Name: Scharlach Baum

Nickname: Scotty –– Living with a human female could be quite troublesome as they are often lazy in learning new things, and so he was given the English name Scotty as something “easier to say”. He'll sometimes use it when meeting someone who he wants to seem “normal” to.

Age: Twenty

Appearance:

Creature Picture:

How your character’s appearance differs from the picture: Scott stands relatively short at only Five feet and 7 inches tall, due to the fact that he's a nymph. His face has a never ending smile that can take many different forms, but never truly disappears. No matter what he's doing, Scott seems to be having fun. He could be sitting in front of an inquisition, and yet he'd still be happy to be doing so in one way or another. He always seems to be wearing earth-toned clothing that shows off his impressively defined body which is tinted a slight viridian color that extends into his hair. On his left pectoral muscle, over his heart, is a magical birthmark in the shape of a rose that shows the condition of the rosebush that he's tied too. Scott, over the years, has done his best to work around the magic and use it to his advantage. In doing so, he learned how to hide two massive butterfly-like wings that he uses to fly short distances. His ears also become less pointed and he hides the leaf-like parts of his medium length brown hair that falls off in different directions.

Character Race/Race Explanation: Dryads are humans who have had their souls and bodies connected magically to a specific tree. When the magic infiltrated the earth, it would sometimes take part of a child's soul and connect it with a tree that is associated with the child's birthday. By their first birthday, the child will begin to grow wings. These can be insect-like, floral, or even ethereal, though the latter is a rare occasion. As they grow and develop, qualities of the dryad's tree will become for apparent in their appearance. Birch Dryads tend to be skinny and pale while redwoods are often flushed and very tall. Puberty for a dryad can often be an intense experience because dryad hormones act much faster than normal humans. They become immensely sexual and by the climax of their development, usually around the age of 13 for girls and 15 for boys, they often think of little other than fornication. After this time though, they mature and can focus on other tasks. Due to their wild libido though, dryads never completely settle down with one another and often have many sexual partners. Dryads live for a very long time by human standards, well over a hundred years, living in the prime of their health until they reach around a hundred years old, when aging truly begins. They often die happily, even though they are often alone if not with family, around the age of one hundred and seventy. When a dryad dies, their body will decompose into a new plant that is different to each person.

Because dryads are connected to plants spiritually, they mature, they have to maintain some level of control of their appearance. If they choose to remain more humanoid, they must actively exercise their will over their bodies to prevent the growth of plant-life on their bodies. Leaves and bark can grow from hair and skin and, if allowed to, will consume the dryad's body and leave them looking more plant-like than human. However, through practice, this can be controlled and a dryad can harden its skin into a layer of bark or cover parts of themselves in leaves. The main trouble with this though is that if allowed to grow, these extras can turn into weeds and are difficult to revert back to normal. This ability is called “Leafing”.

Because a dryad is essentially part plant, if you cut off a part of their body, it will eventually grow back. The size and complexity of the piece chopped off depends on the rate or possibility of regrowth. Cutting off a finger takes a few weeks to grow back, and arm takes over a year. Replacing vital organs like the stomach and the brain however takes a much, much longer time. It's only theorized that it would take decades, but this hasn't been proven because those with such injuries die much too quickly for a study to be done.

A dryad's abilities are fueled by the sun, water and earth. As any plant would, dryads use photosynthesis to create energy. This energy can be used as bodily fuel, or as it is more commonly used, for displays of magical prowess. These nymph's magic takes the form of light that can be manipulated to take many different forms. It can be used as a sort of force that can be shot at an adversary, or stretched and twisted to change a person's appearance, or form a weapon. It takes many years of practice and a lot of willpower to do more than shoot a ball of light at something though. Incredibly old dryads often have the ability to use their light to cast illusions or ailments onto others by creating a light dust that can enter the body of a person. This can be used to both heal and harm. If a dryad builds up too much energy that their body can use and doesn't do magic, the result will become something similar to cocaine. They'll race around act completely wild, trying to vent out their pent up reserves. This ability is called “Shining”.

