Legends of Belariath
Dryads
The Forest Nymphs, or Dryads as they are more properly known, are perhaps the most numerous, or at least the most common encountered. They share the underlying spirit natural to the forests and woods of Belariath. Some seem to associate themselves with a single tree or species of plant, such as an Apple Dryad who may inhabit a small orchard. Others feel an attachment to larger areas, caring for all the trees and plants in a wooded valley. All Dryads have a tree, which will be their home, the kind of tree seems to be a matter of personal choice, perhaps reflecting the Nymph's personality to some degree.
Most Dryads have coloration reflecting their affinity with nature, with hair and eyes of green or brown, although in truth very nearly any and every color has been reported. Such shades are typically gentle however, pastel and pleasing to the eye. Their skin ranges from soft gold to verdant green and the hue often brightens noticeably when the Nymph becomes excited or aroused.
Character Creation
Starter Classes: Bard, Thief, Mage, Druid, Healer, Artisan, Entertainer, Laymen
Advanced Classes: Hierophant, Seductress, Water Mage, Earth Mage, Air Mage
Starting Stats:
| STR | INT | AGI | RES | STA | SPL | LFE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Stats | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
Appearance
The dryads are spirits of nature who preside over the groves and forests. Each one is born with a certain tree over which she watches. A dryad either lives in a tree or close by it in a glen or field. Dryads are usually chaotic in nature but never to the extreme. Mostly gentle in their ways they seek to preserve life first and foremost. The lives of the dryads are connected with that of the trees and will punish any thoughtless mortal who would somehow injure the trees. Each Dryad is connected to one particular tree they usually live close by to, it gives them strength and can protect them from the harsher sides of Gaea.
Dryads are usually healthy and of sound mind, even at times if it can be flighty. They move with the grace of a willow and can be just as elegant. Their flesh tends to vary, taking on different degrees of brown and green depending on the tree the Dryad feels connections to. Ranging from a deep golden hue to a light healthy green, the hue often brightens noticeably when the Nymph becomes excited or aroused . The hair color of a Dryad would be the same of course as some dryads do come with tanned flesh and green locks. A dryad’s eye color however can come in any color a flower would, lavender, blue, orange, even yellow. To the extremes and to the light shades.
Special Abilities and Disadvantages
Plant Growth: The Ability to quickly will a plant to grow while under the supervision of the Dryad. The plant can not cause damage to anyone by using this ability. As the Dryad advances into its life/level the ability becomes a bit more powerful and they can affect a larger area of plants and land. This ability may not be able to cause harm but the dryad may use it to their advantage by having a root of a tree leap out and into the path of someone who pursues them, causing that person to trip and fall further behind.
Safe Refuge: Dryads have the innate ability to body melt into a tree, taking one full action to do it and with their full attention on what they are doing. Standing beside the tree of their choice with both hands upon the trunk of it they slowly ease their bodies into it to vanish from sight. As soon as the dryad leaves the trees embrace by moving, the camouflage vanishes. The tree must be large enough to accommodate the dryad’s body and any damage done to the tree, half of that is done to the Dryad while they are within it.
Essence of life: A happy dryad is such a sight to behold, to smell and taste. A Dryad will smell of the tree they come from, whether it is a cherry tree or a tree of oak, the scent will linger in the air around them. Never strong enough to bombard the scenes but floating as if a perfume heralding their arrival. Their taste? Why of course pure and ripe fruit, cherries, peaches, plums, or even that of roasted chestnuts depending on the tree they are connected with. A dryad with drooping spirits or angered may, at a whim, cause the fragrance to change into an unpleasant one. One to make their ravisher retch with distaste of rotten fruit.
Dryad Frailties: Dryads usually do not advertise the particular tree or glen that is their supreme safe haven. The Dryad should always have upon them a small life line, in some shape or form to their tree, whether it is a small bracelet of vines or leaves within their locks of hair. With this life line the dryad can keep in contact with their tree and will be aware if anyone comes within 5 feet of it, or if anyone is attacking it. When a Dryads tree perishes the dryad becomes ill and until they are able to form a connection with another tree of the same kind, they remain in this state.
When the weather turns unfavorable, such as winter and fall, the dryads tend to calm no matter what is happening. They become just slightly slower, tending to sleep a lot more as their body needs to conserve energy. The only way this effect does not happen to a dryad is when the dryad is either indoors and warm, or within their trees embrace.
Nymphs In General
Note: The following information is generic to all Nymph variants - Dryads, Naiads, Nereids, Oreads and Sylphs
Background
When the subject of females is mentioned around the smoky inns and taverns of Belariath, perhaps the image that comes quickest to mind is that of a beautiful and barely clothed young woman, peeking shyly from behind a tree, or splashing playfully in the cool waters of a secluded spring. Such images have been painted a thousand times in word, art, and song. They are visions of the wild and mysterious beings, known simply as Nymphs.
Nymphs are nature spirits who take the form of young adult females, human-like in their size and appearance, although with far greater diversity than any other race could dream of. Their hair comes in as many colors as the eye could behold, usually complemented by their wide and innocent eyes. Their skin is fair, and dark, and every color in between, but always soft to the touch. For the most part a Nymph's coloration will reflect her nature, for each Nymph has one. Shades of blue for the Water Nymphs, green for the Forest Nymphs, and so on. They do not have wings, like fairies, nor can they change size, like Pixies, their magic is of a subtler sort.
