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Description
The family of Dryads is a collection of plant-based species that can be found nearly anywhere on this earth. Through adaptation, Dryads practically have mastered every environment. Be it hot or cold, dry or wet, Dryads are there. Though a majority of species are land based, there are a few species of Dryad that have actually adapted for an aquatic lifestyle. And I don't mean Mangrove Dryads, because they just stand in water. They are capable of terrestrial travel and living outside of the water. I mean like Lily Dryads, who take to freshwater lakes and ponds, and of course the Kelp Dryads.

Kelp Dryads live solely in saltwater, their homes being made within the oceans and seas. They live only where other plants can, in the zones of the ocean that still receive light. Though they are capable of traveling in light-starved sections of the sea, they spend the majority of their time in places where they can soak up the sun. Kelp Dryads bodies are designed for aquatic living, allowing them to survive the intense amount of salt in the water around them. Their long "tails" and tendril covered arms help propel them through the water. They usually move their tails vertically, swimming kind of like dolphins. The many tendrils hanging off their bodies help them sense changes in the water, or track scents of other species. Filters built into the backs of their throats are used for filter feeding. This does not mean they are against nabbing the occasional fish to munch on. Though fully aquatic, they can breath and talk out of the water, but their locomotion is limited to slithering. They do not like leaving saltwater and have no desire to travel on land. The sheer amount of salt in their system can actually make freshwater toxic to them.

Like most Dryads, Kelp Dryads are very friendly and rather excitable. These is magnified even more if they meet another Dryad species. I had once gone out with a fishing crew in order to talk to a group of Kelp Dryads that were known to live in the bay. When I succeeded getting their attention, they came to the surface and where absolutely ecstatic to see me. So overjoyed, that they actually yanked me off the boat and into the water with them. Anyone who knows anything about terrestrial plants will know that this was a very poor turn of events. Thankfully the crew was able to pull me back onto the boat and get me some freshwater to keep me from going into shock. Unfortunately I had to spend a few hours soaking in a washtub in order to purge my body of the salt overload. Further meetings with Kelp Dryads were done with some rules set in place.

Kelp Dryads live in groups, but do not really build any structures or homes. Some will live in caves that they find, while others are content living in massive kelp forests that grow under the sea. Their days involve a lot of swimming about, chatting, wandering and maintaining of their habitat. Though they are not builders, Kelp Dryads are fond of collecting and decorating. Their home areas will have large chunks of rock that each Dryad claims as their own. They will then decorate the rock with whatever they find, be it collected trinkets or interesting flora and fauna. Kelp Dryads are extremely proud of their rocks and often try to outdo one another. Kelp strands within kelp forests may end up getting adorned with items whenever the Dryads feel crafty. These displays they create can get unintentionally morbid if they find a shipwreck nearby. They love exotic decorations, regardless of what is or who it once belonged to. As long as it looks pretty on their rock.

Like their land counterparts, Kelp Dryads are very friendly with other ocean based sentient species. They are fine with sharing territory and will sometimes help others with hunting or collecting. The only rules they have is that others don't disturb their rocks or harm their home. Many species are fine with these rules, so they get along just fine. Despite their harmless nature, I have heard that some aquatic species do not like traveling into kelp forests at night due to Kelp Dryads. They claim it is because Kelp Dryads blend in easily with the forest, and them slithering through the darkened waters can cause a lot of scary moments.

For surface dwellers who sail upon the ocean, they have mixed feelings on Kelp Dryads. For some, they find them polite and helpful, able to give directions to lost sailors if someone can get their attention. There have even been stories of Kelp Dryads stumbling upon people lost at sea, and helping them survive and get back to land. But there are others that are not a fan of Kelp Dryads. There are superstitions that the sighting of a Kelp Dryad means bad luck for the voyage. Others that say Kelp Dryads scare away fish to save them from fishers, which is totally not true. In legends and folklore, Kelp Dryads are often intermixed with Sirens and Mermaids, and end up getting a bad rap for it. The worst tale that I have ever heard on Kelp Drayds is about fishers who net one. The story goes that anyone who hooks a Kelp Dryad with a pole or snares them in their nets will face the wrath of the ocean. I have to say that this is mostly true. Those who yank one out of the ocean will earn the anger of the group. But I mean c'mon! If you got a fish hook through the tail, you would be pissed too!

Chlora Myron
Dryad Natural Historian

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The expression on this one kills me every time. I don't know why. It just seems so overjoyed to just be made of kelp. YAY!

