Nymphs are powerful fey who embody the splendor of the natural world. Architects of wild beauty, nymphs are bound as protectors to the forests, rivers, springs, meadows, mountains, and seas they shape and call home.

Enigmatic Values#

All nymphs are incredibly beautiful and demand to be surrounded by aesthetically elegant creatures and items that rival their own appearance. They are chaotic beings that believe in the importance of beauty above all else. Rather than viewing the world in terms of good and evil, most nymphs see only beauty and ugliness. To them, actions that create beauty are laudable; beautiful creatures and objects must be protected. That which destroys or damages beauty, or promotes ugliness, must be eradicated.

Secluded Surroundings#

Nymphs make homes in the most beautiful locations of the natural world. They augment these places, nurturing the plants, shaping the earth, and purifying the water. Those seeking a nymph should look to the most breathtaking natural landmarks in their vicinity as a sign of her presence. However, intruders are rarely welcome, as most nymphs prefer to live in solitude. Many nymph homes lie on the borders between the fey and the mortal realm. Time passes differently in these locations, and mortals who unwittingly wander into a nymph’s domain for an afternoon may find themselves displaced by centuries in time.

Ephemeral Lovers#

Many prominent heroes of legend are thought to be the offspring of nymphs. Affairs between nymphs and mortals tend to be fleeting and frequently end in tragedy. Powerful mortals who are seduced into joining nymphs in the fey realm may disappear from the mortal realm for centuries, throwing kingdoms into chaos in the meantime. Nymphs taken into the mortal world as wives and husbands soon pine for the natural splendor of their wild homes, and they usually abandon their mortal families.

Nymph Subraces#

Nymphs are divided into five lineages:

Aurea. Nymphs associated with the sea and the night sky, currents, breezes, and the constellations. Each aurae claims an island for her home, and she guards it with fearsome devotion. The most territorial of the nymphs, aurae have taken it upon themselves to stem the tide of civilization and do not tolerate mortals on their islands. They are

not malicious or cruel, and they always give trespassers fair warning to leave. But if their words go unheeded, they will not hesitate to smite interlopers with all their power.

Naiads. Nymphs of fresh water that make their homes in lakes, streams, brooks, and wetlands. Humans need to be close to reliable sources of fresh water, and this frequently creates an overlap between the domains of mortals and naiads. Naiads are coveted by mortals for both their great beauty and their talents, since they often have the ability to divine the fate of mortals. Naiads have been known to use this power to shape history, acting as mysterious oracles and advisors. Naiads also serve as muses to great artists and musicians, taking them to a level of creativity that only supernatural assistance can inspire.

Nereids. Beautiful female nymphs that dwell beneath the ocean waves. There, they fiercely defend coral reefs and all natural life that dwell within it. Although quick swimmers in their own right, nereids often seek the aid of dolphin or seahorse mounts to bolster their effectiveness in battle. Nereids are as attached to such creatures as paladins are to their steeds; should the animal fall in battle, its rider may be overcome by grief. In addition to their skill as warriors, nereids are also well known for their exquisite voices, which can travel through water undistorted. Unlike the songs of many other aquatic fey, however, nereids do not weave enchantments into their music; they sing for beauty’s sake.

Oceanids. A type of nymph that travel the coasts, often bringing music and merriment in their wake. They are most well known for their fascination with humanoids and largely take on forms that mimic handsome male members of these species. Oceanids adore beauty of all kinds but personally lack subtlety: they are invariably flashy, dressing in brightly-colored clothing and heavily adorning themselves in jewelry. Oceanids spend much of their time tricking and playing pranks upon mortals. These tricks are usually harmless, but they can be infuriating. A common example of an oceanid prank is to exchange jewelry for other valuable trinkets—items that soon crumble into sand once the nymph takes his leave. However, some oceanid pranks can turn fatal, often in the form of drownings. In another favorite oceanid prank, he lures his target into dangerous currents with illusory calm waters.

Oreads. Reclusive creatures associated with mountains, skies, and clouds. They are mischievous and selfish, even by fey standards, and one of their favorite pastimes is to take a mortal lover to “paradise”, bringing them into their time-warping lair. The lover is only returned to the mortal realm a century or more later, once their families and friends are all dead and gone. This is not always deliberate on the part of the oread—they simply don’t give very much thought to the consequences of their actions on the lives of the mortals they beguile. Unlike other nymphs, oreads are consummate hunters. Mortals with exceptional hunting skills are not punished for killing animals on an oread’s land, and may even be rewarded with a boon to improve their prowess.