Edit: Added a few minor details. Made the face lighter and added a wet shine to her skin. Background also has more involved, though you won't notice it unless you're looking for it. Just a little extra ambience.

During the era when the religion of the Three Sisters was evident in Ailyrenai culture, there were fenelen, unlike those who were forced to take up military training after the Mad King’s War, who devoted themselves to Rothelim and Esha’s three daughters. These daughters, who after their parent’s ascension to become holy gods to the nelri, followed suite some century after, which earned them a place on Ailyrenai’s pantheon.

Nimaera, the youngest of the Three Sisters, was revered as the spirit of the Blue Moon. To the Ailyrenai folk, her divine hand resonated with the elements of water and wind, which made her particularly well-liked among fishing communities, seafarers and too was kindly regarded by many more as a deity of cleanliness. Though her oldest sister, Eluneysa, was often referred as a goddess of purity, Nimaera was often spoken of in her mortal days as a creature who washed her hands and face nearly every hour she breathed beyond rest. Despite this, her affinity to water nonetheless depicted her as a spirit that enjoyed bathing in all its aspects. Even her first child was born underwater.

That said, fenelen who devoted their bodies to her were in essence the cleanest nelri, if not finest swimmers, in all Ailyrenai. Those too who swore to defend the goddess’ honour through military discipline made them the swiftest, most agile spear wielders throughout the world. Many were also well versed in nautical ways, which at times saw their presence defending the eastern banks of the Tear against western invasion, and guarding key river inlets that could ferry shrewd vessels into Ailyrenai’s heart.

For this the armour many of these fenelen wore was created with agility in mind. Forged with a light, flexible yet durable metal composite, usually that of animysune, those who wore it, with the right amount of physical training, had little fear of sinking to murky water depths and drowning because of it. It was unlike the heavy armour worn by human soldiers of Gaelferan reputation and, to this end, during the first years of the Mad King’s War, men who fought desperately along the Tear to claim it were at odds against the far nimbler nelri defenders. Yet fortunately for them the war was not in the best interests for most disciples of the Three Sisters. Had it been, it is with little doubt that the western banks of the Tear would have been taken within days if it was lead by Nimaera’s finest warriors. Yet fortunately for mankind it wasn’t to be…


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Well, I am a man of honour... (Usually... >_> <_< >_> ...)

For this I adhered to my last poll's most popular choice. Hurray! [link]

And I'm surprised. I was thinking the 'bathing' would have got the most votes, though that was a trick choice in the poll I wouldn't have counted the winner anyway. I just wanted to see what was on people's minds. XD

So I ended up drawing a nelri in armour. Admittedly the concept was a bit daunting at first, as I wanted to draw armour as close to nelri design as I could, but once I figured the basic shape the rest fell into place.

Anyhoo, comments and such welcome as always!

Art / Nelri / Lore - © Kristopher P. Love