Yunwi Amai'yine'hi

The Yunwi Amai'yihe'hi ("People of the Water") are a kith of nunnehi, the fae native to North America.

Overview
Cherokee legends speak of the yunwi amai’yine’hi, who dwell in rivers and lakes through the Southeast. Fishermen would pray to these fae for help with filling their nets, and stories circulate of these beings rescuing people from drowning.

Water people live in caverns that can only be reached through underwater passageways: underground streams, entries at the base of waterfalls, and underwater caves that lead to dry ones inside. They have suffered greatly from tourism and the encroachment of civilization, which has resulted in many rivers being dammed, either to create recreational lakes or for power, thus destroying many of their homes and freeholds. Though they maintain good relations with members of mortal tribes, the yunwi amai’yine’hi bear no love for non-natives.

Their sorrow and anger at seeing their beloved rivers tamed and controlled by the white invaders is often channeled into playing pranks on those who unwittingly invade their lands. The danger or severity of these pranks varies depending upon the yunwi amai’yine’hi’s Camp, or how severe the transgression. They have also been known to rescue human children who are lost or abused, sometimes inviting the child to live with them as one of the enchanted.

The yunwi amai’yine’hi always appear somewhat childlike, and are slender and wiry with large eyes that reflect the water they love so dearly. Their bodies are coated with fine fur, nearly invisible scales, or sometimes soft, downy feathers, depending upon the animal they share kinship with, and long flowing hair. Like the pooka and selkies, the yunwi amai’yine’hi enjoy an affinity with the animal world and can change shape to assume the form of aquatic or amphibious creatures. They evince physical traits of their chosen animal — webbed hands and feet for fish or amphibians, whiskers for otters, or feathers for water fowl. They prefer traditional native dress, though usually of a fashion that is easily removed or does not hinder them when in water.

Affinity: Nature

Birthrights
Shape of the Swimmer: As the pooka’s Shapechanging Birthright, except that theyunwi amai’yine’hi always transform into aquatic creatures — beavers, otters, fish, waterfowl, etc.

Stir the Waters: The yunwi amai’yine’hi can still turbulent water or whip calm water into a frothing, raging rapid.

Frailties
Water Dependency: Much like their cousins the water babies, yunwi amai’yine’hi must fully immerse themselves in water once every 48 hours or they begin to fade. For every full day they are out of water thereafter, yunwi amai’yine’hi lose one dot of Medicine. If the yunwi amai’yine’hi’s Medicine rating is reduced to zero, she loses her fae mien and forgets about being a Nunnehi. If an additional day (24 hours) passes, she is forever Undone. Complete immersion in a body of water (this can even be a bathtub) reverses this effect and all Medicine is restored. This does not apply to a yunwi  amai’yine’hi who has been Undone, however.