Dryad
Dryad’s or Nymphs are Elven cousins who are closely (magically) tied to the trees and plants or water features like lakes and streams in the area in which they are born. They are reclusive, and shy. Most people will not even know a Dryad resides in their local forest, river, lake or stream. They are much like elves with more wonderous magical abilities, and one important weakness.
Abilities:
Meld - Wood Dryads can meld with trees and become one with the tree - seeing the world from it’s point of view. While they are melded, they cannot be hurt. The tree can be harmed, and if sufficient damage occurs to the tree, the Dryad will be forcibly ejected from the tree. It takes one round for the Dryad to meld. Water Dryads can become one with water
Misdirect - A subtle meld of illusion and plant communication, this ability allows the Dryad to hopelessly confuse humanoids wandering through her domain. Restrictions: Because Dryads are magically linked to the forest or water feature they are born in, they cannot wander too far from it for any length of time. The actual distance and length of time varies from Dryad to Dryad and area to area.
Relations to Elves:
Dryads are a distant cousin to elves, and can procreate with them. Because male Dryads are very rare, this can happen quite frequently. Dryads are only attracted to elves with some magical ability, the more, the better. Male Dryads will almost never mate with an elf. About one in four Elven-Dryad offspring will feel the call of the forest/water, and have the same abilities (and restrictions) of a full blooded Dryad.