HOME | DD

Description
When it comes to us Dryads, we are known to be rather social creatures. Our upbeat and rather optimistic nature makes us rather friendly to all other races, regardless if they like us or not. We are more than happy to visit other towns, or have outsiders come into our own villages. Though many Dryad species keep their settlements in natural areas, they are pleased to live nearby other races, as long as they are fine with it. In some cases, the two species can even live in the same town! Dryads are overjoyed to meet other people and get visitors, but that doesn't go for all of the Dryad species. While species like Conifer Dryads or Desert Dryads are wary of outsiders due to limited resources and harsh conditions, Ivy Dryads keep away from other races for the safety of others.

Ivy Dryads are immediately recognizable from their green head flowers, and large, leafy hands. Their size also helps them stick out, with them standing a head taller than the Common Dryad. Their bodies appear stretched, and their vine-like stems give them great flexibility. Their leafy hands have no real solid structures in them, which allow them to bend and curl in any direction. This species live in temperate climates, with the extremes of their range leaning more towards hot, wet environments. Like most Dryads, they build their settlements within forests and shape the nature around them to suit their needs. What sets them apart from most Dryads, though, is the fact that they make sure to build their homes as far away from other non-Dryad species as possible. Even away from non-Dryads, their settlements are often surrounded by a plethora of warning signs in case someone stumbles upon their home.

The reason for all of this is because Ivy Dryads constantly secrete an oily substance from their bodies. The main areas of secretion are their head flowers, hands and hair-like growths. This oil is clear and will stick itself to almost any surface an Ivy Dryad touches. The oil does not do anything to them, and it does not have any affect on plants or other Dryad species. The real effect of the oil occurs when it gets onto the flesh of animals or other meat-based creatures. Within minutes of it getting onto exposed skin or fleshy surfaces, the oil causes extreme irritation. Those who get it will find the affected surface itching like crazy, often causing maddened scratching at their own flesh. The oil while start to form blisters over time. The effects of this become worse when exposed to sunlight. For some reason, sunlight triggers some reaction that causes the oil to burn the skin, forming even larger blisters and causing a mixture of irritation and pain to the affected area. If an organism gets the oil in their eyes, they will be blinded from it, especially if they wander into the light. The effects of this oil can leave permanent scars on creatures if large amounts of it get on them, and even the slightest amount can cause days of itching and reddening.

Ivy Dryads are well aware of the effects their oil causes on others and thus force themselves to stay far away from those who could be harmed. They do their best not to touch anyone and will keep faraway. Any object that is not theirs will be given a wide berth, as they fear getting their oils on it. People are even warned by signs they put up to stay away from their village. The oil they secrete will stick to many surfaces and last for many days before it loses its reactive power. So though one may not touch a Dryad directly, they can easily get some on them by touching anything in their oil soaked village. Anything they touch will have the oil on it, making pretty much everything in their village harmful to non-plant species. Non-Dryads can avoid exposure by covering all exposed skin and wearing eye protection. Those who do this, though, must remember to thoroughly wash their equipment after visiting the village, since the oil will linger for days. I screwed that up once. I visited an Ivy Dryad village once and was careful to wash myself and my gear afterwards before visiting continuing my travels. A day or two after, I was talking with a group of sheep farmers and offered a handkerchief when one of them got their hands filthy from cleaning up dung. Minutes later the poor farmer was scratching his hands like crazy, which had gone red and started forming blisters. At some point of time in the village, I had used the handkerchief on myself and had gotten oil on it. I then totally forgot to wash it, and now the farmer was suffering for it. Thankfully I knew of some mixtures to brew up to lessen the effects, but the poor guy still suffered for a few days.

Ivy Dryads are fine with living with other Dryad species, as long as they are far away from non-plant species. Even then, they are careful not to touch anything that doesn't belong to them.

Attitude-wise, Ivy Dryads are bit more shy. They are cautious around others and can be a bit social awkward. If they find themselves in the presence of non-plant creatures, they will keep their distance and be mindful of their own actions. Their conversation will be very distracted, as they will be focused more on themselves, and making sure they don't touch anything they shouldn't.

Why this species of Dryad formed oil-producing glands in their bodies is currently not known. It is even more mysterious because Ivy Dryads don't really use the oil for anything. Marsh Dryads can produce copious amounts of sticky saliva, but they use it catch bugs and leave markers. Ivy Dryads appear to have no real use for it. The best I can think of is that it is a defense mechanism, but to protect it from what, I don't know. Some have suggested they used it for hunting or fighting, seizing prey in their webbed hands to slather them in oil. I personally don't think this is the case, as all Ivy Dryads I have met are very hesitant to use this oil on anything. I can't imagine them intentionally using it to harm or kill others, unless it was an absolute last resort.

Chlora Myron
Dryad Natural Historian

---------------------------------------------

Ivy Dryads are based on both poison ivy and giant hogweed, with their oil effects leaning more towards the hogweed.

