Nymphs - The Natural Ones
Nymphs are a small, beautiful and mysterious race. Scholars have stated that not much is known about them and they appear to be extremely elusive. However, with the limited data collected in regards to them, scholars believe Nymphs were born out of a natural aether source hidden somewhere in the Wildlands, making them at least part-spirit.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Nymphs are humanoid in their natural and shifted forms. In their natural form, their skin pigmentation includes pale brown, pale green and pale white. They have two arms, two legs and two four wings. They are often youthful and attractive in overall appearance. When Nymphs enter their shifted form via an unknown magic ability, they maintain their general appearance but become larger and more similar size to that of Humans and Elves and their wings retract, disappearing from sight. In both forms, their ears are slightly pointed, somewhere between Human and Elf in shape and size.
Genetics and Reproduction
Nymphs are unique for a sapient species. They do not menstruate like the other races. Typically, Nymphs reproduce asexually with one parent conceiving a child in their later years of life, sacrificing part of their life force to nature for the newborn's life. However, mating with other races is possible but not often done due to their secretive, shy nature. When mating occurs, they can reproduce like the other races without risk to their life force.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Nymphs do not operate like other sapient races with their social structure but do have a form of limited tribal system, with groups or families of Nymphs being referred to as a dryad. The eldest member leads the group. Otherwise, Nymphs are free spirits, roaming and enjoying life without ever forming a permanent society or civilization.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Nymphs are capable of silent communication through telepathy of memories and thoughts without ever needing to speak a word to each other but quite often speak verbally at times because they find it fun and amusing.
Origin/Ancestry
Nature incarnate
Lifespan
200 years
Average Height
10in (natural form), varies (shifting form)
Average Weight
0.72 lbs (natural form), varies (shifted form)
I like how you differentiated nymphs and dryads by making dryad the collective term. If they can reproduce sexually with other species, I'm surprised they haven't tried it with each other. Giving up part of your life force that way sounds unpleasent.
Thank you! And I'm sure some of them have mingled among themselves. For them, though, giving up part of their life force wouldn't be unpleasant to their standards due to them essentially nature personified in sapient form. Their life force is tied to nature, thus when they reproduce asexually, nature itself is indirectly giving the new nymph life spiritually. It's seen as a pure thing. Hope that makes sense!
That absolutely makes sense! I actually kind of like when cultures have things that feel weird for us but normal for them, even though it can be hard to wrap your head around.