Nymphs

> *"Immortal nature spirits of a divine origins. While it seems like they are an all-female race, male nymphs do exist, but rarely, like a 1:10000 chance."*
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A **nymph** is a minor female nature deity. Different from goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature, are typically tied to a specific place or landform, and are usually depicted as maidens. They are not necessarily immortal, but live much longer than human beings.

## Description

Nymphs are sometimes beloved by many and dwell in specific areas related to the natural environment: e.g. mountainous regions; forests; springs. Other nymphs are part of the retinue of a god (such as Dionysus, Hermes, or Pan) or of a goddess (generally the huntress Artemis). Although they would never die of old age nor illness, and could give birth to fully immortal children if mated to a god, they themselves were not necessarily immortal, and could be beholden to death in various forms.

Nymphs often tend to frequent areas distant from humans but could be encountered by lone travelers outside the village, where their music might be heard, and the traveler could spy on their dancing or bathing in a stream or pool, either during the noon heat or in the middle of the night. They might appear in a whirlwind. Such encounters could be dangerous, bringing dumbness, besotted infatuation, madness or stroke to the unfortunate man.

They are often chased by the stick gods, demigods, Satyrs or human men for their beauty. The Nymphs would use their powers or ask the gods and goddesses who protected them to escape from the lust of those chasing them, sometimes changing into a plant, animal, stone, constellation, or a body of water. Not everything that Nymphs change into is for protection. Some of them have been turned into monsters and cursed by the gods as punishment.

While all Nymphs care and protect each of the regions that they live in and protect the animals there, depending on the type of Nymph, some species were kind and helped humans who were in that region and some species were hostile to humans, leading them to their doom.

While some Nymphs were turned into plants, animals, constellations, stones or bodies of water to honor them and keep them safe. And some turned into monsters or other things as punishment. The Nymphs who stood out as human were turned/changed into spirits or minor goddesses and taken in for protection. Mortal, monsters and gods who sometimes lusted and chased after the human girls tried to force those to love the deities. Gods, and goddesses who felt pity for them would step in and bring them to their side. Unfortunately, even though the females who became Nymph spirits learned they still weren't safe because some of the men, deities and monsters would bother Nymphs as well, not just human females. When some of the girls who were changed into Nymphs or the Nymphs changed into something else, they were scared, praying, sad or heartbroken about something.

## Trivia

* The Greek word *nýmphē* has the primary meaning of "young woman; bride, young wife" but is not usually associated with deities in particular. Yet the etymology of the noun *nýmphē* remains uncertain. The Doric and Aeolic (Homeric) form is *nýmphā* (νύμφα). Modern usage more often applies to young women, contrasting with *parthenos* (παρθένος) "a virgin (of any age)", and generically as *kore* (κόρη < κόρϝα) "maiden, girl". The term is sometimes used by women to address each other and remains the regular Modern Greek term for "bride".