![[NymaraFinal.png]] # Nymara _Winter Eladrin Archfey | [[Unseelie Court]] | [[Dire Wood]]_ ## Summary Former Spymaster to Queen [[Mab]], now exiled and operating as [[Malachi]]'s equal partner and volatile lover from their stronghold in the [[Dire Wood]]. A master of oneiromancy who once extracted secrets through dream infiltration rather than crude torture. When [[Pellowea]] claimed the Winter Throne, Nymara dismissed her as weak and organized resistance—only to be defeated and branded with a banishment mark that burns with frost whenever she approaches Winter Court borders. Now allied with [[Malachi]] under Queen [[Aster]]'s protection. Through the corrupted [[Karse Mythallar]], she's dramatically amplified her dream magic and created "The Sleeping Court"—five manifestations of her consciousness. Controls the [[Maiden of the Moon]] through addictive peaceful dreams while recruiting elves through false visions of restored [[Eaerlann]]. %% ## At a Glance Ethereally beautiful with skin pale as moonlit snow and long hair shimmering with winter frost. Diamond-like eyes shift colors with her moods. A silvery banishment mark on her left shoulder glows with painful cold. Maintains absolute stillness when focusing, appearing like a perfect ice sculpture. Speaks in soft, measured tones that grow progressively hypnotic. Studies people with calculating intensity as if dissecting their thoughts. Unconsciously touches her banishment mark when agitated. Coldly calculating with aristocratic superiority. ## Personality Intensely possessive of [[Malachi]]—genuinely loves him as her intellectual equal, but his growing obsession with [[Morgwais Nightmeadow]] burns with jealous fury. Views herself as the true power in any arrangement. Anyone sleeping in her territory risks dream manipulation and gradual corruption into willing servitude. ## Quote _"True power lies not in ruling minds, but in becoming the architect of their dreams—for what is reality but a collective agreement?"_ ## Background **The Spymaster:** For centuries, she served [[Mab]] as the most insidious Spymaster, perfecting oneiromancy. She would slip into targets' dreams night after night, extracting secrets while they experienced blissful sleep. Victims woke refreshed, never realizing they'd revealed everything. **The Fall:** When [[Pellowea]] returned to claim the Winter Throne, Nymara organized resistance among Mab's former loyalists. She discovered too late she was no match for Pellowea's power. Defeated but refusing clemency, she was branded with banishment. **The Alliance:** Encountered [[Malachi]], similarly exiled from the Spring Court. Shared resentment sparked strategic alliance and intense love affair. Together they sought refuge with [[Aster]], establishing operations in the Dire Wood. **The Mythallar:** Discovered the [[Karse Mythallar]]—an ancient Netherese artifact that dramatically amplifies her dream magic. Through a crown crafted from its essence, she can weave dreams across vast distances. Holds prisoners in nightmare trees. Controls the [[Maiden of the Moon]] through addictive peaceful dreams. ## Stats --- name: Nymara the Glimmering type: npc role: antagonist cr: 23 (Crowned) / 16 (Crownless) status: active location: - "[[Dire Wood]]" - "[[Faenarath]]" faction: - "[[Unseelie Court]]" campaigns: - Rage of Dragons tags: - statblock - archfey - boss --- ![[NymaraFinal.png]] # Nymara the Glimmering _Medium fey (archfey), neutral evil_ Former Spymaster to Queen [[Mab]], exiled after backing the wrong side when [[Pellowea]] claimed the Winter Throne. Now operates from the [[Dire Wood]] alongside her lover [[Malachi]], wielding the corrupted [[Karse Mythallar]] through her Dream Crown to project nightmares across the North. --- # Crowned Nymara (CR 23) _With the Dream Crown and Mythallar connection_ **Armor Class:** 21 (natural armor, Netherese glamour) **Hit Points:** 450 (36d8 + 288) **Speed:** 40 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover) --- |STR|DEX|CON|INT|WIS|CHA| |:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:| |14 (+2)|20 (+5)|18 (+4)|19 (+4)|22 (+6)|26 (+8)| --- **Saving Throws:** Dex +12, Wis +13, Cha +15 **Skills:** Deception +15, Insight +13, Perception +13, Persuasion +15, Stealth +12 **Damage Immunities:** Cold, psychic **Damage Resistances:** Bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks **Condition Immunities:** Charmed, frightened, exhaustion **Senses:** Truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 23 **Languages:** Common, Elvish, Sylvan, Giant; telepathy 120 ft. **Challenge:** 23 (50,000 XP) **Proficiency Bonus:** +7 --- ## Traits **Legendary Resistance (3/Day).