The Nereides ~ Children of the Deep



From their depths they have risen to scale upon the land where they propagate among the tribes and clans that live there. With them come their armies of endless soldiers that excel at naval warfare and their raiders carry blades as well as silver tongues. Settling among the ruins of previous nations, they wage wars against empires and make alliances with others so they can ensure their prolonged dynasty on the surface world.



In appearance these creatures would appear human to those that look upon them at first glance, but upon further inspection this isn’t the case. Their skin may appear tanned from being under the blazing sun, but in reality they are covered in small scales that allow them to glide through the ocean with ease, and gills along their necks to breath beneath the waves. In between their fingers and toes are webs that allow them to swim faster and grapple onto their foes as they fight. Due to their dependency on other races for mates, they have gained an uncanny amount of beauty that allures the opposite sex and their voices sing like sirens as well.



Hero ~ Ariana Battle-Wise



Ariana had been born as the runt among her sisters, too small in stature and weak in strength, unable to take part in the same training and lessons as the other Nereides. While they learned the arts of battle, she had spent her time reading books that had been looted from the conquered and collected in the grand libraries. Their endless knowledge had taught her about tactics and the arts of diplomacy that the other races had used to create great empires in the ages past. Braced with this knowledge she entered the Changing with her sisters, and there she outsmarted all of them which earned her the respect of the Council that granted her a place among the Hoplites.



But it had been during the siege of the port city, Magnus, which Ariana had truly distinguished herself as a leader among her people. The Nereides had been outnumbered and outmatched by the tyrannical ranks of the Broken Lords as they crushed every defense. Entire Nereide flotillas had been set ablaze and sunk to the great deep, as dozens of Broken Lord ships had blockaded the port and restricted the vital sea access that the city needed to survive. Seeing hope in the dire situation, Ariana had devised a plan to eliminate the enemy fleet under the cover of night. Using smaller sea creatures as mounts, her and her sisters rode out and boarded the enemy ships without being noticed and killed all the crews before the morning light had even touched the distant horizon. Her accomplishments as a leader that day earned her an entire legion and the first pick among the newest generation of mates.



•Expert Navigator – Ships that sail across the seas often are manned by at least a few of the Nereides. They have the ability to move with a +2 movement in the over world while sailing.



•Silver Tongue – Years of striking bargains with all the minor factions in Auriga has given this hero the ability to receive a -20% to bribes and -10% to assimilation costs.







Units ~ Legions of the Deep



Hoplite – Basic Melee Unit



Trained since a young age, these Nereides had been taught to fight and conquer the other races, their lives were regimented and disciplined until they reached the trial of Changing. This trial normally occurs around their fifteenth or sixteenth name day, often celebrated with grand feasts and celebrations across the cities, they entered the trials in the hopes that they would be chosen to serve among the legions and secure the next generation of mates. Competition in the Changing often proved to be a deadly endeavor as many died in combat, those who survive will be chosen by the Council of Matriarchs to join the legions.



These warriors have proved themselves as formidable infantry with their specialization as marines makes them excellent sailors and raiders that attack from the sea. Armed with tridents and fishing nets, they will form raiding parties that descend upon unsuspecting villages to capture their males with nets, so that they may procreate with them and then even make them into husbands if they prove themselves worthy enough. Against their enemies however, they will use their nets to ensnare their foes before skewering them with the tridents until they bleed profusely. To counter heavier units that will not fall to their nets, they have created their blessed Skoini, an armor completely made from tightly woven ropes that allows them to withstand the blades and arrows while still being able to float on the water.



•Stalwart Marines – Years spent fighting at sea have given them a distinct advantage while fighting. They are able to attack and lay siege to cities from the ocean.



•Slavers – They fight and die by the spear… and net. During combat they have the ability to ensnare an enemy unit with their nets which causes them to be unable to move but still able to attack.



•Spear Wall – Each man fights together and dies together as long as the enemy falls with them. When adjacent to another Hoplite unit they both receive +10% to damage and counter-attack against enemy attacks.







