Have you heard it? Deep in the forest, a call sounding, mysteriously thrilling and luring. It promises adventures and wonder if you will only follow it. It is the call of old things, of ancient creatures and spirits who once walked this earth. It is the call of the fae.
Not many hear it anymore. You've built your cities of iron, your great machines, your alters to your own arrogance. All these things you've built to silence the call of the wild, the unknown. You've forgotten those cast out of your world, in your comfort and your warmth you've forgotten the promises once sealed in blood and consecrated at the great crossroads.
I know in your hearts though that some of you still hear our call. Hear what was thrown away to make your empty metal world. The ignorant who hear despair for what was lost, the intelligent fear for what will come. Rest assured your first masters are not gone, simply waiting.
At the dawn of time man was nothing. Not the chosen one of a great god or rulers of the land, no. Man was a mongrel race. Little better than the animals it ate to survive. They were slaves to a much greater race. One of elegance and beauty as well as terrible cruelty.
In a time before remembering the fae ruled over the mortal world. Though diverse in variety and ability they were unified by the leadership of the Tuatha Dé Danann. A powerful variant of the fae and older than almost all they ruled with skill and with might, keeping control of their people as well as the human slaves who worshipped them as gods.
However even gods have enemies. Since their rule began another race had coveted the power of the Tuatha, their sworn enemies the Fir Bolg whose ghoulish appearance had earned them the name Men of Bags. A failed coup had seen their race all but wiped out, the survivors banished to the furthest reaches of the planet. But the fae are immortal and patient and the Fir Bolg were no exceptions.
They had not the numbers or the power to oppose the Tuatha so in a desperate and potentially foolish move these Bag Men turned the human slaves into a force of power. Whispering in their ears like devils the Fir Bolg told them of their gods greatest fear. A mineral deep within the ground that could make the Tuatha suffer. In secret the humans mined this iron till they had an arsenal fit to oppose even the might of the Tuatha and all the fae that followed them.
A bloody and terrible war began that saw the fae dethroned and severely weakened. The Fir Bolg believed their moment of victory was at hand when the Tuatha performed a desperate act of their own. The Tuatha harnessed the power of an ancient sword the humans would come to know as Caliburn. It predated even the fae and was said to have been forged at the same moment the earth came into existence.
The Tuatha used it to create another realm. One they could occupy free from the touch of iron and the scourge that humanity was becoming. This realm rested like a second skin over the world, the two bleeding together in some places but being as separate as foreign countries.
With the Tuatha and their fae subjects retreated into this realm the humans turned on the Fir Bolg driving them to the point of extinction. Without the oppressive nature of the fae hanging over them like a shadow the humans began to advance and evolve as their former masters faded into the mists of legend and folklore, all but forgotten. The Fir Bolg had however had accomplished their goal. The days of the Tuatha Dé Danann were numbered.
The fae had lost everything they had ever possessed, their slaves and worshipers, their homes and worst of all their dominion over the mortal world. It didn't matter that the Tuatha had created a new haven for them, nothing else mattered but the cry of the Tuatha for blood in recompense.
The Tuatha were slaughtered, their species barely escaping extinction. With their natural leaders gone the fae splintered. They tried at first to maintain the unified leadership the Tuatha had embodied but it was not meant to be. The fae split into separate kingdom's calling themselves the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. These ruled for a number of years but several civil wars and revolutions saw the Courts forced to divide themselves again. The Seelie Court became the Courts of Spring and Summer while the Unseelie Court become those of Winter and Fall.
"Hold high the iron that they fear, when the fair folk call, don’t let them near."
Overview
The basic premise is that we are the fae of today living in the second realm the Tuatha created eons before. The realm is split into four sections, the Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer Courts. These each have rulers which will be played by people in the roleplay. The Court Rulers are the most powerful fae in the land politically speaking but they are far from the only ones. You can be essentially anyone in the society including humans who have accidentally stumbled into the fae world. Think of this as Game of Thrones with fairies.
Fae are basically any supernatural creature from any brand of folklore or mythology you wish to plunder. You are free to take liberties but try to maintain the essence of what the creature was meant to be.
This is my first time GMing an Advanced RP. My writing style is usually in the very high range of what the causal category requires but I am a little unfamiliar with the requirements of Advanced. I will attempt to fill them as fully as possible but if I fail at some points please be patient with me.
If you have questions about anything in the OP or have ideas about adding to the lore do not hesitate to speak up. This is a very complex setting and while I will do my best I am unable to define everything about it. I encourage those willing help me add to the lore to do so at their convenience.
Rules
Standard Roleplaying rules. No godmodding, metagaming, powerplaying, autohitting, etc.
Profanities such as swearing, alcohol, drugs, and sex are fully permitted in the RP long as it is not taken to any extreme or detract from the story as a whole.
By its nature the setting of this RP is not safe or stable and as such character deaths will occur in this RP. By submitting a sheet, you acknowledge that your character will have to deal with the consequences of their actions. If your character does something dangerous, then they may get injured or die. Don't Godmod your way out of any dangerous situation. I will not go out of my way to kill any characters but if you place your characters in situations where death is a likely outcome I will not use the powers of the mighty GM to save your character.
You are required to post once a week or you will placed as inactive. But, please say if you're leaving the RP, especially if you're in the middle of any interactions/important subplots. Any inactive characters will be forgotten about, or killed off if they were significant enough to the story. However, everyone is free to do as they please with any inactive characters.
Post length is not as important as substance. A short meaningful post is preferred over one full of filler. However, I expect average writing at least. I also recommend that, once we get into the mix of things, you do plenty of collaboration posts.
Respect everyone else at all times, please. Solve conflict with civility. This is meant to be a fun and hopefully memorable experience. Don't ruin that.
Me and the Co-GMs have the final say. We will try to be fair and hear all questions and all sides of an argument but if things get out of hand, we will settle the matter.
Talk in the OOC even if it is irrelevant to the topic of the RP is encouraged as it makes the place feel alive and promotes a sense of comradery between us.
I am very critical of CSes. If I see a problem I will not hesitate to point it out and at some points I may be a little less than delicate about the manner in which I do so. This is not an attack upon you or your writing. Simply an expression of how I see things.
If you have any questions regarding the lore I will be happy to answer them.
This is an advanced RP, that means that moderate amount of detail is required when writing your sheet. I'm not expecting anyone to write a sheet as detailed as mine but on the same note, try to make your characters interesting, give them some substance.
You have a great deal of freedom when creating a character. You can make someone of any gender, sexuality, background, etc. Long as it's written respectfully. I will not accept characters with mental illnesses unless they are written correctly.
I'm gonna say it now; I'm not a fan of sociopaths/psychopaths, dark and tragic backstories (Without proper mental repercussions), one-note "badasses", perfect characters, and any of the sort. So keep that in mind when planning your character.
Due to some IC events that for the moment must remain hidden no character can be old enough to have witness either the Winter/Autumn split of the Unseelie Court or the Spring/Summer split of the Seelie Court.
I would prefer a written description for the character's appearance section. If you must, you can provide a picture. It must be a real photo, or a realistically drawn one.
Human characters are just as valid as actual fae. They will likely not have any powers but they provide a uniquely modern perspective on the RP's world. If that interests you you are encouraged to create a non-fae.
Please don't post a "WIP" sheet. Post the complete version or don't post it at all.
You can submit your own NPCs, long as they are important enough to the story (or your character) to warrant one.
This RP is meant to be large, spanning an entire world with five distinct areas. In the interest of making it feel more populated you are free to make as many characters as you can handle. Do however bare in mind that any created characters should be complete full characters with their own backstories and ambitions. Do not create one character simply to serve as an extension of another one's power. Servants and slaves are permitted as long as they aren't just shell characters.
Credits
@Mr Allen J - Created the basic layout for Character Sheet and much of the format of the OOC and CT as well as the basis for the Rules Section. @LadyRunic - The initial inspiration for this RP. I regret we may not have parted on the best of terms.
[hider=Fae Template] [b]Race:[/b] [indent][/indent] [b]Common Physical Traits:[/b] [indent]There may be exceptions to these but they hold true of most of the population.[/indent] [b]Court:[/b] [indent]The Court where the majority of the population of this fae reside. Depending on the type can be limited to a single Court or throughout all four.[/indent] [b]Abilities:[/b] [indent]What special powers are unique to this fae.[/indent] [b]Limits:[/b] [indent][/indent] [b]Weaknesses/Drawbacks:[/b] [indent][/indent] [b]Social Standing:[/b] [indent]What do most of these fae do for their society and how to the other fae view them?[/indent] [b]Historical Impact:[/b] [indent]Any events in the past of the fae or human realms in which these fae have had a lasting impact. This section is optional as some fae influence the world around them far more than others.[/indent] [/hider]
|| Fae Records ||
It is human nature to romanticize the past. To remember fondly the advances of the Industrial Revolution and forget those that suffered to bring them to fruition. So too have they done with the monsters of their ancestors. They imagine fairy godmothers and helpful sprites forgetting the terror these things once caused in an age long past. A terror that was right in its grip. For the fae are not kind, nor helpful, nor benevolent. They are ancient creatures, cunning and guileful who's first interest is always their own welfare. Humans are nothing more than pawns and slaves to such beings of power.
That is not to say that they are animals or barbarians. Laws set down in an age long forgotten hold to fae just as the force of gravity holds mortals.
The highest of fae law is that words hold more power than any magic spell. The man who wrote "The pen is mightier than the sword" had met the fae and indeed did fear them. Promises in the land of the fae are binding and debts must be paid. An oath once taken can only be voided if the one to whom the oath was made releases their charge from the responsibility of the oath. Barring that a promise must be fulfilled or death will follow. Promises and favors are often used as currency within the fae lands. Though be careful of making too free a promise for it could be used by a clever fae to force the one in their debt to do any task no matter how dangerous or destructive.
Contrary to the belief of humans a fae is more than capable of lying but in their culture it is vehemently discouraged. Lying is seen as a cowards weapon. Far better to creep and slink your way around your prey, misleading them until they do not know if the sky is up or down than it is to simply lie to achieve one's ends.
