The Dryad
Greek and Roman Origins
An Elemental Earth Fairy
Alternative Names:
Nymph, Tree Spirit, Hamadryad
Fae similar to the Dryad:
Green men, Leshy, Wood Wives
Well-Known For:
Protecting forests and groves, but unique from other hamadryad in their ability to separate themselves bodily from their tree and walk among us.
The Forests are their homes.
The dappled light twinkles around you, wind whispers through the leaves. If you stand still enough, you can hear soft fluctuations in the rustling leaves as if the trees are speaking a language only they can understand. Wait, was that a giggle? The Oak trees soar high above as their long limbs wave contentedly in the breeze. In a forest surrounded by such magnificence, you feel the hair stand on the back of your neck. Certainty grows. You are not alone. Be cautious and courteous, the forests are full of hidden dangers. Animals and plant life can cause harm to those unfamiliar with their environment. However, there are far more dangerous elementals in a forest if you fail to respect the trees. Especially the Oaks.
Woman in the Trees
There are women in the trees, or so some will tell you. They care for and guard their forests against many dangers, but their greatest friend and foe will always be us. If they or their forests are threatened, they do not hesitate to dole out punishment. When their forests are cared for, or their own lives saved, a Dryad is willing to give many gifts. Most notably in dryad lore, they makes gifts of themselves. Many have left their forests for a time to become queens, lovers, and mothers. In true fairy fashion, any lover to betray a dryad would instantly become blind. These pacts didn’t have an expiration date, mind you. A relationship with a dryad is truly a life-long commitment.
Dryads are stunning nymphs specifically associated with oak groves. Through the years many have come to associate tree spirits with the name dryad, but there are actually many of these incredible nymphs in our forests. They are the Hamadryad, women of the ash, poplar, fig, elm, mulberry, vines and countless more. Dryads are unique in their ability to leave their trees and walk among us. While they are able to disconnect physically, they are yet linked to the life source. When an oak tree dies, so too does the spirit of the Dryad. With the stakes so high, it is not hard to imagine just how seriously a dryad takes the protection of her forests. For them, it is truly a matter of life or death.