What I'm saying is that even Falk with all his power and age couldn't possibly have recruited every single member of a specific type of fae.
I never said he controlled all Mara, simply that they were a Fae kin he would recruit.
How are the types of fae that have the word Sidhe in there name going to be handled? For example the Bean Sidhe, Leanan Sidhe, Cat Sidhe.
Simple. They aren't PURE Sidhe. Bean Sidhe is a Banshee, Leanan Sidhe is a muse- they are most likely Earthly Sidhe. Cat Sidhe are- well- cats. Cat Fae. Sidhe DOES mean Fae, but it also expands on that idea for the species of pure Sidhe.
@LadyRunic Alright I'm going to go through the OP and tell you what I think of it both layout and content as you requested. This might be a bit rough but I'm just calling it as I see it. This isn't anything against you personally.
Having a picture at the beginning of the OP is a good thing. It grabs the eye and gives the post a sense of life that a wall of text tends to lack. However I don't think this particular picture is the best choice. I realize it is your characters: Falk and his human servant and that's great for a character sheet but perhaps not so much for an RP header. The opening picture sort of sets the tone in which viewers are going to read the rest of the OP. This picture sort of gives the impression that those depicted are extremely important, like if this were a novel they would be on the cover important. That's not necessarily a bad thing but in this setting it could easily give any prospective RPers the impression that the RP will focus very exclusively on Falk and the girl which means they couldn't hope to play more than a side part. Besides that the picture is a very intimate one which clashes with the scope this RP is trying to achieve.
I would suggest you pick out a different fae picture, one either with no fae in it or with a very large crowd. Something from either this or this I think would suit the RP better.
"Oh come and dance in our ring. Forget your troubles, gladness bring. The mortal world which you have ties. Behind you lies, behind you lies."
A quote is a decent tool for drawing someone in, personally I would pick something different as this one doesn't draw you immediately to thinking of fae. This song has some good options if you're looking but that's your choice as this one works well enough.
The really important thing is that the quote needs to stand out. Despite having it's own paragraph it sort of blends into the wall of text below. Perhaps try centering it, italicizing it or placing it directly under the photo no spaces to get a better effect, even a combination of those three would help.
People disappear from time to time into the forests or mountains never to be seen again. We just file a missing person report and move on, usually they don't come back, but sometimes they do. They may be found in such a state to be declare mentally unstable, or perhaps they are dismissed as having some 'out-of-body' experience. They talk about spirits and gods, certain they exist or that there is a higher order telling them what to do do. Preposterous right?
But what if there was? We can't see it, we don't believe in it, but it's there and we know it. Through tiny gaps, small little openings in the veil, we can stumble through. A circle of stones or trees, a ring of mushrooms, or perhaps some old ruins. Perhaps we run into something out in the wilderness, confused and begging for help. We agree to something without knowing the price. But what is it? Where is it? The Fae is what and where. The Fae Realm and it's courts. The Fall, Winter, Spring and the Summer Court. The Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Within this realm promises are binding, prices must be paid, iron is a deadly threat, and lying will only cause you more trouble than it is worth. Now, on top of it all, the Fae Courts are readying for a war of intentions and words. The Wylde Hunt darkens the sky.
I should know better than any, the laws of the Fae are iron in their own might and breaking them is far more than foolish. The power struggles are constant and nothing is forgotten, not by the Fae anyways. Who am I? It doesn't matter any more. I am merely a servant of the Unseelie court, someone who watches and serves the true king. I don't even know if I'm human any more, or if I ever was. My name is spun from his lips and I must hasten to do as I am bid, may you never fall into their grasp.
Being honest this whole thing is kind of clunky. It takes till halfway through it for the fae to be mentioned. The narrator (evidently a minion of Falk) is aluded to as being a person present in the story but cuts off that train of though with "I'm not really important to this at all". The facts about the fae courts are a bit here and there and not really conclusive about what they mean. The way Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer are followed by "The Seelie and Unseelie Courts could lead someone to surmise that there are six Fae Courts not four. This section of the OP should give a short introduction to what the RP will be about with more specifics than the title that initially drew in the viewer. If this section is too wordy and confusing they may either get frustrated and look for something else or leave thinking "I'm not sure what that RP is really about." This paragraphs are really addressing someone who knows about the fae and about the RP before they read them which is not good as it is intended to hook new RPers.