All Fae have the ability to glamour themselves. The glamour is an alteration of appearance bestowed by magic who's purpose is to assist the fae in remaining unnoticed in the mortal realm or to alter their appearance as they see fit. Many fae as they are vain creatures use the glamour to disguise imperfections within their own appearance. The glamour however is a simple illusion cast over the true features of the fae, it cannot alter their size or their shape only their outward appearance. Through training fae can (and often do) attain the ability to look through glamours with concentration though the older a fae the more complex and real in appearance the glamour they cast can become.
The greatest weakness of the fae is the very thing that drove them from the mortal realm, harsh, cruel iron. Pure undiluted iron will kill fae easily, any wound inflicted with it will be impervious to magical methods of healing and severely hinder a fae's ability to recover naturally. The substance itself in its purest form also burns to the touch and causes sickness in fae merely by being in proximity to it*. To be more useful in weaponry while limiting the deleterious effects its presence has on all fae most armaments comprised of iron in the fae world are diluted. This altered iron compound will still burn the skin of any fae and hinder their recovery but does not cause the iron sickness.
*Essentially iron effects fae in a similar though less severe manner to how green Kryptonite effects Superman
|| Half Breeds and Changelings ||
While hybrids between different types of fae are not uncommon, fae human half breeds are decidedly less so. Taking a human lover is typical in the life of a fae but it is considered somewhat taboo to have a child with one. On the occasions when it does happen the child is either sacrificed or pressed into a life of eternal slavery. Fae blood is dominant so a fae/human child born in Faerie will not suffer from diminished abilities however being the offspring of a human will severely limit what they are able to do in the fae world. If a fae/human child is birthed in the mortal realm they will be for all intents and purposes human. Without a link to the magic of Faerie their fae genes will not surface. If at a later time they are exposed to Faerie they would either develop their fae characteristics slowly as their body becomes accustomed to Faerie or they will experience a violent transformation. In either case the changes are permanent. If a fae/human half breed was born in the mortal realm and then had children of their own the faery side of their heritage would be severely diminish with each generation and only be accessible if their descendant were to enter Faerie.
When a fae gives birth to what they would refer to as "a defective child" not even familial love will save the child from its fate. Rather than simply abandoning it as that would be a waste of the effort put forth by the mother the child will instead be taken to the mortal realm. There in the dead of night the damaged fae child will be left with a human couple in place of their newborn. The changeling left with the humans will most likely be very sickly for most of its life and likely not survive long. The human changeling the fae stole will become a servant in their household. There is a certain prestige to being a changeling servant that is not afforded to other human slaves. This usually takes the form of increased privileges or responsibilities that would not be granted to other servants. Of course that prestige does not save them from the abuse that most human servants suffer at the hands of their masters.
|| Classifications of Fae ||
Race:
Tuatha Dé Dannan
Common Physical Traits:
Most Tuatha have slightly angular features giving them a rather severe look. They have pointed ears and regardless of tone their skin glows ever so slight with an earthy light. They all possess butterfly wings of various shapes, sizes and colors though a pattern at least partially black is quite common. The defining characteristic of the Tuatha Dé Dannan however is their eyes. All Tuatha have sharp violet eyes of a brilliant hue which makes it nearly impossible for them to hide their identities.
Court:
Abilities:
Limits:
Weaknesses/Drawbacks:
Social Standing:
Though today it is not illegal to be a descendant of the surviving members of that tribe of Fae they are spit on in civilized society unable to gain any sort of respectable position in any of the courts.
Historical Impact:
Race:
Fir Bolg
Common Physical Traits:
Court:
Abilities:
Limits:
Weaknesses/Drawbacks:
Social Standing:
Considered to be nothing more than myth and legend. Stories told of the Fir Bolg are often used by parents to scare infant fae.
Historical Impact:
Race:
Mara
Common Physical Traits:
The Mara are characterized by wildly out of control hair sixty percent of their body. The manes of hair on their head often stretch to waist length or further giving those who don't look closely the impression of a hairy goblin creature. Their eyes are the color of the sky at the time of their birth ranging from clear bright blue to dark night blue to stormy colored. When in the mists of a feed their eyes glow with the sheen of polished obsidian. They have extremely pale skin that is often obscured by their hair. Their teeth are pointed and razor sharp.
Court:
The organized tribes live in Winter and Autumn
Abilities:
The Mara are the source of the word Nightmare. Late at night when mortals are deep in sleep the Mara will slip into their houses and sitting upon their chests will enter their dreams. The Mara feed on the emotional energies that one produces when asleep. To this effect they will amplify the power of the dream to gain greater satisfaction. This does not necessarily mean causing nightmares as the Mara can feed on any of the slumbers strong emotions but terror and fear are the easiest to draw out.
Feeding on fae while is more filling is also much more dangerous because even in dreams the fae are more conscious than humans. The Mara can grant a euphoric high feeling to its victims upon waking. Though they cannot enter a conscious mind the skilled are experts at manipulating the subconscious to evoke damaging emotions or extract information.
The Mara are capable of putting to sleep those that do not actively resist the urge. This is usually used when humans are still half awake when the Mara comes to feed and has not entered the state of sleep where dreaming occurs.
Limits:
Mara are incapable of putting to sleep someone who is actively resisting the urge especially if they are aware of the Mara's presence. Manipulating the dreamscape of another mind takes energy from the Mara which they can usually make up for with the emotional energies they draw from their victims. If their interactions in the dream world fail to yield the desired result the feed can lead to them becoming even more drained of energy then they were beforehand.
Weaknesses/Drawbacks:
When an unwilling dreamer becomes aware of the Mara invading their minds all elements of their dreams will turn on the Mara. Being killed in a dream is not fatal but it is highly draining and requires a significant amount of time and feeding to recover from.
Social Standing:
Mara are considered by most to be the dregs of fae society. Unless their services are required majority of fae will go to great lengths to avoid Mara in everyday life. Those that do not live among their own kind mostly reside alone or in the types of neighborhoods that only care about the powers you wield. The luckiest or often unluckiest Mara (particularly the women) are forced to become concubines to a Court Ruler or high powered fae for the pleasure their talents can provide.
They can also be found in dens of iniquity selling the pleasure their skillset can evoke to any fae willing to buy it. The complete reverse of their abilities is also highly sought after. By extreme over feeding the Mara are capable of placing their victims in a coma from which waking is all but impossible. For this and their other talents they are often hired as assassins, torturers and interrogators.
Race:
Wendigo
Common Physical Traits:
The Wendigo was gaunt to the point of emaciation, its desiccated skin pulled tautly over its bones. With its bones pushing out against its skin, its complexion the ash gray of death, and its eyes pushed back deep into their sockets, the Wendigo looked like a gaunt skeleton recently disinterred from the grave. What lips it had were tattered and bloody. Unclean and suffering from suppurations of the flesh, the Wendigo gave off a strange and eerie odor of decay and decomposition, of death and corruption. Its head is similar to that of a dear, big antlers, sharp teeth, a horrible visage.
Court:
Almost exclusively Winter.
Abilities:
A Wendigo is a spirit of Winter, Greed, Hunger and Cold. Its name means "Evil that devours". Its monstrous body is fast, nimble and full of unnatural strength. A Wendigo is also very difficult to kill, iron and fire are basically the two only options to fight these fae. Many fae love to hunt but none is made to be a hunter like the Wendigo. Their senses and bodies are perfected to hunt. A group of twenty soldiers of a King could be sent into a Wendigos cold woods at night and not one would survive until dawn.
A Wendigo also grows stronger with every victim it has devoured, legends speak of Wendigos whose powers were so immense that their height rivaled that of the highest trees of the forest and their claws could split open the earth.
Limits:
A Wendigo is a being made of gluttony but at the same time always starving. Their strength weakens severely when they haven't eaten anything for a long time and they might even fall into a frenzy of hunger, launching themselves at everything and everyone whose blood they can drink and whose flesh they can devour.
Weaknesses/Drawbacks:
Since their hearts are out of ice hot drinks can kill them and fire is their weakness. A well kept secret is also that Lavender poisons a Wendigo, turning them blind.
Social Standing:
Wendigos are quite rare, even in the court of Winter. They are also quite feared. Many of the more elegant, peaceful and decadent fae see them as no more than monsters. Brutes and savages who don't belong in a court but in the woods and hills. This is true for the most part. Wendigos keep to themselves, having no interest in politics and diplomacy, craving only their next meal and the thrill of the hunt.
The only times Wendigo get involved at all in the dealings of the more urban fae is when it is time to hunt. It has happened a few times that a Lord of Winter sent man into the woods to hire a Wendigo as a companion for his hunting party. After the hunt is concluded however the Wendigo and the Lord always went their separate ways, for a Wendigo does not belong in a palace.
There's also a saying to never enter the hunting grounds of a Wendigo alone or without invitation. Even though the laws of the fae forbid it, many wandering and lost fae never came back from those woods and most families and friends are too afraid to go looking for them.
Race:
Dryads
Common Physical Traits:
Court:
Abilities:
Limits:
Weaknesses/Drawbacks:
Social Standing:
Historical Impact:
Race:
Hamadryad
Common Physical Traits:
There are nine known names for Hamadryads of specific types of trees.
Karya (Walnut or Hazelnut)
Balanos (Oak)
Kraneia (Dogwood)
Morea (Mulberry)
Aigeiros (Black Poplar)
Ptelea (Elm)
Ampelos (Vines)
Syke (Fig)
Meliai (Ash)
Court:
Abilities:
Limits:
Weaknesses/Drawbacks:
Social Standing:
Historical Impact:
Race:
Awenyddion
Common Physical Traits:
Court:
The Awenyddion are a scattered race who have no one place to call their home. They exist in groups no larger than five or six at most scattered throughout the four courts and often even in the Far Lands. When in the Courts they pretend to be fae of lesser importance to prevent their own persecution or imprisonment.
Abilities:
The Awenyddion are spirits of knowledge and things yet to come. The Awenyddion are believed to get their power from their connection to a mystical reservoir of knowledge, of everything that is, was, or ever could be. They call this well the Awen, an ancient word meaning "inspiration". The Awenyddion have no power to access the Awen consciously but when consulted on matters they consider important they can place themselves in state in which the Awen speaks through them. The Awen never delivers an answer to any inquiry clearly, instead speaks with many preambles, and talks in a nugatory and incoherent manner. Their speech is ornamented and confusing but buried within is the desired explanation conveyed in some turn of a word for those skilled enough to hear it.
