[Art Taken from the 4th Edition Wiki]

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Hengeyokai Traits

Hengeyokai are a race of intelligent, shapeshifting animals that can freely assume human form or a bipedal hybrid form; numerous subraces exist, each corresponding to a different category of common animal. They are the descendants of humans and shapeshifting animal spirits, and as such they have a strong connection to both the spirit and mortal worlds. Their animal spirit lineage determines what specific beast they take the form of.

Ability Score Increase. Increase your Dexterity score by 2.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language.

Life Span. Hengeyokai can live for over 200 years, but for the first century they exist only as animals and cannot assume another form. Once they reach 100 years of age, they can assume hybrid and human forms.

Size. You are Medium or Small. You choose the size when you select this race.

Speed. Your walking speed is 30 feet.

Language of Beasts. Hengeyokai in animal or hybrid form can communicate simple commands and concepts to beasts and fey spirits with the same form or a closely related form, for example, dogs to wolves.

Shapechanger.  As an action, you alter your physical form to appear as a beast, as a unique humanoid, or a hybrid. While you have the form of a beast, you are unable to make attacks, benefit from shields or armor, or cast spells. You choose whether your equipment falls to the ground in your space, merges into your new form, or is worn by it. You stay in the new form until you use an action to revert to your true form or until you die. Your beast and hybrid forms are determined by your subrace.

Subraces:

Avian: Members of this subrace are the descendants of winged animal spirits, most often birds. Born into a life with an affinity for air, they can change their form to take into the sky. It is common for them to stick together in flocks, both for protection and to share their findings amongst themselves.

Ability Score Increase. Increase your Wisdom score by 1. 

Eyes in the Sky. You have proficiency in the Perception skill. 

Feathered Form. When you use your Shapechanger trait to turn into a beast or hybrid, you have a flying speed of 30 feet; your hybrid form loses this benefit if you are wearing medium or heavy armor. When you use your Shapechanger trait to change into a beast, your size is small.  

Flyby. While you have the form of a beast, you do not provoke opportunity attacks when you fly out of an enemy’s reach.

Aquan: Members of this subrace find home in bodies of water, as they are descendants of aquatic animal spirits. With the ability to traverse both land and water, they have amassed great knowledge of the natural world. Some Aquan Hengeyokai choose to use their knowledge amicably and thrive in social settings where they can share the information they know, while others might use it to hone in on their tactics to hunt other beings down.

Ability Score Increase. Increase your Intelligence score by 1. 

Sea of Knowledge. You have proficiency in the Nature skill.

Aquatic Form. When you use your Shapechanger trait to turn into a beast or hybrid, you have a swimming speed of 30 feet. When you use your Shapechanger trait to change into a beast, your size is medium or small.

Amphibious. You can breathe air and water while in any form.  

Terran:  Members of this subrace have lived on land their entire lives and know how to get by amongst all other beings they have met in that time. Terran Hengeyokai know that their beast forms are considered cute to many Humanoids alike, and they will use it to their advantage. Generally they are social beings, but have learned the ins and outs to survive in these settings as well.

Ability Score Increase. Increase your Charisma score by 1. 

Friendly Face. You have proficiency in the Persuasion or Deception skill.

Terrestrial Form. When you use your Shapechanger trait to turn into a beast or hybrid, your walking speed is increased by 10 feet as long as you aren’t wearing armor. When you use your Shapechanger trait to change into a beast, your size is medium or small. 

Scurry. As a reaction when a creature misses you with an attack, you can move up to half of your speed to an unoccupied space.

[Art from Dragon Magazine #101]

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Hamadryad Traits

Ability Score Increase. Increase Wisdom by 2, and increase Charisma by 1.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan.

Creature Type. You are a Fey.

Life Span. Hamadryads have a lifespan of about 300 to 400 years.

Size. You are Medium.

Speed. Your walking speed is 30 feet.

Tree Stride. On your turn, you can use 10 feet of your movement to step magically into one living tree within your reach and emerge from a second living tree within 60 feet of the first tree, appearing in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the second tree. Both trees must be Large or bigger. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Eyes of the Forest. You have proficiency in the Nature skill.

Speak with Beasts and Plants. You can communicate with beasts and plants as if you shared a language.

Commentary:  Hello! My partner really wanted a 5e race for dryads, so we looked at what 4th edition offered and workshopped this together! It hasn’t been playtested yet, but I’m excited to hear what your thoughts are :>! I think the speak with Beasts and Plants trait might be a little too much considering that speak with plants is a 3rd level spell on its own, but ultimately it seemed really fitting and I don’t think it’s the kind of thing that would really break the balance of a campaign; it’s not something that would enable powergaming.