** If Nymara fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead. **The Dream Crown.** The Crown connects Nymara to the [[Karse Mythallar]], amplifying her power. A creature that touches the Dream Crown while it is worn must succeed on a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw or take 4d10 psychic damage and be stunned until the end of its next turn. On a success, the creature takes half damage and is not stunned. This occurs before any attempt to remove the Crown. A creature that is not stunned may then use the same action to make a contested Strength check against Nymara's Charisma to remove it. The creature has advantage on this check if Nymara is incapacitated, stunned, or restrained. If the Crown is removed or destroyed (AC 19, 75 HP, immune to cold and psychic), Nymara immediately transitions to her Crownless stat block. **Collective Awareness.** Nymara perceives through her [[Sleeping Court|five sisters]]. She cannot be surprised while any sister exists, and she knows the location of any creature within 60 feet of any sister. --- ## Actions **Multiattack.** Nymara makes three attacks using Frost-Dream Touch, Winter's Lash, or a combination of both. **Frost-Dream Touch.** _Melee Spell Attack:_ +15 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. _Hit:_ 15 (2d6 + 8) cold damage plus 14 (4d6) psychic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of Nymara until the end of its next turn. **Winter's Lash.** _Ranged Spell Attack:_ +15 to hit, range 60 ft., one target. _Hit:_ 22 (4d6 + 8) cold damage, and the target's speed is reduced by 15 feet until the end of its next turn. **Scream of the Mythallar (Recharge 5-6).** Nymara releases the corrupted energy of the [[Karse Mythallar]]. Each creature in a 90-foot cone must make a DC 22 Intelligence saving throw, taking 35 (10d6) cold damage and 35 (10d6) psychic damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success. A creature that fails is also stunned until the end of its next turn. --- ## Bonus Actions **Fey Step.** Nymara teleports up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space she can see. --- ## Reactions **Frigid Rebuke.** When Nymara takes damage from a creature she can see within 60 feet, she forces that creature to make a DC 22 Constitution saving throw, taking 22 (4d10) cold damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success. --- ## Legendary Actions Nymara can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. Nymara regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn. **Dream Step (Costs 1 Action).** Nymara teleports up to 60 feet. Each creature within 10 feet of her destination must succeed on a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw or fall unconscious until the end of its next turn. A creature awakens if it takes damage. **Manifest Sister (Costs 2 Actions).** One sister of the [[Sleeping Court]] appears in an unoccupied space within 60 feet. She acts on Nymara's initiative and obeys Nymara's mental commands. **Winter's Grasp (Costs 3 Actions).** Nymara targets one creature she can see within 60 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 22 Constitution saving throw or be restrained by black ice. While restrained, the creature takes 11 (2d10) cold damage at the start of each of its turns. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. If a creature fails three saving throws before succeeding, it is petrified in ice. --- ## Lair Actions When fighting in the [[Dire Wood]] or [[Faenarath]], Nymara can take lair actions. On initiative count 20 (losing ties), she can use one of the following: **False Dawn.** Warm light blooms around one creature Nymara can see within 120 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed until initiative count 20 of the next round. While charmed, the creature is incapacitated and its speed is 0 as it stares in wonder. **Weight of Sleep.** The oppressive nature of the [[Dire Wood]] presses down on one creature Nymara can see within 60 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 22 Constitution saving throw or gain one level of exhaustion. A creature can only gain one level of exhaustion per combat from this lair action. **Nightmare Bleed.** Reality fractures as the dream world bleeds through around one creature Nymara can see within 120 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw or take 22 (4d10) psychic damage. On a failed save, the space within 10 feet of the target also becomes difficult terrain until initiative count 20 of the next round. --- ## Vulnerabilities & Triggers **The Brand.