Culture & Customs

greek mythos | sappho | fairy tales | amazonia | plant magicpronunciation: SNAH-see-ahTrigger Warning: Sexism, Groupthink & Anti-Cismale Sentiments

Cnassea is a sisterhood. Their gatherings are marked by dance, music, and the sharing of luminous stories carried on the wind. They live in close harmony with rivers, groves, and glades, believing each place carries a spirit-song to be tended and celebrated. Status is not measured by wealth or conquest, but by one’s bond to the land and the depth of one’s grace in nurturing it.Cnassea culture is woven from reverence for nature, joy in beauty, and the art of fleeting moments. The life of a nymph is full of leisure and pleasure. Reverence for beauty and detachment are of the highest order in Cnassea. This adds to their mystique and secretiveness; they can conceal themselves, physically and emotionally, deftly and often.Nymphs are believed to be goddesses. Eternal Immortality comes hand-in-hand with being a goddess. The Nymphs serve their lands and duties passionately, but often consider mortals playthings; menial distractions from the larger issues at hand.

CULTURAL CORNERSTONES1. Immortality: The nymphs immortality stems from a classist belief system that spans back generations. They are divine because they are believed to be divine. Being pampered as goddesses meant that the nymphs could study under great lineages of healers, imbuing themselves nearly magical healing abilities. Amongst their peoples, it is believed that the nymphs have collected the knowledge of all their previous lives before them, which makes them such effecacious doctors.2. Sisterhood The bond amongst the sisterhood is forged in stone, as innate in their blood, as it is believed that they were all once formed from the same cosmic forces, many lifetimes ago. The load of sisterhood bonds comes from preening, gossiping & rejoicing. The Nymphs often refer to each other as Sister, as many of the nymphs are fathered by the same lineage.2. Chastity: The Nymphs are expected to remain chaste. Any children produced are made by the means of magic, or simply lying.2. Males (Vassals vs Favored): Those who identify as Male are only welcome in Cnassea if they are born into it or selected as a Nymph’s favored. Males outside of Cnassea are not to be trusted; they are to be assumed guilty by association. Nymphs often use a derogatory term for males, “sartyr.” This bias entirely determined by one's gender identity, rather than one's biological sex.3. Marriages: Nymphs, as eternal goddesses, see beyond mortal bodies. Furthermore, they are not wired for relationships ~ they are beyond partnership. Legitimate marriages are only between Nymphs and their Patron. Therefore, any legitimate children are direct products of the Gods.'4. Children: the ‘children’ that would be recognized as true nymphs would be the ones conceived by magical means, ie the tree, or fathered by an immortal god. Those born of a mortal to a nymph will be watched as they grow, to judge whether or not they inherited magical qualities. Male children are raised alongside the females (and treated much the same as females) but tend to disperse from Cnassea when they become of age, when they take on the name of Sartyrs and travel the world as minor immortal figures.5. Favored: Nymphs are encouraged to go out and find mortals to mentor. These favored are the only mortals allowed to reside in Cnassea. Additionally, if given an appropriate offering, mortals can solicit services from the Nymphs6. Healing: Nymphs take great pride in being able to bind the wounds that threaten mortals and consider it a great service. They use every natural means at their disposal to do so. Their archive of botany spans back lifetimes. Their signature technique, 'Lay of Hands,' is the stuff of legends and many patients of chronic conditions seek them out for spiritual and physical healing.

BOONS & BLESSINGSNymphs are largely tasked with caring for & stewarding the earth, and as such, healing is an essential part of the Nymph identity. They excel at this because: is believed that the Nymphs will reincarnate into new bodies without end, maintaining the same knowledge accrued from all previous lives. The nymphs go to great lengths to position themselves as holy, divine creatures in all aspects, including appearance.Mortals can take advantage od this great boon by first learning of the nymphs. After an appropriate offering, supplicants can ask the Nymphs to bless their efforts & trials. The nymphs magic lies mostly in the art of healing and in the art of divining the future.Spiritual Cleansing | Fertility Blessings | Protection Spells | Healing & Binding | Plant Magic | Supplicating the Fates | Arbitration & Judgement | Scrying the Future | Patronage for the Arts | Communing with the Afterlife

SEASONAL EVENTSThe Panhellenic Games (summer) ~ performance & training
Nymphs train their mortals all year to compete in these strength & fitness trialsCity Dionysia (spring) ~ wine & revelry
The one night that debauchery is not just condoned, but celebrated by allCarneia (winter)~ music & beauty
The Nymphs keeps warm by sharing space, self-care, food, music, and storiesThesmophoria (autumn) ~ hearth & home
The Sophistes gather in a secret meeting of elders, celebrating their each other

