Name: Belle Époque
True Name: Neraida Krenaia
Race: Nymph (Naiad)
Court (if applicable): Seelie. The nymphs of antiquity were predominantly affiliated with the Seelie court, though their lack of organization or societal structure made that a loose association, at best. Out of necessity, many have sought refuge with various groups and accept whatever political preferences the situation dictates. However, most identify with the Seelie, whether they express it openly or not.
Appearance
Youthful in appearance and light in frame, Neraida is practically waifish by Naiad standards, which is not to say she's plain or unendowed by any means, but that her beauty is not of the more voluptuous nature common among nymphs. Hers is delicate, slender, with refined features and a fluid grace that lends even ordinary motions an artistic quality. Raven black hair flows in long, straight, silky sheets well beyond her shoulders, even when tucked back behind her ears and held in place by an ornate rosewood comb inlaid with mother of pearl. Her eyes are a brilliant aqua that darkens near the perimeter of the iris, the contrast giving the illusion of a faint glow with the correct lighting. In more public settings, Neraida prefers drab, loose-fitting garments of the kind seen among beggars or, at the very least, draws an over-sized cloak around herself to disguise her form, for nymphs of any sort are frequently the targets of pimps, brothel owners, and wealthy "collectors" seeking to harness their wild beauty for unsavory purposes. Within the shadowy corners of the Blight, however, she indulges her vanity with revealing assemblages of leather and lace, smartly accessorized with baubles of brass and bone.
Background
The birthing of a nymph has specific requirements, the most significant of which are being a female infant born of a nymph and near or within an appropriate element containing a sufficient degree of enchantment. For a Naiad to be born in the Blight, the most accessible such environment runs below the streets, where magical residue and stillborn faeries are flushed into enchanted cesspools; hence, their often being referred to derogatively as sewer nymphs. Neraida is one such creature, descended from a line that traces back to the fountain nymphs of antiquity. If being thrust violently into a pool filth were a harsh entrance into the Blight, the years that followed were no better, seeing her only loosely cared for by a mother who sought little more than her own salvation from the despair of the Blight by way of a mattress and steady supply of well-paying clients. Whether she saw her dream realized and left for better conditions, was abducted by a collector, or simply grew tired of the child, a teen-aged Neraida found herself abandoned entirely. In hindsight, she'd perhaps been done a favor, as there was little her mother could have taught the girl that didn't involve being groped by sweaty, plump old men for a few coins.
Having been kept underground for the majority of her childhood, though left to roam the sewers freely, Neraida had little experience with the world above and no idea what horrors awaited young nymphs on the surface. Over a series of surface ventures spanning several months, the naive girl marveled at the interest and generosity afforded her by men, for her biology had not yet developed such that they were bent toward lust. In return, she graced them with warm, vivacious banter, laughing easily and frequently becoming flirtatious - the natural progression of a budding nymph. Recognizing her nature, a brutish older boy with tousled black hair and a wicked sneer took interest in her, leading a small gang of similarly ill-tempered miscreants along behind her, trailing her back to the sewers. One evening, as she lowered herself part-way into a storm drain to return to the city's underbelly, shouts and heavy footsteps rushed toward her, startling the young nymph. She scrambled through the narrow opening, but rough hands caught her heel and yanked her back, thrusting her against the hard street. A heavy weight settled on her, crushing her small frame underneath. Neraida cried out, receiving a sharp crack against her jaw powerful enough that her sight faded for an instant, followed by a clammy, coarse palm sealing her mouth shut. Though her body strained against the weight, desperately seeking freedom, it was her mouth that ultimately secured it. Opening her mouth to the point of discomfort, the girl managed to get hold of several fingers and gnashed them off with a savage bite. With a roaring bellow, the weight lifted, freeing her momentarily. The noise attracted help from an unlikely source - one that would change the course of her life. A rival gang had been looking for Torvyn Fain, now better known as Torvyn Two-Fingers, and his cohorts for some time. Fortune glanced their way in nymph form and, once they'd dispatched Torvyn's lot, the group saw the girl to safety.
That was nearly a decade ago, when the small band of elves and half-breeds were little more than amateurish thugs. Now, as seasoned professionals led by a handsome young Alfar named Zemun Donovon, they make their living as a small cell in an extensive crime syndicate dealing in virtually every illegal enterprise imaginable. At Zemun's side as partner, confidante, and lover, stands the lovely Naiad, who now goes by the name Belle Époque. The group has done well over the years dabbling in illegal gambling and occasionally dealing in aether and fairy dust. However, their mainstay has always been thievery, primarily within the Blight, but in rare instances beyond its confines as well. Regardless, if there's a profit to be made, Donovon's crew wastes no time in exploiting any opportunity. While their success has largely gone unnoticed, their exploits have approached the level at which attention from the Iron Police is inevitable.
Possessions
Neraida travels lightly, preferring mobility over attachment to belongings, so it's uncommon to find her carrying anything more than a few coins, a jagged bone shiv at her waist, and a pair of smaller bronze knives, each tucked into a boot. She does, however, keep a varied stash of outfits, trinkets, and other accessories in the attic of an abandoned watchmaker's shop her cell calls home. A rosewood comb decorated with a delicate floral pattern made with inlaid mother of pearl is her only possession with any sentimental attachment as it's the only thing of her mother's belongings that remained.
Talents
Neraida knows the sewers as well as anyone, and can easily navigate their extent. She's also familiar with many of the inhabitants who've taken up residence there, though familiarity should not be taken to imply favorable disposition, as there are many quarters through which she dare not venture without first arranging the price for safe passage.
Moving with flowing grace, she quickly learns talents based predominantly on agility, especially those requiring little skill. Her dancing is artful and hypnotic, not unlike the mesmerizing shimmers of a brook's water across smooth stones.
Glamer
Being quasi-elemental creatures, nymphs have an innate affinity for their specific element, which in Neraida's case is fresh water. In potable bodies of water with a volume at least several times her size, Neraida can assume water form, with effort, or remain in her normal form for extended periods, "breathing" through her skin in much the same way as an amphibian. With regard to the latter, the purity of the water is directly correlated to the amount of time she can remain submerged without suffering ill effects or drowning, much in the same way as one might react to breathing smoke-filled air.
A nymph's charm is derived from three mechanisms, of which two are biological. Beyond their natural beauty, for which they are best known, all nymphs secrete a pheromone to which human males are most sensitive, but which can also appeal to male faeries as well, depending on their physiology. Among faeries, elves seem to be most sensitive, while trolls are the least. When not overpowered by the stench of the Blight, ones olfaction might detect from Neraida the faint scent of fresh rain and the light sweetness of lilies - a common description of the Naiad pheromone from those sensitive to it. Neither beauty nor pheromone are capable of more than basic attraction; however, when combined with nymph glamer, a receptive male can be lured into a much deeper charm. Note that receptive should be taken as open to the nymph's influence, as those already hostile or unfavorably disposed toward a nymph are unaffected.
As a point of trivia, more than one alchemist has attempted to capture the essence of a nymph's pheromone, and neither pheromone nor nymph has survived the process.