** The banishment mark on Nymara's shoulder burns when the [[Winter Court]] is invoked. A creature that invokes [[Pellowea]]'s authority (DC 18 Religion or Persuasion check as an action) causes the brand to flare. Nymara takes 4d10 cold damage and has disadvantage on her next saving throw. **Jealousy.** Mentioning [[Malachi]]'s obsession with [[Morgwais Nightmeadow]] destabilizes Nymara's composure. She must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or attack that speaker exclusively on her next turn, ignoring tactical advantage. --- --- # Crownless Nymara (CR 16) _Without the Dream Crown_ **Armor Class:** 19 (natural armor) **Hit Points:** 255 (30d8 + 120) **Speed:** 40 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover) --- |STR|DEX|CON|INT|WIS|CHA| |:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:| |14 (+2)|20 (+5)|18 (+4)|19 (+4)|22 (+6)|24 (+7)| --- **Saving Throws:** Dex +10, Wis +11, Cha +12 **Skills:** Deception +12, Insight +11, Perception +11, Persuasion +12, Stealth +10 **Damage Immunities:** Cold **Damage Resistances:** Psychic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks **Condition Immunities:** Charmed, frightened **Senses:** Darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 21 **Languages:** Common, Elvish, Sylvan, Giant; telepathy 60 ft. **Challenge:** 16 (15,000 XP) **Proficiency Bonus:** +5 --- ## Traits **Legendary Resistance (2/Day).** If Nymara fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead. **Magic Resistance.** Nymara has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. **Severed Connection.** Without the Dream Crown, Nymara cannot perceive through or summon the [[Sleeping Court]]. Any manifested sisters become dormant or autonomous (DM's choice). --- ## Actions **Multiattack.** Nymara makes two attacks using Frost Touch, Winter's Lash, or a combination of both. **Frost Touch.** _Melee Spell Attack:_ +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. _Hit:_ 11 (2d6 + 4) cold damage plus 10 (3d6) psychic damage. **Winter's Lash.** _Ranged Spell Attack:_ +12 to hit, range 60 ft., one target. _Hit:_ 18 (4d6 + 4) cold damage, and the target's speed is reduced by 10 feet until the end of its next turn. **Dream Whisper (Recharge 5-6).** Nymara targets one creature she can see within 60 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed or frightened (Nymara's choice) for 1 minute. While affected, the target also takes 14 (4d6) psychic damage at the start of each of its turns. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. --- ## Bonus Actions **Fey Step.** Nymara teleports up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space she can see. --- ## Reactions **Frigid Rebuke.** When Nymara takes damage from a creature she can see within 60 feet, she forces that creature to make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw, taking 16 (3d10) cold damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success. --- ## Legendary Actions Nymara can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. Nymara regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn. **Fey Step (Costs 1 Action).** Nymara uses her Fey Step. **Frost Touch (Costs 2 Actions).** Nymara makes one Frost Touch attack. **Winter's Embrace (Costs 2 Actions).** Nymara targets one creature she can see within 30 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be restrained by frost until the end of its next turn. --- ## Vulnerabilities & Triggers The Brand and Jealousy vulnerabilities remain active in this form (use DC 18 for the Brand's Religion/Persuasion check). --- # Tactics **Crowned:** Nymara opens with Scream of the Mythallar if she can catch multiple targets, then uses legendary actions to control the battlefield—Dream Step to reposition and knock out threats, Manifest Sister to divide attention, Winter's Grasp to remove priority targets. She uses lair actions to apply exhaustion and charm effects while her sisters harass. She fights to protect the Crown above all else. **Crownless:** Without her amplified power, Nymara fights more cautiously. She relies on hit-and-run tactics with Fey Step, using Dream Whisper to neutralize the most dangerous opponent while retreating toward escape routes. She is more likely to parley or flee. **Transition:** If the Crown is removed mid-fight, Nymara's current HP is reduced to 255 if higher. Any manifested sisters dissolve. The lair actions cease. Describe this as the Dream Crown shattering or being torn away—the light drains from her eyes, frost crackles across her skin, and for just a moment, she looks _old_.