souls as dryads. While these trees are most often ancient or otherwise impressive, this is not always the case. Scholars theorize that a tree's desire to interact with other creatures may be the crucial reason for it to embody its spirit.

Unlike most trees, the dryads' species of conifer are individually male or female. Dryad trees are always female, but the dryads themselves claim that male trees also possess spirits. What physical form these spirits might take, if any, is unknown.

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