Nightshade-Dryads

Nightshade-Dryads, better known as Shades, are intelligent tree-spirits descended from Water-Nymphs who benevolently protect forests and woodlands. Their Magic Level is Green, Flank Silver.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Shades tend to have skin tones that ranges between dark to light green and generally green, brown, or black hair and dark amber eyes. However, because they mate with other races to produce children, sometimes they can inherit their father's or mother's traits, like blonde hair or blue eyes.
Shades seek, along with some other Beasts, to protect and preserve the forests they inhabit and so any who desecrate them incur their wrath. Although ultimately protectors of whole forests, they do have individual trees to themselves. If a Shade leaves the vicinity of its tree for too long, it will die. Shades also aid adventurers and can prove useful as a source of information.

Biological Traits

Shades' sweat smells of saffron, while girls who have been transformed into Shades have the smell of sea-salt.

Genetics and Reproduction

Shades frequently reproduce with Mountain-Elves and Foxlings, taking strong males and females to pass their traits onto their children. Shades value mating very seriously: if touched without permission, they'd kill the person. However, procreation isn't the only way Shades are made. If any young girls should wander into their forest, they give them their blood to drink, which tastes like mulberry-wine and erases all their previous memories so they can then be raised in the society as Shades. The girls gain all the skills that real Shades possess, and can produce good and strong children.

Growth Rate & Stages

Shades grow at the same rate of Comanches.

Ecology and Habitats

Forests and jungles.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Shades are carnivores and normally feed on birds, jungle-pigs and whatever creatures wander into the forests.

Biological Cycle

Shades' skin changes with the seasons. In the summer, their skin turns a deep olive-brown. In the winter, it turns a deep ashy-gray. In the spring it turns jade-green, in the sunlight it turns bright green and turns a deep azure-blue in the rain.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

The Mountains

Average Intelligence

Inhuman

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Shades are known for their amazing archery skills and can easily kill a Sapien from the distance of 100 meters without the person ever knowing they were there. They use this ability extensively to mark their border: if an arrow lands at one's feet or in a nearby tree, that's as far as the intruder is allowed to travel alive as the next shot, should they not heed the warning, will kill them. The only creatures that can match Shades in strength and skill are the Foxlings and Elves.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Beasts

Scientific Name

Bestes-Ulda

Origin/Ancestry

Water-Nymphs

Lifespan

Unknown

Average Height

2 meters

Average Weight

120 lbs.

Average Physique

Impressive

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Generally green or brown, but can vary.