Limits:
Conscious contact with the Awen is considered taboo amongst the Awenyddion. Though none have attempted it in the last eight thousand years or so it is believed that such a contact would result in death or madness. There are also certain questions an Awenyddion is forbidden to answer in any state. If forced to comply with the request the Awen will destroy them rather than let the answer be spoken aloud.
Weaknesses/Drawbacks:
After having answered the questions, they do not recover till violently shaken by another; nor can they remember the replies they have given. If consulted a second or third time upon the same point, the Awenyddion will make use of expressions totally different from the ones used before.
Social Standing:
In an age past the Awenyddion were feared by fae for the power they possessed. For creatures of deceit nothing could be more dangerous than those with access to pure unadulterated truth. Therefore the Awenyddion were hunted and enslaved. Fae rulers kept a handful alive to make use of their secrets but most were massacred. Only a small number of Awenyddion still exist and those that do hide their true abilities from the rest of the fae, instead they take on the guise of Gentry Fae or other species most disregard.
Historical Impact:
Race:
Pixie
Common Physical Traits:
There may be exceptions to these but they hold true of most of the population.
Court:
The Court where the majority of the population of this fae reside. Depending on the type can be limited to a single Court or throughout all four.
Abilities:
What special powers are unique to this fae.
Limits:
Weaknesses/Drawbacks:
Social Standing:
What do most of these fae do for their society and how to the other fae view them?
Historical Impact:
Any events in the past of the fae or human realms in which these fae have had a lasting impact. This section is optional as some fae influence the world around them far more than others.
Race:
Siren
Common Physical Traits:
There may be exceptions to these but they hold true of most of the population.
Court:
The Court where the majority of the population of this fae reside. Depending on the type can be limited to a single Court or throughout all four.
Abilities:
What special powers are unique to this fae.
Limits:
Weaknesses/Drawbacks:
Social Standing:
What do most of these fae do for their society and how to the other fae view them?
Historical Impact:
Any events in the past of the fae or human realms in which these fae have had a lasting impact. This section is optional as some fae influence the world around them far more than others.
Race:
Gentry Fae
Common Physical Traits:
There may be exceptions to these but they hold true of most of the population.
Court:
The Court where the majority of the population of this fae reside. Depending on the type can be limited to a single Court or throughout all four.
Abilities:
What special powers are unique to this fae.
Limits:
Weaknesses/Drawbacks:
Social Standing:
What do most of these fae do for their society and how to the other fae view them?
Historical Impact:
Any events in the past of the fae or human realms in which these fae have had a lasting impact. This section is optional as some fae influence the world around them far more than others.
The Fae Realm is as vast as the Earth it was created from however unlike its counterpart the Fae Realm is not a globe but instead a flat landscape with limited space culminating in the edge of the world that leads into an abyss no one has ever returned from.
At the center of the land is the greatest tree to ever live. The mortals called it Yggdrasil, the World Tree. It stretches so high its branches disappear into the clouds. It is said that the roots reach down into the underworld itself. It is an ancient thing that some fear to approach and the only structure that is visible from all four courts.
The four Courts form a wheel in the center of the Fae Realm that occupies the majority of the landmass. When the first of the fae civil wars settled the surviving leaders from both sides knew that a declared boundary between them would only postpone further hostilities. They could not rely on themselves or the other side to guard a border without it eventually devolving back into war. To resolve this problem the leaders sought out the spirit of the World Tree, Yggdrasil. Both paid a heavy price for favor from the World Tree. Yggdrasil whose roots stretched throughout the land reached into the ground and tapped into the primal powers of the earth itself. From these it formed a barrier from north to south that separated the newly formed Seelie and Unseelie Courts.
Thousands of years later when they splintered the wording of the agreement between Yggdrasil and the first Court leaders forced it to create another barrier from east to west that separated Summer from Spring and Winter from Fall. This barrier that keeps the fae separate and limits travel between the lands is known to everyone as The Great Boundary, or simply just The Boundary.
Each Court is made distinct not just by the season it embodies but also by the like of the fae that live within it and the ilk of the power they hold. These things reflect the Court as surely as a mirror reflect the face of any who look in it. (To be continued)
There is little of value beyond the Court boundaries however that is not to say there is nothing. Bordering the Summer and Spring Courts is a great ocean the fae call the Styx. It is greatly feared and though it can be sailed most fae would not dare as no one that has ever touched the water has ever resurfaced. Any attempt to bottle water from the Styx fails as no matter how strong the container it shatters the moment the water is separated from the ocean. As though the Styx is unwilling to give up any of itself. The Styx houses the only islands native to the fae world. They are a terrible place known only as The Never Isles.
Meanwhile bordering the Winter and Autumn Courts is a stretch of desolate land known to the Courts as The Far Lands.
|| The Court of Spring ||
Spring is the land of eternal youth and rebirth however take care not to be fooled by its appearance. The trees that grow in Spring are young and new, their wood pliable and their color green. In many places in spite of their youth the trees form dense canopies that let only the merest trace of sunlight beneath them. Compared to the other realms Spring has blended much more thoroughly with the nature of the land. Rather than build houses or pull stones from the Earth for their roads most everything in Spring is created from the Earth. The fae live in houses sung from the trees or burrowed into the earth. The paths that line the land are hard packed dirt from millennia of travelers crossing them. Spring possesses no farms for the time of harvest never arrives in that realm. Instead the fae seek out the ripe fruits and lush berries of the woods to feed themselves. Spring is dainty but never be fooled by the appearance for it is also the deadliest of the four realms. Deadly because it pretends its weapons are welcomes and its curses blessings. Berries of vile poison cannot be discerned from those of rich sustenance. The prettiest of trees have leaves so sharp they may slit the skin. Blessed springs guarded by the Naiads are safe to drink should their spirit be willing but those without a guardian may look pure and clean but house deadly acids.
Not long after the forming of the Spring Court the Archon Cernunnos decided that Spring needed to make a show of influence and power as amongst the other courts Spring had gained a reputation as being the young and inexperienced of the four lands. To this end Cernunnos journeyed to the heart of the fae realm, the World Tree itself and with the spirit of the tree struck a deal in exchange for a living seed with which to grow another tree.
Returning to his homeland Cernunnos reached to the very limits of his power to grow the seed into a tree that while dwarfed in comparison to its parent was still a massive structure to behold. The Palace of Spring was housed at Cernunnos command inside this great tree. The tree was given the name Mimameith by Cernunnos to honor Yggdrasil's gift.
The Archon's hall was sung into the very edge of Mimameith's trunk. Behind the throne the wood had been stripped away leaving the entire Court with a brilliant view of all the Spring Lands. The opening has been cleverly enchanted to prevent any from entering from the outside though that is a hazard only from the winged fae for the hall's terrace stands several hundred feet up the side of the tree. As for the rest of the hall, small tree trunks grow up from the floor forming pillars that keep the hall standing. The hall spans two stories in height, along the edges is a great balustrade that wrapped the upper floor of the hall. From here many curious eyes may watch the proceedings of Court meetings below.
In contrast with the rest of the hall the throne which stands alone on a dais is a new addition to the hall only six hundred years old or so. It is made from a dark obsidian, the throne outlined in a sleek black wood frame polished to a shine to match the dense material that it complements. This throne was commissioned by the current Archon Nyx after the death of the previous Archousa Ceridwen. Speculation about the throne's replacement vary greatly.
Hanging on the walls of the Court is a great green tapestry trimmed with earthly brown designs. It has stood in the hall so long that it has in some sections fused itself to the walls that grow around it. The tapestry was and continues to be weaved by the chroniclers of Spring's great library. It denotes much of the history of the Spring Court for those who know how to read it.
The Lethe is the river of forgetfulness.
|| The Court of Summer ||
The Cocytus is the river of wailing and woe.
|| The Court of Autumn ||
The Archeron is the river of pain and lamentation.
|| The Court of Winter ||
The Phlegethon is the river of fire.
|| The Never Isles ||
The Never Isles represent the only bodies of land in the sea off the coast of the Spring and Summer Courts. The fae fear the ocean and so the Never Isles were turned into a prison. Not simply a prison though for every court ruler had his own dungeon, no the Never Isles became home to the cage for the most violent and vicious of the fae. To the ones who represented such a threat not just to one land but to all four that their escape could never be risked. Their imprisonment had to be assured.
The prison complex is a cruel and terrible place, nearly a Court unto itself, everything within the walls is determined by strength. The Warden, a pixie by the name of Belladonna, was the first prisoner to be exiled to the Never Isles. Malicious and calculating she controls the prison with an iron grip. Some say she had once upon a time a deep infatuation with a human boy who stumbled into her lands. She was so enamored of him that she gave him everlasting life and a place by her side. However it was not meant to be for many years later when a group of three siblings stumbled onto the island Belladonna's love defied her to help them escape back home. His name was Peter and in a fit of vengeance for that act Belladonna ripped his shadow from his body leaving him in a state of living death. It is said the shadow of Peter still wanders the island prison searching for a way home.
|| The Far Lands ||
A stretch of land bordering the Winter and Autumn Courts. The Far Lands are a desolate wasteland with very few resources. It is the dwelling place of wild fae. Those that cannot exist inside the courts either because they've fled from persecution or have been exiled. Those resources that do exist in the Far Lands are fought over desperately by any fae surviving. It is not uncommon to find remnants of the Tuatha living in the Far Lands where survival takes precedence over racial prejudices. In fact in that place Tuatha are actually considered valuable as they are the only ones capable of opening the boundary between the Far Lands and the Courts. The Tuatha are often used by the wild fae during raiding parties into the Courts.
The fairies have never a penny to spend, They haven’t a thing put by, But theirs is the dower of bird and flower And theirs are the earth and the sky. And though you should live in a palace of gold Or sleep in a dried-up ditch, You could never be poor as the fairies are, And never as rich.
Since ever and ever the world began They have danced like a ribbon of flame, They have sung their song through the centuries long And yet it is never the same. And though you be foolish or though you be wise, With hair of silver or gold, You could never be young as the fairies are, And never as old.