Another benefit of the planetary connection is the ability to talk to simple life. Trees, mushrooms, rocks, sand, all have a way of communication through the magic that dryads can pick up on and relay. It can come in handy while gathering information on the area, but generally useless if the nymph wants a favor done, as most trees and rocks aren't too willing to pick themselves up at some little nymph's whim.

The most important part of a dryad's life though, is the tree their connected to. It is the source of all their magic and life force. If something were to happen to their tree, it, in turn, would affect the dryad. If there is a drought in the forest, the dryad becomes dehydrated very easily. If there is a fire that reduces the tree to ashes, it causes a death similar to heat stroke. If it is cut down, it is as if an invisible arrow pierced their heart. As the seasons and trees change, so do the dryads. Depending on their tree, different things happen to them throughout the year. Some flower in the spring, most lose some color in the winter, others develop a fruity scent when their fruit is ripe. They often have a birthmark that tells them the condition of the tree somewhere on their body that they can see. Luckily, these trees look like most others and are in places filled with other trees. The chances of finding a dryad's tree is very small, unless someone tells you where it is. Everything always comes back to the tree.

Personality: Scott tries to follow the typical nymph life-style. He is very playful and loves to be out and about, having fun, playing games and socializing. As a nymph is is also incredibly sexual and will openly pursue anyone that he deems attractive. Whether they're male, female, human, vampire, dragon, werewolf, it doesn't entirely matter. Happiness pours out of him as if he's just won an entire dragon's horde at all hours of the day and loves to prance his way through life. Since rejecting the magic's influence, he's been free to do anything he pleases and loves it. Scott loves acting smug and has a self-confidence about him that fuels his trademark smirk. He detests “wet blankets” and people who do not know how to truly live their lives.

Family:
Pappel Baum: Scharlach's mother. She got pregnant from 3 different dryad men, but due to their carefree life-styles, left her alone. This is a common sight in dryad culture. She is a very proud mother who will defend her children to the death and provide for them the best that she can. She's quite tall and loves to assert herself out in public. She can put on a happy face an smile at a person, but then turn around and curse them with words that would make even the most promiscuous dryad blush. She inherited a large estate from a deceased husband and provided for her family very well. She passed away when her spirit tree burned down.

Trauerweide Baum: Scharlach's older sister. She was born only a few years ahead of Scharlach and was always the dreamer of the family. She dreamed of traveling around the world, and seeing other cultures. Playing music was always one of her favorite pastimes and collected several different instruments. She loved her brother very dearly and would try to teach him how to read and play music. She also passed away when her spririt tree burned down.

Haselnuss Baum: Scharlach's eldest sister. As the oldest of the three children, she grew up feeling entitled to a certain amount of respect, both from her siblings and her mother. Despite this proud nature of hers, she loved her family and would defend them in a heartbeat. Scharalch never saw much of her because she was many years older than him, but the few memories he did have were very happy. She unfortunately died of the same fate that befell her mother and sister.

Strengths/Abilities:
~Can Shine a bow and arrow and a sword.
~Can use Leafing to grow thorns on different parts of his body.
~Flies short distances
~Very handsome, which often turns his luck around if he needs a favor.

Weaknesses/Fears:
~Fire, he is more combustible than humans.
~Lightning and Thunder.
~Piles of ash, it reminds him of his family.
~His magic is weaker or sometimes ineffective at night unless he has enough energy left in reserve.

Likes:
~The Daytime.
~Playing games and tricks.
~Companionship
~Sex.
~Sugary foods
~Happy people
~Forest Life.
~Non-violent weather.
~Sunbathing

Dislikes: 
~“Wet Blankets”, people who don't know how to have fun.
~Darkness, caves and nighttime included.
~Dry Heat
~Thunder and lightning
~Tiresome tasks, can't focus on one thing for too long.

Background: Scharlach's birth was a strange one. He was the only son to be born out of a family dominated by women. His mother was the seventh daughter in her family. And his father lived with 6 other sisters as a child. The magic usually takes a piece of the child's soul, soon after birth, and ties it to a tree, depending on the time of year they were born. But under these numerological circumstances, the magic took Scharlach's soul and tied it to a rose bush that lived in the gardens on his mother's estate. The family was surprised to see his birthmark on his chest form itself into a beautiful, multicolor rose, but left it as a mystery that they weren't going to unravel any time too soon.

