HOME | DD

Description
For a lot of the hybrid species of dryads that have emerged, their origins make sense. With populations growing and mobility getting easier and more prevalent, we are seeing many territories starting to merge. Impassable areas are starting to vanish, and populations that have been isolated for decades are now being visited by the outside world. The chances of seeing Desert Dryads or Marsh Dryads outside of their usual habitat back then was rare, but now it is becoming more commonplace. With such mingling of the different dryad species, it is inevitable that crossbreeding will occur. Relationships can develop anywhere, and love knows no borders or bounds. In the end, two beings who once were oblivious to each other's existence now join together in an unbreakable bond. That is usually how hybridization occurs. In some cases though, you just look at the family tree and wonder "How the heck did that happen?!"

One of the hybrids whose lineage brings much confusion is the Mangrove Dryad. They are a hybrid species that is found in warm coastal waters, and whose populations can create living amphibious forests. Compared to other hybrid species, they are also some of the most extreme when it comes to anatomical deviations. Plenty of hybrids share obvious characteristics of their parents, and is usually easy to see the combination that birthed them. In this case, though, Mangrove Dryads have taken on a form that at first seems quite alien compared to their parents. They are quite tall in size, and they also hold quite a bit of mass. Their upper bodies are elongated and stretched out, which hints at one of their parents. Their lower half, however, is where things get really interesting. Instead of having the usual two walking appendages of other dryads, theirs bear more in resemblance to actual tree roots. It is almost the total opposite of what we have! While we have legs that are shaped out of roots, they have roots that are shaped out of legs! Despite its tangled and chaotic appearance, these limbs are indeed legs that the Mangrove Dryad can walk upon. It just so happens that these legs grow in a ridiculous amount and don't restrict themselves to the torso. You can see appendages branching off from other limbs, adding more to this bizarre look. It turns out, this wild growth isn't even restricted to their legs! Upon closer inspection of their arms and shoulders, you can see where a number of branches and arm-like growths have developed. These growths seem much slower and stunted compared to what is occurring downstairs, but it is still a sight to behold! This constant sprouting and growing is believed to be a result of their hybridization, much like how other hybrids possess unique characteristics and features. Speaking of hybrids, I have yet to reveal the parents that result in Mangrove Dryads. Now I am not one to judge relationships or those who partake in certain pleasures, but this is one of those cases where I am baffled about how things came to be. Like, how did these two happen to cross paths, and how did they even pull something like this off? I am not being crude, I am just confused! You see, Mangrove Dryads are a result of a Conifer Dryad and a Kelp Dryad, which is a situation I have yet to fully wrap my head around.

If you are wondering how a giant arctic forest dweller and a tropical oceanic swimmer came together to raise a family, then you are in the same boat as the rest of us. I can understand Conifer Dryads migrating to warmer climates, but we are still dealing with a saltwater environment and an aquatic lover. Relationships can indeed happen anywhere and love has no limits, but still! If this was a single incident, I could accept this much easier, but there are entire colonies of these hybrids! Along coastal waters, you can find large populations of Mangrove Dryads dwelling in the swamps and tides. So this pairing had to occur quite a few times for there to be such a healthy number! Sure, they can breed with Kelp Dryads and still result in Mangroves being born, but there are still populations that are miles from one another that had to start from somewhere. It is a mystery to this day on how or when these hybrid colonies were established, and I am not sure if we will ever really figure it out.

Now I think we have spent enough time talking about their conception, so it is time to move onto the usual stuff. Like I mentioned before, Mangrove Dryads inhabit the coastal waters and swamps in places with tropical climates. As a result of two parents from the land and sea, they have wound up being somewhere in the middle. I would say that they are amphibious, but that still doesn't seem like the best term. They don't split their time between land and water, they just have half of their body in the water and the other half out. Well, it is more of a 75% out of water and 25% in. What I am trying to say is that they spend most of their lives standing in shallow saltwater. Their many branching legs allow them to stand comfortably on the muddy bottoms, which holds the rest of their body above the surface. Now most dryads do not tolerate saltwater, as it can be dangerous in large doses. Mangroves, however, are totally fine with it. Thick bark helps prevent the salt from getting in and the water from leaking out. Their many legs also help keep a large portion of their body away from the salty water, where they can also bath in fresh rainwater. Even if they do absorb a bunch of salt, special glands in their bodies absorb it and force it out of their bodies. These glands appear to be located around and under the head cap, mainly where their "hair" is. You can see salt crystals slowly build up on this vegetation, eventually dispersing when the dryad shakes their head or when they do some grooming. I have heard some humans jokingly compare this to dandruff, which isn't the worst comparison I have heard. If you do hang around Mangroves Dryads, be sure to watch out when they do this. This head-shaking technique they use to get rid of the salt buildup is used pretty commonly, so they don't think twice about doing it. If you happen to be near them and have your mouth open when they do this, well, lets just say you better have a full canteen handy.