It starts in the human worlds with a sort of conspiracy theory nut sound to it and suddenly shifts rather drastically into full on fantasy. While it's good that the opening is not "Here's what the RP is about" and told from the perspective of someone inside the world it seems as though the narrator goes through some sort of change. As though the first paragraph was written just after he got to the fae courts from the mortal plane and the next ones are written a couple hundred years later when he's grown tired of life and of the fae. It leaves a certain disconnect. That may harm new people wanting to join.
"Grasp the iron that they fear. Raise it high, they won't come near. Flee the forests and keep away. Else with the fairy you will stay."
A closing quote isn't really all that necessary but that's more your call. The same thing as the first one, make the quote stand out. Italicize it, center it. Make it look important.
The Fae Realms are more reminiscent of a wheel, perhaps. One season blends into the next and at these borders are pockets or strips of neutral land for the 'wild' Fae. Spring to Summer, Summer to Fall, Fall to Winter, Winter to Spring... They create a area where the wild Fae may not especially thrive but they can live in retaliative comfort. The center of the wheel is something of a No-Man's land. A timeless plain. There are roads, patrols, towns, and such. But really the infrastructure depends on the Court. Patrols come along their season's borders, no ruler trusting the other and war having been on the horizon.
It is to be noted that the Realm is not round. It is flat and one the outer edges exists a sea of mist over a actual ocean. It is spoken by the Fae that any who walk into the mist never return. There is really no certainty of what dwells within the ocean and not even the water-loving Fae walk within it's surf. Some Fae believe they came from the sea, that the Fae Realm is a prison. Others say it is the lake of Avalon, and the ancient witch Morgana Le Fay cast a spell to keep the humans that would cover their realm with the burning iron out. It is rumored in whispers that never are spoken save in the dead of night and quickly hushed, that Falk came from the mist. Others say he created it to ensnare the Fae Kingdom for his own. But those are generally dismissed, for much could be said of the past and current rulers of the other courts as well.
Fae and humans may cross to the Mortal and Fae Realm by gates. Ancient pathways the Fae built through their human puppets. Some of these gates have been destroy in Fae wars, locked away by their creators, or just not used and sitting there waiting for mortals to wander through without realizing. There are other gates, spawned by the shift of Realms as they touch each other. These may change from time to time.
I realize that Falk is your character but perhaps talking about him in sections unrelated to him or the Fall Court isn't the best idea especially since this section is meant to convey information. It would be better to move that tidbit about some fae believing Falk came from the mist or created it to the Fall Court section or his own character sheet but this isn't the place to be speaking of him unless you intent to report rumors of the others rulers in this section as well. If you could clarify the initial design of the courts, it's fine as it is but just a little jumbled, for instance it says one lands blends into the next but there is also apparently an area inbetween them that is neutral or something. Some with "the courts are not round" I understand that you mean the fae world is not a globe like the human one but the way it is worded sort of throws you off for a second.
Spring Spring is the land of eternal youth and rebirth however despite its appearance it is the oldest of the fae lands. The trees that grow in Spring and young and new, their wood pliable and there 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 their lands. 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 dirty 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 had 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. Most dangerous of all though is the oldest realm of the Spring Court, a stretch of woods that fae call in whispers 'The Borogoves'.
They are the sight of twelve ancient trees. Trees so old they say that they stood before there was a Spring Court, before there was a Seelie or Unseelie Court. It is said that they remember the rule of the Tuatha and the great war of the fae. The spirits of these trees no more venture forth from their wood as that of the young ones do but should you stray into their path they shall whisper to you. Talk of your hearts greatest desire, of everything you ever wanted, they will entwine you in their forest song and then in their branches and you will die with a smile on your lips. Only those without a heart, without a want, without a wish, without a desire have ever survived the Borogroves. It is said that should you reject them they will speak to you a single truth of your choosing.
