Half-Nymph

by Wade Norton, Dragon #313

Less often [than other combinations] but noteworthy enough for poets to create epic sagas of romance and passion, gentle woodland nymphs fall in love with those who live in their woods, men or elves who treat the land and animals with the reverence and awe such things deserve. These relationships almost never last, as nymphs are fickle creatures and become bored with mundane mortals. However, on rare occasions, such liaisons lead to a child, always female, who mixes the best traits of the nymph with those of her lover. Many nymphs are so overjoyed by the beauty of their children that they raise them as their own daughters, teaching them the ways of the trees and wilderness, while others find the mixing of their fey blood with mortal baseness abhorrent, and they leave the child in care of the father and fade away, never to be seen again.

Half-nymphs are always beautiful, vibrant, and graceful. They inherit their mothers' natural loveliness, and their near-perfect appearance tends to make them stand out in any society in which they are raised. This, of course, has both advantages and disadvantages. Barbaric tribes who prize strength and combat skills often have little use for "soft" women, aside from trophy-wives or slaves. In elven societies that greatly value beauty, half-nymphs often quickly rise in influence and power, swaying even the most grumpy elders with their poise and charm. Human half-nymphs are magnets for suitors, both heroic and base, who go to great lengths to win their favor.

Creating a Half-Nymph

"Half-nymph" is an inherited template that can be added to any humanoid creature (referred to hereafter as the "base creature").

A half-nymph uses all the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

Special Attacks: A half-nymph has all the special attacks of the base creature and gains the following special attack.

Awesome Beauty (Su): This ability affects all humanoids within 30 feet of a half-nymph. Those who look directly at the nymph must succeed at a Will saving throw (DC 10 + half the half-nymph's racial HD + Charisma modifier) or be shaken for 1 minute. A creature that remains in range and continues to look at the half-nymph must continue to make saving throws against this ability. A successful saving throw while already shaken does not free the creature from the affect of the initial failed save. A failed saving throw while shaken resets the duration of the shaken condition to start from that round. A half-nymph can suppress or resume this ability as a free action. This is a mind-affecting, fear effect.

Special Qualities: A half-nymph has all the special qualities of the base creature and gains the following special qualities.

Fey Bloodline (Ex): Half-nymphs are considered creatures of the fey type when enchantment magic is directed against them. For example, the charm person spell does not affect a half-nymph creature, but charm monster affects them normally. Half-nymphs can also activate magical items restricted to fey creatures.

Low-Light Vision (Ex): A half-nymph can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. The half-nymph retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.

Abilities: Change from the base creature as follows: Dex +2, Int +2, Wis +2, Cha +4

Environment: Same as the base creature or temperate forests.

Organization: Same as the base creature or solitary.

Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +2.

Alignment: Usually chaotic (any).

Level Adjustment: Same as the base creature +2.


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