| '''Dryad''' is one of the eight [[Mana Spirits]] of the [[Mana (series)|''Mana'' series]], first appearing in ''[[Secret of Mana]]''. Named for tree faeries of predominantly Greek mythology, Dryad represents the element of wood, which, according to designer [[Hiromichi Tanaka]], was meant to be a departure from the typical elemental structure of most RPGs at the time of her debut. Dryad takes the form of a palm or willow tree, with leaves as her hair, boughs as her arms, and roots as her feet. Though often considered the most powerful of the eight Spirits for her powers over plants and wood as well as her apparent deep connection with the [[Mana Tree]], Dryad is exceptionally timid to the point of being deathly afraid of her own strength, usually requiring a great deal of convincing to join her kin and her masters. | | '''Dryad''' is one of the eight [[Mana Spirits]] of the [[Mana (series)|''Mana'' series]], first appearing in ''[[Secret of Mana]]''. Named for {{wp|Dryad|tree faeries}} of predominantly Greek mythology, Dryad represents the element of wood, which, according to designer [[Hiromichi Tanaka]], was meant to be a departure from the typical elemental structure of most RPGs at the time of her debut. Dryad takes the form of a palm or willow tree, with leaves as her hair, boughs as her arms, and roots as her feet. Though often considered the most powerful of the eight Spirits for her powers over plants and wood as well as her apparent deep connection with the [[Mana Tree]], Dryad is exceptionally timid to the point of being deathly afraid of her own strength, usually requiring a great deal of convincing to join her kin and her masters. |