Description
The family of Dryads is a collection of plant-based species that can be found nearly anywhere on this earth. Through adaptation, Dryads practically have mastered every environment. Be it hot or cold, dry or wet, Dryads are there. Though a majority of species are land based, there are a few species of Dryad that have actually adapted for an aquatic lifestyle. And I don't mean Mangrove Dryads, because they just stand in water. They are capable of terrestrial travel and living outside of the water. I mean like Lily Dryads, who take to freshwater lakes and ponds, and of course the Kelp Dryads.

Kelp Dryads live solely in saltwater, their homes being made within the oceans and seas. They live only where other plants can, in the zones of the ocean that still receive light. Though they are capable of traveling in light-starved sections of the sea, they spend the majority of their time in places where they can soak up the sun. Kelp Dryads bodies are designed for aquatic living, allowing them to survive the intense amount of salt in the water around them. Their long "tails" and tendril covered arms help propel them through the water. They usually move their tails vertically, swimming kind of like dolphins. The many tendrils hanging off their bodies help them sense changes in the water, or track scents of other species. Filters built into the backs of their throats are used for filter feeding. This does not mean they are against nabbing the occasional fish to munch on. Though fully aquatic, they can breath and talk out of the water, but their locomotion is limited to slithering. They do not like leaving saltwater and have no desire to travel on land. The sheer amount of salt in their system can actually make freshwater toxic to them.

Like most Dryads, Kelp Dryads are very friendly and rather excitable. These is magnified even more if they meet another Dryad species. I had once gone out with a fishing crew in order to talk to a group of Kelp Dryads that were known to live in the bay. When I succeeded getting their attention, they came to the surface and where absolutely ecstatic to see me. So overjoyed, that they actually yanked me off the boat and into the water with them. Anyone who knows anything about terrestrial plants will know that this was a very poor turn of events. Thankfully the crew was able to pull me back onto the boat and get me some freshwater to keep me from going into shock. Unfortunately I had to spend a few hours soaking in a washtub in order to purge my body of the salt overload. Further meetings with Kelp Dryads were done with some rules set in place.

Kelp Dryads live in groups, but do not really build any structures or homes. Some will live in caves that they find, while others are content living in massive kelp forests that grow under the sea. Their days involve a lot of swimming about, chatting, wandering and maintaining of their habitat. Though they are not builders, Kelp Dryads are fond of collecting and decorating. Their home areas will have large chunks of rock that each Dryad claims as their own. They will then decorate the rock with whatever they find, be it collected trinkets or interesting flora and fauna. Kelp Dryads are extremely proud of their rocks and often try to outdo one another. Kelp strands within kelp forests may end up getting adorned with items whenever the Dryads feel crafty. These displays they create can get unintentionally morbid if they find a shipwreck nearby. They love exotic decorations, regardless of what is or who it once belonged to. As long as it looks pretty on their rock.

Like their land counterparts, Kelp Dryads are very friendly with other ocean based sentient species. They are fine with sharing territory and will sometimes help others with hunting or collecting. The only rules they have is that others don't disturb their rocks or harm their home. Many species are fine with these rules, so they get along just fine. Despite their harmless nature, I have heard that some aquatic species do not like traveling into kelp forests at night due to Kelp Dryads. They claim it is because Kelp Dryads blend in easily with the forest, and them slithering through the darkened waters can cause a lot of scary moments.

For surface dwellers who sail upon the ocean, they have mixed feelings on Kelp Dryads. For some, they find them polite and helpful, able to give directions to lost sailors if someone can get their attention. There have even been stories of Kelp Dryads stumbling upon people lost at sea, and helping them survive and get back to land. But there are others that are not a fan of Kelp Dryads. There are superstitions that the sighting of a Kelp Dryad means bad luck for the voyage. Others that say Kelp Dryads scare away fish to save them from fishers, which is totally not true. In legends and folklore, Kelp Dryads are often intermixed with Sirens and Mermaids, and end up getting a bad rap for it. The worst tale that I have ever heard on Kelp Drayds is about fishers who net one. The story goes that anyone who hooks a Kelp Dryad with a pole or snares them in their nets will face the wrath of the ocean. I have to say that this is mostly true. Those who yank one out of the ocean will earn the anger of the group. But I mean c'mon! If you got a fish hook through the tail, you would be pissed too!

Chlora Myron
Dryad Natural Historian

----------------------------------------------

The expression on this one kills me every time. I don't know why. It just seems so overjoyed to just be made of kelp. YAY!