Appearance

As a whole, nymphs are diverse and varied in their appearance. Their physical profiles can range from skinny and slender to voluptuous and plump. On average, they stand at five feet tall. However, they can be as short as just under four feet and as tall as six feet. As a universal constant, nymphs are considered to be a beautiful and physically attractive species, to the point of being actively sought out by lustful men and women of the mortal and immortal races. They also have long, pointed, and tapered ears, similar in structure to that of elves.

Aquatic: On account of their violent history with Sirens and predatory mermaids, aquatic nymphs are the strongest of the nymph subspecies. Their heights tend towards the taller end of the nymph range, with few exceptions towards the lower end. Along with forest nymphs, they are one of the two most physically diverse nymph subspecies. Their skin tones can range from pale and creamy to a dark brown shade, while their hair and eye colors can range across nearly the entire color spectrum.

Forest: Forest nymphs are one of the two most physically diverse types of nymph. Their skin tones can range from pale and creamy to a dark brown shade, while their hair and eye colors can range across nearly the entire color spectrum. Their heights tend towards the lower end of the nymph range to facilitate tree climbing and forest navigation.

Snow: Snow nymphs skin tones range from fair alabaster to creamy peach. Their hair and eye colors are generally a mix of reds, whites, blues, blonde, brown, and black. Their heights range across the entire range for nymphs.

Desert: Desert nymphs skin tones range from olive toned to very dark brown, while their hair and eye colors can range across nearly the entire color spectrum. Their heights range across the entire range for nymphs.

Abilities

Physical: Like elves, nymphs are quite unmatched in physical speed, agility, and elastic strength. Their beautiful and sometimes delicate appearances belie the physical power of their bodies, which grants them an average strength that equals that of human and dwarf males at their physical peaks. They also have heightened senses.

In general, nymphs have an affinity with high and nature magic.Depending on their subspecies, they have affinities with different types of elemental magic.

Shapeshifting: One half of the nymph population has a shapeshifting gene, which grants them the ability to develop an aptitude at changing into any animal form with a relation to their subspecies. Of those who have the shapeshifting gene, many choose to not train this ability. However, those who train and frequently utilize this ability find that their humanoid forms become physically weaker and slower as a result of the energy expenditure associated with frequent shifting. In spite of this, most shifters retain a strength and grace that is equal to that of most humans. The negative physical effects of shifting can be counteracted by physically conditioning the humanoid form, although this does not help shifters retain the fantastic strength and speed that is typical of physically trained, non-shifter nymphs.

Aquatic Nymph: Aquatic nymphs can generally stay underwater for up to four hours. However, this number can vary in up or down depending upon the physical fitness of the individual in question. They can also withstand incredibly high water temperatures and pressures, allowing them to dive into the deepest points of the ocean. Conversely, aquatic nymphs must consume large quantities of water when they are on land for extended periods of time in order to avoid adverse physical consequences.

Aquatic nymphs have an affinity with elemental water magic and an averseness/weakness to elemental electric magic. Shapeshifting: Aquatic nymph shifters can shift into the form of any type of aquatic macroorganism.

Forest Nymph: Physical: Forest nymphs possess no physical advantages or weaknesses that deviate from that other nymph subspecies.

Magical: Forest nymphs possess an affinity for earth magic and have an averseness/weakness to elemental fire magic.

Shapeshifting: Forest nymph shifters can shift into the form of any type of forest, plains, and jungle based macroorganism.

Snow Nymph: Physical: Snow nymphs are extremely resistant to the negative effects of cold temperatures (-125 to 32 Fahrenheit). On the inverse, they do not fare well in hot climates (higher than 80 Fahrenheit), which can be dangerous for them past a certain point and duration of exposure without protection.

Magical: Snow nymphs have an affinity with elemental ice magic and an averseness/weakness to elemental fire magic.

Shapeshifting: Snow nymphs can shift into the form of any type of cold weather macroorganism.

Desert Nymph: Physical: Desert nymphs are extremely resistant to the negative effects of hot temperatures (100 to 130 Fahrenheit). On the inverse, they do not fare well in cold climates (lower than 32 Fahrenheit) and duration of exposure without protection.

Magical: Desert nymphs have an affinity with elemental fire magic and an averseness/weakness to elemental ice magic.

Shapeshifting: Desert nymphs can shift into the form of any type of desert and hot weather macroorganism.

Culture

Nymphs are a populous and diverse enough to not be considered a cultural monolith. However, there are many universal cultural constants and themes that define and distinguish nymphs from many of the other mortal and immortal humanoid species.

Like elves, nymphs consider themselves to be guardians of nature. However, nymphs have a more intimate connection to nature than elves, because their progeny emerge directly from nature itself in life springs. Although nymphs can physically reproduce with other species to produce half breeds, full blooded nymphs can not be created via physical reproduction. Since there are no children in nymph society, upon creation, nymphs are considered to be social adults.

Since full blooded nymphs can only be created by life springs, sex is viewed as a purely leisure activity in nymph culture. There is no stigma attached it, and as a result, it is practiced on a near daily basis in most communities.

Many pursuits relate to the protection and defence of nature, martial pursuits, the caretaking of nature, elemental magic, and shapeshifting.

As a cultural constant, nymphs of all types abhor clothing. Nymphs that live in extreme climates are no exception to this rule. They only wear it as a means to fit in socially with the other mortal races, or as protection against a foreign climate.

Nymphs live in organized societies, like many mortal and immortal races. However, they rarely build buildings, often living in caves, coves, massive and hollowed out tree houses, and “hobbit houses”. If they do build buildings, they are often built into nature itself, utilizing natural materials.

History

Nymphs are believed to created from the pure magical energy between Malina, Goddess of the Forest, and Nialle, Goddess of magic. These beings are thought to have sprung from a fight between the two goddesses over who was more powerful over the other. Nialle had gone to visit Malina in her forest to discuss a fight she had, had with Haliea, Goddess of the sun and moon. Nialle and Malina laughed as they went over how the fight had went, mocking Haliea for mistakes she had made that allowed Nialle to land some significant blows. The discussion had led to the two goddesses deciding to duel themselves to see who would be the stronger of the two.

The duel had lasted about three days. The land in Antarsia shook, causing earthquakes when Malina was hit. When Nialle was hit, the Vikta went out of control, causing magic users to no longer be able to use magic or become so overpowered with Vikta that their mortal bodies could not contain it; causing their death. When the blades of the two goddesses clashed, sparks flew down to the mortal world. One of these sparks landed in the forest on large tree. Instead of burning the tree down, it had glowed with magical power. From this tree, the first of the nymphs where born.

As the battle continued, more sparks fell to the world and created similar occurrences in other locations. These became known as life springs. When other gods had seen what the battle had caused, they had taken it upon themselves to had more life springs to other parts of the world. It has been lost which is an original life spring from the two goddesses or one created by another god. Nymphs born at each life spring believes that, that location is one of the originals.