The Palace of the Spring Court is housed within the Greatest tree to ever live. The mortals called it Yggdrasil, the World Tree. It stretches so high it's branches disappear into the clouds. It is said that the roots stretch down into the underworld itself. It is an ancient thing that some fear to approach. The royal court and the fae it houses occupy only the central section. Those fae that live in the palace fear what they may find if they venture too high or creep too low. No one knows all the mysteries of Yggdrasil, not even the Archon though he knows much more than any other and much more than he would ever let on.
I wrote this so I'm not in the best position to critique it.
Summer A pleasent warm section with a few forests that house warm rivers. The fruits are not found in any other sections and seem to either refreshing or citrus in nature. The most noticble structure is a medium sized castle that contains the wooden throne. Scattered throughout with a larger 'city' by the castle are the homes of the summer fae. The only fae living in the forests themselves are those whom live in the waters. The fruit is the best for trading as these fruits are not found elsewhere. That being said many of they fae grow their own and sell their extra to the court whom uses their own and the extra to trade for goods from the other kingdoms. They also trade other goods, but the fruit is the best.
This could be a bit more detailed and please spell check, but I understand that you didn't write it so that's not really aimed at you.
Fall A place filled with cold rivers and ancient trees that tower over the greatest marvels mortals could build. Meadows of long grass growing yellow with the coming winter, or just turning from the green of summer. Fall is mostly forest and hunting/gathering. While they do have farms and rivers and fishing, they've focused more on the harvest. Though there are settlements, small villages, there are no large cities. Towns are generally small and self-sufficient. Something Falk encourages, market towns of tents and wagons move about the Fall realm and generally close to the border. Roads cross the realm as a means of efficiency. The more popular routes paved cobblestone, the lesser used roads turning to either patchy cobblestone or packed earth. Some Fae take it upon themselves to pack a road with the gravel from Falk's few quarries. Though many of these roads fall into packed earth once more as the price is steep. Old towers dot the Fall Realm, some used by the partols as guardhouses along the borders. Others using them privately or for shops. More often than not a tower will be where the market fairs gather to trade. A easy landmark to note and the space about the base of many of the towers, though not all, offering enough room to pitch tents.
Could use some specific landmarks like the appearance of Falk's court but otherwise evokes good imagery and sense. Don't forget to spellcheck, there's a couple things in there that aren't right.
Winter
Pending.
-THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR ADDITION-
Fae Magic is a basis of power and words. Power comes with age, so the older you are the more powerful. Promises must be upheld and that applies to spells. Once you cast one, once you lay the magic you must see it through. To run out of power for the spell would mean it would take life from the Fae resulting in death or near to. All Fae can use magic, the only ones who can't effectively are the iron touching ones. They are weaker users and there's no exception. They are also shunned by other Fae so it's rather hard for them.
Names have power and uttering someone full name, given by them allows Fae (and restricts them should a human know it) to control and essential press a life of indenture upon the being whose name is known.
All Fae have a Glimmer, an outer look, bestowed by magic to make them hard to notice, or change how they look. This is often used in the mortal realm by the more powerful of the Fair Folk.
Fae artifact grow, and can gain sentience of it's own if not contained properly. The older, the stronger, and smarter. Essentially an ancient fae weapon that is not bound is a Fae within itself. Most artifacts are horded by rulers, destroyed by the fearful, revered by the desperate. They are beyond rare, and most are often killed for.
-FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS-
I believe it is Glamour not Glimmer
This information is not known by any Fae save for Falk himself. It is a highly kept secret
Also to clear something up about the Wylde Hunt that I noticed. It's not Fall Fae, It can be but generally it is not. Falk? Perhaps you could? "The Wylde Hunt is a army, a nation. A sea of spirits and specters. Endless souls brought and bought by the years. I let no Fae within my realm go to waste." Yes, so the Wylde Hunt essentially is death. Death to those it hunts and is hunted by the Dead or the remains. A High Magick and something that costs Falk dearly though it is not really shown. Years are spent between Hunts gathering power and the dead for the next. The only one who knows the true nature are the most ancient of Fae, or the most learned as the Hunt in it's true form is something that is.... Well, taboo.