Scharlach's mother was fortunate enough to outlive a human husband and inherited his estate, complete with servants that tended to their every need. They had unimaginable riches and lived a life that was unbridled with joy. Their family was very closely knit and spent many happy times together, playing music and games, using their wealth to travel. His two sisters taught him magic when we was beginning to get old enough for it. It was an utterly blissful existence before any magic seemed to be working.

However, in the village below, many of the town's folk had harbored a dislike for non-humans. They called them “unnatural” and thought them evil. When the word got out that the wonderful estate in the mountains was owned by dryads, they felt that “justice” needed to be delivered. They captured one of the Baums' messenger boys and forced the whereabouts of the family's spirit trees lied. It was in a grove across the river, where few seldom ventured. That same night, the village set fire to the grove, burning down every tree in the area.
When the nine year old Scharlach awoke, he was expecting to leave on a voyage to another land with his family. He looked all over the house and grounds for them, but they were no where. It was the head of staff who had to deliver the bad news to the now orphaned boy.

The servants of the house raised him from then on, and he lived well. He was wrought with grief for many months, but eventually moved on with his life. It is not in his nature as a dryad to be stuck to one place. Even trees grow and change as they see fit. He traveled and played tricks with the other servant children. Life was well until a weary traveler chanced upon his home one night near his sixteenth birthday.

He fed and took care of him for a night, being gracious. He had not seen anyone from the outside world in many years. It was nice to have company. He bid farewell to the man the next day and left him to be. It was then that a stabbing pain crossed his chest where his birthmark was. He instinctively ran to his spirit plant to see the man he had taken care of stealing a rose from it. Scharlach was outraged at this and demanded his life, but as the man lied, begging for life and crying over his daughters, he felt the magic push him to do something. He decided to exchange the man's life for the daughter's intending to kill her. But when he returned, the magic swept his heart away and he fell in love with a girl named Belle.

The two were married very soon, and Scott (as he changed his name so graciously for his overbearing wife) outwardly felt wonderful with his life. But marriage was not what the young dryad expected it to be. Caught in the throes of puberty, Scott wanted to go out and live life to the point of extremes. The magic didn't like this, and struck his wife with illness to keep him at the estate where he would be a devoted husband. Scott followed suit for several years when eventually, he had so much pent up need to be free that he left without saying a word. He took just a few essentials that he could carry and left the house one dawn. His heart ached for his wife, but the emotion was fueled mainly by the magic, so he ignored it knowing that he would be happier this way. Finally, he was free to do all he wanted to do. Freedom was the breath that filled this young dryad's lungs once again.

Fairy Tale: Beauty and the Beast

Your Take on the Fairy Tale: Beauty and the Beast is a story about good things coming to good people. Beauty marries a beast and transforms him into a handsome prince and they live happily ever after. The beast has every opportunity in his life to go out and do something else with his life taken from him at that time. Such a sedentary lifestyle is not befitting for a young dryad. They are wild creatures who live life as they want it and ironically despise the idea of being rooted to one place. The idea of being happily married to a young woman is ideal for some, but not for Scharalch.

What the Magic is trying to force your character to do: The magic wants Scharlach to become Scott once more. It wants him to be stuck in the rut that it's dug for him and be a happy and devoted husband to a sickly wife. Scharlach wants to live life to the fullest and damned be the consequences.

