NYMPHS

Nymphs are an extra-dimensional race of beings related to the Olympian Gods. Like the Olympian gods, nymphs are usually connected with particular places, objects or natural phenomenon, but they were not usually worshipped as gods. They typically had much more faerie-like attributes like the faeries of Avalon, Alfheim or Buyun and presided more on Earth than on Olympus, mostly close to their own mountains, springs, groves and even their own individual trees. Nymphs were frequently courted by the gods and sired demigods, but they were also courted by mortals, siring prominent family trees native to the regions to which they were connected. In some legends, nymphs abducted mortals to be their lovers. Since the end of the worship of the Olympian gods, the nymphs have since retreated to Olympus or retreated deeper into hiding on Earth.

Nymphs were generally the female progeny of the Potamoi or river-gods, such as Inachos and Achelous, sons of Oceanus, a member of the first generation of gods known as the Titans. Oceanus was one of the few Titans to support Zeus in over-throwing Cronus from Olympus, and, as a result, he was able to hold on to his worship rites on Earth as god of the oceans. Oceanus had married Tethys, a female Titan, and sired numerous gods and goddesses who ruled the rivers flowing from the Mediterranean into Ancient Greece and its environs, possibly founding the local cities inherited by their mortal descendants. His daughters, the Oceanides or ocean-nymphs, were more godlike, such as Metis, mother of Athena, and were often courted by both gods and mortals as potential wives. Styx was one of the few Oceanides to have custody of her own river bearing her name flowing into the underworld of Hades; she also sired by Pallas, a young Titan, four children named Kratos, Bia, Zealos and Nike, who became attendants of Zeus. Inachos and Achelous were but two of several river-gods who sired daughters; these daughters having both Olympian and faerie-like qualities were considered nymphs because of their harmony with nature, but each group of sisters were separated by their own name and attributes. Inachos sired the Dryads (wood nymphs) near Argos, Cephisseus sired the Naiades (water nymphs) near Athens, Cebren sired the Crenides (glen nymphs) in Mysia, Penaeus sired the Oreades (mountain nymphs) around Mount Olympus in Thessaly, Ladon sired the Hamadryades (tree nymphs) near Elis, but in some sources, they were also referred to as Dryads. In Dardania, the plain of ancient Troy, Scamander sired the Naiades or freshwater nymphs, and in Macedonia, Ternessus sired the Epipotamides or spring nymphs. Achelous, however, sired the Sirens by Melpomene, one of the Muses, who like the Muses had decidedly bird-like qualities in the form of wings that allowed them to fly, but after they insulted the Muses by being better singers, they were bound for eternity to the island of Anthemossa. Another group of divinities usually considered as nymphs were the Nereids or sea-nymphs, daughters of Nereus, the Old Man of the Sea, who had surrendered his rule to Poseidon, the god of the sea.. Like the Oceanides, the Nereids seem to be more god-like and possibly had the ability to switch between humanoid and mermaid forms for living on both land and in the sea. 

Nymphs possess the conventional physical attributes of the Olympian Gods. Like the Olympian gods, they have functional immortality; they do not age upon reaching adulthood and cannot die by any conventional means, but they are usually slighter in stature and no where near as powerful as the Olympian gods themselves. They are immune to all terrestrial diseases and are resistant to conventional injury. It would take an injury of such magnitude that it dispersed a major portion of their bodily molecules to cause them a physical death. Even then, it might be possible for a god of sufficient  power, such as Zeus, or for a number of Olympian gods working together to revive a nymph. The nymphs also possess superhuman strength and her Olympian metabolism provide them with greater than human endurance in all physical activities. (Olympian flesh and bone is about three times as dense as similar human tissue, contributing to the superhuman strength and weight of the Olympians.) 