Fae are ancient creatures that are well known for deceit and deception. They are not fairies, to call one such is a insult. They are not going to be Mr. Rogers and their realm is most certainly not his Neighborhood. They all want their lot in life to be the best for them, survival of the fittest. It's very rare that they will put another before them. However this does not mean they are power hungry. If a Court has a stable Ruler they will keep that ruler so long as the ruler gives them reason to keep themselves in place. Power, prosperity, and politics.
Each Court has their own type of personality, power. To reflect their season. Spring is the most childish and flighty, Summer's energy with Winter's ruthlessness. They are vain, and iron in their will-much like a stubborn child. Summer is hot-headed, vibrant, vain. Honorable and ready to fall for romance (Midsummer night and all). They prefer entertainment to work. Fall is the twilight and the hunt, sneaky and cunning. They are the magic, with All Hallow's Eve. Winter is the cold and aloof season. The firmest and most ridged in it's rule. They are realistic, they dislike distraction to their work.
Fae words and thus their promises are binding. Asked a question thrice, and a Fae must answer honestly. However, this does not mean that they will not mislead someone. They may reveal only part, they may work around the technicalities.
Iron. Cold, pure iron will kill a Fae. If it isn't pure, or flakes of iron it will merely burn a fae. A circle of iron can keep a Fae out or in. Only Gremlins and other Metal-touched Fae are able to shape or even touched iron without pain or death, Gremlins are masters of bending magical property into metal, and are equally talented in dismantling and Repairing machines. They are often killed or bound, due to this fact.
Promises are binding, and breaking a promise is deadly in most cases. If you owe a fae, you Forever owe a fae, and there is a magic in it that they can force you to pay up until debt is payed. Most Fae will speak carefully so such a thing does not happen. Promises and favors are essentially currency in the Fae Realm. Everything must be given with a fair trade- of a sort. Also, Liege Lords are oath bound to fulfill their oathsworn's pact if they cannot.
Rules: -Respect GMs! -Proper grammar and spelling! -Please be civilized! -Two to three Paragraphs is our goal, but this is flexible. We all have days when it's hard to write. -Please try to post at least once to twice a week. Want to keep it moving. If you cannot for some reason, please contact a GM and move your character to the 'sidelines' so you aren't holding others up. If this is not followed I will move your character to the 'sidelines'. Do not expect the Rp to wait up for you, unless you are certain you will be back within a reasonable time (exams, spring break, vacation, holiday). We know when IRL requires attention, but please let us know. -If you are hung up and the other person has disappeared please tell a GM so we can move them to the sidelines. -More can be added...
CS:
Name: Alias: Race: (Human or Type of Fae) Court: Position/Occupation: (In court if you are a fae, Any fae outsid eof a court will be under extreme pressure) (Actual) Age: Personality: (Fae type has effect) Appearance: (Must have well written description, pictures are welcomed.) Family: (Mother, Father, Children) Ambition: (Goal) Background:
Ruler of the Winter Court: Aryssyla Te'GarNegan (Belle) Ruler of the Spring Court: Nyx’lair Seòltachd (Prince of Seraphs) Ruler of the Summer Court: Feoras (BlackPanther) Ruler of the Fall Court: Tegvan O'Aenges-Mor (LadyRunic)
The rest of this looks fine but I think it might be better to reorder it a little. Like this:
1. More about the Fae 2. Fae Magic 3. Fae Realms 4. Rulers of the Fae (Co-GMs) 5. Rules for Role Playing 6. Character Sheet
Not everyone is going to know a lot about the fae or be immersed in folklore. That makes education on the beings of this fantasy land the most important thing. It does us no good to know where the fae live if we don't know who they are. Fae magic comes next as that plays a big part in this. The Fae Realms only after we have a basic idea of everything else. Having the Rulers in between ties them to the Courts Section but also the more serious Rules that the relate to the Co-GM part of the title. Rules should go above Character sheet so people don't push past them and perhaps leave them out of the hider so they are obvious to everyone.
