Dryad
Medium Fey, neutral
200 XP
Special Abilities
Innate Spellcasting
The dryad's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 14). The dryad can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
At will: druidcraft
3/day each: entangle, goodberry
1/day each: barkskin, pass without trace, shillelagh
Magic Resistance
The dryad has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Speak with Beasts and Plants
The dryad can communicate with beasts and plants as if they shared a language.
Tree Stride
Once on her turn, the dryad can use 10 ft. of her movement to step magically into one living tree within her reach and emerge from a second living tree within 60 ft. of the first tree, appearing in an unoccupied space within 5 ft. of the second tree. Both trees must be large or bigger.
Actions
Club
Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit (+6 to hit with shillelagh), reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d4) bludgeoning damage, or 8 (1d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage with shillelagh.
Fey Charm
The dryad targets one humanoid or beast that she can see within 30 feet of her. If the target can see the dryad, it must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be magically charmed. The charmed creature regards the dryad as a trusted friend to be heeded and protected. Although the target isn't under the dryad's control, it takes the dryad's requests or actions in the most favorable way it can.
Each time the dryad or its allies do anything harmful to the target, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success. Otherwise, the effect lasts 24 hours or until the dryad dies, is on a different plane of existence from the target, or ends the effect as a bonus action. If a target's saving throw is successful, the target is immune to the dryad's Fey Charm for the next 24 hours.
The dryad can have no more than one humanoid and up to three beasts charmed at a time.
Quick Reference
Running This Encounter
Dryads are bound to their trees and cannot stray far from them, making their home a natural fortress. Use the tree as both a lair and an escape route—the dryad can retreat into it for safety. Present multiple trees to create tactical complexity, forcing the party to either split up or commit to one location. Consider using charm abilities to turn party members against each other before resorting to direct combat.
Combat Tactics
The dryad leads with its Fey Charm ability to incapacitate dangerous opponents, preferring mind control over direct damage. It uses melee attacks only when charmed enemies are unavailable, and retreats into its tree when threatened, forcing opponents to either wait or move to a new location.
Environment & Setting
Ancient forests with large, distinctive trees make ideal dryad lairs. Swampy woodlands or enchanted groves add atmosphere and provide natural difficult terrain to slow pursuers.