Vine Nymph

It is said that all growing things are loved by the fey. This makes most think of wild places like a dryad's tree or the forests deep in The Wilderlands with their protectors. Few could imagine such creatures gracing settled places. Those who work the legendary vineyards of Tarador know better, for some of their fields are blessed by the presence of a vine nymph.

Basic Information

Anatomy

As with other nymphs, vine nymphs are beings of staggering beauty. They resemble voluptuous elven women with pointed ears and a gaze that is almost hypnotic. The only clothing they wear are the delicate grapevines that grow across their bodies.

Abilities

As with any fey creature, vine nymphs have great magical power, much of it strange beyond the understanding of mortal mages. One such ability is the power to meld into the vines they so lovingly tend. They spend most of their time like this, and it can be quite difficult to find them in this state. The only indication of their location is the more robust health of the vine and a subtle glow of the grapes.
Another primary ability they possess is their literally intoxicating aura. Those around them feel as though they had been drinking. The level of drunkenness depends on the desires of the nymph. It's effects can vary from nothing at all, to a delightful buzz, to utterly incapacitating intoxication.
They also have at their disposal a terrible curse. They call this Eternal Drunkenness, which is not as desirable as many would consider it. One so stricken suffers all the negative effects of intoxication. They experience the same clumsiness and nausea as if they had imbibed far too much alcohol with no sense of relaxation or loss of faculties. This curse is only used in the most dire of circumstances.

Genetics and Reproduction

Vine nymphs are fey creatures, their bodies enfused with a magic unknown to mortal beings. They are all female, but such things hardly matter to the fey, who are bound by the utterly incomprehensible natural rules of their own world.
As such, none truly know how new vine nymphs come to be. Indeed, none have ever seen a young one. The logical assumption would be that they mate with mortal males. While they do have sexual relations with members of any race and either sex, it has been noted by magical scholars that mortal logic does not apply to fey. Thus, it has been proposed that it is strong emotional attachments that birth new vine nymphs.
Other theories state that they don't reproduce in any way even remotely resembling typical sexual reproduction. One states that they are simply spontaneously created in fields of grape vines. Another states that those who spend too much time around Uvalina slowly become vine nymphs, themselves. If the nymphs know, none have answered.

Ecology and Habitats

As their name suggests, vine nymphs live among fields of grapevines. The mere presence of a vine nymph causes the vines to grow faster, larger, and healthier, as if the vines, themselves are eager to please her. Wines made from these grapes have a better taste and are more intoxicating than others.
Due to their ability to meld into their vines, they need no shelter and are rarely seen. Their mystical connection to their chosen field gives them all the sustenance they need. If a nymph's field is healthy, so is she. If a vine nymph suffers, so does the health of the field where she dwells. After the harvest they are gone until they return in the beginning of the next growing season.
Although they want for nothing, they are fond of wine, and many vintners will leave some in their fields as an offering, whether a vine nymph lives there or not. Such offerings do leave the nymphs happier, which seems to have a positive impact on the fields.

Behaviour

Vine nymphs are in many ways creatures of great contradictions. Most of the time, they are very shy, staying out of sight of those who work the fields as much as possible. Therefore, they are rarely seen during the day. This is not a universal trait, however some are quite playful, instead, frequently allowing humanoids to catch glimpses of them or allowing others to hear a giggle with no obvious source.
No matter their specific personality, all vine nymphs have a wild streak. Even the most shy nymph will occasionally feel an urge for wild hedonism. They might show themselves at a party thrown near their field, or even use their powers on the workers to start one, themselves. Most vintners whose fields host a vine nymph hold lively festivals, both in celebration for the nymph's blessing and to give her the enjoyment she craves.
The specific reasons a vine nymph choses a particular vineyard are a complete mystery. None have ever explained their motivations and there is no pattern to those selected. Some of these vineyards are barely keeping themselves afloat, only for a vine nymph to turn things around for them. Others are already prosperous and the nymph's presence only sweetens their success.
The one thing these places have in common is that the nymph will always eventually leave. Even if kept very happy-- even if she had been in the same fields for years-- she might simply not return at the start of one growing season. If mistreated, not only will a vine nymph leave, but the grapes will wither on the vine the moment she leaves.
All vine nymphs are utterly devoted to Uvalina, the Vine Maiden. This is not a religious devotion, or even the loyalty of a subject for her sovereign. Instead, their relationship with her resembles that of a lover. Indeed, all vine nymphs adore her with all their hearts, no matter how long it has been since they last saw her.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

It is widely known that most vine nymphs make their home in the fields of Tarador's vineyards. It is, however, not unheard-of for one to appear in other places where grapes are grown, such as southern Tamasia. Most Taradori find this distasteful due to the belief that foreign vintners wouldn't know how to treat one right.
What most don't realize is that most don't exist in the Material Plane at all. Instead, most work in Uvalina's vineyard, the Feywild echo of the city of Corazon and its surrounding lands. Many live in the echoes of the vineyard manors, palaces made of pure grapevines. The fey grapes of their fields twinkle with an inner light that shines in the eternal twilight of the Feywild.

Lifespan

Unknown

Average Height

5 ft. - 5.6 ft.

Average Weight

90 lbs. - 110 lbs.