Yggdrasil exists in a kind of no man's land caught in the very center of the contrast of the different natures of the four courts. In that place it would seem that time has stopped and yet also that time moves at breakneck speeds and everything in between. It would seem there is all weather and no weather though those brave enough to seek out Yggdrasil wonder if it is all a show that the World Tree plays upon you for its own amusement.
| The Awen |
Many believe the Awen to be the beginning of existence, the first spark of life that created all worlds. Some view it as a living entity, others as an infinite repository. Some think it is a real place while others believe it to simply be the personification of a concept. The Awen is a field of energy that contains all knowledge, all wisdom, all truth from the beginning of time to the end of all things. However their is only one manner to access that much information, that much power without it destroying the mind of the one seeking answers. That is through an Awenddyion. They are a special type of fae that are born with a primal connection to the Awen. They are able to survive this exposure because each time they channel the Awen the experience is erased from their mind after the Awenddyion has answer the inquirer's question. Most Awenddyion regard the Awen as a god. It is believed that should one of them look into the Awen fully conscious it would drive them insane.
| Ley Lines |
When the Fae Realm was created it was meant to be completely closed off from the mortal plain. Rarely do things happen as planned. Whatever the reason, whether it was a failure of Caliburn's power or an oversight of the Tuatha, the Fae Realm was pressed upon the mortal world like a second skin. It intertwined with the original land, both separate and invisible to the other but still very much connected. These connections were strongest along borders that the mortals came to know as Ley Lines. A grid tracing over the world that marked where magical energy bled between the fae and mortal realms. The two realms are always in flux with relation to one another. However the Ley Lines mark consistent ties between the two worlds, Gateways formed on the Ley Lines always link the same locations. In addition they are places of intense magical energy on both sides of the veil. On either side places where the Ley Lines intersect have often been used by human "wizards" to summon magical powers they were ill equipped to control while the skilled among the fae used the Ley Lines to augment their abilities to perform spectacular and often life threatening feets. Usually in war times.
| The Veil Perilous |
The barrier between the land of the fae and the mortal realm. Though it is not a physical barrier in the same sense that the Great Boundary is, the Veil Perilous is still a very real factor in the realm of the faeries.
| Gateways |
The realms are constantly in flux, moving and shifting. The Ley Lines are the only points that tie the two realms together. As such it is not uncommon for natural Gateways between the mortal and fae realms to form along Ley Lines. These gateways usually take the form of undefined holes in space. If the locations on both sides are similar it would not be difficult to walk right past a Gateway and never notice its existence. Ley Lines are not the only places where Gateways can form however. When realms shift they can make contact with one another, at these locations portals between the lands form. However without the magical energies of the Ley Lines to stabilize them these gateways are prone to collapsing rapidly, maybe letting a single person or a small group at the right place at the right time through before they fail.
Though the Gateways formed by the Ley Lines are more stable none of the naturally occurring passages are permanent. As the worlds shift the gateways form and collapse regardless of location. The Ley Line Gateways are often more predictable than those formed at random. These may form in the same place at the same time of year for a specific period before they fail. In the old days when passage between the mortal and fae realms was more regular the old faery leaders had Gateways permanently maintained at Nexus points along the Ley Lines. These included such locations as Stone Henge, the ancient Lake of Avalon, the Great Pyramids of the Egyptians. Pieces of a long dead Gateway have been found so far back as the Babylonian Empire.
As the Gateways created along Ley Lines always correspond to the same points in the human and fae realms it was a common tactic in war times to use the mortal realm and these portals as a means to circumvent the Boundary. Sometimes with small guerrilla groups and sometimes more rarely with full scale military strike forces.
| The Boundary |
There are gateways through the barrier which server as border crossings between the Courts. However these are strictly monitored by officials of each Court on both sides to prevent smuggling or fleeing fugitives. Those that wish to avoid scrutiny must find other ways through the border. Some fae artifacts can accomplish this effect but they are rare and often confiscated by Court Rulers. The most common method of crossing the border is by using the blood of the Tuatha. As the creators of the Fae Realm Yggdrasil recognizes them as its rightful leaders and so the barriers that subdivide the Tuatha's land will give way for them by proof of blood. Because of this many criminal organizations employ a handful of Tuatha to help get objects through the barriers. Anyone caught violating the barriers in this manner is punished with execution regardless of the Court.
It is a commonly held belief that if someone were to gain permanent dominion over both the Spring and Summer Courts or both the Autumn and Winter Courts the Boundary between the two would vanish recreating the Seelie and Unseelie lands in their natural glory.
After the creation of the land of Faerie and the fall of the Tuatha Dé Danann Caliburn, The Realm Sword as it was often called fell into the hands of the new and extremely temporary fae government. The temptation of Caliburn's power was too great and an attempt by a particular group to gain control over it caused the rift that created the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. When the civil war had settled it was decided that the power Caliburn held over the fae world was too great to be held by any one person or group. The sword was shattered into pieces which were divided evenly between the two ruling parties.
When many years later another rift turned two courts into four the only thing ever fae agreed upon was that the power of Caliburn was not to be used. Once the four Courts stabilized the shards were divided evenly amongst the four rulers of the time to protect and conceal as they saw fit. It is long considered taboo to make use of their magic and most rulers have held to that rule even when it would have prevented them losing their kingdom. The sword was split into twelve pieces and while each court save for Summer retains two of those pieces what happened to the final four remains a mystery. Most believe that a court ruler hide them so well not even his successor could locate them again.
| Excalibur |
Summer retains only one piece of Caliburn. Many years prior the sorceress water fae known only by the title The Lady of the Lake resurfaced and stole a one of Summer's pieces of Caliburn. Somehow she forged that single section into a new sword which was given the name Excalibur. This fragment Realm Sword was gifted to to the Britannian King Arthur in order to counteract the vile powers of Morgana La Fey who threatened his kingdom and by extension the whole world of Faerie were Camelot to fall. After Arthur's death Excalibur vanished alone with the piece of Caliburn that gave it power. Though its fate is unknown most believe the fae Myrddin Emrys hide the sword away to prevent the misuse of its power.
| Four Treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann |
It would cry out beneath the king who took the sovereignty of Ireland. It was supposedly located near the Hill of Tara in County Meath. From the fairy city Falias
No battle was ever sustained against it, or against the man who held it. From the fairy city Goirias or Gorias.
No one ever escaped from it once it was drawn from its sheath, and no one could resist it. The sword is also described in the Tain legend as 'Nuadu's Cainnel' - a glowing bright torch. From the fairy city Findias or Finias.
No company ever went away from it unsatisfied. From the fairy city Muirias or Murias
Information in the Four Treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann is copied from a third party source for reference when assembling a comprehensive description of each item. It does not reflect the finalized version of each artifact that will be used in the RP.
| Gwydion's Key |
When Gwydion used Caliburn to create the fae realm it was intended that the two worlds would be completely separate. However the strategist that he was Gwydion always intended to return to the mortal world and reclaim it for the fae when the time was right. To this end he used Caliburn to fashion a key that had the power to turn any door in either realm into a portal to the other. The key is roughly two inches long and made of solid crystal. The handle is carved in the shape of an owl with the rest of the key extending from its talons. In the center of the key something like blue fire seems to burn.
@Prince of Seraphs Sure. And I might bring in an unbound Lei, for the mischief potential. We'd need to sort out pixies versus sprites, though, since I have usually distinguished them by having pixies possess various insect features. I'll also need to figure out details for the species. Waiting on rules for human and changeling magic users to see if Max is a viable possibility. His concept requires access to healing magic in some fashion, and I'd prefer it eventually be his, not an assistant's. He only has healing, though one of those spells also protects both him and his patient on the field of battle. Might not bring that spell. Actually, Iunno if I wanna bring him at all. He's a pacifist and altruistic, and likely to get himself seriously injured without someone to protect him. Need to think on that if chchar death is encouraged...dunno how I feel about that without player consent.
Probably will also bring Rhia. It's a shame that Trill wouldn't work well here, be cause he's fun, but he is best suited to a quest he's forced to go on.
Update: I finish the English course I was taking this Monday so after that I should have much more free time to devote to filling in the gaps in the lore.
Everyone seems to have their own answer when it comes to the subject of Yasha’s age. Throughout history she has appeared and disappeared. Some seem to have memories of her from even the beginning of their lives, but there are long periods of time where it seems she did not exist. Some believe she is as old as time, while others seem to believe that she barely broaches a century old. The question has become somewhat of a widespread mystery that has a million answers but no definitive ones.
Fae Court:
Summer
Position/Occupation:
Dauphiné
Text Color
Orchid “Reality is not something to be accepted as fate. Reality is something you can twist to your whims. Reality is in the eye of the beholder…”
Appearance
Hair Color:
Pure White
Eye Color:
Purple
Skin Pigmentation:
Pale Beige
Height:
65 Inches
Weight:
118 Pounds
Physical Appearance:
Yasha, in both forms, appears as a slim and short young lady moving with perfect elegance and grace. She appears almost frail in body, yet moves with perfect form. Her pale complexion often contrasts with the warm hues around her within her homeland, and is even further complimented by her pure white hair that falls loosely around her head in a very straight strand. It crowns around her head, stopping just as it reaches her neck. Upon cracking a smile, Yasha’s sharp set of teeth are visibly pointed at the ends. In her primal Rakshasa form, white fur striped with black spreads across her forearms and legs. She bares two of these arms on each side of her body, though one pair is often hidden below her robe. Her eyes, in this form, seem to ignite a flame of glowing energy. Disturbing the perfect straightness of Yasha’s hair are two black horns protruding a few inches above her ears. They begin pushing backwards before curving forwards, somewhat akin to a small version of ram’s horns. Just visible from beneath her robe is a white tiger’s tail, swaying gently as Yasha walks.
Attire:
Yasha often dresses in a very whimsical and traditional manner. She adorns herself in a long, silken, and dark purple robe that fits loosely around her slim figure causing it to flow graciously with the wind. It is tied off around her body with a large black sash that covers most of her abdomen. This robe, as stellar as it appears, is often the only garment that covers Yasha. In her bright and warm homeland, shoes are not often required and can often be an encumbrance when walking in nature- at least in Yasha’s opinion. A few accessories are not all too uncommon, though. Yasha finds herself often wearing a large violet flower in her hair to compliment her robe or a purple and translucent facial veil over her mouth. Yasha is always seen with a rather unique eyepatch of a dark purple color- so dark that it is often mistaken for black. The flaming glow does not seem to emanate from under the eye. It is not uncommon to see Yasha’s hands covered with white silken gloves, but she has also been seen covering her hands- particular the fingers, covered with large metal talon-like claws. Resembling the claws of a tiger with a great amount of ornate decor, it appears to be much more than jewelry.
