Resin Entry

Resin · 5th October 2008, 16:18

Dryads

This is a re-imagining of the classic Dryad creatures:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dryad
I wanted to go for something a bit darker.

They say a dryad is created when a maiden's life and virtue are taken from her upon the roots of an elder tree. When the roots of the tree drink the blood of the woman, the tree's Kodama fuses with the angry ghost of the murdered woman. The resulting horror is a Dryad.

Dryads are rare creatures found most often in heavily wooded areas. They appear as a mostly bare tree with a woman's head, arms, and torso protruding from the trunk. The woman's skin has the color and texture of sun bleached deadwood, her eyes are deep hollow sockets, and each of her fingers end in long twiggy branches. The ground around them, that within the reach of their powerful roots will always be blackened and lifeless.

Dryads are not completely stationary, but they don't tend to wander and are slow enough that they may almost seem unmoving. To die by a dryad's embrace is both painful and slow. If a wanderer is foolish enough to investigate the strange visage of the woman, or mistakes the dryad for an ordinary tree and enters the blackened ring of cracked earth, powerful roots will grab him and hold him in place while the creature makes its slow advance. The dryad has an incredible supply of vitality, and is mostly immune to many types of damage. Being a creature of wood, they can be set ablaze with fire, however once the dryad reaches her prey, the resulting firey embrace will return this damage to her victim. The primary damage done is through constricting roots which crush the intended prey's bones and internal organs. When the victim is close to death the tree will actually open up at the base of its trunk and stuff the warrior within its hollow, closing around him for the final crushing and suffocation.

Rathius · 5th October 2008, 18:14

Nice work on the Dryad concept. Would be nice to see it in color though.

It would certainly add to the feel you're tryin to go for.

Archaaz · 5th October 2008, 21:08

Very well done indeed! I think it fits in very well with MO's theme, a bit more mature and dark. I can imagine wandering the wood, perhaps wandering a bit too close to a certain tree...

While I think the picture is wonderful, I agree with Rathius that color would add a lot to it.

catmorbid · 6th October 2008, 03:46

A very good entry overall. The drawing is beautiful and the theme is excellent, and like said, I also feel it would fit with MO. Good work! Now, if you could just add some color to the drawing, it'd be great.

Resin · 6th October 2008, 18:12

I will be coloring it if I can get the time. I tend to have a difficult time with color though, so if I hate it, I won't post it. I do have some rather specific ideas in mind in regards to color (plus I need to get it to show up larger).

It's a shame we can only enter one creature or I would be adding a pond nixie as well. I've been reading some of Grimm's lesser known fairytales to my kids and Nixies are scary and evil.

Mythril · 12th October 2008, 21:29

I hate all of you artists, I can't draw at all.

Amazing drawing and nice concept.

ZodiacEclipse · 14th October 2008, 03:32

Looks great Res, one of the best by far.

5th October 2008, 16:18	#1 (permalink)
Resin Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: California Rep Power: 7	Resin Entry Dryads This is a re-imagining of the classic Dryad creatures: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dryad I wanted to go for something a bit darker. They say a dryad is created when a maiden's life and virtue are taken from her upon the roots of an elder tree. When the roots of the tree drink the blood of the woman, the tree's Kodama fuses with the angry ghost of the murdered woman. The resulting horror is a Dryad. Dryads are rare creatures found most often in heavily wooded areas. They appear as a mostly bare tree with a woman's head, arms, and torso protruding from the trunk. The woman's skin has the color and texture of sun bleached deadwood, her eyes are deep hollow sockets, and each of her fingers end in long twiggy branches. The ground around them, that within the reach of their powerful roots will always be blackened and lifeless. Dryads are not completely stationary, but they don't tend to wander and are slow enough that they may almost seem unmoving. To die by a dryad's embrace is both painful and slow. If a wanderer is foolish enough to investigate the strange visage of the woman, or mistakes the dryad for an ordinary tree and enters the blackened ring of cracked earth, powerful roots will grab him and hold him in place while the creature makes its slow advance. The dryad has an incredible supply of vitality, and is mostly immune to many types of damage. Being a creature of wood, they can be set ablaze with fire, however once the dryad reaches her prey, the resulting firey embrace will return this damage to her victim. The primary damage done is through constricting roots which crush the intended prey's bones and internal organs. When the victim is close to death the tree will actually open up at the base of its trunk and stuff the warrior within its hollow, closing around him for the final crushing and suffocation. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Resin : 5th October 2008 at 16:37. Reason: I need to do some resizing and resolution changes on the drawing, I was planning to do some more shading anyway.

5th October 2008, 18:14	#2 (permalink)
Rathius Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Salina, Kansas Rep Power: 16	Nice work on the Dryad concept. Would be nice to see it in color though. It would certainly add to the feel you're tryin to go for. __________________ -< Counter - Armillogion Device - History - Conflux >-

5th October 2008, 21:08	#3 (permalink)
Archaaz Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Texas Rep Power: 6	Very well done indeed! I think it fits in very well with MO's theme, a bit more mature and dark. I can imagine wandering the wood, perhaps wandering a bit too close to a certain tree... While I think the picture is wonderful, I agree with Rathius that color would add a lot to it. __________________ "Be humble. Only fools take pride in their station here, trapped in a cage of dust, moisture, heat and air. No need to complain of calamities, this illusion of a life lasts but a moment." ~Shaikh Abu Saeed Abil Kheir (Explorer 80%, Socializer 60%, Killer 40%, Achiever 20%)

6th October 2008, 03:46	#4 (permalink)
catmorbid Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Finland Rep Power: 6	A very good entry overall. The drawing is beautiful and the theme is excellent, and like said, I also feel it would fit with MO. Good work! Now, if you could just add some color to the drawing, it'd be great. __________________ Judgement and Perserverance "There's more to the picture, than meets the eye" Topics of Interest: MO info summary, Great Cat God Felissos, Aegis Imperium, Immersive Damage & Health, Damage and Audio, Artifical Restrictions, Roleplay and You

6th October 2008, 18:12	#5 (permalink)
Resin Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: California Rep Power: 7	I will be coloring it if I can get the time. I tend to have a difficult time with color though, so if I hate it, I won't post it. I do have some rather specific ideas in mind in regards to color (plus I need to get it to show up larger). It's a shame we can only enter one creature or I would be adding a pond nixie as well. I've been reading some of Grimm's lesser known fairytales to my kids and Nixies are scary and evil. Last edited by Resin : 6th October 2008 at 18:17.

12th October 2008, 21:29	#6 (permalink)
Mythril Newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Oregon, U.S. Rep Power: 2	I hate all of you artists, I can't draw at all. Amazing drawing and nice concept.

14th October 2008, 03:32	#7 (permalink)
ZodiacEclipse Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Rep Power: 2	Looks great Res, one of the best by far.