Hamadryad

Hamadryads are the predecessors of the Dryads and, like Dryads, they are connected to nature, although in the case of hamadryads it is a bit more literal.

Basic Information

Anatomy

True Bodies

Hamadryads are trees. They have some freedom of movement in that they can bend themselves in any direction, but they lack any locomotory ability. Hamadryads can manifest vaguely humanoid faces anywhere on their bodies, which are often used for communicating with mortals. Additionally, hamadryads possess a very powerful connection to Nature Magic, with a proficiency for magic relating to plants, animals, and water. This connection gets more powerful the older they get. A hamadryad has a limited range on their magic, known as their sphere of influence. This area starts off as just the immediate area around a hamadryad's true body, and grows as they age. Common uses of this magic include, but are not limited to:

• Telepathically influencing nearby animals, to either give basic commands or to assume direct control. When assuming direct control, they have access to the animals' senses in addition to their own. Direct control can only be maintained within the hamadryad's sphere of influence, but commands given can persist outside of it.
• Manipulating the growth of plants within their sphere of influence.
• Manipulating water around them, i.e. changing the course of a river.

Manifested Bodies

Hamadryads can manifest a body similar to that of a Dryad, but stronger and larger. In this form, they cannot venture too far from their true body. The distance that they can travel is equal to the true body's sphere of influence. A hamadryad's manifested body is hermaphroditic, usually with mostly feminine features. Because of this, they are usually referred to as female despite technically being genderless. When using these bodies, their consciousness exists in both the manifested body and their true body simultaneously. If a hamadryad's manifested body is "killed", it will cause great pain to the hamadryad but will cause no permanent damage. The only way to truly injure a hamadryad is to attack its true body.

Genetics and Reproduction

A hamadryad produces a single seed every five hundred years, which must be planted within a decade in order to be viable.
In their manifested body, a hamadryad can reproduce sexually with mortals, which results in the birth of a Dryad. The gestation period is seventeen months. If the hamadryad is bearing the child, they must keep their body manifested constantly. If it de-manifests for even a moment, the child will die.

Growth Rate & Stages

A hamadryad grows from a sapling to the size of a normal full-grown tree in a matter of months, but grows quite slowly from then on.

Ecology and Habitats

The vast majority of hamadryads live in forests, usually near the center.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Hamadryads need only water and sunlight to survive. However, their manifested bodies are capable of digesting food the way mortals do. This provides no nutritional benefit, but some hamadryads enjoy doing it nonetheless.

Biological Cycle

Hamadryads are affected by the seasons similarly to normal trees, save for the fact that they keep their leaves throughout the winter. Their manifested bodies are affected similarly to Dryads.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Hamadryads do not typically live in close proximity to other hamadryads, but they do often live near groups of Dryads, which are usually subservient to the hamadryad.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The wood of a hamadryad burns three times hotter than normal wood, and twenty times as long. In addition, it also has magical properties that are not well-understood.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Hamadryads can manifest sensory organs anywhere on their true bodies in order to sense their surroundings. In addition, hamadryads can feel anything on the ground above their roots, which typically extend quite far.
A hamadryad's manifested body typically has an exceptional sense of smell and is otherwise above average.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Hamadryads are sometimes the target of any parasites that normally attach to trees, but these are typically harmless to a hamadryad.

Civilization and Culture

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Hamadryads are often served, or even worshipped, by mortals, most commonly Dryads. Hamadryads are capable of bestowing the ability to use magic similar to their own to mortals, and often do so for their followers.

Genetic Descendants

• Dryad

Lifespan

Indefinite, or until they are destroyed.

Average Height

True body - 100-300'
Manifested body - 7'

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

_{True Bodies}
Hamadryads' true bodies look like normal, albeit very large, trees.
_{Manifested Bodies}
Their manifested bodies are blue and become desaturated during autumn and winter. There is some speculation on if this signifies a connection to Veskaril. If it does, the hamadryads themselves either don't know or don't care to tell anyone.