Description
When it comes to us Dryads, we are known to be rather social creatures. Our upbeat and rather optimistic nature makes us rather friendly to all other races, regardless if they like us or not. We are more than happy to visit other towns, or have outsiders come into our own villages. Though many Dryad species keep their settlements in natural areas, they are pleased to live nearby other races, as long as they are fine with it. In some cases, the two species can even live in the same town! Dryads are overjoyed to meet other people and get visitors, but that doesn't go for all of the Dryad species. While species like Conifer Dryads or Desert Dryads are wary of outsiders due to limited resources and harsh conditions, Ivy Dryads keep away from other races for the safety of others.

Ivy Dryads are immediately recognizable from their green head flowers, and large, leafy hands. Their size also helps them stick out, with them standing a head taller than the Common Dryad. Their bodies appear stretched, and their vine-like stems give them great flexibility. Their leafy hands have no real solid structures in them, which allow them to bend and curl in any direction. This species live in temperate climates, with the extremes of their range leaning more towards hot, wet environments. Like most Dryads, they build their settlements within forests and shape the nature around them to suit their needs. What sets them apart from most Dryads, though, is the fact that they make sure to build their homes as far away from other non-Dryad species as possible. Even away from non-Dryads, their settlements are often surrounded by a plethora of warning signs in case someone stumbles upon their home.

The reason for all of this is because Ivy Dryads constantly secrete an oily substance from their bodies. The main areas of secretion are their head flowers, hands and hair-like growths. This oil is clear and will stick itself to almost any surface an Ivy Dryad touches. The oil does not do anything to them, and it does not have any affect on plants or other Dryad species. The real effect of the oil occurs when it gets onto the flesh of animals or other meat-based creatures. Within minutes of it getting onto exposed skin or fleshy surfaces, the oil causes extreme irritation. Those who get it will find the affected surface itching like crazy, often causing maddened scratching at their own flesh. The oil while start to form blisters over time. The effects of this become worse when exposed to sunlight. For some reason, sunlight triggers some reaction that causes the oil to burn the skin, forming even larger blisters and causing a mixture of irritation and pain to the affected area. If an organism gets the oil in their eyes, they will be blinded from it, especially if they wander into the light. The effects of this oil can leave permanent scars on creatures if large amounts of it get on them, and even the slightest amount can cause days of itching and reddening.

Ivy Dryads are well aware of the effects their oil causes on others and thus force themselves to stay far away from those who could be harmed. They do their best not to touch anyone and will keep faraway. Any object that is not theirs will be given a wide berth, as they fear getting their oils on it. People are even warned by signs they put up to stay away from their village. The oil they secrete will stick to many surfaces and last for many days before it loses its reactive power. So though one may not touch a Dryad directly, they can easily get some on them by touching anything in their oil soaked village. Anything they touch will have the oil on it, making pretty much everything in their village harmful to non-plant species. Non-Dryads can avoid exposure by covering all exposed skin and wearing eye protection. Those who do this, though, must remember to thoroughly wash their equipment after visiting the village, since the oil will linger for days. I screwed that up once. I visited an Ivy Dryad village once and was careful to wash myself and my gear afterwards before visiting continuing my travels. A day or two after, I was talking with a group of sheep farmers and offered a handkerchief when one of them got their hands filthy from cleaning up dung. Minutes later the poor farmer was scratching his hands like crazy, which had gone red and started forming blisters. At some point of time in the village, I had used the handkerchief on myself and had gotten oil on it. I then totally forgot to wash it, and now the farmer was suffering for it. Thankfully I knew of some mixtures to brew up to lessen the effects, but the poor guy still suffered for a few days.

Ivy Dryads are fine with living with other Dryad species, as long as they are far away from non-plant species. Even then, they are careful not to touch anything that doesn't belong to them.

Attitude-wise, Ivy Dryads are bit more shy. They are cautious around others and can be a bit social awkward. If they find themselves in the presence of non-plant creatures, they will keep their distance and be mindful of their own actions. Their conversation will be very distracted, as they will be focused more on themselves, and making sure they don't touch anything they shouldn't.

Why this species of Dryad formed oil-producing glands in their bodies is currently not known. It is even more mysterious because Ivy Dryads don't really use the oil for anything. Marsh Dryads can produce copious amounts of sticky saliva, but they use it catch bugs and leave markers. Ivy Dryads appear to have no real use for it. The best I can think of is that it is a defense mechanism, but to protect it from what, I don't know. Some have suggested they used it for hunting or fighting, seizing prey in their webbed hands to slather them in oil. I personally don't think this is the case, as all Ivy Dryads I have met are very hesitant to use this oil on anything. I can't imagine them intentionally using it to harm or kill others, unless it was an absolute last resort.

Chlora Myron
Dryad Natural Historian

---------------------------------------------

Ivy Dryads are based on both poison ivy and giant hogweed, with their oil effects leaning more towards the hogweed.