Nymphs

🍄 Overview

Nymphs (technically night nymphs) are a race of charismatic and immortal beings that reside in the Night Duchy. They are distinguished by their ethereal, blue-hued skin, reminiscent of a starry night sky. Their skin is patterned with stars and constellations, which seem to dance across their bodies under the moonlight. These patterns are unique to each nymph, symbolizing their deep connection to the cosmos. 

Nymphs have the ability to shapeshift their bodies at will. They can transform their body shape, height, and sexual organs. Their gender identities and presentations are fluid and ever-changing like the night sky. Some Nymphs may change often and explore other forms and identities daily, appearing as masculine one day, feminine the next, or anywhere along or outside the spectrum. Other Nymphs may stick to one prefered gender identity.

🍄 Appearance

Nymphs are beautiful humanoid beings with skin that looks like the night sky. Their skin sparkles with constellations, can be clear or cloudy, and shooting stars may appear (especially when a Nymph is exicted or joyous!).

Many Nymphs identify as adrogynous, non-binary or agender.

Their hair can be any texture or length and is usually blue in hue, but can be dark or light in tone.

Design Guidelines

• Nymphs are captivating and unique and should be whatever you believe 'beautiful' to be.

• Most of their colouring is blue (skin, eyes, hair) but teal, purple, pink, white and black colours can be present too.

• Nymphs can be any body shape and as mentioned, can shapeshift their body parts at will.

• Martial Nymphs may get tattoos that look like star maps, in black.

• Magic Nymphs may have bright, glowing celestial runes that appear when they use magic.

• Nymphs can have any piercings. Jewellry is common.

Clothing

• The homeplace of the Nymphs, the Night Duchy, is always pleasantly warm - so single layers in light fabrics are preferred.

• Nymphs adore fabrics with sparkly, shimmering, shining, textures such as satin, sequens, velvet, and lace.

• Thin fabrics that flow and drape easily are common.

• They like to show off their bodies and are not afraid to show skin.

• Gold and silver and blue metal accessories are common (and often come in celestial motifs like stars and moons).

• Clothing can be in any colour, but blues and golds are common.

• They prefer style over practicality. 

• They rarely wear armour. Too hot and heavy. But for those who do - its often blue-silver, midnight, or gold in colour.

• Clothing and armour has to be made from special materials that change with the body of the Nymph. There are custom tailors in the Night Duchy who specialise in this (Celestial Bodies being the most famous).

🍄 Birth, Life and Death

Birth

• Nymphs are formed out of stardust. Nymph parents will go on a pilgrimage into the cosmos, usually riding a Moon jellyfish into the galaxy. They find a section of sky that feels right, and form a Nymph baby out of stardust, molding it in their hands like clay.

• Some supersticious Nymphs will stargaze relentlessly before going on a pilgrimage, searching the skies for an auspicious sign for when the time is right to go on the pilgrimage.

• Nymph parents do not always find a belt of stardust with enough magic essence to create a Nymph baby. If they are unlucky, they must return to the Night Duchy and try again some other time.

Life

• Nymphs are immortal unless they have paired with another race. Once they have falled in love with someone, they take on their lifespan.

• Even if the relationship ends, they remain mortal and retain the average lifespan of the race they fell in love with.

Death

• If a mortal Nymph's life partner passes away, the Nymph follows shortly after. They wither away with something called 'wilting sickness' which is basically fatal heartsickness.

• If Nymphs die from unnatural causes, they are taken to the edge of a certain glade called The Gravity Well deep in the Orionis Mountain forest. Moon jellyfish frequent this glade. The deceased or dying Nymph will be sent out into the middle of the lake on bioluminescent flora and starlight, and the moon jellies will gently pick them up and carry them into the sky. They return to the galaxy that birthed them. Sombre songs may be sung from the shore.

🍄 Nymph Customs & Culture

Personality Traits

• Nymphs can be engaging, flirtatous, humorous, confident, extroverted, friendly and loving.

• Nymphs love to have fun - whether its by partying, performing, diving into a special interest or anything else that gives them joy. Their immortality has made it so that they value enjoying life above all else.

• Nymphs may be unserious, immature, impractical and distractable.

Your Nymph character should have a few of these traits but certainly doesn’t have to have all of them. Please feel free to put a unique spin on it.

Romance, Marriage and Offspring

Romance

• Nymphs pair for life. They fall in love easily, and hard, but are careful when committing themselves to a partner. Much like the High Fae, the concept of a twin flame, or soulmate, is sacred. They are a romantic race where deep, sacred connections are extremely important.

• Same-sex pairings are possible and common.

• They are very open to relationships with other races but this can be difficult as the Night Duchy is not habitable long term for other races. So they usually end up leaving the Night Duchy to live where their life partner lives.

Marriage

• Nymphs are certainly open to marrying their life partner.

• To prepare for a wedding, the couple consults with seers to determine the most auspicious time based on the night sky’s alignment. This preparation involves studying astrological charts and aligning the ceremony with celestial phenomena. 

• During the wedding ceremony, the couple exchanges vows under a canopy made of woven starlight and bioluminescent flowers. The vows are often poetic, reflecting their commitment to each other and to the cosmos. 

• Each nymph releases a moon lantern onto Gruis lake, symbolizing their union or 'eclipse'. It drifts among luminescent lilies, representing their joined journey through life. 

• Following the vows, the couple leads a moonlit dance, where they perform a traditional dance that mimics the graceful movements of celestial bodies. This dance is performed under a sky filled with lanterns and star-like lights, symbolizing their unity and the light they bring to each other’s lives. 

• Wedding outfits are generally sheer clothing of starlight adorned with elaborate silver jewellry that is draped over the head, face, and upper body.

Offspring

• Nymphs cannot procreate naturally but they love to try. They are a very open, curious and flirtatous race.

• As mentioned previously, Nymphs go on a pilgrimage into the stars to form a baby out of stardust when they are ready to be a parent. 

• Nymphs are used to living in big communities and generally have large families. They may go on pilgrimages and come back with twins or triplets! These star-siblings can be considered 'related' if they were formed from the same stardust belt.

Miscellaneous

• Moon jellyfish are sacred guardians of the Night Duchy and are involved in the 'birth' and 'death' rites of a Nymph. They have a symbiotic relationship, with the Nymphs caring for and guarding the Moon jellies and the Moon jellies being involved in delivering Nymphs from this life to the next.

• Nymphs are very community focused.

• The ability to shapeshift is celebrated through festivals where Nymphs freely change their forms, expressing their creativity and fluidity. These celebrations often coincide with celestial events such as meteor showers, lunar eclipses, and solstices. Each festival has unique themes and rituals that honor the changing nature of the universe. 

If you have questions about Nymphs, please ask them in the helpdesk channel on Discord!