The Capsaicious Dryads
Get a lot of d4's ready for this one.
Spiciness: 4/5
Feeds about 3-5 players, level 3-5
Scales for: Number of Players, Player Level
Ingredients
- 2+ Dryads
Scaling for Level & Party Size: Usually I provide very specific instructions on how to scale the encounter, but in this case, it's very straightforward-- simply use kobold fight club to find the proper number of them to use!
Preparation
Unless the Dryads are surprised, they will immediately cast Barkskin on themselves before combat begins as a defensive maneuver to a potential threat. Given that they're fey of the forest, catching them surprised should be neigh impossible though-- in fact, you may want to consider having them surprise the party!
Things To Know
- Poisoned. A poisoned creature has disadvantage on Attack rolls and Ability Checks.
Cooking the Capsaicious Dryads
This Dryad is particularly nasty for 3 reasons: Thorn Whip, Spike Growth, Tree Strike. Usually not a high damage spell, spike growth can be combo'd with Thorn Whip to force the creature to move 10ft through spiked growth (and take 2d4 damage on top of the damage from the actual attack).
With Tree Strike, you can always force them back towards the center of your spike growth by having the whip originate from inside of it. This is a great way to keep melee combatants away from your rather squishy casters.
Don't forget the Killer Capsaicin too, which won't deal a lot of damage (just an extra d4 a round), but will give them disadvantage on all attack rolls and saving throws so long as you consistently damage them at least once per round. This is more defensive than offensive.
Make sure there's a lot of Trees around too! Firstly, for your Tree Stride ability, but also so if there's a flying character you can hide under them (and cast Entangle on the trees themselves to grab flying people!)
End Conditions: the Dryads act to protect nature. If your party throws down their weapons (particularly axes and torches) and does not present a threat-- they'll stop, and even offer them Goodberries after as a peace method. Otherwise, they attack viciously until one side perishes.
Capsaicious Dryad
Medium Fey (plant), Unaligned
- Armor Class 11 (16 with barkskin)
- Hit Points 22 (5d8)
- Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 18 (+4)
- Saving Throws Wis +4, Dex +3
- Skills Perception +4, Stealth +5
- Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
- Languages Elvish, Sylvan, Druidic
- Challenge 2 (450 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Innate Spellcasting. The dryad's spellcasting ability is Charisma (Spell save DC 14, +4 to attacks), & they can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
At will: Druidcraft, Shillelagh, Thornwhip
3/day each: Entangle, Goodberry
1/day each: Barkskin, Spike GrowthTree Stride. Once on her turn, the dryad can use 10 feet of her movement to step magically into one living tree within her reach and emerge from a second living tree within 60 feet of the first tree, appearing in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the second tree. Both trees must be large or bigger.
Magic Resistance. The dryad has advantage on saving throws against spells & other magical effects.
Speak with Beasts and Plants. The dryad can communicate with beasts and plants.
Tree Strike. When making an attack roll, the point of origin of the attack can be from any plant that the Dryad can see, within 30ft. Resolve the attack as if the Dryad was standing in that spot.
Killer Capsaicin When a creature is damaged by a plant the Dryad has summoned, or touches the Dryad, they become poisoned until the end of their next turn. While poisoned in this way, they take d4 fire damage at the start of their turn.
Actions
Shillelagh. Melee attack. 5ft. +4 to hit. d8+4 Bludgeoning (triggers Killer Capsaicin)
Thorn Whip. Melee spell attack, 30ft range. 2d6 piercing damage, and if the creature is Large or smaller, you pull the creature up to 10 feet closer to you. (triggers Killer Capsaicin)