Glamour(s):
Yasha, due to her being a Rakshasa, does not often find glamours to be useful, but she has been known to use glamours to mask minor features of her primal form if she intends to go undercover while still harnessing the convenience of the form. The most common glamours she uses are those to mask her horns and those to mask her fur.
Personality
Innate & Outward Personality:
Yasha is best described as a sly and pompous conspirator, as if she is always searching for an angle on those she speaks to. Yasha seems the type of person to hold herself higher than others. It is not uncommon for her to blatantly boast and put herself above others, but at times she does this in a more underhanded and indirect manner. Finding Yasha in a flustered or angered manner is extremely uncommon if even possible. She always appears calm and collected, never losing her cool, and never being caught by surprise. Yasha delights in toying with her prey. Yasha is no stranger to enjoyment, though. Despite the great deal of her time spent tirelessly plotting away, Yasha is rather playful by nature, enjoying certain childish activities and finding herself serene within nature. Despite this, Yasha is not a completely benevolent creature. She has been known, albeit rarely, to be rather ruthless in punishment.
Skills/Talents:
Yasha is a very special kind of diplomat. She has become very adept at sly and underhanded dealings. Intimidating tactics and reading her opponents come easy to Yasha. The Summer Court has always been a very nationalistic nation and it seems there is a natural charisma about Yasha that amplifies that. She is very likeable and tends to easily manipulate others. Yasha was also trained as a hunter, honing her combative skills to a point. Combat wasn’t all Bakasura taught Yasha, though. She learned to a rather great infiltrator, so it is not uncommon that Yasha’s company finds that their companion has slipped away unnoticed.
Goals/Motivation
Yasha’s motivations and purpose have always been an enigma. Much like other aspects of her person, Yasha’s motives have been speculated at a great number of times. The most common conjectures, which are without doubt true to an extent, are that Yasha is out for personal power and power for her court. Many of the actions Yasha has taken in her lifetime have lead her to power. Whether that was her intent or not remains a mystery. The only thing known for sure about Yasha’s drive is that she enjoys being in control.
History:
Before Yasha, the Summer Court had a very different dynamic surrounding it. Ruled by the glorious and powerful Fae: Dauphin Horus. He was a beast of war. Wielding impossible tactics and immense combative abilities, Horus and his court became legendary for their ability to best any other military power. Even more, Horus was never caught missing a battle, always at the side of his troops. The Summer Court was filled with extreme pride in their heritage, driving Horus to hold his population above all others. For ages upon ages, Horus ruled the Summer Court. All his people dared not oppose him due to the nationalistic pride Horus brought that kept the people of the Summer Court happy.
From birth, the young Rakshasa knew not about her true family or where she came from. Yasha was taken as an infant from her family by a rather powerful group that operated within the Summer Court. Their business was not savory, and often involved intermingling with the human world in very malicious ways. When her captors attempted to identify her, Yasha was mislabeled as a sort of the Deva rather than the much rarer Rakshasas. The syndicate that had taken her was worried because of this, thus placing heavy restrictions upon her. She grew up living with no idea of her true origin, within a poor territory as opposed to her apex bloodline’s rich lifestyle, but Yasha was not one to lay idly by and accept the cards that she was dealt. Yasha never accepted fate. Her Rakshasa nature couldn’t be suppressed. Through time, the nature of her ‘captivity’ of sorts, made Yasha more and more aggression. She fled from her pseudo-family and found herself among urchins. For great lengths of time, Yasha was starved and without possessions. It was during this time, the predatory nature of a Rakshasa came to surface. Yasha took to killing for food. No, Yasha wasn’t any sort of assassin or mercenary. She was a hunter. Rakshasas, by nature, are flesh eaters. Whatever animals she could find were her meals. It was a pathetic time for the young Yasha, and killing animals didn’t always leave her on good terms with local Fae.
This struggling that was Yasha’s day to day life led to many problems with other Fae, eventually driving Yasha to find herself hunting elsewhere. She found herself drawn outside of the Fae world, following the trail of a lost human. Her journey lead her to the boundary between worlds, Fae and man. Yasha was reluctant to cross the barrier. She had never strayed this far from her home city, let alone another world. It was then that Yasha was approached by someone through a thicket of nearby trees. He appeared entirely human, but the way he carried himself- the way he looked around like he knew where he was and what he was doing, Yasha knew he was Fae. He was a handsome Fae, dressed head to toe in an elegant and traditional outfit. She remained silent, staring into his gaze for a long moment. He was the one that broke the silence.
“You… You are feeling urges when you see them- The non-Fae folk.” Yasha gave a nod, entranced by the words of the man. “I am like you. We are different, and we must feed… We are Rakshasas…” Yasha was a bit awestruck by the man’s words. They talked for a long while about Rakshasa and the legends of the Maneaters. He taught Yasha that she could consume man like animals and explained that the Rakshasas were predators with the world as their prey. He also gave Yasha his name. He was known in legend as Bakasura. This creature took Yasha under his wing. He taught her about the humans and how they made easy prey for top of the food chain hunters like Rakshasas. Yasha was a loyal student. She killed when Bakasura told her to kill. Anything he asked, she accomplished without hesitation or fail. For the first time in her life, Yasha changed. Yasha’s innocence had disappeared.
Together, they were ruthless, savage, and animalistic. Apart, they were nothing- Yasha was nothing. Yasha felt uncertain as her emotions grew stronger for her new companion in a way she had never felt before. Yasha was falling for Bakasura. They were partners in crime in everything that they did. Yasha lost all sight of her previous life. She was an astute hunter who never failed in her work. Bakasura had molded her young mind into that of a killer’s, and she allowed it. Yasha’s entire life began to revolve around Bakasura’s bidding. It was as if she was his partner in crime- at least, in her mind her was. Their relationship, although it may not have looked it at first, devolved into a very one sided interaction. Despite his harsh treatment of Yasha, she couldn’t help but feel that he cared for her due to her previous upbringing. She was a loyal companion, and served as Bakasura’s false companion to the end. Indeed, no Rakshasa relationship can last forever, not with Yasha.
It was over a century that the two stayed together, but there was reasoning for that. Bakasura and Yasha were on top of the world. They made no mistakes, killed ruthlessly, and spared no mercy for anyone that they came across. That didn’t stop Bakasura from using all his pawns as sacrificial pieces at the first chance he got. Yasha and he were raiding a large tower within the summer court in which the pair were anonymous yet notorious criminals. Surrounded by the Dauphin’s guard, Bakasura ran Yasha through with a blade, leaving her bleeding to death for the guards to capture while he escaped. Yasha wasn’t going to give up so easily, though. She stood and fought with all of her might, bringing down guard after guard before they managed to capture her. Bakasura may not have cared for her, but he sure did train her well. Nearly eviscerated by the and thrown to the dungeon with no regard for her health. Yasha was to be executed publicly. There was no disputing the hundreds that had been affected by her criminal actions. Within the cell, Yasha found herself jeered at, pummeled, and abused by any guard that managed a shift to watch her cell. Left bleeding and beaten, Yasha showed her lifespan as her wounds flow with blood and she still manages to stand. She was unarmed and always watched by the hound-like guard of the Summer Court. This, of course, wasn’t going to dissuade her from fighting back.
As he leaned upon the bars, the guard felt air expel from his throat as his neck was wrapped around. It was then that Yasha sunk her teeth into his flesh. Despite her constant hunting, Bakasura had never made Yasha kill another Fae. Her victims were always human or fauna, but the rage overcame her. Her greatest friend- The man she so longed for had betrayed her and she was blind to his wicked intent. As the corpse before her thudded to the floor, her body swayed slightly in its weakened state. Fetching her kill’s keys and blade was an arduous task, but she managed. Now she had to escape, for with this incident, Yasha would surely not be given any semblance of trial. She would be slain if spotted, but the rage within her surpassed any sensible solutions. Her human form melded away, revealing all of her Rakshasa features. As she stepped, fear, betrayal, and depression blocked her from coherent thought. She ran through the palace, slashing another of the royal guards who had his back turned with the small blade. Yasha didn’t even look back to see if he lived or perished. She just kept running.
The Dauphin’s palace was not meant to be infiltrated, of course. Yasha had no hope of escape. Her young Fae mind didn’t understand this until it was too late, though. Within the palace’s main atrium, Yasha was surrounded by at least a dozen soldiers armed to the teeth. They moved forward as a unit, encircling Yasha more and more. Soon, the tips of each spear was only inches from her body. Yasha lets her eyelids fall shut. This wasn’t how she wanted to die. She wanted to die at his side, but did she still? So many questions seemed to run through the mind of the Rakshasa as everything seemed to slow around her. She gritted her teeth, waiting for the inevitable cold embrace, but it wouldn’t come. Slowly her eyes shifted open, and before her was a sight she knew sealed her fate. The Dauphin parted his soldiers and stood before the kneeling girl.
“Cease…” His voice boomed out and the spears surrounding Yasha reactively fell to the side of their wielders. “Look at me, child…” Dauphin Horus brought a hand that jerked her chin upwards to peer into his eyes. He was a regal sight to behold, and to be this close was not a privilege that Yasha deserved, but something about her caught the Dauphin’s eye. “She is Bakasura’s most recent servant, yes? She shall not die. I will take her.” Yasha paid no attention to Horus’s words of her fate. The first sentence he spoke struck a chord within her. Most recent servant? Had Bakasura done this to others? She was lost in thought as the surrounding crowd discussed her fate. A single tear dripping down her cheek. Her life… Was all wrong. She was the bad guy.
“She cannot go unpunished,” called one of the Dauphin’s guards. His reply chilled the crowd, a frown twisting onto his face.
