Leafcrown Dryad

Like all natural-born things, the leafcrown dryads serve Nylea, God of the Hunt. In many ways, they are both the arrows of her bow and the shield of her domain, working to keep pure Nylea's most sacred natural place, and hunting down and punishing those who dare breath them.   Some believe the leafcrown dryads are two-faced, spending their free time in revelry with nature, but turning to vicious predators when they sense weakness. In truth, the dryads are in some ways the most mortal of the nymphs, enjoying their lives among Nylea's gifts and quickly to take vengeance on those who wrong what they find supremely beautiful.   Keppers of Balance While the dryads are unwaveringly loyal to Nylea, many of them are ancient by mortal standards, created before Nylea's transformation into God of the Hunt. Unlike Nylea, who scorns and spurns most forms of civilization, the dryads know exactly how important mortal society is to the Nyxborn. They have seen its effects firsthand in the slow transformation of their divine master, and know the secret influence that mortal perception can have over Nyx.   Rather than take the same role as Nylea's other servants, the dryads would prefer to make sure that the structure of civilization and the freedom of the wilds strike an uneasy truce. It is the leafcrown dryads which first helped the mortals to found Setessa, an attempt to blend society with nature before it turned away from Nylea and to the worship of Karametra.   Natural Freedom Because of their desire to keep a natural balance, while the dryads are quick to serve Nylea when called, they rarely take their orders at face value. When Nylea commands them, they obey as they see fit, always fulfilling what they are called to do but ensuring it is done in their own ways. Even the protection of the dryads' ancient glades comes from an order given by Nylea long ago, before her role as God of the Hunt, as she would now rather actively work to see the glades expanded.   For her part, Nylea views the dryads as useful tools, reliable for protecting her interests but not as trustworthy as her other Nyxborn servants. The leafcrown dryads are too soft for Nylea's tastes, especially when compared to the new servants she has created as God of the Hunt- creatures like Nyxborn hydras, centaurs, and even satyrs- all more dedicated to tearing apart the unnatural where they find it.