Dryads of the Wyld
Dryads of the Wyld in the Steel Realms are manifestation of the will and spirit of Gaia. They are close allies of the Druids of the Wyld. Dryads are a manifestation of strong natural anima. It is an embodiment of a localized protector, though normally shy and reluctant to engage in conflict. They take on a humanoid form due to its diversity and utility in nearly all environments. They can move through any terrain, climate, etc. The Dryad-Elven Alliance is present in almost all Elven Wealds.
Home range: They exist around ALL Navels of The Great Forests of the Steel Realms.
- There are multiple Dryads of the Pranin Moorswood that claim the Moorswood as their home range, and all have equal power in it.
Hunted: Extraordinary powerful spell components and items can be made from them, and so they are hunted by the unscrupulous and cynically enterprising. It is the greatest help to those around them, who both fear and appreciate her presence. Those hunters, ranchers, and farmers who may benefit from it compete with the murderers who would take away these things and sell them to the highest bidder.
The dryads can cause typical Vexation of Nature effects in their home range, in addition to using their direct powers. The dryad’s womb and her blood, along with the treehome itself are powerful magics when combined with the Dryandia Anima font of their treehome.
Children of the Wyld
The dryad mates with the animals of the forest, producing new offspring and increasing genetic diversity in its population, and carrying the strength of her bond outwards into the surrounding lands. It is extremely rare for a dryad to mate with another humanoid; In such cases it is usually to make another dryad. Because they can communicate with all animals and plants, Dryads don’t feel overly compelled to do this
- There are stories of Hags, called forth from the Navels of the great Forests, stalking and taking the humanoid Children of the Forest.
The Pipes of the Kur-Authba guarded by one of the Dryads of the Wyld since CY 4056 in The Wyldes of the Northern Heartlands has always been the bane to A Plague of Hags when it gets out of control.
Dryandian Treehome
This is a minor anima font. A dryad treehome is infused with this anima over the years. Each year the dryad lives there, the anima reservoir gets more powerful, and its effect goes through the roots into the soil, and carried with every falling leaf to areas around the forest. This tree is the nest, den, burrow, cave and camp for every ‘child of the forest’ the dryad gives birth to that increases the population of the forest and its verdant nature.
List of the Navels of the Helca
Dryads are present in all the Navels of the great forests of the Steel Realms.
Known Dryad Refuges
At one time, the Osten-Paullus faith secured safety and stability for many Dryads of the Wyld; After the Fall of the East (CY 2899), at least one found a home in each of the Riverdans of Dunstrand, where some eastern families found refuge.