Life in the shallows for them is quite different from what other dryads experience. Due to their large size and location, they do no construct any buildings or structures. Their thick bark and many limbs allow them to weather practically any conditions. Rain is a welcome thing for them, as they can bath in the falling freshwater and hydrate. Storms that blow in can create powerful wind and rough waves, but they can still endure these. Their root-like legs can burrow into the muck and anchor them, making them almost impossible to dislodge. Huddling together as a colony, they intertwine their limbs and pack themselves in tightly to create a formidable living fortress. The saplings will be moved to the center of this mass, where they will hide underneath the adults. The young will be shielded by a wall of wrapped roots, protecting them from the rough weather. While in this state, hardly any storm can affect them, so much so that other life has taken notice. Birds, fish and other small critters will flock to these colonies during rough weather, knowing that it will provide sanctuary. Stories even tell of fishermen being saved by Mangrove Dryads when their boats were swept away in the storm. Studies and observations have also found that these colonies, mixed with the surrounding mangrove trees, can actually create barriers that protect many ecosystems from the brunt of the storm. So while these dryads may appear lax and peaceful, they can be forces of nature when they come together!

The everyday life of a Mangrove dryad is a rather simple one. Most of the time they remain nearby others of their kind, socializing and resting in the calm waters. Individuals may go out to gather food, slowly wading through the shallows in search of fish and other snacks. With their many roots and constant exposure to the sun, they get a huge portion of their nutrients by just standing still. When they travel through the surrounding swamps and shallows, it is usually to collect meat, fruits and nuts to supplement their diet. By using nets woven with vines and spears fashioned with old branches, they can hunt fish to bring back to the colony. Edible vegetation is easily picked from the surrounding trees, or dredged up by their many legs. Though they eat most of their food raw, there is one instance where they may actually craft a dish. It is called a "Mud Cake," and it is almost exactly what you think it is. It is marsh mud that has ground up fish parts and seaweed mixed in. The resulting mixture is formed into flat discs, which are then left to bake in the sun. It is mainly made as a treat, and apparently their saplings love it. I myself have tried this dish, and I must say it is an acquired taste. To me it tasted like someone made fish-flavored chalk and then dropped it in the sand. Regardless, the food they collect on these excursions is shared amongst the colony, and most of it goes to the saplings. To ensure their young grow big and strong, they are given hefty portions, as the adults can easily get their nutrients from the surrounding soil.

Due to their location on the coasts, these colonies tend to interact with nearby villages and ports. Other dryad settlements near these waters are happy to welcome their fellow sisters, and the two usually work together to hunt and survive. Since saltwater is bad for most land dryads, Mangrove Dryads will aid in fishing and collecting coastal foods. In return, the land dryads will provide terrestrial food and medicine for the colony. Healers who work in these towns will often have monthly checkups arranged with the Mangrove colony, paddling in by boat to see the saplings and deliver medicine. Non-dryad settlements may also find similar help from these colonies, that is if they are willing to work with them. Sometimes human ports and towns may disturb the surrounding area with harmful fishing and practices, and this doesn't please these colonies too much. They care very much for the waters they live in, so such destructive things are not taken well. Since Mangrove Dryads don't move all that fast and aren't really fighters, many don't see any danger in angering them. However, some villages have learned the hard way that Mangrove Dryads can retaliate. When the next big hurricane blows in, they may be surprised to see that the mangrove barrier that protected their town has mysteriously vanished, leaving them exposed to the full force of storm. After the waves and winds tear their settlements to pieces, they may have a newfound respect for the Mangrove Dryads.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

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

This was an old dryad species that got themselves a good reworking and update. My old version was way too bland and I easily forgot they even existed. So I turned them into a hybrid and gave them a better look!

