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#creature #dryad #monster #plant #sundew
Published: 2019-03-30 20:14:19 +0000 UTC; Views: 2047; Favourites: 48; Downloads: 0
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While hybridization is a possibility between almost any dryad type, it should be noted that the chances are not always the same. When two different dryad types mate, it does not always guarantee that the offspring will be one of these hybrids. Some hybrids have higher chances of being created over others, for what reason we are not entirely sure yet. It just seems that certain types need more than just two different parents, and if these unknown requirements are not filled then the offspring will be born as one of the two types. An example of this is would be the difference between a Bloodwood dryad and a Sundew dryad. For Bloodwoods, they are a hybrid of a Conifer Dryad and a Bloody Dryad, and if these two mate, than it seems like a third of the offspring will be Bloodwoods. For Sundew Dryads, whose parents are an Ivy Dryad and a Marsh Dryad, there is a much lower chance. No real solid numbers have been calculated, but the guess is that only five to ten percent of these offspring will come out as a Sundew. Once again, no one is really sure why, or what conditions are needed to create this hybrid. Needless to say, Sundew Dryads are quite rare!As mentioned above, the Sundew Dryad is a hybrid that can come from the pairing of an Ivy Dryad and a Marsh Dryad. It may be a bit hard to believe at first glance, though, as Sundew Dryads are quite different looking than their parents! The bright colors that are found on their limbs and headcap may be partly from their Marsh Dryad mother, but their bodies have boosted these vibrant hues to an extreme degree. Stalks erupt from their shoulders, joints and rim, making their bodies look more like costumes you would see in some extravagant play! Their forelimbs and roots share this vibrant color, and their hands possess a thin layer of webbing. Adorning these bright spots and headcap are sticky globules that are similar to the saliva of a Marsh Dryad. In this case, though, the goo has an extra kick to it thanks to their Ivy mother. The gobs contain trace amounts of digestive fluid within them, but not enough to make them dangerous. The effect is quite weak, being a threat only to tiny insects that may get trapped on them. For larger creatures, this goop leaves a tingling sensation on the skin, and prolonged exposure over the course of hours may leave tender red marks, much like a sunburn. Be you plant or flesh-based, there is nothing to worry about with a Sundew's secretions, besides the fact that they leave everything around them sticky. Since their fingers end with dollops of this stuff, they can't help but it get all over everything they touch. That is, of course, if they choose to actually use their hands.
The other notable feature of the Sundew Dryad is their foliage (or hair, to our meat-based readers). Rather than coming in the shape of simple vines, leaves or petals, their foliage has grown to a ludicrous degree. Not only does it grow longer than their bodies, but these tendrils are actually dexterous! Like the tentacle of an octopus, the Sundew can control these growths with incredible coordination and precision. Over time and training, they can use their tendrils just as easily as one would use their hands! These extra appendages, though, do not end in fingers but flexible paddles. They too are coated in drops of their sticky secretions, which help them grip objects and snare prey. In some cases, they may hide up in trees and drop their foliage down to grab prey that is passing down below! How crazy! Imagine using your hair to catch dinner! Wild! I have also heard they make for great multitaskers too! It does sound like a cool ability, but such gifts are not always blessings. Their control over their foliage takes time and practice, meaning that they do not emerge with perfect coordination and mastery. According to my sources, having this long mane can be problematic for saplings who are still trying to figure out the uses of their arms and legs. They can easily get their tendrils tangled up or they may even trip on them when playing. I also imagine these long strands are perfect targets for bullies to grab and pull. Even when they begin to practice with them, they can be unwieldy and unresponsive. There is no telling how many vases or table settings have perished to a Sundew's tendril whipping about with reckless abandon. Even adult Sundews run into this problem from time to time, as having six extra long limbs can make management difficult. To help mitigate this, Sundews often come up with a more compact "hairstyle," where they coil or wind their tendrils up to make them more manageable. Many mothers will wrap the foliage of their saplings so that it is not such a hazard for them, at least until they learn to control it better.
Chlora Myron
Dryad Natural Historian
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If ya'll thought I was done making dryads, then you thought wrong! In this case, though, credit for the idea goes to Lediblock2 , who thought that a sundew would be a perfect hybrid between a marsh and ivy dryad!
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Comments: 13
KingOfWarlocks [2019-04-01 19:01:40 +0000 UTC]
That's a really lovely picture. This is one of the prettiest and most visually interesting dryads of yours i've seen so far, and i presume that seeing her limbs in action would make that last bit even more so! Cute to read that they still have to get the hang of fully controlling their "hair" as well and it's nice that the drops on their skin aren't too bad. I do wonder if some of these Dryads have taken it upon themselves to come up with all kinds of hairstyles, essentially being something like a barber. Or maybe have that done by other dryads that are more specialized in the area of such fashion, but not to the degree of the Rose Dryads (that's what they were called, right? Or was it just Floral Dryads?) .
Come to think of it, the tentacles kind of remind me of the description of the Yah-Te-Veo, which if i remember correctly was a carnivorous plant shaped like a tree stump with eyes around it and long, tentacle-like vines that grabbed everything it saw to drop it into its mouth. Its name meant something along the lines of "I see you" as well, but i might be mistaken. It's been a very long time since i've looked into that creature.
And that also reminds me that amidst all the creating of newer characters, i've completely forgotten about Thelma. I should really get back to a story about me and her as well in the future.
