Mist Dryads of the Venom Islands.

Death is but one bite away.

Introduction:

The Venom Island chain that connects the realms of Worheim and Lahar is an infamously dangerous chain of islands that is neither traveled on or near. The water surrounding the Islands is filled with a thick fog most days, hiding the perilous volcanic rocks below the surface that encompass all the islands. If you were to make it through the hazardous borders of the islands, then the islands are no better. As the name applies, many of the inhabitants of the island are poisonous. The island is filled with snakes that will melt the flesh off a full-grown man before the sunsets. If you can venture further into the island, you would be greeted by the Mist Dryads who occupy the vast forest on the largest island in the chain. You're welcoming would not be a warm one as you would more than likely find a dart in your neck within minutes of setting foot in their territory.

Mist Dryads:

Morning Mist Lake Silhouette Nature Sky Water by Finmiki

The Dryads here have lived off the island in comfort for 100's of years. Fishing, farming, gathering, and scavenging through ship wreckage has given this civilization ample opportunities to thrive. They have no want or need to join in the quarrels of the other realms and if given the option would like never to see another soul enter their domain. They also don't seem to be affected by the snakes on the island and have made a symbiotic relationship with them. The snakes provide venom for the Dryads to use and protection of the island while the Dryads kill most of the larger predators that would ruin the snakes like hawks and eagles. Many of the Dryads will offer small rodents and mammals to the snakes as offerings to keep the population healthy.

The Gathering of Ship Wreckage:

These people have prized ship wreckage as almost a competition. Ship wreckage will wash up on the shore quite frequently either after a massive storm or if a vessel wanders too close to the sharp rocks that litter the shallows around the islands. The Dryads have never been known to take prisoners with them; most are deemed worthless, killed and thrown back into the sea. The wreckage is the real prize as they scavenge through the remains of whatever vessels wash up on the beaches.

Ship Shipwreck Adventure Setting Boat Mysticism by Comfreak

Island Farming:

Taro Flower Taro Mysterious Secret Beautiful by MaxPixel

Early in the creation of the civilization the Dryads found a root that changed their lives forever. Taro is a root that is rich in carbohydrates and was the first large source crop that the Dryads began cultivating. The Taro gave them a stable food supply and allowed for more growth in their small kingdom on the islands.

Snake Venom and the Relationship with the Snakes:

The Dryads here don't seem to be affected by the venom, possibly through hundreds of years of living next to each other, they have created an immunity to the venom. The Dryads will keep certain venomous snakes in their cities as pets, and to farm their venom. The venom is used to tip nearly every weapon they make, which aids them in their hunting, fishing, and defense against other races. One of the famed weapons is a small blowgun that will shoot venomous darts from the trees with deadly accuracy.

Eyelash palm pitviper by Geoff Gallice

Fishing:

Lion Fish by shankar s.

Avid fishers in the shallows, the Dryads can catch most of their protein right from the sea. The preferred method for catching fish is with a small spear. Nets can be used when needs are dire.

Island Defences:

• Poisonous snakes with venom that can melt the flesh off a man in less than a day.

• Jagged lava rocks in the ocean that can tear the hull of a ship into splinters leaving the crew to swim through the jagged rocks.

• The fog created from the Volcanic activity creates a vision impairment that makes the snakes and rocks even more of a challenge.

Iceland Reynisfyara Black Beach Waves Jagged Rocks by MaxPixel

Alternative Name(s)

Mist Weavers

Population

Unknown