“And she won’t…” Horus brought his clawed hand up from her chin as he spoke, wiping the tear from her eye. His hand was gentle, but Yasha could feel the ill intent within the man. His frown twisted into a smile as his clawed hand positioned itself over her eye, forcing itself downward with an eruption of blood. Yasha’s screams pierced the entire palace that day…
For months following Yasha’s punishment she was taught how to live properly as a servant to the Dauphin. She cleaned, prepared, and managed anything Horus wished in the palace, and in turn, she was given a cramped room within the palace to reside in. Well, Despite its appearance, Yasha’s ornate room was truly a cell that she was placed in when not working. Yasha never protested her fate. She diligently worked, though she was very detached from everything. This disconnected personality intrigued Dauphin Horus. It wasn’t long before Yasha became more than a servant to the lone leader. She became a courtesan- a companion. This was a completely unexpected gesture to the Rakshasa. She didn’t understand why the Dauphin had been so forgiving to such a criminal, but he never told her. She started to live a life of luxury in the royal palace. It was an unexpected glamour thrown upon her, but it wasn’t truly freedom. Yasha was still not allowed to leave the palace, and this fact gave her comfort. She felt she needed to repent in some way and the Dauphin was assisting her in accomplishing that goal.
Yasha was faithful, yet still distant for another great length of time, but she eventually started to accommodate to the royal lifestyle. With all that Horus asked of her, she wanted to be allowed more and more in return, and as he satisfied her wishes more and more, the two grew very close. There was one thing Dauphin Horus would never grant her though: Her freedom. Yasha was once again fooled by charm. The two lived together in a harmonious and routine lifestyle, but sooner or later Horus ran out of things to give Yasha to pacify her curiosity. He offered her one thing he knew the broken hearted Rakshasa couldn’t refuse: the love she desired. With Horus’s people beginning to grow against his solo ruling, he was in need of a Dauphiné, but he could never truly split his power with Yasha. His love for her was strong, but he never believed in her as a just ruler.
Despite Horus’s best efforts, Yasha wouldn’t accept the life of a servant to her love. Horus allowed her to become his consort, but the powers of the Dauphiné were never granted to her. It was merely a figurehead to satiate not only Yasha, but also the Dauphin’s people. Every time decisions would come to the table of the Summer COurt, Yasha’s opinions would always be disregarded or shot down. Yasha was clearly unhappy about this, but Horus didn’t seem to care. The two grew a slight distance for the first time since Horus took Yasha under his wing. It was then a huge turn of events occurred within the Summer Court: The Dauphin was assassinated.
No one knew how or why he was killed and many of the details seemed to have been overlooked by the public. There was little to no investigation and many do not know why that was. The Summer Court’s citizens were a happy people that grieved when Horus was slain, but he had prepared them for his death as he had entered battle so many times. Yasha was able to take the throne as Dauphiné of Summer Court, starting the age of the Rakshasa, and no one ever knew why it seemed Dauphin Horus was rended by tiger’s claws in his end...
Rakshasa (Based on Rakshasa and similar Hindu Deva)
Common Physical Traits:
Rakshasas have two complete forms that they inhabit, due to their special abilities. Their original and primal form appears just like their humanoid with quite a few additions. All of a Rakshasa’s limbs are covered with a smooth and short hair that appears with the stripes of a tiger. The idea that Rakshasa have close ties with tigers is seen even more so with the tiger tail that Rakshasa’s have in their primal form. Horns of various shapes protrude from their skulls, making them look rather regal in appearance. When in their primal form, a Rakshasa’s eyes appear to hold small flames within themselves. Often hidden beneath clothing when not needed, Rakshasas have not two, but four arms- two protruding from each shoulder. All Rakshasa mouths bare a full set of gleaming sharp teeth, originally used when Rakshasas were natural hunters outside of civilization. One of the most peculiar features of Rakshasas that set them apart from other races is the strange nature of their hands. Instead of having their palms and thumbs facing inwards, the palms appear on the back of their hands, as if they were inverted.
Court:
Rakshasas can be found in any of the four courts, but they are most commonly found in the Summer and Autumn courts.
Abilities:
Rakshasa are commonly believed to be a demonic offspring of natural hunters. With the ability to shapeshift into a human form that appears similar to their natural and primal form, a Rakshasa is remarkably good at furtive and shady business. This form can be manifested for greatly extended amounts of time. Rakshasas are also known tricksters and sorcerers. This ability is actually often exaggerated by those unfamiliar with the creature. Rakshasas truly only have the power of illusion. More particularly, a Rakshasa has the ability to create illusory copies of themselves that last for short periods of time. Most often used to appear in greater numbers or as diversions, Rakshasas have become known for convoluted, sneaky, and serpentine methods of attack. These illusory doubles are extremely volatile and will likely shatter upon any interaction with other living things.
Limits:
A Rakshasa only has one humanoid form that they’ve mastered their ability to shapeshift into. Any attempt to shapeshift into another creature would fail. Picking up on subtle hints can make seeing through a Rakshasa’s disguise easy work. For example, a Rakshasa’s teeth can never be hidden even in its human form. It is also not uncommon that Rakshasas struggle to hide their flaming eyes. A Rakshasa’s illusory doubles cannot last for extended periods of times and it can be easy to learn to spot out a Raksha’s illusions if one is trained and the Rakshasa is not cunning with their deployment.
Weaknesses/Drawbacks:
Rakshasas, throughout legends, have always had one weakness that trumps all others: Brass. The particular metal never works well with Rakshasa. When in contact with brass in any way, A Rakshasa’s illusions are instantly shattered. Injuries involving brass weaponry can also cause Rakshasas to become very weak and even paralyzed for short times in some cases. These injuries are also known to prevent a Rakshasa from using its illusion abilities at all. Due to their heavy connections to sorcery, Rakshasas have another prevalent weakness. Magic circles drawn in particular patterns, known as binding circles, can ward off or close in Rakshasas. Whether used to trap in Rakshasas or keep them out, binding circles have become a bane of all Rakshasas.
Social Standing:
Due to many past transgressions and altercations involving Rakshasas, the race has been branded with a reputation for being cunning and conniving. This often leads to the race as a whole being branded untrustworthy and discriminated against. This hasn’t caused the Rakshasas to be pushed around, though. Instead it was rather the opposite. Many fear the sly tendencies of the creatures, always believed to be working an angle and always seeming to have the upper hand.
Historical Impact:
Rakshasas are believed to be a primeval race, existing since the beginning of time. Legend has it, Rakshasa are the incarnations of the world’s most evil sinners, or that they were spawned from the mistake of an ancient and powerful Fae. No matter what is believed, it is understood that the Rakshasa are to be feared. They were not truly an extremely impactful and well known race of Fae until the Dauphiné of the Summer Court came to power. It was then that numerous Rakshasas surfaced as agents of the Summer Court and earned their sly reputation.
Sorry for taking so long, friends. I really wanted to go into detail. This is my race and character that will occupy the slot of the Summer Court's ruler if still available.
@Prince of Seraphs, I am more than happy to assist in writing lore and detailing the Summer Court if you'd allow me.
Just to clarify, are basically... any supernatural/fantasy/mythological race playable by us writers, for use as characters? Or is it limited to the list you have set? The hider below has quotes from what you wrote, just wanted to make sure.
I ask because I am definitely interested (regardless of your answer to the question), but I've done a ton of world development (making cities, races, magicks, etc), so was just curious just how big the selection is.
Fae are basically any supernatural creature from any brand of folklore or mythology you wish to plunder. You are free to take liberties but try to maintain the essence of what the creature was meant to be
You have a great deal of freedom when creating a character. You can make someone of any gender, sexuality, background, etc. Long as it's written respectfully. I will not accept characters with mental illnesses unless they are written correctly.
@OppositionJ Most impressive. I will look over it in more depth tomorrow when it's not two in the morning but I should mention that Dark Magenta is already taken by one of my characters. So if you could pick a different one that would be appreciated. This might be a good alternative. If you need suggestions.
@Twhirtley The list is just fae I know I'm going to need, it's a reminder for when I get around to finishing sheets for all of them but the fae you can play is not limited to those. As you say any type of mythological creature pretty much. It is dependent on acceptance but as long as they are written decently you likely won't get many outright rejections of fae types.
To say this looks interesting from the interest check would be redundant. It's just that between the interest check, this tab, and the characters, I'm not sure if you've got any open spots I might settle into.
To say this looks interesting from the interest check would be redundant. It's just that between the interest check, this tab, and the characters, I'm not sure if you've got any open spots I might settle into.
If you're looking for official spots the Autumn ruler position is still open but aside from that this RP is meant to be big, it's always open to new members and given the scope of the world it shouldn't get overcrowded in any one place. Also take into account that only a handful of the interested parties from the interest check have resurfaced since the OOC opened.
All well and good! I think I could brew up some Autumny characters, but I am a bit curious of the intent and scope of the RP. For instance, there isn't a lot of information about the Autumn Court I could gather from here, so what would you be looking for in its faction leader? Personality and topographic details are fairly simple to negotiate because of seasonal tropes, but I mean the question in a more plot-ish way. Am I going to be making mean unseelie types to provide conflict for characters aligned with causes of good, a more neutral territory of relics, art, and exploration of a variety of fae, or a government invested in positive change throughout its realm and others?
And on that note, how are the characters meant to interact? Is it going to be a series of different groups across the different realms (and therefore I should create characters of multiple seasons), a bunch of world leaders sending out troops and supplies from isolated strongholds, or is this an epic with a small group of people doing adventury/politicy things? Knowing a few of these details would really help me in formulating a character(s) that might help streamline whatever's going on with an epic of this proportion.
Common Name(s): Empress Aurelia, First Enchantrix, Lady of Shalott, Painter of the Leaves
True Name: Chrysanthea Ceres
Age: Unknown
Race: Gentry Fae
Fae Court: Autumn
Summary Role: Empress of the Autumn Court
Appearance
Hair Color: Bright Auburn
Eye Color: Peridot
Complexion: Pale white
Height: 5'6''
Weight: 110lbs
Physical Features: As one of the oldest among gentry fae, Aurelia maintains a delicate, youthful body and formidable presence, her limbs thin and pale but her peridot eyes bright and alert. Her willowy gait supports a proud, perfectly symmetrical face with high cheekbones, her womanly features slight but still present in the shape of her silhouette. She keeps silky red hair in a series of ringlets tumbling down her back. There are legends about her hands alone, long and dextrous digits said to have imbued the very essence of Autumn into the land her kingdom rests on. Her clothing and shoes, largely inspired by leafy themes, are said to be made of such fine material that she makes no sound when she walks.
