Nythvara
Dreamwalkers of the Trance
Drifting between wakefulness and slumber, the Nythvara are the silent sentinels of the Trance, guardians of dreams and keepers of lost memories.
Moth and butterfly-like humanoids, the Nythvara are deeply attuned to the Trance, Plane of Dreams. Acting as guardians of slumber, they wander between the waking world and the realm of subconscious thought, ensuring that dreams remain untarnished by nightmares and unseen horrors. An enigmatic species, the Nythvara live in harmony with the reasoning species of Erenel, where they exist as both protectors and interpreters of dreams.
The Nythvara believe themselves to be born from the fabric of dreams, their essence woven from the dreams of mortals long past. Some claim they were created by Luniwyn, the Silver Maiden, goddess of the moon and mysteries, while others whisper that the Architect subconsciously wove them into existence to act as custodians of the mind. Regardless of their origins, all Nythvara share an innate ability to traverse the Trance, Plane of Dreams, their glowing wings illuminating the way for lost souls drifting in the realm of subconscious thought.
Somnomancers
The Nythvara believe that dreams are sacred, woven into the cosmic fabric of Erenel. They protect dreamers from nightmarish entities, guiding lost souls back to their slumbering bodies and ensuring the mind remains untarnished by corruption. Some Nythvara dedicate their lives to hunting and expelling dreamspawn, malevolent creatures that feed off the fear and despair of sleepers. These guardians, known as Somnomancers, wield innate magic, stepping between worlds to mend the fractures in reality.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Nythvara have an elegant, insectoid physique, their bodies covered in fine chitin and adorned with intricate, bioluminescent patterns that shift with their emotions. Their large, moth or butterfly-like wings shimmer with an otherworldly glow, leaving faint trails of luminescent dust when they move.
Their large, multi-faceted eyes shimmer with a whimsical wisdom, reflecting their deep connection to the Trance. Their wings, vibrant and ever-shifting, display intricate patterns that range from delicate pastels to striking neon hues, each a unique expression of their soul. These patterns serve as living records of their lineage and experiences, subtly reshaped by the memories and dreams they have walked through.
Biological Cycle
A Nythvara is not born in the traditional sense but instead woven into existence by silken dream strands. Within the depths of the Glade of Slumber, an ethereal sanctuary hidden between the material world and the Trance, shimmering cocoons of dream silk are spun by Nythvara Somnomancers. Each cocoon contains the essence of a newly forming Nythvara, cultivated from the subconscious threads of dreaming mortals.
As the cocoon grows, the Nythvara inside begins to take shape, its wings forming in response to the dreams and emotions of the world. After a full cycle of the moon, the cocoon shudders and splits open, releasing a newborn Nythvara, known as a hatchling. These hatchlings are small, fragile, and covered in a soft, translucent chitin that will harden as they mature.
by Tortoise and Hare
At birth, a Nythvara has no memory of a past life, yet they instinctively understand the Trance, sensing the emotions of others and feeling the pull of dreams like a river guiding them home.
Call to Metamorphosis
Unlike other creatures that grow predictably with time, a Nythvara does not metamorphose on a fixed schedule. Instead, they experience a call to metamorphosis, a deep, spiritual awakening that signals the need to shed their current form and embrace a new stage of life.
The signs of the call vary from one Nythvara to another but often include an emotional or spiritual realization where they overcome a great trial or experience deep sorrow or joy. Once they accept the call, a Nythvara must prepare their body and mind for metamorphosis.
To undergo transformation, a Nythvara must weave their own cocoon using dream silk from their own body during the Ritual of Reverie. This ritual requires the following:
A place of solace. Most Nythvara return to the Glade of Slumber or a similar ancestral sanctuary for protection and peace of mind.
Enter a deep trance. Before weaving dream silk, the Nythvara meditates for 24 consecutive hours, disconnecting from the physical world and immersing themselves in the Plane of Dreams.
Weave dream silk. After 24 hours of meditation, the Nythvara subconsciously begins to weave their dream silk cocoon, binding their past experiences into the delicate thread.
Surrender to the dream. Once the cocoon is complete, they fall into a dormant state as their subconscious roams freely, reliving and remembering memories of their past form while shaping the form they will take upon awakening.
A cocooned Nythvara can remain in this state anywhere from days to decades, depending on the depth of their transformation. When the metamorphosis is complete, the cocoon cracks and unfurls. The Nythvara's new form reflects the wisdom they have gained and is typically shown in altered wing patterns and shifts in coloration.
Most Nythvara will experience multiple metamorphoses events throughout their 500+ year life span. However, there comes a time when they feel their final call. This deeply personal moment signifies they are ready to transcend permanently into the Trance, Plane of Dreams. When this happens, the Nythvara weaves a final cocoon, but unlike previous cycles, they do not awaken. Instead, their cocoon dissolves into shimmering dust, leaving only a faint echo of their presence.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Nythvara names often sound soft and melodic, infused with breathy syllables. Many take titles based on their dream experiences or the patterns that form on their wings.
