Long before the arrival of Dwarves, Elves and Humans, the exclusively female Dryad people
dwelt in the forest of Brokilon, with some legends claiming they were as old as the trees
they protected.
These forest Nymphs of the North mated with males of other species like elves and humans
to produce female children, though the physical characteristics of their fathers were sometimes
passed down, allowing for diversity of hair, eye and skin color.
Though romantic relationships did sometimes occur with those selected for breeding, they
considered mating and childbearing serious endeavours and so mostly viewed males as tools
for reproduction.
In addition to their love of nature, the Dryads enjoyed music, were skilled healer, masterful
sorcerers, and expert archers, able to shoot accurately from 200 feet.
In addition to their slender frames, natural stealth and incredible speed, Dryads also
wore clothes and painted themselves for camouflage, making it near impossible to spot them in
the wild.
Forbidding the use of fire or felling of trees, Dryads employed a rare moss to produce light
and built homes by using magic to shape surrounding vegetation as they desired.
A close knit people ruled by a wise and powerful queen, these forest nymphs were fiercely territorial
yet even so allowed other species like leprechauns, pucks, and all manner of wild beasts to inhabit
their lands, as long as these creatures did not interfere with their society.
However, their relationship with the migratory peoples of the North was more complicated,
with some like Dwarves considering them savages, while Elves were mostly allies, sharing their
love for the natural world.
The Elves may even have built the city of Craag An within Brokilon, though it was later
abandoned and fell to ruin.
As for the human species, they emerged as the Dryad’s greatest enemies, with hostilities
erupting after the First Landing around the year 760 AR.
Believing these nymphs were monsters, humanity hunted them and stole their forests, eventually
resulting the outbreak of war in the 11th century.
Though the Dryads defended themselves the best they could over the next 2 centuries,
the areas of Burnt Stump, Eight-Mile and Owl Hills were all conquered and deforested, resulting
in many of their people surrendering to the invaders, and learning to live in relative
peace with humans.
Yet the Dryads within the Queendom of Brokilon were determined to fight until the last woman,
rejecting any notion of capitulation, while refusing to acknowledge human victories, settlements,
and borders.
Considering all lost lands still a part of their territory, they continued to attack
enemies in these regions whenever possible.
Yet in spite of their courage and determination, the century’s long war with humanity left
them a shell of their former selves, losing so much of their population they were forced
to take drastic actions for the preservation of their species.
Whereas they once only selected the best and most worthy males for reproduction, their
reduction in population and increasing hostilities with humans forced them to accept anyone available.
Worse still, there was a time when the idea of transforming a non-dryad woman into one
of their kind was only occasional considered, but by the 13th century, it was a regular
occurrence, kidnapping all females who wandered into their forest.
This was done by mutating their minds and bodies with the Water of Brokilon, an enchanted
drink which made the subject forget their past, while adopting the traits and physical
characteristics of the Dryads.
Once transformed, these naturalized nymphs were almost indistinguishable from their true-born
comrades, except through their sweat which retained the scent of their former species,
whereas pure-bloods were known to smell like willow leaves.
There was also a difference between age groups, as younger girls often lost their memories
permanently, while older females sometimes recalled portions of their past lives.
Though they killed most males who entered their forest, they were often warned to stay
away with multiple arrow shots as they approached their territory.
Yet their attempts to avoid killing, lessened as the centuries of war went on, with the
Dryads no longer sending multiple warnings but instead shooting a single arrow as a notice
of trespassing, before sending a second lethal shot to those who would not depart.
This sometimes led to the death of innocents, like children, who had no intention of harming
their forest but did not understand their warnings.
Not only did the Dryads kill those who came into or near their forests, but they also
actively sought out their foes by sending allies like the human female Milva into nearby
lands they considered part of Brokilon, in order to lure groups of men into a trap.
On at least 4 separate occasions, the huntress Milva pretended to be an anti-dryad crusader
seeking would-be scalp hunters for an expedition into Brokilon, promising a chance to wage
war against the forest nymphs, but instead led them to a pre-arranged location where
they were slaughtered, resulting in the deaths of at least 100 men.
The never-ending campaign against humans then amplified during the Second Northern War,
when the Dryad Queen Eithne sided with the Scoia’tael rebels against the Northern Kingdoms,
allowing them to use their forests and resources to slay many of their hated enemies.
Among the various stories and legends surrounding the Dryads of Brokilon, one of the most interesting
came from their involvement in a meeting of destiny between the famous Witcher Geralt
of Rivia, and Child of the Elder Blood Princess Cirilla, whose relationship resulted in lasting
repercussion affecting the future of the entire continent.
Having once helped lift a curse from Urcheon of Erlenwald, eventual husband to the Princess
of Cintra, the Witcher invoked the Law of Surprise for his payment, asking for that
which the Prince had but was not expecting.
This turned out to be his child, when they learned the Princess was pregnant.
Although this meant their daughter Ciri was destined for the Witcher, Geralt did not believe
in destiny and eventually decided not to take her from the royal family.
Yet as fate would have it, they met by pure chance when the girl was around 10 years old,
as they both arrived in Brokilon forest at the same time.
Although few males were allowed in Brokilon, Geralt was a friend to Queen Eithne, and was
therefore chosen as a messenger for King Venzlav of Brugge, who sought to forge terms of peace
with the Dryads.
Around this same time, Princess Cirilla ran away from an arranged marriage in Verden,
ending up lost and alone in the forest of Brokilon.
Hearing the screams of a little girl, Geralt found her under threat and slayed the attacking
beast.
Seeing she was injured, he carried her on his back and with the help the Dryad Braenn,
they made their way to see the Queen.
After Geralt failed to broker peace because the Queen was unwilling to make any territorial
concessions, or recognize human borders, the Witcher’s focus shifted to trying to save
the girl Ciri from being turned into a Dryad.
And while he felt a bond with this girl who kept insisting she had a destiny, at this
point he did not know her true identity, though Ciri figured out their connection when she
learned he was a Witcher.
Despite Geralt’s arguments, Queen Eithne made her drink the Water of Brokilon, held
in a cup with Elven writing that read, the Sword of Destiny has two blades, you are one
of them.
Yet to their astonishment, the water did not affect Ciri who still wanted to go with Witcher,
and unable to stand in the way of destiny, the Queen relented, allowing them to leave
the forest.
Geralt, believing what she consumed must not have been the real Water of Brokilon, also
drank from the goblet, resulting in a vision where he at last learned the girl Ciri was
the child of destiny he was promised a decade earlier.
Throughout the vision he once again heard a voice saying the Sword of Destiny has two
blades, you are one of them.
In the end, Geralt maintained destiny was not real and so refused to take Ciri from
her family, leaving her instead with Mousesack, a druid and advisor to the Queen of Cintra,
before riding off alone.
Yet Ciri, who had been told stories about the Witcher for as long as she could remember,
knew they would eventually be together, and yelled out as he departed, insisting
she was his destiny.