Glamour: There is a golden glow over Aurelia's skin, sometimes bright enough to hide her features. While she can manipulate the glamour into visually disappearing, she cannot hide the taint that seeps through her.
Attire: Most typical of her gowns is a loose-fitting dress tying in a halter around her neck. It appears to have a smattering of layers, bright orange and golden leaves of silk flowing over a longer, translucent satin that bleeds into reds and purples over her ankles. Her shoes are tight-fitting slippers that seem to have been sewn from red leaves.
Personality
Personality: Aurelia strives to maintain perfect balance within herself. Gentle but firm, stern but not cruel, logical but creative, she is an icon of what her people strive to become. This, however, is street talk. In reality, she has a cool temperament rather than any semblance of a warm one, struggling to find joy or beauty in her own craft for centuries. She is cynical, demanding, and patronizing of artists seeking her recognition, finding the smallest of faults in their creative works and crushing dreams without remorse. Time and conflict has left her jaded and controlled, her ability to micromanage and multitask almost frightening in its precise execution. She is never late, rarely smiles, and is famous for a stone face whenever entering negotiations outside of her court. That being said, she is also a largely nonviolent and solitary entity, leaving the execution of court business and law to her children and court nobility.
Skills and Talents: Aurelia made a great sacrifice long ago to learn the craft of enchantment. She can weave both physical and arcane elements of the faerie realm into other objects, be they living or not. This can range from anything as harmless as imbuing a leaf with the still-glowing colors of a sunset to removing a soul from a creature to trap it within an object to grant that object intelligence. Besides this, she is a creature of exceptional talent; she is a philosopher, a musician, a painter, a singer, a dancer, a writer, a craftswoman, and a politician, using her thousands of years of experience to create wonders marveled over from across the realms. Where others might seek to unearth relics and relive old glory tales, her sheer ability and the talent she fosters within her court encourages her people to look to the future and use their hands to build great wonders of their era.
Goals/Motivation: Aureila seeks nothing less than perfection of form, both of body and mind. At the same time, a forbidden desire rests deeply suppressed within her—the knowledge that she is limited within her court and must travel beyond its borders to gain a perfect, working understanding of the fae realm and its possibilities. This desire, however, cannot come about without great cost.
History: Aurelia lived to see the division of the Unseelie Court from the Seelie Court, born in a time of chaos and war within the new fae realm. At the time, the Autumn and Winter courts were unified, both tenacity and creativity winning them many solid victories over the opposing courts. Aurelia was promised to a winter prince, and together they crafted weapons of war that soaked the young land with fae blood. Despite the war, both dreamed of peace, a land where their deeds and crafts would replace the industry of battle.
But it was not to be. Knowing that the Unseelie were impossible to stop while they remained united, a plan was secretly made to separate the two for good. The King of Winter's son was found with an enchanted dagger embedded in his back while he had slept. This son had long been a rival to Aurelia's sister, both powerful combatants who disagreed in the treatment of prisoners. Naturally, the dagger was one of her sister's, and in retaliation, her sister was executed by the King himself without consent of Autumn's royal line.
Trust fractured, espionage and sabotage beginning in earnest between the two courts. This turned into open warfare, by which time Aurelia lost all faith in her husband, who remained loyal to his father's decision to execute her sister. Unfortunately, the Autumn Court had no army that could match Winter's, and after only a few battles, they were forced to the very edge of The Far Lands. Desperate, Aurelia gathered a choice few guards and sought out Yggdrasil. In that bizarre center of the fae lands, she met a spirit who offered a single apple, promising salvation—at a price.
“Gather your people in the place where you would stand and partake of the fruit, but beware: it is a curse and a boon. You will gain a portion of the great tree's power, but it will in turn bind you to the land its power spreads to and no further. Leave the tainted land and all its magic—and the magic inside you now—will also leave forever.”
As promised, when Aurelia partook of the fruit, she gained magic formerly unknown to her people. Her will seeped into the earth itself, becoming part of the forests, the lakes, the air. Suddenly, she could bind these essences to create new weapons and could even pass down this power to others, quickly forming an army of reinforced soldiers who could fend off the fierce Winter armies. Not only that, however—this influence affected the magic of the area itself, dampening the power of fae outside her court. In honor of her deeds, she was named the monarch of the Autumn Court.
Race: Gentry Fae
Common Physical Traits: Thin-boned and often slightly smaller in stature to the humans they resemble, Gentry Fae have little need for Glamour. Their ears, however, are long and sharply pointed, their muscle smaller and more dense than that of humans. Their eye, skin, and hair color is also similar to that of humans, with a few important exceptions. Gentry Fae have strong magic in their blood and are capable of changing the color of just about every part of themselves permanently. Thus, wild hair colors, styles, skin, clothing, and eye colors are not unheard of. Some fashions are kept strictly among nobles as a sort of code, namely glowing auras around the skin.
Court: Gentry Fae have a natural talent for magic, but this magic is connected closely with the Autumn Empress and thus it is exceptionally rare to see enchantment-gifted (see Enchantment under Abilities) gentry fae living outside of the Autumn Court. That being said, Gentry Fae without this gift have existed outside the Autumn Court for some time, their reputation as skilled crafters and scholars earning them a decent place in other fae societies.
Abilities: Enchantment: There are many different disciplines of enchantment, some of which are forbidden. Because this kind of magic requires some degree of crafting skill and time, it is not suitable for direct use in combat. The basics of each school is listed below:
Elemental: The manipulation of light/darkness, heat/cold, earth/air, water, lightning, and other such parts of nature by capturing their essence into inanimate objects. Such enchantments are typically used to instill elemental power into weapons or alter the weight and appearance of clothing and armor.
Arcane: Runes carved into objects can project arcane force. This is usually applied in protective runes and explosive traps. Arcane energy can also be instilled into an object to animate it, make the object invisible or visible at will, and even teleport other objects and creatures short distances.
Celestial: Objects can be imbued with a connection to the moon, sun, and stars and is most often use for regenerative and recharging purposes. Some fae covens make use of this magic in fortune telling and primal curses.
Alchemical: Substances can be broken down into core elements and re-arranged in a magical fashion. This is the most complex fashion of enchantment, requiring formulas and minutely delicate processes, but results in potent elixirs and metals otherwise impossible to create.
Soulcraft: Through a long and arduous ritual, a soul can be removed from a living person and drawn into an object to dwell there. Depending on the enchantment used, the soul can retain all its memories or be stripped of such identity to utilize only certain parts of its intelligence. This practice is seen as a privilege among Gentry Fae, and thus only the highest magisters are allowed to practice it (usually on prisoners and criminals and sometimes willing subjects).
Limits: No single fae, with the exception of the Empress of Autumn, controls command over every discipline of enchantment. While skilled enchanters can utilize the magic within their blood to learn two or three different practices, they tend to have a natural skill for one type which they study for centuries to master.
Weaknesses/Drawbacks: As with all fae magic, enchanted objects are subject to destruction by iron. Enchanted objects touched by iron lose their magic and instilled qualities, reverting back to normal materials. Additionally, the focus required for this type of magic makes it impossible to use in combat, often requiring inks and crafting materials with which to channel spell and intent.
Social Standing: Gentry Fae are the cream of high society among the Autumn Court, usually skilled magisters, artisans, and crafters of impossible feats.
Historical Impact: Gentry Fae did not acquire their enchantment gifts until the wars of the fae realm, and thus their impact is mostly related to the rise of the Autumn Empress, Aurelia. Before that time, they were skilled artisans and soldiers who recorded ancient events that may still remain as ruins in the human world. Their cerebral place in society has rendered them long lines of scholarly nobility within the Autumn Court.
Time flows differently in the realm of Autumn. Twilight lingers for most of the day with much shorter cycles of noontime and nighttime. Its forests are eternally locked in Autumn colors, leaves of every hue coloring the woods with brilliant colors. In addition to this, farmlands are forever rich, producing no shortage of food: a seed planted within may fully mature by the end of a 'day.' Very few denizens of the realm, thus, starve, although it also makes farmers relatively poor due to the eternal surplus. Autumn Court society celebrates beauty, craftsmanship, and magical arts, with its nobility largely earning their place through famed artistic accomplishments and productions.
Ultimately, time is not important to the largely long-lived denizens of the Autumn Court. Hard deadlines don't exist for deliveries and products, with perfection and quality always being the most important. Autumn denizens take great pride in their schools and creations, deeming themselves the most civilized among the fae and tending towards neutrality that borders on utter disinterest with the rest of the world. They fear very little with their empress to guide them, whose magic enshrouds the lands of the court in a magical aura which serves to dampen the strength of magic from those not born of the Autumn Court. Even so, there are a few who speak out against this lethargic complacency, mainly guards of the boundaries' gates who have seen the unrest of the outside worlds.
Common Physical Traits: Thin-boned and often slightly smaller in stature to the humans they resemble, Gentry Fae have little need for Glamour. Their ears, however, are long and sharply pointed, their muscle smaller and more dense than that of humans. Their eye, skin, and hair color is also similar to that of humans, with a few important exceptions. Gentry Fae have strong magic in their blood and are capable of changing the color of just about every part of themselves permanently. Thus, wild hair colors, styles, skin, clothing, and eye colors are not unheard of. Some fashions are kept strictly among nobles as a sort of code, namely glowing auras around the skin.
Court: Gentry Fae have a natural talent for magic, but this magic is connected closely with the Autumn Empress and thus it is exceptionally rare to see enchantment-gifted (see Enchantment under Abilities) gentry fae living outside of the Autumn Court. That being said, Gentry Fae without this gift have existed outside the Autumn Court for some time, their reputation as skilled crafters and scholars earning them a decent place in other fae societies.
Abilities: Enchantment: There are many different disciplines of enchantment, some of which are forbidden. Because this kind of magic requires some degree of crafting skill and time, it is not suitable for direct use in combat. The basics of each school is listed below:
Elemental: The manipulation of light/darkness, heat/cold, earth/air, water, lightning, and other such parts of nature by capturing their essence into inanimate objects. Such enchantments are typically used to instill elemental power into weapons or alter the weight and appearance of clothing and armor.
Arcane: Runes carved into objects can project arcane force. This is usually applied in protective runes and explosive traps. Arcane energy can also be instilled into an object to animate it, make the object invisible or visible at will, and even teleport other objects and creatures short distances.