The Dreamsend Shores

The Dreamsend Shores in the northeastern corner of Mythris provides many of the creature comforts that the Nymphs require to thrive. Many are spiritual in nature, dedicated to the preservation of beauty & purity. These are communal sites that act as conduits to deepen the bond between the sisterhood. Their location in a remote corner of the map is highly valued by the Nymphs, as they are somewhat vulnerable creatures and aim to use the earth itself as their main defense. If threatened, Nymphs will easily hide, seeming to become one with nature itself. Features of Cnassea that help to do this are:HOLY SITESThe Braided Waters – a fresh stream from the cliffs & ends in the ocean
Laconia Cascades - where the nymphs bathe together, protected from view by rocks. a favorite place for the nymphs to relax & gossip.
Flamingo Salt Flats – a flat, barren beach studded with large, pink birds
Thermara – hot pools with different mineral contents to heal diseases
The Luminaria - a cliff plateau of great heights, used to observe the starsTHE GUILDSThe Gymnasia - A school for plant identifying, experiments and spellcasting
The Lyceum - A temple where offerings, boons & blessings are received
The Asclepieion - A hospital that serves Triaging, Diagnosing & Nursing
The Pantheon - A temple where offerings, boons & blessings are received
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MOONSTEADSSo dedicated to honing their skills and executing their duties are the Nymphs, that each Order cohabitates in its own private Moonstead - the place a nymph sleeps, essentially a densite or rendez-vous site. Given their interest in plant magic and healing, each Moonstead has been carefully cultivated to suit the needs and well-being of each order.Goldenmire – The Moonstead of the Anthousai. Wildflower fields of medicinal herbs & flora, where honeybees fly and the wind smells sweet.Alluvial Plains – The Moonstead of the Naiads. Wet lands, rich enough to irrigate crops or farm freshwater fish. Very few trees, the earth is sodden.The White Cliffs – The Moonstead of the Oreads. Cliffs with trails that culminate in the Lunaria. Oreads reside in the shallow caves in its side.Megaflora Grotto - The Moonstead of the Dryads. Cool, humid, and great for cultivating mushrooms. When under threat, the nymphs hide here.Evershoal – The Moonstead of the Oceanids. The tidal beach, shallow reefs, and long sandbar that attracts crustaceans & bivalves. Beautiful.The Caverns – The Moonstead of the Vassals Hides the caches, carefully guarded by the vassals. These are dark homes where the servants sleep.As maidens of the wind, The Aurai move and sleep where they please. As the Queen Nymph, the Vasilissa inhabits every Moonstead, not only one. The Favored reside wherever their Sponsoring Nymph does, rarely alone.
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The Orders (Classifications)

The hierarchy on Cnassea is simple, but resolute. Nymphs are born into their order, and there is no ability to transition into another. Nymphs eat, work, train and bond most deeply with those in their order.A Nymph’s Order is her life’s calling. Often, this expands beyond her singular mortal life and stretches into the timelines that come both before and after; her order is a part of what makes her who she is. She dedicates everything she is and everything she will be to the betterment of her Order and those Nymphs within it. They follow their duties unquestioningly.

IMMORTAL ORDERSThe Patron- the benefactor
a greater god whom the nymphs serve, oftentimes their father
Moonstead: Likely not within CnasseaThe Vasílissa - the nymph queen
major decision making, problem solving, and priority setting
Moonstead: AllThe Aurai - the wind maidens
carrying messages between nymphs, traveling beyond Cnassea
Moonstead: NoneThe Anthousai - the flower nymphs
growing and harvesting herbs and flowers, tending to sheep
Moonstead: The GoldenmireThe Naiads - the river nymphs
fishing, growing crops, building dams and dredging the river
Moonstead: Alluvial PlainsThe Oreads - the mountain nymphs
serving as lookout, guarding the entrance to the holy Lunaria
Moonstead: The White CliffsThe Dryads - the forest nymphs
harvesting moss, fungi and woody plants to be use in medicine
Moonstead: Megaflora GrottoThe Oceanids - the ocean nymphs
reading the tides, communing with sea life, forecasting weather
Moonstead: The EvershoalMORTAL ORDERSThe Favored - counseled mortals
training, training, and more training. no sleep, only training.
Moonstead: With their SponsorThe Vassals - the male servants
guarding, hunting, and carrying out menial tasks
Moonstead: The CavernsThe Supplicants - those in need
those requesting help from the various institutions
Moonstead: The Asclepieion or The Pantheon

