Nythera
| Information | |
|---|---|
| Homeworld | Where they live |
| Habitats | What biomes they inhabit |
| Unique Traits | Extremely basic traits |
| Writer(s) | Who are YOU? |
"Optional species quote or defining cultural phrase." — Someone from this species
The Nythera are a bipedal, fae-like species that live in the dim, canopied forests of Elyndra. They are known for the butterfly wings on their face in place of regular eyes, alongside their extensive research into magic. They are long and slender humanoids with common traits being antennae, glowing patterns along their body, and a segmented tail with additional wing membranes along it. They live in clusters, small stone cities spread about under the shade of the forests. They’re a culture of magic and artisan works, famed for their weaving, textiles and libraries of arcane studies. The Nythera believe in self-expression and curiosity, yet their society is rather reluctant to let their people out from The Garden, believing much of the universe to be cruel. Only recently have they loosened their isolationist policies to interact with the other spheres formally.
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Core Worldview
The Nythera believe in maintaining community, not wishing to leave the Garden Sphere. There is fascination in the great expanse of the sky, but after experiencing hardships long ago, they yearn for little but the life they have sown in Elyndra. They live short lives that decline with age, and so they are firm believers in self-expression; their lives are a candle that is meant to burn brightly until it dies out. With such fleeting lives, they treat death with ambiguity, almost something to laugh about amidst their elaborate funerary rites.
Their lives are meant to create and celebrate before they are consumed by their own magic.
Physiology and Design
The Nytheras are slender, humanoids with butterfly and insectoid features. They have long limbs, typically with jet black, bodies, but they may come in other colors as well. They sport antennae and their bodies appear segmented, almost doll-like in shape. They have long tails, and it is commonly accompanied by glowing patterns along their body. Such patterns can shimmer and flash in accordance with their emotions and thoughts.
They are able to spin silk, but they have no wings upon their back for flying. They were never made to fly. It is said the ancestors of the Nythera had wings, yet that history has long been obscured.
Their most defining feature are the butterfly wings on their face. They can move and emote, in which the “eye spots” on the wings are actually their eyes. They are not actual wings, at least not ones that can serve any purpose of flying, perhaps better described as delicate membranes mimicking them. These structures appear as they age along the Nythera’s body, usually starting at their joints and extending to their tail. More and more grow, getting exponentially worse in their later years.
Nytheras prefer to live in low lighting. While their eyes may be adept to most lighting, the wing membranes are not. Bright light for too long can lead to deterioration. The membranes become more transparent in prolonged exposure, until only the frames remain.
Their height ranges from 5’8” to 7’0”. Nytheras can “live” to their 60s, but this is a highly contested number. The primary reason is due to the nature of Serglige, making even the concept of death an ambiguous state.
Serglige
The Serglige, sometimes referred to as the “wasting sickness” is a long accepted consequence of the ancestors of the Nythera, having migrated to Elyndra to survive the demise of their kind. It is uncertain of the exact origin of Serglige, but it was coined to describe a common affliction that affects Nythera as they get older. The main symptom is a gradual growth of wing membranes. It starts at the joints and grows more and more, getting exponentially more severe as they age. The reason it grows exponentially is because these wing membranes hold magic. That means that as they grow older and gain more wings, their capacity for magic grows. It does not make them inherently better in skill, simply allowing them to store that magic. The Nythera get these boons, yet it comes at the cost of shorter lives compared to most.
It gets to a point that the membranes hinder their mobility and magic degrades their mind. Even the act of passing away is an ordeal in of itself, where one’s body is ladened with wings until it renders them unable to move. The overgrowth dulls their senses, even to pain, and ensures that death is a painless process, leaving only a mound of butterflies in its wake. This is where the matter of “lifespan” is debated. With their increased capacity for magic, they are able to maintain their bodies to sustain life and execute automated actions as per their casting.
There has been extensive research into mitigating the loss of one’s mind to retain their advanced capacity for magic and extend their “lifespan”, and there has been some success.
Food
Nytheras are omnivores. They are able to eat most vegetation of the canopies, greens and mosses and the sparse berries that flourish in the dim light. A lot of their diet handles mushrooms of all sorts, providing them some resistance to poisons and toxins local to Elyndra.
Despite their omnivorous palette, they lean into carnivorous diets. They kill and hunt local fauna, having sharp canines to tear into meat as needed. They often consume blood to obtain necessary nutrients, enabling them to preserve the meat for later. Some call them vampires for this; locals simply call it being resourceful.
History
The Nytherans originated from a sphere named Chitara. They were much different back then, once called an extinct species named the [REDACTED]. Due to an event named The Final Sunset, where a passing sphere consumed Chitara’s primary star, the surface of Chitara was plunged into eternal night. Unable to adapt to the violent change in environment, many of them died off. Whilst the other species went underground, the [REDACTED] fled the planet. What few remnants of the species ventured to Elyndra, where they were embraced and welcomed into The Garden. Since then, they have forsaken whatever remained of their origins, evolving to adapt to the magic of Elyndra. That, in turn, has created the Nythera of the modern day.
- Add current history to mention mission
Social Structures and Community
Are there cities? Towns? How do families work? Hierarchy? Governance?
Religion and Spirituality
What do they believe in religiously, if at all? Are there gods? Do they worship the Nullstar? Fear it?
Technology and Science
Here you guys can expand. If there's a specialty relating to one field or another, include it. Are they especially good at invention? Chemistry? Biology? You can also add a section for literature and artisinal aspects if you would like.
Traditional Clothing and Fashion
Fashion is a major aspect of society. With their major industries in textiles and artisan crafts, they have a wide variety of attires to sport. The only restriction on clothing is the consideration of their tail and the wing membranes along their body. They can cover the wing membranes, but it is ill advised to constrict them with tight sleeved clothing. Their fabric is high quality and durable, often having complex embroidereries.
The Nythera like to wear accessories such as jewelry with gemstones and draping fabrics. It is common to accessorize their tails with bands and bags to carry things. Sometimes, they even do piercings.
Occupations
Common occupations include weavers or anything in textile manufacturing, performing arts roles, musicians, artists and other artisan positions. There is also a significant population that practices agriculture to sustain them.
Their most known occupations, outside of governance, relate to magic. Many Nytheras are mages and researchers, skilled in magic for a variety of uses. There is a notable size of teachers to educate both their own people and outsiders that have started to frequent their populace.
Starships and Space Travel
Due to their distant origins from Chitara, they do have the capacity for space travel. They have the remnants of old technology for when their ancestors fled during the Final Sunset. Though their fleet is far and few, they have worked to ensure its functionality. There are a few newer models too, some almost insectoid in silhouette. However, their technology is relatively outdated. It works fine enough, given it has some modifications to adapt the old technology and their magic capabilities.
Despite their ability to do space travel, they would prefer not to. They understand the need to leave and interact with the stars, but they would rather not. Leaving Elyndra with the intent of forsaking the Garden Sphere is frowned upon. Attitudes towards space travel have changed in recent times. There were already changing sentiments leading up to the mission to go to The Anchor, but the mission solidified it further. Now, space travel is treated with ambivalence. As long as their travels are for their people, it can be permitted somewhat.
Cultural Quirks and Daily Life
A big trivia section, basically. I'd encourage incorporating animal mannerisms and fun little traits that don't fit anywhere else.
Notable Locations
List important places tied to this species.
Interactions With Other Species
Especially the other species that they share the planet with. You may need to work with the other teams for this. But I'd like to see this section just to foster more player interactions from the get-go. It's easy plot hooks.
Inspiration Images
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Concept Art
Add actual concept art here, stuff we made!