Description
For a lot of the hybrid species of dryads that have emerged, their origins make sense. With populations growing and mobility getting easier and more prevalent, we are seeing many territories starting to merge. Impassable areas are starting to vanish, and populations that have been isolated for decades are now being visited by the outside world. The chances of seeing Desert Dryads or Marsh Dryads outside of their usual habitat back then was rare, but now it is becoming more commonplace. With such mingling of the different dryad species, it is inevitable that crossbreeding will occur. Relationships can develop anywhere, and love knows no borders or bounds. In the end, two beings who once were oblivious to each other's existence now join together in an unbreakable bond. That is usually how hybridization occurs. In some cases though, you just look at the family tree and wonder "How the heck did that happen?!"

One of the hybrids whose lineage brings much confusion is the Mangrove Dryad. They are a hybrid species that is found in warm coastal waters, and whose populations can create living amphibious forests. Compared to other hybrid species, they are also some of the most extreme when it comes to anatomical deviations. Plenty of hybrids share obvious characteristics of their parents, and is usually easy to see the combination that birthed them. In this case, though, Mangrove Dryads have taken on a form that at first seems quite alien compared to their parents. They are quite tall in size, and they also hold quite a bit of mass. Their upper bodies are elongated and stretched out, which hints at one of their parents. Their lower half, however, is where things get really interesting. Instead of having the usual two walking appendages of other dryads, theirs bear more in resemblance to actual tree roots. It is almost the total opposite of what we have! While we have legs that are shaped out of roots, they have roots that are shaped out of legs! Despite its tangled and chaotic appearance, these limbs are indeed legs that the Mangrove Dryad can walk upon. It just so happens that these legs grow in a ridiculous amount and don't restrict themselves to the torso. You can see appendages branching off from other limbs, adding more to this bizarre look. It turns out, this wild growth isn't even restricted to their legs! Upon closer inspection of their arms and shoulders, you can see where a number of branches and arm-like growths have developed. These growths seem much slower and stunted compared to what is occurring downstairs, but it is still a sight to behold! This constant sprouting and growing is believed to be a result of their hybridization, much like how other hybrids possess unique characteristics and features. Speaking of hybrids, I have yet to reveal the parents that result in Mangrove Dryads. Now I am not one to judge relationships or those who partake in certain pleasures, but this is one of those cases where I am baffled about how things came to be. Like, how did these two happen to cross paths, and how did they even pull something like this off? I am not being crude, I am just confused! You see, Mangrove Dryads are a result of a Conifer Dryad and a Kelp Dryad, which is a situation I have yet to fully wrap my head around.

If you are wondering how a giant arctic forest dweller and a tropical oceanic swimmer came together to raise a family, then you are in the same boat as the rest of us. I can understand Conifer Dryads migrating to warmer climates, but we are still dealing with a saltwater environment and an aquatic lover. Relationships can indeed happen anywhere and love has no limits, but still! If this was a single incident, I could accept this much easier, but there are entire colonies of these hybrids! Along coastal waters, you can find large populations of Mangrove Dryads dwelling in the swamps and tides. So this pairing had to occur quite a few times for there to be such a healthy number! Sure, they can breed with Kelp Dryads and still result in Mangroves being born, but there are still populations that are miles from one another that had to start from somewhere. It is a mystery to this day on how or when these hybrid colonies were established, and I am not sure if we will ever really figure it out.

Now I think we have spent enough time talking about their conception, so it is time to move onto the usual stuff. Like I mentioned before, Mangrove Dryads inhabit the coastal waters and swamps in places with tropical climates. As a result of two parents from the land and sea, they have wound up being somewhere in the middle. I would say that they are amphibious, but that still doesn't seem like the best term. They don't split their time between land and water, they just have half of their body in the water and the other half out. Well, it is more of a 75% out of water and 25% in. What I am trying to say is that they spend most of their lives standing in shallow saltwater. Their many branching legs allow them to stand comfortably on the muddy bottoms, which holds the rest of their body above the surface. Now most dryads do not tolerate saltwater, as it can be dangerous in large doses. Mangroves, however, are totally fine with it. Thick bark helps prevent the salt from getting in and the water from leaking out. Their many legs also help keep a large portion of their body away from the salty water, where they can also bath in fresh rainwater. Even if they do absorb a bunch of salt, special glands in their bodies absorb it and force it out of their bodies. These glands appear to be located around and under the head cap, mainly where their "hair" is. You can see salt crystals slowly build up on this vegetation, eventually dispersing when the dryad shakes their head or when they do some grooming. I have heard some humans jokingly compare this to dandruff, which isn't the worst comparison I have heard. If you do hang around Mangroves Dryads, be sure to watch out when they do this. This head-shaking technique they use to get rid of the salt buildup is used pretty commonly, so they don't think twice about doing it. If you happen to be near them and have your mouth open when they do this, well, lets just say you better have a full canteen handy.