Nymphs, by definition, are chaotic by nature. They appear somewhat naive, easily confused at times with seemingly simple things (like money for instance) and yet, at the same time often able to put the most complex emotional issues into a perspective only a child could truly appreciate. What they lack in common sense, they make up for with a moral compass, which rarely leads them astray. One should never assume a nymph is unintelligent, far from it, they are very bright, quick to learn, and curious as the day is long. Some have wondered if it's all just an act, or if there is some hidden motive behind their giggling whimsical behavior. Others just assume that perhaps they are the wisest of us all, they've discovered the secret of life and can only share it by sharing themselves.
It's well known that Nymphs are imbued with a seemingly unconscious sexuality, most seem quite puzzled by the effects their mere presence can have on men and women alike. They exude desire with every movement, every look, and every soft sigh. For many men a Nymph has only one purpose, to be ravished repeatedly and often. The Nymphs themselves are often quite accommodating in this respect, even going so far to encourage this rather untoward behavior. Others may resist, occasionally with success, but it seems nature herself has gone a little too far with her gift and the Nymphs themselves more often than not surrender with pleasure after a few moments of struggle.
Slavery
Nymphs are among the most popular choices for slaves, for obvious reasons. Many Nymphs do not seem to resent this, although it obviously depends a great deal on the relationship they share with their Master or Mistress. Nymphs require a great deal of patience and understanding. They are free-spirited and prone to quick mood swings, but rarely can a Nymph remain angry or sad for long. Nymphs are flighty and may quickly agree to any proposal, which strikes their fancy, which makes them somewhat vulnerable in many respects. The prospective Master of a Nymph has added responsibility when it comes to purchasing or proposing slavery to a Nymph, she will often be depending more on his good judgment than her own.
Special Abilities
All Nymphs share some common innate abilities regardless of their place of origin, which some have seen to be proof of a greater purpose to their existence.
Nymphs are able to heal sick and injured plants, they have a limited form of empathy with all vegetation and are able to use this to great advantage in their daily duties. They are able to spur plant growth, though barely noticeable with trees, smaller plants such as grass can be seen to sprout quickly, and budding flowers can bloom with a soft word or gentle touch.
They are able to seemingly draw small amounts of moisture from the air when need be, squeezing an empty fist as if holding an invisible sponge and causing a small amount of fresh water to spill onto the ground. This is very useful when the Nymphs are tending their gardens, as you can imagine.
Nymphs are immune to plant poisons, they do not suffer from poison ivy, for example, nor would they suffer the adverse affects drinking hemlock tea might bring, although reportedly it is very bitter.
All Nymphs may be considered to have an expert knowledge of plants in terms of care and gardening. Dryads may or may not know the specific uses of a plant, for medicine or magic for example, depending on their personal experience, but they will always know which plants are dangerous to eat or touch, and which ones are not.
They also share a limited empathy with wild animals. Such creatures will never attack a Nymph except under extreme circumstances, such as a rabid animal for instance. Likewise a Nymph is largely incapable of injuring or assisting in the injury of an animal; they will resist having to perform such an action unless no other course reveals itself. Nymphs will often care for wounded or sick animals, healing the injured animals they come upon, restoring them back to good health and setting them free. They are usually very capable of calming a frightened or excited beast.
All nymphs take on a Defense shield of +1 def (phy/mag) per two levels. The defense shield will come to them in a form of the element they represent.
Restrictions
Nymphs are filled with an instinctive desire to preserve and serve life. They are incapable of killing any human or humanoid being, and find it very nearly impossible to take the life of even the smallest animals. They are able to defend themselves, to the best of their abilities, using defensive spells and non-lethal magic, if they possess it. They cannot wear any physical armor, nor may they carry any man made weapons, however, they can carry weapons of natural fibers, such as a serrated sharks tooth, a wooden sword or an obsidian shard.
Though well known for their capricious and fun loving natures, Nymphs are quite intelligent and may learn the use of magic. Nymphs may specialize in any of the elemental spheres, except fire, which is an element many of them have learned to fear and distrust over their long histories. In addition to Mage, the Druid class is available as well although they do not belong to any religious sects or orders. Being a Druid is more or less an extension of their affinity with nature, and not a true profession.
Nymphs may also become Thieves, although it must be said that they do not value money or possessions nearly as highly as some of the other races. Most Nymph thieves tend to be a sort of "good" thief, if there is such a thing, selecting their victims carefully, stealing only as much as seems appropriate, and usually donating their newfound wealth to someone less fortunate. They have been known to pick a pocket not in the hopes of finding gold, but rather to surreptitiously place a coin or two.
They may also take any of the non-combat classes, although Nymph artisans are not very common. They seem to lack the discipline and patience such a calling requires. Nymphs can not initiate combat.
Due to a nymph's flighty nature and their inability to wish harm on others nymphs are restricted from taking a slave into their possession.
Nymph Types
While the Nymphs recognize no known hierarchy and live their lives largely independent of anything but instinctive direction, they are drawn to specific areas of nature. Or it may be more accurate to say they are the manifestation of such spheres, for none can say for sure if they were born to a specific purpose, or sprang forth unbidden from the chaotic energies of creation.