Celestial: Objects can be imbued with a connection to the moon, sun, and stars and is most often use for regenerative and recharging purposes. Some fae covens make use of this magic in fortune telling and primal curses.
Alchemical: Substances can be broken down into core elements and re-arranged in a magical fashion. This is the most complex fashion of enchantment, requiring formulas and minutely delicate processes, but results in potent elixirs and metals otherwise impossible to create.
Soulcraft: Through a long and arduous ritual, a soul can be removed from a living person and drawn into an object to dwell there. Depending on the enchantment used, the soul can retain all its memories or be stripped of such identity to utilize only certain parts of its intelligence. This practice is seen as a privilege among Gentry Fae, and thus only the highest magisters are allowed to practice it (usually on prisoners and criminals and sometimes willing subjects).
Limits: No single fae, with the exception of the Empress of Autumn, controls command over every discipline of enchantment. While skilled enchanters can utilize the magic within their blood to learn two or three different practices, they tend to have a natural skill for one type which they study for centuries to master.
Weaknesses/Drawbacks: As with all fae magic, enchanted objects are subject to destruction by iron. Enchanted objects touched by iron lose their magic and instilled qualities, reverting back to normal materials. Additionally, the focus required for this type of magic makes it impossible to use in combat, often requiring inks and crafting materials with which to channel spell and intent.
Social Standing: Gentry Fae are the cream of high society among the Autumn Court, usually skilled magisters, artisans, and crafters of impossible feats.
Historical Impact: Gentry Fae did not acquire their enchantment gifts until the wars of the fae realm, and thus their impact is mostly related to the rise of the Autumn Empress, Aurelia. Before that time, they were skilled artisans and soldiers who recorded ancient events that may still remain as ruins in the human world. Their cerebral place in society has rendered them long lines of scholarly nobility within the Autumn Court.
@FairessI suppose I should have said something earlier but the list I have of fae types in the Records is a reminder to myself the types that are going to be crucial to the world moving forward. That means that though only a handful of them are at the moment filled out I have already planned how each of those races will function. The Gentry Fae I'm using are a race of high class servants bound to noble households, sorry.
I should also mention that while your list of magical types is interesting, magic is not limited by race to the extent that this seems to imply. While a number of fae types are incapable or incompetent when it comes to magic a fairly significant number of races are capable of harnessing magic with skill and finesse.
Basic Information
Common Name(s): Empress Aurelia, First Enchantrix, Lady of Shalott, Painter of the Leaves
True Name: Chrysanthea Ceres
Age: Unknown
Race: Gentry Fae
Fae Court: Autumn
Summary Role: Empress of the Autumn Court
Appearance
Hair Color: Bright Auburn
Eye Color: Peridot
Complexion: Pale white
Height: 5'6''
Weight: 110lbs
Physical Features: As one of the oldest among gentry fae, Aurelia maintains a delicate, youthful body and formidable presence, her limbs thin and pale but her peridot eyes bright and alert. Her willowy gait supports a proud, perfectly symmetrical face with high cheekbones, her womanly features slight but still present in the shape of her silhouette. She keeps silky red hair in a series of ringlets tumbling down her back. There are legends about her hands alone, long and dextrous digits said to have imbued the very essence of Autumn into the land her kingdom rests on. Her clothing and shoes, largely inspired by leafy themes, are said to be made of such fine material that she makes no sound when she walks.
Glamour: There is a golden glow over Aurelia's skin, sometimes bright enough to hide her features. While she can manipulate the glamour into visually disappearing, she cannot hide the taint that seeps through her.
Attire: Most typical of her gowns is a loose-fitting dress tying in a halter around her neck. It appears to have a smattering of layers, bright orange and golden leaves of silk flowing over a longer, translucent satin that bleeds into reds and purples over her ankles. Her shoes are tight-fitting slippers that seem to have been sewn from red leaves.
Personality
Personality: Aurelia strives to maintain perfect balance within herself. Gentle but firm, stern but not cruel, logical but creative, she is an icon of what her people strive to become. This, however, is street talk. In reality, she has a cool temperament rather than any semblance of a warm one, struggling to find joy or beauty in her own craft for centuries. She is cynical, demanding, and patronizing of artists seeking her recognition, finding the smallest of faults in their creative works and crushing dreams without remorse. Time and conflict has left her jaded and controlled, her ability to micromanage and multitask almost frightening in its precise execution. She is never late, rarely smiles, and is famous for a stone face whenever entering negotiations outside of her court. That being said, she is also a largely nonviolent and solitary entity, leaving the execution of court business and law to her children and court nobility.
Skills and Talents: Aurelia made a great sacrifice long ago to learn the craft of enchantment. She can weave both physical and arcane elements of the faerie realm into other objects, be they living or not. This can range from anything as harmless as imbuing a leaf with the still-glowing colors of a sunset to removing a soul from a creature to trap it within an object to grant that object intelligence. Besides this, she is a creature of exceptional talent; she is a philosopher, a musician, a painter, a singer, a dancer, a writer, a craftswoman, and a politician, using her thousands of years of experience to create wonders marveled over from across the realms. Where others might seek to unearth relics and relive old glory tales, her sheer ability and the talent she fosters within her court encourages her people to look to the future and use their hands to build great wonders of their era.
Goals/Motivation: Aureila seeks nothing less than perfection of form, both of body and mind. At the same time, a forbidden desire rests deeply suppressed within her—the knowledge that she is limited within her court and must travel beyond its borders to gain a perfect, working understanding of the fae realm and its possibilities. This desire, however, cannot come about without great cost.
History: Aurelia lived to see the division of the Unseelie Court from the Seelie Court, born in a time of chaos and war within the new fae realm. At the time, the Autumn and Winter courts were unified, both tenacity and creativity winning them many solid victories over the opposing courts. Aurelia was promised to a winter prince, and together they crafted weapons of war that soaked the young land with fae blood. Despite the war, both dreamed of peace, a land where their deeds and crafts would replace the industry of battle.
But it was not to be. Knowing that the Unseelie were impossible to stop while they remained united, a plan was secretly made to separate the two for good. The King of Winter's son was found with an enchanted dagger embedded in his back while he had slept. This son had long been a rival to Aurelia's sister, both powerful combatants who disagreed in the treatment of prisoners. Naturally, the dagger was one of her sister's, and in retaliation, her sister was executed by the King himself without consent of Autumn's royal line.
Trust fractured, espionage and sabotage beginning in earnest between the two courts. This turned into open warfare, by which time Aurelia lost all faith in her husband, who remained loyal to his father's decision to execute her sister. Unfortunately, the Autumn Court had no army that could match Winter's, and after only a few battles, they were forced to the very edge of The Far Lands. Desperate, Aurelia gathered a choice few guards and sought out Yggdrasil. In that bizarre center of the fae lands, she met a spirit who offered a single apple, promising salvation—at a price.
“Gather your people in the place where you would stand and partake of the fruit, but beware: it is a curse and a boon. You will gain a portion of the great tree's power, but it will in turn bind you to the land its power spreads to and no further. Leave the tainted land and all its magic—and the magic inside you now—will also leave forever.”
As promised, when Aurelia partook of the fruit, she gained magic formerly unknown to her people. Her will seeped into the earth itself, becoming part of the forests, the lakes, the air. Suddenly, she could bind these essences to create new weapons and could even pass down this power to others, quickly forming an army of reinforced soldiers who could fend off the fierce Winter armies. Not only that, however—this influence affected the magic of the area itself, dampening the power of fae outside her court. In honor of her deeds, she was named the monarch of the Autumn Court.
There's a lot of good material in this CS. I can tell you're a good writer and have a decent imagination but unfortunately most of it doesn't fit with the opening posts. Firstly and perhaps most crucially, and this is my mistake for not writing it in the rules for Character Creation (I've added it now) but no player controlled character can be old enough to have been present during the any of the Court schisms, there are some relevant events that happened around those times that should not be known to players at this time.
Following that during the war between the Seelie and the Unseelie there was no Autumn, Winter, Spring or Summer Courts. Their war was over leadership of the fae people which when resolved resulted in the creation of the Seelie and Unseelie Courts kept distinct by Yggdrasil's barrier. Winter and Autumn wouldn't be distinct empires with their own lines of succession and such until several hundred years later.
Then there is Yggdrasil. Firstly Yggdrasil is an Ash Tree. That means it doesn't bear fruit unless you count the samara (helicopters) which are not edible. Secondly Yggdrasil might be as old as the world but it is still a fae in all senses that matter. It wouldn't share the core of its power without a very very very good reason and by your own account Aurelia's people had been bloodied and beaten, driven to the Far Lands, lost everything. They didn't have anything left to interest the tree. Also as Yggdrasil is the center of the fae world their isn't a reason for the ties between it and the Gentry Fae to only spread to the Autumn Court which at this time didn't even exist yet.
I realize how disorganized about this whole RP I am and I'm sorry for it. This is my first attempt at something this big and I'm still getting all my ducks in a row.
Time flows differently in the realm of Autumn. Twilight lingers for most of the day with much shorter cycles of noontime and nighttime. Its forests are eternally locked in Autumn colors, leaves of every hue coloring the woods with brilliant colors. In addition to this, farmlands are forever rich, producing no shortage of food: a seed planted within may fully mature by the end of a 'day.' Very few denizens of the realm, thus, starve, although it also makes farmers relatively poor due to the eternal surplus. Autumn Court society celebrates beauty, craftsmanship, and magical arts, with its nobility largely earning their place through famed artistic accomplishments and productions.
Ultimately, time is not important to the largely long-lived denizens of the Autumn Court. Hard deadlines don't exist for deliveries and products, with perfection and quality always being the most important. Autumn denizens take great pride in their schools and creations, deeming themselves the most civilized among the fae and tending towards neutrality that borders on utter disinterest with the rest of the world. They fear very little with their empress to guide them, whose magic enshrouds the lands of the court in a magical aura which serves to dampen the strength of magic from those not born of the Autumn Court. Even so, there are a few who speak out against this lethargic complacency, mainly guards of the boundaries' gates who have seen the unrest of the outside worlds.
There's something interesting stuff in here, particularly in the first paragraph that I think I will combine with some ideas @Zendrelax gave me awhile back, with your permission of course.
