Homebrew Forest Nymph Species Details

"In my wildest dreams I could never have imagined such beauty."

For many months now I've combed the densest forests known to man. Searched every nest and trail for any signs of the elusive Nypmhs said to dwell within. And for months nothing.

At last I hear them. Soft light voices carry through the air. Songs in what I imagine are an ancient language call to me. I see them: beautiful women that seem to match the natural world around them. A race solely of women dancing through the forest, content in their mysterious existence. 

- Barnabus Shacklewater

-Mysterious Entities of Antiqua

 

 Forest Nymphs are a rare and elusive race that hide from the rest of the world. They can be found deep within unexplored woods, teeming with bright colorful plant life and fey of all sorts to keep them company. More than anything, Forest Nymphs love nature and the freedom it provides, as well as singing and dancing together.

Built for the Wild

With their years dancing amongst the tough wooded terrain, Forest Nymphs have thin and lithe but very strong builds. They are of average height comparable to that of elves and humans, an adult ranging anywhere from just under 5 feet to roughly 6 feet in height.

The coloration of a Forest Nymph can match that of any normal human though may also be any shade of green as well. Their hair in similar fashion may be any color from the normal blondes, blacks and brunettes,  to bright colors that match the wildflowers amongst them.

Another aspect that differentiates them from other races is that they may have animalistic physical properties to them. It is not uncommon to see a Forest Nymph with the eyes of a cat or wolf, the long ears of a rabbit or pointed ears of a fox, or even the antlers of a deer.

Time Immeasurable 

Due to their fey heritage,  a Forest Nymph may live well over 800 years of age. Unlike races like elves however, they do not age at the same rate of humans and instead age slowly, only reaching full adulthood around the ages of 150 to 200 years of age.

Women in the Woods

For unknown reasons, no male has ever been born amongst the Forest Nymphs. As such, they are not born in a traditional manner and are instead simply brought into the world by Eldath, the Goddess of Peace.

They live to protect the forests from those that would wish to hurt it and spend their days communing with the animal denizens and plants that live within their domain.

Hidden Lives

Forest Nymphs spend their lives outside the "civilized" world, preferring to live their lives in the woods. The rare times outsiders are able to discover their homes they vanish in seconds, leaving those who wandered into them weather anyone was their to begin with. After millennia of hiding as well as their natural ability to blend with nature, Forest Nymphs have become very light on their feet and even seem to vanish into thin air.

 

Forest Nymph Traits

Your Nymph character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of millennia of nymph existence.

Tree Stepping

The forest lives in your body. You have a climbing speed equal to your walking speed when climbing trees.

In addition, once per short rest you can use 10 feet of your movement to teleport yourself between trees so long as they are within 30 feet of each other, and they are of at least Medium size, using their roots as a way to transport yourself magically. You appear in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the tree. If you do not attack, move, or cast a spell after using this feature you are considered invisible until the start of your next turn, or until you move, attack or cast a spell.

Commune with Nature

As fey creatures living in the woods, forest nymphs have the ability to speak with animals and plants. In respect to speaking with animals, both creatures understand the other as if speaking the same language. When speaking with plants, general feelings, thoughts and traumas may be telegraphed but words are never reciprocated. This ability is active at all times but may be tuned out as needed.

Racial Proficiency

As a creature that has lived and thrived in the forest you have proficiency in Nature, Survival, and Medicine.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

Age

Nymphs reach adulthood around the same time as humans, but can live far longer at around 1000 years.

Size

Nymphs range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Fey Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Trance

Nymphs don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is “trance.”) While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan.