Observant Alseid

Faithful adherents of Heliod, God of the Sun and ruler of Nyx, the alseids are given the greatest honor of all nymphs, and the widest berth as well. Like their master, the alseids are beings of radiant light, with golden skin and shining hair. and like Heliod, their emotions are fickle and hard to predict.   Every village, town, and city in Theros has at least one alseids watching over it, and in spite of their difficulties, these nymphs are of astronomical importance. In a world of monsters and heroes, the alseids are often the first line of defense for mortal kind.   Wandering the Walls The observant alseids are as much servants of Heliod as any other nymph of their own god, but one would be forgiven for mistaking them as wild spirits. while they take residence in his shrines and temple, and shine with his golden light, the alseids rarely seem to involve themselves in Heliod's worship. Instead, they spend each day from sunrise till sunset at the edges of the town holding their shrine, walking path around it.   Whle on watch, the alseids seem to study everything and nothing all at once. Often they'll pass overturned carts or arguing mortals without a glance, but stop for hours to watch the wind blowing through flower gardens or even blankly stare into the distance. It is only when a threat of presents itself at the gates that the spark of awareness seems to ignite, and they leap into action.   Keepes of Civilization Helios does not use the alseids as his personal aids, for he has no need of such things. As the lord of Nyx, his powers are great enough to rule every aspect of his portfolio. Instead, Heliod's eternal command for the alseids is to serve as defenders of mortal civilization, to spend their days watching for dangers that lurk just out of sight of human eyes.   Often an alseid will notice a threat or issue long before it becomes obvious to a town's mortal defenders, and work to bring it to the populace's attention. They can spot monsters roaming from afar, or see the plots of madmen with intimate clarity. When an alseid does spot danger, it immediately moves to correct the issue, fighting with an unexpected level of skill. When a mortal is attacked by an observant alseid, it's always seen as proof of guilt, rather than the potential for mistake.   However, an alseid's sense of law and justice is based on Heliod's own, and even small transgressions might catch their attention. Every mortal has a secret to hide or a shame to great to share, and so they often go out of their way to avoid the alseids which protect their home. When an alseid approaches, they might go out of their way to move around it, or even turn back entirely. Only when night falls, and the alseids all return to their shrines and temples, are the mortal populace free from their watching eyes. But at night, without the alseids, the guards at the wall must be extra careful to keep watch, less some hidden danger attack while the protective nymphs are away.