Nisse

Boar, final form (art by Chipo-H0P3)

### Size

Varies. Young individuals are the size of a rodent; mature adults may be the size of a mammoth, although most commonly around the size of a large wolf.

### Diet

Does not appear to eat – theorized that they feed on magical energy

Nisse, also known as Skogsrovjr (archaic name, only used in old legends) are a War-Forged mythical familiar, often associated with Kaia. They are considered guardians of the forest, and are believed to bring good fortune.

## Appearance and Biology

The Nisse vary greatly in appearance – even a single individual will change radically in appearance over a period of time, and their development is heavily dependent on the environment they exist in.

The core, unchanging element of their appearance is that they appear to be made wholly, or almost wholly, of living wood and vegetation. Some develop rocky or gemstone parts, but most remain entirely plant based. The composition of plant life on a creature can change – and often does – over the lifespan of the creature, although most equines would not notice this: these changes take place slowly over decades.

They have no flesh or organs. They may have growths mimicking eyes, noses, maws and claws, but all of these consist entirely of wood, other plant life and rocks.

A Nisse will always resemble a single, real land mammal, most commonly a large predator, such as a wolf or a big cat. Their movement mimics the species their anatomy is spaced on, but their movements are simultaneously more lumbering, and unnervingly silent. A mature Nisse will be around the size of, or slightly larger than, the animal it is based on. Nisse are never based on mythical familiar or a non-mammal. In some very rare cases, a Nisse has adopted the appearance of a water dwelling mammal.

The core of the creature will always be living wood. This may resemble any species of tree, and sometimes a Nisse may have a blend of several trees forming its body. The tree the creature consists of will not change during its lifetime. The trees may be bare, or produce leaves, flowers and/or fruit depending on the type of tree and the Nisse in question. However, changes in scenery will affect what other things show on the Nisse, as the creatures are rarely plain and made out of just wood. Any number or combination of flowers, grasses, short shrubs, reeds or mosses may grow on them, reflecting the area where they live, or where they have previously lived. Nisse living in rocky places will develop small rock or gemstone formations as well, although these will never overpower the plant features.

The plants on a Nisse may appear as smaller versions of real plants, but regardless seem to be alive, and are affected by the cycle of seasons – plants will wilt and bloom in accordance to the seasons, leaving winter Nisse quite bare, while in summer they are colorful and in full bloom.

## Life Cycle

A Nisse is born when a strong emotion or traumatic event is connected with a natural space. This may be as simple as a kiss under a tree, or as horrible as a murder or a war tainting a forest. The nature of the emotion does not matter – it matters simply that it is there. From that emotion, a Nisse takes form, crawling up from the forest floor that birthed it. They are born tiny, no bigger than a rodent, and young Nisse are very rarely seen due to their small size alone; or simply mistaken for a common rodent, with no second thought spared.

With time, the creature will grow, absorbing emotion and energy from the forests and other natural wilds surrounding it. They grow very slowly, only gaining a little size each year. During this time, the exact length of which is unknown, they stick to the deepest parts of the forest, and are rarely seen by equines.

Juvenile Nisse, once reaching the size of a common housecat, have already begun to diversify in appearance, taking the shape of different animals. It is at this age that they appear to become more curious, or as some suggest, more greedy, venturing out of the deep hidden places in the wilderness. It is at this stage that they might come across an equine, and if the two bond, the Nisse will follow them from then on. More commonly, however, they will choose to bond with a specific community, such as a village, rather than a single partner.

If they find an equine companion, especially a magically talented one, the Nisse begin to grow much more quickly. Their shape will often change to reflect their new companion’s preferences, and they will gain strength and size much more rapidly than they previously would have – although the changes in plant life will still take decades, a juvenile Nisse might grow several inches in a year.

Nisse bonded with villages experience similar boosts in growth, but not to the same extent.

Those who stay in the wilderness experience the slowest growths, and become guardians of natural communities and special spaces, rather than equines of Hireath.

Since a Nisse is bound to outlive any companion, a Nisse who has once bonded with an equine will seek a new partner upon the death of their first one, although they seem to always remember their previous partners fondly. Due to their changing appearance, people will often not even realize that it is, in fact, the same creature, and not two separate ones. The Nisse will continue to grow in size and strength with each subsequent partner.

Village Nisse don’t need to travel, as villages have much more longevity. As such, changes in their appearance are rare, and they are easily recognizable as the same creature throughout generations.