Nymphs possesses the ability to tap into and manipulate elemental energies of the Earth, allowing them to revive and restore the properties of plants and trees. In fact, this link with their associated items allows them to feel and experience what they feel. If a tree is damaged, its nymph will experience its harm as if it is happening to them. This link can continue until the tree is saved or it is destroyed, breaking the link entirely at which point the nymph can cause negative psychokinetic activity or "bad luck" to the person who caused the harm. They can move very fast and can seem to disappear at will. They can use their voices to enchant mortal men. Water-nymphs in particular are capable of existing almost indefinitely under water. They can also change their form or become invisible, cloaking themselves in the material of trees, glens and plants. They can also change their form. In Ancient Britain, water-nymphs or kelpies are able to change their forms at will into becoming Swan-Maidens.

First Appearance: Venus #3 

DAPHNE

Real Name: Daphne
Occupation: Goddess of mountains and ravines
Legal Status: Citizen of Ancient Thessaly
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the existence of Daphne except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: Laurel
Place of Birth: Tempe, Greece 
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Penaeus (father), Creusa (mother), Echo, Cyrene, Stilbe (sisters) Hypseus (brother),
Group Affiliation: The Gods of Olympus
Base of Operations: Olympus, formerly Elis
First Appearance: Daphne has yet to appear in the Marvel or DC Universe.
History: Daphne is member of the Oreades, daughters of the river-god, Penaeus, who ruled the river by that name in Ancient Greece. She frequently hunted with her sisters in Thessaly where she met Leucippus, a prince from Elis. Having grown his hair long in honor of the river-god, Alpheus, Leucippus decided to disguise himself as a girl to hunt among the Oreades. His prowess in hunting impressed Daphne to such an extent that they became companions, but while going swimming one day, they discovered his identity and joined together in slaying him. Daphne chose to swear off men as a result, but when Apollo tried to woo her, Eros decided to smite her with indifference to him due to an earlier insult Apollo had directed at the love-god. Unable to escape Apollo, Daphne called upon Gaea to transform her into a laurel tree to avoid him. Afterward, Apollo considered laurel trees sacred. Daphne's later history or if she remained a tree is unrevealed. 

Height: 5' 5"
Weight: 110 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blonde

Strength Level: Daphne possesses superhuman strength enabling her to lift (press) 5 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Daphne possesses the conventional powers of the Olympian nymphs. She has a mental affinity with nature including the ability to discern potential threats and harm to the forests and ravines around Mount Olympus in Greece. She can move at remarkable speeds and can seem to vanish at will.
Note: Daphne is not to be confused with Daphne, one of the Dryads or daughters of Ladon.

ECHO

Real Name: Echo
Occupation: Goddess of mountains and ravines, former attendant of Hera
Legal Status: Citizen of Ancient Thessaly
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the existence of Echo except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: None known
Place of Birth: possibly Tempe, Greece
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Penaeus (father), Creusa (mother), Daphne, Cyrene, Stilbe (sisters) Hypseus (brother),
Group Affiliation: The Gods of Olympus
Base of Operations: Mount Helicon near Athens, Greece
First Appearance: Venus #3
History: Echo is member of the Oreades, daughters of the river-god, Penaeus, who ruled the river by that name in Ancient Greece. Rather than preside with her sisters in Thessaly, she served as an attendant to Hera, Queen of the Olympian gods, but she was often called upon by Zeus to keep Hera busy with incessant chatter while he was off dallying with young nymphs. When Hera discovered the ruse, she cursed Echo to never again start another conversation but the last few words of other beings. When she fell in love with Narcissus, the son of the river-god, Cephissus, her inability to answer his questions directly resulted in his refusal of her. Echo soon pined away for him until all that was left of her was her spirit continuing to repeat the voices of others.  

Height: 5' 5"
Weight: 115 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black

Strength Level: Echo formerly possessed superhuman strength enabling her to lift (press) 5 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Echo possessed the conventional powers of the Olympian nymphs, including a mental affinity with nature allowing her to discern potential threats and harm to the forests and ravines around Mount Olympus in Greece.
Limitations: Echo now exists solely in spirit form; she cannot talk except for repeating the conversations of other beings.

