The Dryad is a spirit of nature. She is as old as the forest, and as young as the newest seedling. As creature of the forest, she has existed for nearly as long as the forest. She, along with her sisters, embody the beauty and strength of Nature. She speaks the language of the forest, where each sound carries its own meaning.

The Queen of the Dryads is worshipped by the Dryads. She cares for the forest, Dryads and all creatures who dwell within the forest.

But now, The forest is ruined. The Dryad, alone among all her sisters, remains. Who has wrought this destruction? How? Why has the Dryad been spared? Where have her sister and Queen gone? She does not know. She must find them.

Seeking aid, the Dryad first meets The Queen of Winter, known to her but not of her kind. The Queen knows nothing of the Forest's destruction, for she was asleep during the warm months. But she points the way, suggesting a path. The Dryad leaves the ruined forest and travels the world for the first time in her life.

The Dryad comes to a city, the first she has ever seen. She does not like it, this thing of Men. It twists Nature and weighs heavily on her spirit, and she is eager to leave. She does not remember the city's name.

The Dryad's Virtue is Nature. As a spirit of Nature, the Dryad embodies the beauty and power of nature (Life Energy), but is easily overcome by the works of Men (Energy Sapped).

The Dryad's Fault is Winter. The Dryad finds the things of Men wholly unfamiliar; their workds and their "cities" confuse and sometimes frighten her (Inexperience). But as a spirit of nature, she is very wise in the ways of the forest and those who dwell within (Maturity).

The Dryad's Fate is The Phoenix (Rebirth vs. Destruction) - The Dryad does not know what fate holds for her. Will she find her sisters and her Queen, and restore the forest? Or will she perish in the attempt, losing everything she, her sisters and her queen ever knew?

The Dryad's Elements:

The Dryad's surroundings affect her profoundly. Cities and places of Men where nature has been twisted or subverted drain her, leaving her weak. These places are inimical to her; in such places she is weak, and her senses dulled. Her mind becomes muddled and she is easily confused. She would eventually wither and die. Despite this, if her quest leads her to these places, she will go.

• Earth 3 (Succor)
  One of her primary purposes, the Dryad lends aid to creatures of Nature wherever needed, lending comfort and strength with her power and knowledge.
• Fire 2 ()
  I haven't got a clue. Suggestions?
• Air 2 (Lore of the Wild)
  The Dryad knows much of the wild, of nature's ways.
• Water 2 (Voice of the Forest)
  The wind in the treetops, the call of birds, the flutter of leaves as they fall, the babbling of the brook. This is the voice of the forest. The Dryad understands this voice.

The Dryad's strength and health slowly return to her as she journeys away from the the places of Men. When away from a city or large town, she once again hears the Call of The Wild (3 points, Frequent, Versatile, Major). The Dryad's Elements increase (Earth 5, Fire 3, Air 3, Water 3) This would apply in small communities (small town or smaller) or areas of "worked" land such as farmland, orchards, etc.

When she is in a place of nature, removed from the places of Men (ruins or a single dwelling in the middle of the wild might not prevent this (GM's discretion), and alone or with a small group (such as the other Heroes), the Dryad can hear the Song of the Wild (3 points, Frequent, Versatile, Major). So removed from the things of Men, she becomes stronger still (Earth 7, Fire 4, Air 4, Water 4).

Finally, when the Dryad comes to a place of unbridled Nature, where the things of Men are naught but an unpleasant memory, she is imbued with the Spirit of the Wild (3 points, Versatile, Twice Major). In such places of untamed wilderness, she reaches the pinncle of her strength (Earth 9, Fire 5, Air 5, Water 7).

Part of the Dryad's purpose is to succor nature. Using her Salve of Nature (2 points, Frequent, Versatile), The Dryad shares her energy, promoting healing and lending strength to others. The Dryad's connection to nature is affected by this power in two ways. She cannot lend more strength or perform healing more strenuous than her own Earth score, and she cannot offer succor to any being with a stronger Earth than she. This means in places of men this power is curtailed significantly, but in the untamed wild great miracles might be possible.

Lastly, the Dryad is a Friend of Nature (Free Power). Nature will not harm the Dryad on its own (though it can still be subverted to bring harm). For example, animals will not harm the Dryad, or consider her a threat (unless they have been trained or otherwise controlled or made to panic), and she is unharmed by extremes of temperature that occur in nature. As Men have souls, they cannot be affected by this power.

Conceptual Notes

• The Dryad lives as the forest lives and dies as the forest dies. While this effectively makes her immortal (or ageless), I didn't give her this power because of the current danger. Unless her forest is restored, she will eventually wither and die. If the forest IS restored, her immortality would probably return, but at that point she'd wish to return home anyway. Also, though she is very old, she is as a seedling among old growth as she ventures into the lands of Men.
• The Dryad is very ambivalent towards Men (humans, not just the males). She knows they are part of Nature, but they are the only part of Nature that seek to pervert Nature. She loves them as she loves all of Natures's creatures, but hates the things they do to Nature (including one another).
• The Dryad speaks the tongue of Men.