Dryad: Difference between revisions
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==== Cultural Significance ====
Unlike many mammal species, both male and female Dryads have horns. No recorded difference exists in size, color, or shape between sexes. Culturally, female Dryad horns are often more green than males. This is due to ritual practices in which the horns are covered in leaves, and left to soak in water. This causes the chlorophyll of the leaves to stain the horns, and stays until the outer layer sheds, or excessive bathing cleans the outer layers. This is not a natural process, and has no noted origin.
Like rams and goats, Dryads shed their horns outer layer somewhat frequently. This is caused by the keratin curing from the sunlight, drying the surface layer. Adult Dryads shed their horns approximately every 12-15 years, and every 3-5 years during childhood and adolescence. The shedding is not painful, and is often described as relieving. In most dryad societies, the event is seen as passing into the next phase of life; it means that the Dryad will experience a major event soon. Over the next several years, the outer layer rebuilds. After 6 months they already have regained half the necessary layering of keratin. During this process, Dryads often consume much larger amounts of food. Dryads shed their horns and average of
=== Digestion ===
Like all species in the infernal taxonomy, Dryads are omnivores. However historically Dryads have been an herbivorous people. Because of this, modern Dryads lack the digestive system to consume meat and animal products. The only exception being milk when young. Like most mammal species this disappears after infancy. Their primary diet consists of roots, leafy plants, grain, tree fruit, berries, and cocoa beans.
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Dryads spend much longer than most humanoid species in infancy and adolescence. Dryad children are considered infants until about the age of 7, at which point they become capable of accomplishing most tasks on their own, and shed the first horns of their lives. Like most humanoid species, children learn to walk and climb between the ages of 2 and 3. Between the ages of 3-6, Dryad children learn to speak. The end of infancy can be characterized by the first shed of the child's horns. These are often kept for use in ceremony.
Adolescence often begins at the age of 16, and lasts for 10-12 years. During this time, secondary sex characteristics emerge, as well as the body growing to its adult size. Dryad horns also grow to near their final length during this phase of life. There is no clear and defined end for adolescence; most Dryad's consider the sixth shedding of their horns to be the end.
Adult Dryads do not show signs of age until approximately 170 years of age, at which point they aging process is accelerates quicker than humans.
=== Hair ===
Dryads have hair like most humanoid mammals. It primarily grows from the scalp, avoiding the base of the horns. Dryads have little to no body hair due to the time spent living in more temperate environments, as well as their very rough skin. Dryads can also be characterized by a light brown, blonde, or red color to their hair.
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