Nisse are believed to be immortal in the sense that they are ageless, and are not affected negatively by aging – quite the opposite. Oldest recorded village Nisse have been at least four hundred years old, possibly even older, considering the unknown length of their childhood phase.

It is known, however, that eventually the Nisse will just wander off, leaving behind its village. Bonded Nisse will eventually stop searching for new partners, and return to the forests as well. They are rarely seen after, which has led some to believe that they do indeed die; or perhaps return willingly to the earth after so many centuries spent roaming it.

As they are difficult to understand and very tight-lipped about their own origins, they are not the most well-understood species out there. Most Nisse seem kind, friendly and curious. They seem amused by equines, finding them both peculiar and endearing. They have a strong natural inclination to protect, whether it be a place, a village, or a single person. Some of them are strongly inclined to travel and constantly change, choosing to bond with single individuals, while others crave stability and balance. Their individual personalities are varied, but violent or malevolent Nisse are rare – the creatures will only turn aggressive when protecting what they hold dear.

## Abilities and Properties

Naturally sentient, although not able to speak equine language. Do not make sounds like normal animals, making them very hard to understand even for familiar whisperers – their language is based entirely on soft humming and rustling their own bodies.

Inclined to be close to equines and eager to bond with them. They pick their companions, not the other way around. It is unknown what makes a specific Nisse drawn towards a given equine, but equines blessed by Kaia seem more likely to attract them than others. Bond with the “owner” for the duration of the “owner’s” natural life, after which will seek out a new companion, or return to the forest.

Does not have flesh or organs. Does not tire, need sleep or food (that we are aware of). Unaffected by cold and pain, but vulnerable to fire.

Do not have teeth or claws, although may mimic them with plant growths. Do not fight by biting or scratching – use magic instead.

Strong regenerative prosperities. While they can be killed, a damaged Nisse can heal themselves from even grave looking injuries, if given some time. Gravely wounded Nisse will often retreat to wilderness, and only return when fully healed.

Naturally possess either earth or plant manipulation, with plant manipulation being more common. Their exact magical ability varies, but most adults can match an adept blessed equine (maxed out blessing).  They will actively use their magic to create better, more livable environments, including mitigating damage caused by natural disasters, such as forest fires or landslides. When a group of Nisse get together, their power is described being like Creation magic, implying that their power grows when they are together.

## Legend and Lore

As the Nisse are fairly rare, but also quite friendly, they are not particularly inspiring for folk tales. Seeing one in the wilderness is considered a sign of luck, or at least the promise of a safe journey back home. Due to their nature and ability to use blessings similar to equines, they are thought to be closely connected to Kaia in some currently unknown way – some War Forged believe that Nisse act as appointed guardians of people and places important to the goddess’ plan or the balance of the world; others think that Kaia can see mortals through their eyes. Most think highly of the creatures, and avoid causing them harm.

Having one guarding a village is considered exceptionally fortunate, and the creature is often left small gifts, such as exotic feathers, flowers and other natural items, or in more wealthy villages, even jewelry. Nisse have been observed incorporating these given items into their being, which has encouraged the practice to continue. There are many local stories about a village Nisse coming to the aid of lost children or protecting the village from a rockslide; and just as many stories about how the village experienced a bout of bad luck once the creature retreated back into the woods.

Some villages will attempt to actively lure in juvenile Nisse to act as their guardians, but such methods vary wildly, and there is no real proof that any of them are particularly good at actually attracting the creatures.

Many consider it impossible for someone not faithful to Kaia to be personally bonded with a Nisse, which has led to their companions being viewed as pious and particularly upstanding Forged. The truth is, however, that a Nisse can choose someone for reasons only known to it, and that not everyone who walks with one of these beings is a good person – or a follower of War Forged traditions.

## Creation Rules

Nisse will always:

* Resemble a real land mammal
* Be made primarily of living wood and vegetation
* Resemble any species of tree (or multiple species)
* Be affected by the season cycles
* Change forms throughout its life

Nisse can:

* Have rock or gem formations
* In rare cases mimic a water dwelling mammal
* Have growths mimicking eyes, noses, etc.
* Be around the size, or slightly larger than the mammal they are based on

Nisse cannot:

* Be uplifted as they are already sentient
* Be communicated with without familiar whisperer
* Be “chosen”- they choose the equine
* Be based on a mythical familiar or a non-nammal

*Lore and writing by ThatDenver*