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Breadcrumb

Dryad

Challenge
Terrain
str
14
dex
12
con
10
int
12
wis
16
cha
18

AC 15 (natural armor)

HP 22 (5d8; bloodied 11)

Speed 30 ft.


Proficiency +2; Maneuver DC 12

Skills Nature +3 (+1d4), Perception +5, Stealth +3 (+1d4), Survival +5

Damage Vulnerabilities fire

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14

Languages Elvish, Sylvan


Magic Resistance. The dryad has advantage on saving throws against spells and magical effects.

Speak with Nature. The dryad can communicate with beasts and plants.

Tree Stride. Once per turn, the dryad can use 10 feet of movement to enter a living tree and emerge from another living tree within 60 feet. Both trees must be at least Large. 


ACTIONS

Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) bludgeoning damage.

Entangling Plants. Plants magically erupt from the ground in a 20-foot radius around a point up to 120 feet from the dryad. Each creature of the dryad’s choice in the area makes a DC 13 Strength saving throw . On a failure, a creature is restrained for 1 minute. A creature can use its action to make a DC 12 Strength check, freeing itself or a creature within 5 feet on a success. Additionally, the area is difficult terrain for 1 minute.

Fey Charm (3/Day). A humanoid or beast within 30 feet makes a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw . On a failure, it is magically charmed . While charmed in this way, the target regards the dryad as a trusted ally and is disposed to interpret the dryad’s requests and actions favorably. The creature can repeat this saving throw if the dryad or the dryad’s allies harm it, ending the effect on a success. Otherwise, the effect lasts 24 hours. If the creature succeeds on a saving throw against Fey Charm or the effect ends for it, it is immune to Fey Charm for 24 hours.

Combat

The dryad avoids combat, using Fey Charm to recruit allies and Entangling Plants to slow enemies. When it must fight, it uses its club.


Legends and Lore

With an Arcana or Nature check, characters can learn the following:

DC 10 Dryads are fey creatures, each magically bound to a particular tree called a heart tree.

DC 15 When threatened, a dryad calls on the beasts and plants of the forest for protection.

DC 20 Destroying a dryad’s heart tree can drive her mad—or kill her outright.

Description

Deep within the forest, a tree shifts, though there’s no breeze. A moment later, a humanoid figure emerges: a feminine form wrought from wood and bark, with hair of greenery and lips the color of cherry blossoms.

Defender of the Green. Dryads are fey creatures with a particular affinity for trees and forests. They often claim a section of the forest for themselves, cultivating and defending the area. Those who enter a dryad’s grove with respect will receive respect in return. However, those seeking to harm the forest or the creatures within it will face a sharp—and potentially deadly—rebuke.

Heart Tree. No matter how much of a forest a dryad claims, each is bound to a single, central tree some refer to as a heart tree. A dryad can survive the destruction of her grove, so long as her heart tree remains unscathed. If the heart tree is damaged, the dryad suffers in kind. If a dryad’s heart tree is destroyed, the dryad loses all sense of self and descends into madness. 

Friend to the Forests. A dryad on her own is not a challenging foe, but rarely does one face a dryad without also facing the wrath of the forest itself. Beasts, other fey creatures, and even the plants themselves will come to a dryad’s aid when she calls.

Behavior

1 Flitting from tree to tree, ignoring intruders

2 Visibly weak: its tree is under attack or in danger

3 Determined to keep intruders away from its tree at all costs

4 Hostile to axe-wielders

Signs

1 The trees here are lush and green

2 DC 14 Insight check: you feel like the trees are watching you

3 Trees lift their branches to form a path (to or away from the dryad?)

4 In the distance, one exceptionally tall tree

Encounters

Dryads bond with trees in forests and jungles.

CR 0–2 1 to 3 dryads ; dryad with 1d4 pixies or sprites ; dryad with 1d6 bloodhawks

Treasure jug of pure water (acts as 3 doses of potion of animal friendship )

CR 3–4 dryad with awakened tree ; 2 dryads with 2 satyrs ; dryad with druid

Treasure feather token (tree). Once the tree is planted, the dryad can Tree Stride up to 100 miles to this tree

Monster Type Description

Fey are creatures that are native to Fairyland, also called the Dreaming. These creatures live in a verdant realm of heightened natural beauty and combine grace and danger. Sprites and pixies are fey.