Lichen Dryad
Lichen Dryads are an unusual and haunting subspecies of dryads whose trees have been so thoroughly overrun by lichen that the parasitic growth has taken precedence, reshaping their very essence. These dryads no longer serve their original trees but instead act as stewards of the lichen that has overtaken their once-vibrant groves. Their bond with the lichen is symbiotic, their lives irrevocably altered as they embody the quiet, creeping dominance of the growth that now defines them. Lichen Dryads are enigmatic, embodying both the resilience of life and the subtle power of slow, inevitable change.
Their appearance is deeply tied to the nature of the lichen that has claimed them. Their skin is covered in an array of textures and colors, from soft greens and muted grays to patches of pale yellow or even specks of bright orange. These lichens seem to pulse faintly with life, growing across their bark-like skin in intricate patterns, giving the impression of living tapestries. Their features, though still bearing the grace of their dryad origins, are softened and blurred by the layers of lichen, as if they are slowly being consumed by the very growth they serve. Their hair cascades in long, stringy strands resembling moss and hanging lichen, trailing behind them like a living veil, and their eyes are pale and clouded, as though filtered through the haze of a thousand spores.
Lichen Dryads move with an eerie slowness, their presence quiet and deliberate, much like the creeping spread of lichen itself. Their movements seem almost hypnotic, as though they are in no rush, confident in the inexorable nature of their influence. They exude an aura of stillness and age, as if they carry the weight of centuries in their every gesture. Their voices, when they speak, are soft and whispery, like the faint rustle of wind through mossy trees, and their words are often cryptic and layered with hidden meaning.
Their personalities reflect the nature of the lichen they now serve. They are patient and observant, content to let time do its work, and they often seem detached from the urgency of mortal concerns. Despite their quiet demeanor, there is a subtle power to them, a quiet dominance that stems from their ability to endure and adapt. They are often protective of their groves, which have become strange, otherworldly places dominated by mosses, lichens, and fungi. Intruders who fail to respect their domains may find themselves ensnared in creeping vines or overcome by clouds of spores, as the Lichen Dryads defend their territories with methods as unrelenting and insidious as the growth they embody.
Though their transformation may seem like a loss, Lichen Dryads do not view themselves as victims. To them, the lichen represents a new form of life and purpose, one that thrives in conditions where others falter. They are deeply attuned to the interconnected nature of their lichen colonies, often perceiving the world through the slow, sprawling networks that stretch across their lands. This makes them formidable allies to those who respect the natural order of their groves, though their patience and alien perspective can be difficult for outsiders to comprehend.
