Nythalancer the Dealmaker

### Physicality

Mottled green scales; curved and spiked jawline and green serpentine eyes; large spined crest beginning at the brow, reaching full height behind the skull, and extending down the full length of the spine, tapering out into a thick tail; large dappled wings; long neck lined with large leathery scale plates; longer legs comparative to body size than the other dragons

## Worship

### Offerings

Servitude of influential creatures, useful information, material treasures such as statues and carvings

**Nythalancer the Dealmaker** is one of the World Bones of Illandor. He is a mythic green greatwyrm created by Avo and Tanneth, and makes up the province of Nirvenor.

## Name

Nythalancer's name translates to 'Tree, Lie, Silver' in Draconic, from *nyth* ('tree') + *alan* ('lie, deception', literally 'truth-not') + *cer* ('silver').

## Description

Nythalancer makes up the heavily jungled province of Nirvenor, often known as *Nythalancer's Jungle*, or *Dealmaker's Jungle*. It is sometimes also called *Fenrisar Feth*, though this is actually a misnomer, as the Elven forest of Fenrisar Feth is only a small portion of the larger jungle region. The jungle grows tall, towering over much of the province and straddled by the Levin Mountains and Zvaakrodu's Desert. It is believed that the dense vegetation - coloured by Nythalancer's mottled green scales - towers so because of Nythalancer's tall and slender build, with his long legs and long neck. There is a large, foliage-coated mountain ridge nestled within this region, thought to be Nythalancer's huge fanned crest, which begins at his brow and runs the full length of his body, tapering out at his tail. It is believed that his tail curls around, forming the tree-lined beaches found along the coastline.

## Geographical Influence

Nirvenor spans from the base of the Levin Mountains out to the eastern shore, on the coast of the Caprican Sea. Not only does Nythalancer make up the province physically, but he also influences various environmental phenomena throughout his domain. Nythalancer's Jungle is almost labyrinthine in its growth, with trees and thickets growing in such a way as to create passages, often obscured by a somewhat acrid fog, where sound is almost muffled by its density. Several small rivers submerge part of the jungle, and there is a notable absence of large game like deer.

## Role in Creation

It is believed that Tanneth teamed up with Avo to create Nythalancer, a test of the integrity of the mortals they created. Nythalancer was gifted with a silver tongue - sometimes depicted literally - with which to manipulate and deceive, attempting to lure mortals away with temptations. This test is designed to temper the ambitions of mortals; Tanneth celebrates ambition and curiosity, but cautions against losing oneself in the pursuit of it. They commissioned the aid of Avo to create the perfect tempter, hoping that Nythalancer would help to teach mortals that one should not abandon their morals in the pursuit of something they seek.

## Cultural Interpretation

### Physicality

When depicting Nythalancer, it is generally agreed that he is the tallest of the dragons, titanic in size, with a long neck and longer legs comparative to body size of the dragons. His scales are a mottled green, similar to his dappled, bat-like wings. His long neck is lined with large, leathery scale plates, and a large spined crest runs the entire length of Nythalancer's body from the brow to the tail, reaching full height behind the skull and tapering out into a thick tail. He has a curved and spiked jawline, and green serpentine eyes. In many depictions, he has a literal silver tongue.

### Personality

It is common for cultures to personify the World Bones to understand them in terms they would be able to relate to. This is most prevalent in the humanoid races. Nythalancer is often depicted as clever, cunning and ambitious, taking great pleasure in subversion and corruption of the good-hearted, as per his intended purpose. He is considered a master of deceit and double-talk, and the original tempter, blessed by Avo with a silver tongue. There are, of course, redeeming qualities to Nythalancer, which can sometimes be forgotten. He is a virtue of ambition, and a cautionary tale against abandoning one's morals in the face of temptation and corruption. He is patient and methodical, as well as possessing undeniable charm and intellect, and bears the mark of his creators in the form of Tanneth's curiosity and Avo's cryptophilia.

### Abilities

Stories paint Nythalancer as a cunning deceiver, able to persuade and charm all but the most steadfast of those he encounters. It is believed that his silver tongue is both metaphorical and literal. In almost every iteration of Nythalancer's tale, he is described as breathing poisonous gas and exuding a toxic glean through his near-impenetrable scales, as well as having a poisonous stinger atop his gargantuan tail. Some stories posit that he is able to turn invisible at will, with some even suggesting he can choose who can perceive him whilst remaining completely imperceptible to everything else. Many believe that he can grow and animate plants, due to the regional effects that indicate his presence.

## Religious Offerings

The classical offerings of gems (particularly emeralds) and effigies (statuettes, wood carvings, etc.) are often left at shrines to Nythalancer in order to satiate him, believing this will help to protect the offerer against the Dealmaker's corrupting wiles. It is also believed that Nythalancer claims those who are bent to his will - those who fail the test and essentially sell their souls to him. Cosmologically, the veracity of this is unconfirmed.