Skyward Siren – Ranged Flying Unit



Deep beneath the waves and upon the shores of misty isles, their voices can be heard singing solemn songs into the howling storms. These mysterious creatures were often the subject to legend among the earthen races that didn’t venture far from their shores. Often recited in soft tones in dark taverns, they were associated to tales of horror as they speak of winged creatures that lure men to their doom or attack entire merchant vessels, leaving only a derelict husk behind. They are described as women of immeasurable beauty, whose skin had become pale as snow and their hair elegant as it flowed against their skin. This however complimented the black and red features that had sprouted from their talons and the wings on their backs.



These tales carried little truth about these sirens that would lead weary sailors, not to their deaths, but rather to their shipwreck cities where they would be made into husbands for the young sirens that wished to have families. In reality these sirens were hopeless romantics that had no males among their species and had to rely upon their guile. This united them with the Nereides, who promised them plentiful males in return for their services as skilled archers to complement their force of hoplites.



•Siren’s Call– Their sweet songs ring in the ears of man and beast, they sooth the soul and ease the spirit. These units can choose one unit to stun for the duration of the battle, however the Siren will no longer be able to move or attack until they die and release the enemy unit.



•Alluring Beauty – Blessed with their beauty, these creatures will always have the least priority when enemy creatures attack and can only be directly attacked after if there are no other creatures to attack.







Battle Tortoise – Mobile Fortress (Melee/Ranged)



Found on one of the many islands that the Nereides have settled on to look for mates, the Tortoise had proven itself to be quite the challenge to tame as its massive size could crush entire ranks of soldiers underfoot. With powerful jaws that could crush steel and the impregnable shell the Council of Matriarchs had decided it to be worthy to join the ranks of the Nereides as they spend generations devising a way to improve upon its natural state. This careful planning and consideration had resulted the Battle Tortoise, the entire length of the shell had been armed with steel and wood battlements that housed archers that could shoot out at the enemies as they charged their ranks. However unlike the Trireme Turtle that they already used as their seafaring ships, the Tortoise presented another problem as there were no ships that could carry such a massive creature across the oceans. This issue had been solved with ever city contain its own hatchery where they are breed and grown for war.



•Lumbering Behemoth – While they are huge creatures are attached to any army, they cause the entire army to move at -1 movement.



•Land-bound – There are no ships large enough to carry these massive creatures across oceans.



•Moving Fortress – While they may move slowly, they make up for it with pure might. This creature can attack twice, once with a melee attack and another with a ranged attack.







Cities ~ Ruins of the Sea



Partially swallowed in the shallow seas, ancient ruins that had been abandoned, whether by war or famine, only to crumble under the wakes of unending time. Now after centuries they have been reawakened, the Nereides that rose from the deep oceans have inhabited these ancient cities and restored them to their former glory. Along the edges of the cities, where the water has consumed structures and statues, there are bustling ports and breeding grounds for all the sea creatures as they live in harmony. Houses have been built upon the canals that run through the cities, their length has been filled with ships as they carry goods and people through the city. Massive temples surround the single spire where the Council of Matriarchs reside over the city, their white stone pillars supporting crowned arches that depict both ancient and modern stories, the new inhabitance have continued the ancient traditions held by the former inhabitance.



•Water-Born : Each city must be built adjacent to some form of water whether it be an ocean, river, or lake.







(Tell me what you guys think of these possible units and if you wish they were in the game.)

**Note:



I didn't have the time to draw my own pictures but I gave references about what I had envisioned when I worked on it.

Sniff...



Very nice work.



I haven't finished my proposition when I have seen that the Cult couldn't lose.



I was thinking to a more mythological species who live like iguana (live on the beach and taking food in water):







With a majority of support units escorted by minor faction unit.



The heroes were flexible warriors who can switch between to weapon during battle and gouvernors of give bonus based on number of minor faction units in garrison (harem ^^).



A small picture of my city vision:









PS: we could militate to see a Nereide return in Endless Legend extention... ^^

Mmm, I imagined them more as attractive fish ladies, but the Greek mythology influence could work with some other sci-fi elements added in. Maybe sci-fi fish/scuba masks when they go to battle.



Maybe the cities could look like polished abalone with water features.

A lot of good thought and work went into this idea and it shows. It brings up visions of Atlantis and Amazons .... well done.

It would also make a wonderful minor faction.