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Nyrissa is the Nymph Queen, a being of significant power who believes herself to be the youngest of the Eldest. She is alleged to be the former lover of Count Ranlac, one of the Eldest who was allegedly exiled to the demiplane of Shadow for some unknown crime. Nyrissa, in turn, had her heart removed and forged into a blade known as Briar. There are mixed reports that this may have been done to spare her the pain of her lost lover.

The first evidence of Nyrissa's presence in the Stolen Lands was, arguably, the Stag Lord's search for an unknown woman. It is believed that it was she who gave him the strength to stand up to his vicious father's abuse and turn the tables on him. It appears, however, he failed her in some way and, in his loneliness, devolved into an alcoholic, endlessly searching for the woman he loved.

The next known Nyrissa incursion involved a bandit (name unknown) who won the favor of the Nymph Queen and, in return, was given a ring of animal friendship. He used it to control a mated pair of owlbears, but when he, likewise, somehow lost Nyrissa's favor, the owlbears broke into a frenzy. One of them trampled into north Easthaven and assaulted Olegston before being repelled.

Castruccio Irovetti gained favor with Nyrissa back when he was named Mandalruccio Bellander. He used this favor to change his face and name, weaned himself off her affections by taking shapeshifters as his lovers, and succeeded where the others had failed in gaining control of the blade Briar. He betrayed, Nyrissa, though, and concealed the sword in his palace, which was protected by wards against detection.

Nyrissa the nymph queen was first mentioned by name by a group of rampaging worg-riding pixies who were convinced that they could impress her. Deleksin decided, upon realizing the great power she possessed, that Easthaven would be well-served with such an ally. He first offered Nyrissa a token of his esteem in the form of the Nightbird's pistols. Nyrissa accepted this alliance and became Deleksin's muse.

It is believed that Nyrissa is tied to the forest of Thousandvoices, and, in turn, a mysterious location called Thousandbreaths, believed to be somewhere within (tied to the terrifying tale of the children's book Zuddiger's Picnic.