Tag Archives: dryad

Bestiarum Vocabulum: Nymph

The Bestiarum Vocabulum is the wizard’s encyclopedia of faerie beasties and mundane crossovers living in the lake and forest near Lita’s castle.

Nymph

nymph [nimf] noun, c.1350; ME nimphe < L nympha < Gr nýmphē bride; also water demon, wood demon, or air demon.

Denizen of the Clockpunk Wizard world.
A class of minor demons that inhabit automaton bodies, conceived of as beautiful maidens inhabiting the ocean, rivers, rills, woods, trees, air, mountains, meadows, etc., that attend a rural sorceress. Nymphs are known for their amorous freedom, which separates them from other minor demons. The nymph’s sexual forwardness is especially dangerous for male travelers far away from home.
See “3 Naughty Ladies of Fantasy Fiction” and “Bestiarum Vocabulum: Dryad”

Bestiarum Vocabulum: Dryad

1 Reply

The Bestiarum Vocabulum is the wizard’s encyclopedia of faerie beasties and mundane crossovers living in the lake and forest near Lita’s castle.

Dryad

dryad [ˈdrī-əd,-ad] noun, c.1400; Gr drys tree < L dryad-, dryas; also wood nymph, hamadryad, naiad, sylph, or nymphet.

Denizen of the Clockpunk Wizard world.
A flora magician, about 3 feet tall, with a beautiful woman form. Typically a shepherdess in orchards, pine coppices in the highlands, or oak groves near planting fields. Makes its home in the largest tree (called the “monarch”) and uses the monarch’s roots to supply earth magic to the trees in its care.
Personages: The malevolent orchard dryad on Hurt Island in Ephraim’s Curious Device.
See “Review: Delphinia’s Willow”

Review: Delphinia’s Willow

3 Replies

Delphinia’s Willow by Lana Axe is a fantasy short story about a forest dryad and her encounter with a wizard.

Wizard Casts a Spell

The willow dryad Delphinia awakes troubled one morning. She searches for the disruption that has unsettled her beloved forest.

Her investigations uncover an elf wizard whose careless spells has harmed the plants and animals. The dryad rages at his indifference to the woods, but the gentle willow spirit can do nothing to harm the magician. The wizard casts a spell to stun Delphinia and whisks her away.

Dryad’s Hand

He takes the kidnapped dryad to the stony city to auction off his prize to other magicians. But a horrible surprise awaits the arrogant wizard when the forest dryad escapes.

Delphinia’s Willow is a lovely little story that pits earth magic against wizardry. It reads like a cautionary tale for children, but adults would enjoy the dryad’s resolve to right a wrong and the unexpected outcome. The wizard’s fate is especially good for a smile. Lita looks forward to reading more tales from this talented fantasy author.