Life in the shallows for them is quite different from what other dryads experience. Due to their large size and location, they do no construct any buildings or structures. Their thick bark and many limbs allow them to weather practically any conditions. Rain is a welcome thing for them, as they can bath in the falling freshwater and hydrate. Storms that blow in can create powerful wind and rough waves, but they can still endure these. Their root-like legs can burrow into the muck and anchor them, making them almost impossible to dislodge. Huddling together as a colony, they intertwine their limbs and pack themselves in tightly to create a formidable living fortress. The saplings will be moved to the center of this mass, where they will hide underneath the adults. The young will be shielded by a wall of wrapped roots, protecting them from the rough weather. While in this state, hardly any storm can affect them, so much so that other life has taken notice. Birds, fish and other small critters will flock to these colonies during rough weather, knowing that it will provide sanctuary. Stories even tell of fishermen being saved by Mangrove Dryads when their boats were swept away in the storm. Studies and observations have also found that these colonies, mixed with the surrounding mangrove trees, can actually create barriers that protect many ecosystems from the brunt of the storm. So while these dryads may appear lax and peaceful, they can be forces of nature when they come together!

The everyday life of a Mangrove dryad is a rather simple one. Most of the time they remain nearby others of their kind, socializing and resting in the calm waters. Individuals may go out to gather food, slowly wading through the shallows in search of fish and other snacks. With their many roots and constant exposure to the sun, they get a huge portion of their nutrients by just standing still. When they travel through the surrounding swamps and shallows, it is usually to collect meat, fruits and nuts to supplement their diet. By using nets woven with vines and spears fashioned with old branches, they can hunt fish to bring back to the colony. Edible vegetation is easily picked from the surrounding trees, or dredged up by their many legs. Though they eat most of their food raw, there is one instance where they may actually craft a dish. It is called a "Mud Cake," and it is almost exactly what you think it is. It is marsh mud that has ground up fish parts and seaweed mixed in. The resulting mixture is formed into flat discs, which are then left to bake in the sun. It is mainly made as a treat, and apparently their saplings love it. I myself have tried this dish, and I must say it is an acquired taste. To me it tasted like someone made fish-flavored chalk and then dropped it in the sand. Regardless, the food they collect on these excursions is shared amongst the colony, and most of it goes to the saplings. To ensure their young grow big and strong, they are given hefty portions, as the adults can easily get their nutrients from the surrounding soil.

Due to their location on the coasts, these colonies tend to interact with nearby villages and ports. Other dryad settlements near these waters are happy to welcome their fellow sisters, and the two usually work together to hunt and survive. Since saltwater is bad for most land dryads, Mangrove Dryads will aid in fishing and collecting coastal foods. In return, the land dryads will provide terrestrial food and medicine for the colony. Healers who work in these towns will often have monthly checkups arranged with the Mangrove colony, paddling in by boat to see the saplings and deliver medicine. Non-dryad settlements may also find similar help from these colonies, that is if they are willing to work with them. Sometimes human ports and towns may disturb the surrounding area with harmful fishing and practices, and this doesn't please these colonies too much. They care very much for the waters they live in, so such destructive things are not taken well. Since Mangrove Dryads don't move all that fast and aren't really fighters, many don't see any danger in angering them. However, some villages have learned the hard way that Mangrove Dryads can retaliate. When the next big hurricane blows in, they may be surprised to see that the mangrove barrier that protected their town has mysteriously vanished, leaving them exposed to the full force of storm. After the waves and winds tear their settlements to pieces, they may have a newfound respect for the Mangrove Dryads.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

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

This was an old dryad species that got themselves a good reworking and update. My old version was way too bland and I easily forgot they even existed. So I turned them into a hybrid and gave them a better look!