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Description

For dryad settlements, community is a huge thing. Though dryads have their own homes and gardens, much is shared amongst all who live within these villages. From the water that is used to maintain their gardens, to the winter stockpiles everyone contributes to to ensure that everyone makes it through the cold and bleak season. The unspoken rule in these places is that everyone looks out for one another, and always lends a hand if they can. When an accident wrecks a dryad's garden plants, you can be sure their neighbors are soon offering some of their own crop or plants. When residents take notice that a certain elderly dryad has stopped making their routine appearance at the store or shrines, they are quick to check in on them. When saplings are outside playing in the mud and sun, you can be sure that every adult dryad around them is keeping a subtle eye on them, always ready to swoop in if needed. Another big thing that helps dryad villages lend a hand to all is the Community Mothers.

The name varies with each settlement, with some being called Village Mothers, or Matriarchs and such, but what they do is always the same. Community Mothers are those who volunteer to help provide for all, taking on extra responsibility to ensure that no one is left behind. While other species may think this role calls for great amounts of work and sacrifice, it honestly just boils down to more gardening. As most should know, it is practically law that every dryad home has room for a garden, so that they can grow whatever herbs, fruits and vegetables they need to provide for the specifics of their family. Homes with elderly dryads tend to have herbs and plants that can be used for soothing salves and oils, while anyone can tell a dryad neighbor is expecting when a freshly planted Honeybottle is seen in their garden. While each dryad has their garden, that is no guarantee that they will be covered. Blights, pests, accidents and just plain fate can mess up one's hard work, and a family that was doing fine one day may find withered crops and dwindling supplies further down the road. It is times like these that the Community Mothers are needed. Their arrangement can come in two different ways: some of these Mothers work in the community gardens that grow near the sacred trees, tending to the village's shared crop that anyone can come to when they are in need. Other Mothers are given extra space to grow larger gardens at home, so that they can plant common crops and foods that any dryad would need. With their combined effort, they can help provide when things get tough for any resident, and can stockpile resources in times of calm and plenty. If a dryad ever does fall upon hard times, they need only knock on the door of a Community Mother to get aid, or perhaps a neighbor will drop a tip to the Mother and they will go bring the goods right to them.

An interesting observation that has been made is that often Community Mothers are not mothers themselves. They tend to be single dryads who have felt no desire for saplings or a large family, rather enjoying a peaceful life on their own. With less mouths to feed or needs to be tended, they have found space in their lives and homes to give a little to others, and it is these folk who are believed to have started the whole Community Mother role. They find peace in tending to these large gardens and get joy from bringing aid to others. Any who knock on their door are sure to be greeted with a warm smile and reassurances that everything will be alright. Your wounds will be tended, your illness will be given medicine and your saplings will know no hunger. That is the promise that every Community Mother strives to fulfill, as well as all dryads.

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Just needed an excuse to draw a birch dryad, or is there an excuse? Who knows, but here it is anyways!

Description

For dryad settlements, community is a huge thing. Though dryads have their own homes and gardens, much is shared amongst all who live within these villages. From the water that is used to maintain their gardens, to the winter stockpiles everyone contributes to to ensure that everyone makes it through the cold and bleak season. The unspoken rule in these places is that everyone looks out for one another, and always lends a hand if they can. When an accident wrecks a dryad's garden plants, you can be sure their neighbors are soon offering some of their own crop or plants. When residents take notice that a certain elderly dryad has stopped making their routine appearance at the store or shrines, they are quick to check in on them. When saplings are outside playing in the mud and sun, you can be sure that every adult dryad around them is keeping a subtle eye on them, always ready to swoop in if needed. Another big thing that helps dryad villages lend a hand to all is the Community Mothers.

The name varies with each settlement, with some being called Village Mothers, or Matriarchs and such, but what they do is always the same. Community Mothers are those who volunteer to help provide for all, taking on extra responsibility to ensure that no one is left behind. While other species may think this role calls for great amounts of work and sacrifice, it honestly just boils down to more gardening. As most should know, it is practically law that every dryad home has room for a garden, so that they can grow whatever herbs, fruits and vegetables they need to provide for the specifics of their family. Homes with elderly dryads tend to have herbs and plants that can be used for soothing salves and oils, while anyone can tell a dryad neighbor is expecting when a freshly planted Honeybottle is seen in their garden. While each dryad has their garden, that is no guarantee that they will be covered. Blights, pests, accidents and just plain fate can mess up one's hard work, and a family that was doing fine one day may find withered crops and dwindling supplies further down the road. It is times like these that the Community Mothers are needed. Their arrangement can come in two different ways: some of these Mothers work in the community gardens that grow near the sacred trees, tending to the village's shared crop that anyone can come to when they are in need. Other Mothers are given extra space to grow larger gardens at home, so that they can plant common crops and foods that any dryad would need. With their combined effort, they can help provide when things get tough for any resident, and can stockpile resources in times of calm and plenty. If a dryad ever does fall upon hard times, they need only knock on the door of a Community Mother to get aid, or perhaps a neighbor will drop a tip to the Mother and they will go bring the goods right to them.

An interesting observation that has been made is that often Community Mothers are not mothers themselves. They tend to be single dryads who have felt no desire for saplings or a large family, rather enjoying a peaceful life on their own. With less mouths to feed or needs to be tended, they have found space in their lives and homes to give a little to others, and it is these folk who are believed to have started the whole Community Mother role. They find peace in tending to these large gardens and get joy from bringing aid to others. Any who knock on their door are sure to be greeted with a warm smile and reassurances that everything will be alright. Your wounds will be tended, your illness will be given medicine and your saplings will know no hunger. That is the promise that every Community Mother strives to fulfill, as well as all dryads.

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Just needed an excuse to draw a birch dryad, or is there an excuse? Who knows, but here it is anyways!