Other:
“Come on...” Scharlach whispered with anticipation, “Come on...” He was perched on a branch that stretched out over a trail leading into a near-by town.
Up along the trail walked some merchants who were conversing loudly about how much money they'd made. Their laughter carried up to where the young dryad had been resting in the sun, enjoying the warmth and energy it brought him. His smile slowly morphed into a devious smirk as he took the opportunity given to him as a chance to have some fun.
Now he sat with his smirk ever present with one hand pressed firmly against the tree. One of them would walk into his little trap and give him a good laugh, and sure enough, just as they lifted their foot, a tree root moved itself and tripped the poor fellow and he fell flat on his face. One laughed openly and walked another few feet until a vine wrapped itself around his ankle and lifted him up into the canopy. They both looked around frantically for the culprit, but there was none to be seen. All that they heard what a distant cackling from the treetops that grew more and more distant until it faded away.
“Oh!” Scharlach called out with glee, “It's just too much fun!” He jumped from treetop to treetop through the forest, using his wings to make each leap last just a few seconds longer. This is the life. I do what I want, when I want, where I want and there's no one around to tie me down! At that, there was a great ache in his heart that he recognized as the magic pulling him back to his beauty. “I'm not going back there” he said audibly, “You're not going to hold me down.” He danced along the forest for a while longer, drinking in the sunlight.
Suddenly a craving set in, a natural one that he'd fostered over many years, his “sweet tooth” was acting up. He paused for a moment and felt the sun on his back. He felt the energy that that gave him and focused it into his wings and ears, adjusting the light around them to hide them from most eyes. They were still there, but just less noticeable now.
Scharlach pulled a shirt that was covered in holes from his bag and reluctantly put it on, instantly missing the warmth of the sun on his tanned skin. He climbed down the tree he was perched in and set off down the path on foot.
The town that he was nearest was a bustling harbor town with many shops and taverns for him to partake in. He stopped by a sweet shop and bought himself a variety of different candies. He smirked knowing that the gold didn't, exactly, come from a willing source, but by the time he had the first caramel in his mouth, the thought had all but vanished entirely.
As Scharlach roamed the streets, enjoying his treat, he got a glimpse into the lives of humans. Down one alley he saw a beautiful girl taking an apple from a shady looking man in a cloak. Up the road, wedding bells were clanging loudly, announcing the fatality of a young man's life as a bachelor. His nymph ears could even pick up, very far away, in the cemetery, a young man's true fatality as a eulogy was given to console his dobbing wife. There was death everywhere around him. Most would find this depressing, yes, but Scharlach only smirked. He was his own man, and his life was his own, he was not destined to live as if he were dead only to die years later and cause grief and regret. No, when he dies, there will be no tears, either because he will be alone, or because he will have friends who understand him and know that he doesn't want to be grieved, but celebrated instead.
He walked with a cocky stride out of town as the evening progressed. On one of the routes, he stopped, making sure he was alone, and took the shining off of his wings and stripped out of his shirt, feeling a breeze roll by. A voice, though, stopped him before he took off into the trees, “Having some fun are we?” rang a rich baritone behind him. Scharlach turned around and was face to face with a man who's smirk was cockier than his.
“I was trying to, yes,” He retorted with a smile. The man was deadly attractive, as the nymph dragged his eyes across his body, mentally undressing him. He stopped when he got to his eyes, they were pitch black and had gold pupils. He had seen other creatures in this world, but this was something new. “Who,” he began shakily, “Who are you?”
“Why don't you figure that out yourself,” He said, not moving, simply standing there, inspecting Scharlach with his eyes that seemed to piece his body like daggers.
The dryad racked his brain for several seconds, when he remembered talk of someone suspicious in a tavern. He looked up slowly, “Are you... the Black Dragon?”
The dragon only replied with a smirk.
“What do you want with me?” He said with a slight fear in his voice, despite the still present ghost of a smirk.
“I want to ask you a question. I see how you look at humans, you look smug. Why is that?”
Part of him wanted to run away from this man, and yet another wanted to follow him to the ends of the earth. He was hypnotic in a way, “Humans are always stuck in ruts,” he said, gaining confidence, “All they dream about is living stable little lives with comforting little families in nice little homes. They forget everything that is out there to them, waiting to be experienced. I can't live like that, no matter what the magic wants to make of me. Whether it wants to make me a beast or a husband, I don't care. I'm not going to let it drag me down into a hole it's dug for me.” Scharlach's voice grew stronger as his speech went on and there was a heavy silence left after it as the sun was beginning to set behind the horizon. Its rays being scattered into individual beams through the trees.
The dragon smiled fully and reached out his hand to the nymph without saying a word. His hand hovered in a beam of sunlight, inviting Scharlach someplace completely foreign and unknown. They dryad's signature smirk returned with full force and grasped the dragon's hand tightly.