DRIAD, the Woodland Pokégirl

DRIAD, the Woodland Pokégirl
Type: Near Human
Element: Plant
Frequency: Rare
Diet: Soil, sunlight and water
Role: Protectors of the Forest
Libido: Average to High
Strong Vs: Rock, Water
Weak Vs: Bug, Fire, Ice
Attacks: Vine Whip, Leaf Shield, Razor Leaf, Regenerate, Command Plants, Lance, Teleport, Solar Beam(Level 40), Fruit Juice, Probing Tentacles, Lure, Lust Dust, Buttsprout, Bloom
Enhancements: Longevity (when bonded to tree), Plant Empathy, Plant Telepathy, Enhanced Strength (x2), Endurance (x3)
Evolves: Treant (Permanent physical bonding to a tree)
Evolves From: Boobleaf (Leaf Stone)

Physically, the Driad assumes a more dominant plant-like association in their appearance. Their skin shifts in coloration, with differing possible variations having been recorded, among them a dark-brown coloration, like well-worn bark, a pale white, like freshly split-open wood, and differing shades of green from pale green to a dark green akin to black. Their hair often lengthens, gaining leaves and flower buds growing from the mass. Hair coloration has been noted as being anywhere from the previous bark-like brown to green to pale-white to gold to a vibrant, fire-red. Bust size is often variable, though most recorded evolutions tend to gain at least one cup size.

Researchers, through study, have given the Driad two sub-classifications, Sessile and Non-sessile. Non-sessile refers to the majority of Driads typically found in most Tamer's Harems. Sessile refers to whenever a Driad has bonded with a tree, effectively limiting the Driad's distance of travel. When bonded to a tree, the Driad in question gains a number of benefits, among them the ability to fuse with said tree, rendering them bodiless until they un-fuse, effective immortality as long as the tree itself survives, a high-level of regeneration, up to an including regrowing dismembered limbs, and the instinctive ability to teleport back to their tree, rendering capture almost impossible.

The drawback, however, quickly becomes clear, in that the Driad is no longer able to travel very far from the tree, becoming severely dependant on it. Because of their deep instinctive preference for old-growth forests to make their home in, most Driads rapidly dissolve into feraldom without loosing any of their previously noted abilities, due to the lack of on-hand taming to be had. In addition, the tree is also a severe weakpoint. If it is destroyed, the Driad, while sometimes being able to survive the trees destruction, is often left in a severely traumatized and physically damaged state, rendering her easy to kill or capture, depending on a Tamer's preference. Cunning Driads further prefer isolated groves where few dare wander, and more than a few old growth stands are rumored to be haunted, but are, in fact, resident of a Driad who's previous tree was destroyed by malicious or simply ignorant people, and harbor a severe grudge because of this. Another drawback, some thought designed, is that the Driad, when linked to a tree, can no longer undergo parthenogenesis, relying on normal pregnancy with a male tamer in order to propagate any offspring.

When Non-sessile, however, they loose all the above advantages and drawbacks, but nevertheless remain powerful Plant-type Pokégirl fighters. Sexually, they are omnivorous, preferring a partner of either sex with equal enthusiasm, and are noted in being very affectionate of other plant-type Pokégirls. Clothing, for a Driad, is typically regarded as 'extremely optional'. Socially, they are rather friendly and open, though they exhibit a strong, deep psychological pull toward forested areas, and can suffer under a lull of depression whenever pulled away from such areas by travel. Having gained a surprisingly nurturing aspect due to their evolution and urge to take care of their tree and it's surroundings, however, this depression can be averted by giving them tasks to perform, such as looking over the well-being of other pokégirls, and can be surprisingly efficient administrators and alphas because of this.

ElfQueens have a special liking for Driads, recognizing a kindred spirit, and will often go to great lengths to have a Driad move herself to near the ElfQueen's court for mutual defense and taming. Elfs are similar, and a number of Tamers with Elfs in their harem have been convinced from time to time to stop by a particular grove of trees for 'a surprise.'

A rare few Driads have been noted to not seclude themselves in isolated old-growth forests. At least one college in the Cresent League is infamous for having a Driad in residence in an old-growth oak, and has come to the defense of the college a number of times while having herself the choice of Taming partners.

While possible to undergo threshold directly into a Driad, the number of threshold victims doing so is recorded as rare. Some Researchers postulate the recorded number is low due to the victim regressing to a near instinctive level, meaning they willingly leave civilization behind in order to find a tree to bond with.