Masculine Names
Cyrilith, Oziris, Quinari, Thalen, VeylorisFeminine Names
Lissara, Nythea, Solmira, Vaelis, ZophiriCulture and Cultural Heritage
The Great Dream
To the Nythvara, dreams are more than fleeting thoughts or subconscious illusions. They are the threads of existence itself, woven into the fabric of reality. They believe that the Trance is not merely a realm of imagination, but an echo of past, present, and future, where the dreams of all living things intertwine to shape the fate of Erenel. Each dream, no matter how insignificant, carries meaning, and the Nythvara dedicate themselves to unraveling this grand cosmic tapestry.
Echoes of the Past
Many Nythvara believe that dreams serve as windows to forgotten memories, both from past lives and from the history of the world itself. In their philosophy, when a mortal dreams, they sometimes relive moments from a life they once lived—whether their own, an ancestor’s, or another soul connected to them by fate. The Nythvara, who spend much of their time immersed in the Trance, have learned to navigate these echoes, searching for knowledge long thought lost. Some dreamers experience deja vu, not realizing they have already lived a moment before, perhaps in another life.
Reflections of the Present
In addition to uncovering the past, the Nythvara believe dreams offer insight into a mortal’s current struggles, emotions, and destiny. Each dream serves as a mirror of the soul, revealing fears, desires, and unresolved troubles. The Nythvara see it as their duty to guide dreamers toward clarity, helping them understand the hidden messages in their subconscious. A person plagued by recurring nightmares may unknowingly be suppressing a great truth, and a Somnomancer may step in to help them confront it.
Glimpses of the Future
While rare, some dreams serve as prophecies, revealing glimpses of what is yet to come. The Nythvara do not see the future as something fixed, but as a river with many paths, each dream showing only one possibility among many. Some mortals blessed, or cursed, with prophetic dreams seek out the Nythvara, hoping to gain clarity or control over their visions. Some Somnomancers devote their entire lives to interpreting dream prophecies, believing that by understanding the dreams of mortals, they can foresee great events before they occur.
Lifespan
About 500 years
Average Height
Small (about 3-4 feet tall)
Geographic Distribution
by Tortoise and Hare
Relations with Others
Drifting between the waking world and the Trance, the Nythvara are both seen and unseen, their presence felt more in dreams than in daily life. Many mortals unknowingly encounter them while sleeping, mistaking them for celestial messengers, wayward spirits, or fragments of their own imagination. To those attuned to the subtleties of the mind, such as scholars, mystics, and tetherers, the Nythvara are regarded with curiosity and reverence, seen as keepers of forgotten knowledge and silent watchers of the subconscious. However, their detached nature makes it difficult for most to fully understand their motives, often leading to suspicion or superstition among those who fear what they cannot control.
Despite their distant nature, there are individuals who have earned the trust of the Nythvara, forming rare but profound bonds with them. Some mortals, particularly those with recurring dreams or visions, believe they have been chosen by the Nythvara, acting as vessels for their wisdom. Whether seen as guardians, tricksters, or dream-bound wanderers, the Nythvara remain both a comfort and a mystery, forever walking the veil between sleep and wakefulness.
by Dean Spencer
Dream Pearls
When a creature native to Erenel sleeps, their consciousness drifts away from their mortal body and enters the Trance. There, it manifests as a small yet impenetrable dream pearl, within which the creature experiences vivid dreams. This process leaves the sleeper feeling refreshed and restored. Upon waking, the dream pearl dissolves as the consciousness returns to the mortal body. A true dreamer’s journey.
The location where a dream pearl materializes within the Trance profoundly influences the dream it holds. A pearl appearing in the Summer's Dream promises joyous and unforgettable visions. Conversely, a pearl forming in the Winter's Dream often brings nightmares and horrors, leaving behind a sense of dread.
Hidden Sanctuaries
Scattered across Erenel and hidden from the eyes of most mortals, the Nythvara’s floating sanctuaries exist on the border between reality and the plane of dreams. Unlike the great cities of reasoning species, Nythvara sanctuaries are elusive and do not exist in a fixed location. Instead, they drift between planes, phasing in and out of Erenel at irregular intervals, appearing only to those who are meant to find them.
These sanctuaries serve as homes, spiritual havens and gathering points for the Nythvara. Those who wander into one by accident often feel as if they are dreaming while awake, describing what they see as shimmering illusions and impossible ever shifting landscapes.
Glade of Slumber
The Glade of Slumber is considered the heart of Nythvara civilization and is the first sanctuary where their kind took root in Erenel during the Plane of Dreams creation. A breathtaking floating city of woven silk bridges and glowing chrysalis towers, this vast, dreamlike woodland is covered in eternal twilight, bathed in the soft glow of bioluminescent plants. The trees are twisted and towering, their leaves reflecting the phases of the moon, shifting from silver-blue to deep violet as the night progresses. While walking under its canopy of branches, the Nythvara claim the trees whisper when the wind blows, carrying the voices of Nythvara who have heard their final call.
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