Within each order, there are three ranks: the Neophytes, the Mystes, and the Sophistes. The Sophistes are the eldest and most highly trained; they assign the tasks and maintain a vision. The Mystes have progressed beyond novice status and carry out the tasks and pay attention to the details. Neophytes are often the children born into the order. The only orders that are not split into these sub-ranks are the Patron, the Vasilissa.The Sophistes & the Mystes work in tandem, unable to successfully do their job without the other. Sophistes are regarded as deeply wise individuals and thus are invited into one of several guilds. The guilds are a group or gathering of like-minded, experienced individuals that probe deeper into the roles and responsibilities of the nymphs. Very think-tank-y.

THE GUILDS (INSTITUTIONS)The Lyceum
Members: Sophites - Dryads, Anthousai
Purpose: A school for plant identifying, experiments and spellcasting
Perks: Commands the VassalsThe Asclepieion
Members: Sophistes - Naiads, Oreads
Purpose: A hospital that serves Triaging, Diagnosing & Nursing
Perks: Commands the SupplecantsThe Glitterati
Members: Sophistes - Aurai, Oceanids
Purpose: A group of nymphs dedicated to diplomatic relations
Perks: Commands the FavoredThe Pantheon
Members: The Patron, The Vassilisa
Purpose: A temple where offerings, boons & blessings are received
Perks: Commands the SupplecantsThe Palaesta
Members: All Supplicants, Favored & Vassals
Purpose: A training group that focuses on daily strength & agility practice
Perks: Qualifying Threads for Skills

History & Future

They were born as Goddessses. To deserve such high regard, the Nymphs were trained from puppyhood in the many holy and saintly arts. From the beginning, they readily received the devotional prayers of others and acted much as would a relic, the current legacy of strong religious lines.In fact, there were three such lineages:
~ Aeaea (fathered by Helios): large, with many siblings that tend to feud
~ Thalassene (fathered by Zeus): a smaller family, incredibly tight-knit
~ Oinara (fathered by Dionysus): “Gift of Wine” an elusive lineage, secretiveThe Nymphs became very used to being doted upon, but their minds are soon too sharp to be placated by such a simple existence. They played and joked, indulged and rejoiced. They whispered secrets and saw prophecies. They accepted their offerings and prayers dutifully.As most tragic stories go, all was not to be fine forever. There was a war, and barriers overrun, and a genocide committed. Before being decimated, the Nymphs were encouraged to flee. Ampoule did – she ran as far and as wide as she could, to the ends of the earth. She found herself on a desolate island, the only place that she finally felt safe. Here she remained for some time.Now that Ampoule has found herself awakened in Mythris, she hopes for companionship in her sisters, in the arms of whom she once felt safe and revered.

Joining as a Mortal:
Cnassea is not an open community. Mortals are only allowed within Cnassea if they are sponsored by a Nymph, known as ‘Favored.' Male Mortals are more likely to be enslaved as 'Vassals' rather than invited in as favored. It is looked down upon, but not impossible.Joining as a Immortal:
Most Nymphs within Cnassea are born into it. If they are not, Nymphs can enter Cnassea based on will or by Divine Assignment. Nymphs are plentiful, and they sometimes come and go as they shuffle between the gods' many dominions. Cnassea is also open to any variety of patron gods or goddesses, nymphs, favored mortals, and subjugated male vassals.Adoptables & Family Tree:
There are several available Nymphs & Vassals available to be adopted. Please see open adoptables HERE. Please note: all adoptables are subject to Vivarium RPG's standard adoption terms. To apply, send me your ideas at the Discord link below.Feel Free to help fill in the family tree here, which outlines nearly 20 different nymphs in 3 different lineages & their relationships to one another.Engaging with Cnassea:
Though the Nymphs are secretive and flighty, they often try to engage with their neighbors and supplicants diplomatically – they keep their friends close, and their enemies closer. Nymphs are unlikely to reveal their divinity to those who do not already know, or do not know to ask.Those who come seeking the Nymphs are likely to be turned away. Mortals are allowed to make an offering in exchange for a boon or blessing, and the size of their offering must be measured by the weight request. Sometimes, an adventure or trial is required before the specified blessing will be bestowed.