IO

Real Name: Io
Occupation: Priestess of Hera, Tutelary deity of Argos
Legal Status: Citizen of Ancient Greece 
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the existence of Io except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: Unrevealed. In Egypt, she was confused with the goddess Isis.
Place of Birth: Argos, Greece
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Inachos (father), Melia (mother), Mycene (sisters), Phoroneus, Aegialeus (brothers), Epaphus (son), Perseus, Hercules, Helen of Troy (descendants)
Group Affiliation: The Gods of Olympus
Base of Operations: Memphis, Egypt
First Appearance: Io has yet to appear in the Marvel or DC Universe.
History: Io is member of the Hamadryads, daughters of the river-god, Inachos, who ruled the river by that name near Ancient Argos. Rather than live on Earth, she dwelled on Olympus with Hera, the patroness of Argos, but she was loved by Zeus, who changed her into a cow to hide the affair. Hera took Io as a gift from Zeus and assigned Argus, a sentry of Olympus, to watch over her, but Hermes slew Argus to allow her to escape. When Inachos discovered what had happened, he stormed Olympus to confront him, but Zeus used a lightning bolt to destroy his river near Argos. Driven from Greece by Hera, Io, meanwhile, fled on the instructions of the exiled Prometheus for Canobus, Egypt, possibly for the Egyptian gods to undo Hera's curse. She sired Zeus's son, Epaphus, who conquered Egypt and ruled over Memphis. His descendants founded the dynasties of Argos, Crete and Thebes in Greece. 

Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 120 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black

Strength Level: Io possesses superhuman strength enabling her to lift (press) 5 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Io possesses the conventional powers of the Olympian nymphs. She has superhuman strength, vitality, stamina and resistance to harm along with immortality. She also has minor skills in the mystical arts of which remain unrevealed. 

OENONE

Real Name: Oenone
Occupation: Healer
Legal Status: Citizen of Mysia
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the existence of Oenone except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: None known
Place of Birth: Mount Ida near Troy (now Ilium in modern Turkey)
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Cebren (father), Asterope, Hesperia (sisters)
Group Affiliation: The Gods of Olympus
Base of Operations: Mount Ida near Ilium, Turkey
First Appearance: Troy (2008) (behind the scenes)
History: Oenone is member of the Crenides, daughters of the river-god, Cebren, who ruled the river by that name near Mount Ida in Ancient Mysia. She was a gifted healer given the gift of prophecy by Rhea, one of the Titans, and lovers with Paris, the exiled prince of Troy, who left her to pursue the love of Helen in Sparta who he carried back to Troy, spurring the Trojan War. After being mortally wounded by Philoctetes using the Hydra-dipped arrows of Hercules, Paris came to her to be healed by her, but she refused him. She soon recanted this decision too soon to save his life and took her life in remorse. 

Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 115 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blonde

Strength Level: Oenone possessed superhuman strength enabling her to lift (press) 5 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Oenone possessed the conventional powers of the Olympian nymphs. She had superhuman strength, vitality, stamina and resistance to harm including an enchanted lifespan. She also has  mystical abilities enabling her her to heal illness and injuries plus the ability to see probable future events. 

SYRINX

Real Name: Syrinx
Occupation: Goddess of trees
Legal Status: Citizen of Arcadia
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the existence of Syrinx except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases: None known
Place of Birth: Nonacris, Arcadia (now part of modern Greece)
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Ladon (father), Daphne, Eurydice, Erato, Metope (sisters)
Group Affiliation: The Gods of Olympus
Base of Operations: Nonacris, Arcadia
First Appearance: Syrinx has yet to be seen in the Marvel or DC Universe.
History: Syrinx is member of the Dryads, daughters of the river-god, Ladon, who ruled the river by that name in Ancient Arcadia. She chose to live the life of a virgin-huntress separate from her sisters, but when when she was chased by the god, Pan, she fled back to the protection of her father who according to legend either transformed her into a grove of reeds at the riverbank or conjured the reeds which concealed her. Unable to find her, Pan took a few reeds to cut to various lengths to create his pan-pipes or "syrinx," named for the wily nymph.   

Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 120 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown

Strength Level: Syrinx possesses superhuman strength enabling her to lift (press) 5 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Syrinx possesses the conventional powers of the Olympian nymphs. She has superhuman strength, vitality, stamina and resistance to harm including an enchanted lifespan. She also has exceptional speed and athletic ability she uses in her skills as a hunter.