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EvolutionsVoid In reply to KingOfWarlocks [2019-04-01 19:48:06 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! I always like having the hybrids interact with one of the main dryads that creates them. It makes for some cute scenes! The Sundews are definitely one of the more visually different dryads, with the extravagant design and "hair." As for hairstyles, dryads do indeed have barber equivalents. Since these growths are much thicker and different than hair, they use different techniques to achieve the desired results. Careful trimming and application of specific salves can encourage the hair to grow back in different ways. A single vine strand could be made to split into multiple growths, or it could change its thickness depending on the techniques used. Since dryads can have vines, leaves, petals or even woody scales as hair, one can change what type of hair they have by grafting. This is done by cutting away all the hair growths and then carefully attaching fresh cuttings of the desired type to the open stumps. If done correctly, it will heal up and function normally, and further work can be done to make the body naturally produce these new growths. Some Sundews have gone into this line of work and are pros at it, but you are right in saying that this field sees a lot of Floral Dryads taking the barber/stylist roles. Since hair and head growths are such a big thing for certain Floral communities, they take a lot of care and pride in this trade.
You are correct! The Ya-Te-Veo is pretty much exactly as you described it!
And no worries on that!
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KingOfWarlocks In reply to EvolutionsVoid [2019-04-04 21:38:54 +0000 UTC]
You're most welcome, man! I should do drawings where my characters interact with each other more as well. You're definitely right in that it makes for lovely scenes.
I see. That is really awesome to learn about Dryad stuff like that. Very interesting to known how the Dryad equivalent of barbers operate, odd as that may sound. Thanks for explaining!
Now I wonder what would classify as a "punk" hairstyle for Dryads...
Woohoo! My mind isn't as big of a collection of holes as i thought it was! : P
Thanks, man. I've already thought about a new short story with her, but that would only fit well after a few more adventures before that happens.
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EvolutionsVoid In reply to KingOfWarlocks [2019-04-05 14:15:43 +0000 UTC]
You should some time! It is a lot of fun figuring out how they would react and how their attitudes would mesh.
No problem! I do like fleshing things out and figuring out details, what with the super long descriptions and what not! As for a "punk" hair style, I can think of a few things. One would be hair that has thorns on it, mainly having thorns or prickles grafted onto the outsides of their hair. Another would be a hairstyle where one side of the head has much longer hair than the other (be it really short or missing altogether), kind of like the short half shaved hairstyle. Another wouldn't be so much a hairstyle, but decorating ones hair with beads, bones or other small trinkets.
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KingOfWarlocks In reply to EvolutionsVoid [2019-04-07 15:02:29 +0000 UTC]
That does sound quite fun. I should try and do that with characters that normally aren't aware of each other's existence as well, like Fulkrost with another Incarnation of his, or Sammy with Sulgostrin.
Glad to hear it! I quite like that as well, though sometimes it's just that when i start writing, it's a very slow start.
Sounds pretty fitting for a more punk-like hair style, as such appearances often give the idea that people with such style want to distance themselves from others-- and people naturally tend to avoid spikes and such. The hair trinkets sound pretty nice too, and i imagine that some Dryads would have pretty odd things in their hair.
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EvolutionsVoid In reply to Lediblock2 [2019-03-31 13:21:42 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! It was interesting trying to find a way to make a sundew work with a humanoid design!
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DarkSideDuck [2019-03-30 21:56:08 +0000 UTC]
Looks like a crown!
And as for hybrids, with your current collection of dryads, you can make 169 or 225 if you include subspecies.
How about a dryad based around peat moss? Or the ginkgo? Or the hydrangea which I love.
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EvolutionsVoid In reply to DarkSideDuck [2019-03-31 13:27:17 +0000 UTC]
Boy howdy, I don't think I will be going that far with it! The hybrids are just going to be results from the main types of dryads crossbreeding, kind of like a rare variation that can crop up.
I am not quite sure with those ones yet. I am wary on introducing any more main types, as I don't want things to get out of control. I am even turning some types I have already introduced, like the corpse flowers and mangroves into hybrids to help organize things a bit better. But if you can think of a combo that would produce a hybrid that would fit those species, then maybe we got something there (though a hydrangea-based dryad could just be a floral dryad with a unique head flower)!
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DarkSideDuck In reply to EvolutionsVoid [2019-03-31 14:15:24 +0000 UTC]
I was talking about suggestions for hybrids.
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EvolutionsVoid In reply to DarkSideDuck [2019-03-31 14:28:40 +0000 UTC]
Ah okay, sorry about that! In that case, I would have to see what combinations of dryad types would make something that would fit with those species. For the peat moss (or just moss in general), that may work as apparel or a garb for dryads that live in damp environments. Use it as hunter's camouflage for those who live in bogs, temperate rainforests and the such!
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DarkSideDuck In reply to EvolutionsVoid [2019-03-31 18:36:52 +0000 UTC]
Hmm...interesting!
A question: WHat if a floral had saplings with a cactus? Would you get a flowered cactus? How 'bout dryads using capsaicin to ward off mammals.
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EvolutionsVoid In reply to DarkSideDuck [2019-03-31 20:42:46 +0000 UTC]
Yep! A Floral and a Desert Dryad would create a hybrid that would be like a cactus from the Echinopsis genus. They would get the petals and needles from each mother, making for one pretty pin cushion!
Capsaicin would definitely be something they could use to protect their homes and crops from mammalian pests, or even coat themselves in if needed. The Venoness could use seeds to brew up some burning spells as well!
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