Kelpie - Spring or Fall Banshee - Fall Gremlins - Any, prefer Winter (Can touch Iron but lack magic, thus they are limited) Brownies (They can range from the small fae that clean houses to the great ents) - Spring or Summer (Season)-born (Classical humanoid fae) - Children born to at least one fae parent or adopted by the fae. They take after the season that took them in. Selkies - Spring, Fall or Winter Pixie (Tinkerbell) - Spring Nymphs (Greek sprites of earth, water, and air) - Any season, except winter
This is pretty much useless. There are so few fae actually in this category that actually opening this hider is a waste of time. My suggestion would be to eliminate this from the OP. In the character tab use the first post as a character list with links to each sheet to make navigating easier then use the second post as a sort of codex for fae. A list of types of fae, what Courts they can belong to (barring unusual circumstances for an individual fae) and an explanation of there powers and nature. Anyone can help add to it (pending approval of course) and it would give new comers who aren't willing or comfortable creating there own fae from folklore a place to start brain storming characters.
BASIC PLOT
The plot is basic. The Fae Courts are tense and are Gathering in a regular meeting of the Fae leaders. Winter and Summer have settled into a tense peace for the Gathering after a time of skirmishes. Spring has been sitting on the fence, balancing debts and favors owed. Fall has been watching, as it ever does. And the eyes of Falk have chosen the time, his Wylde Hunt is near at hand.
There is a shift when the rules are brought up that takes the reader out of lore mode and into character creation. Having the basic plot all the way down her drags them backwards and they have to find there creative outlook again. All the information here should be included with the introduction.
. I realize it is your characters: Falk and his human servant and that's great for a character sheet but perhaps not so much for an RP header.
Actually it isn't. Just a nice picture. And I can't find one that suits the RP Landscape-wise.
A quote is a decent tool for drawing someone in, personally I would pick something different as this one doesn't draw you immediately to thinking of fae. This song has some good options if you're looking but that's your choice as this one works well enough.
Yes that song is where I got the idea, thank you Heather Dale. But the Quote isn't a quote. It's actually my own hand and something Aisling sings. So it's suppose to bleed into the text. The ending 'quote' is the ending part of the rhyme.
d. The narrator (evidently a minion of Falk) is aluded to as being a person present in the story but cuts off that train of though with "I'm not really important to this at all".
It's Aisling, and she is nothing in the grand scheme of the Fae. as for the change, she did change, a lot. She's been in the Fae Court since Victorian times. So she well knows and remembers both sides of the coin. As for throwing off New Rpers. I am Trying to keep non dedicated people out. And even with that there how much attention has this Forum gotten? Quite a bit!
I realize that Falk is your character but perhaps talking about him in sections unrelated to him or the Fall Court isn't the best idea especially since this section is meant to convey information.
Falk is a MAJOR character. It's him this world is built around and I have him in there for a reason. Falk is one of the oldest Fae and most powerful. He is a legend in his own. Also, I may type him but he is the one doing it and speaking the words. Unlike Aisling, Falk is meant to be the antagonist in this Rp.
As for the rest? Not going to worry about it too much. Though i may edit it later. I stated those Fae were only examples. I'm content to leave it as it is, I may change the picture but I don't really see any big changes I should make.
As for the rest? Not going to worry about it too much. Though i may edit it later. I stated those Fae were only examples. I'm content to leave it as it is, I may change the picture but I don't really see any big changes I should make.
As you like it. You asked how it looked. That was my opinion. What you do now is of your own design.
I still think a codex or compendium of fae in the character tab would be a good idea, if for nothing else than for keeping straight who can do what.
Adding a little color here and there to the OP could make it look more appealing to. If nothing else though spellcheck it before the reboot.
I just read the OP again and I'm not very familiar with fae in general, but I actually thought it was rather well written and organized. Falk is supposed to be the most powerful so most of what anyone else does would be technically more of a side story. The list of Fae with their courts was especially helpful to denote that they were supposed to have certain characteristics based on where they are from and certain Fae are more akin to certain courts. This RP got a lot of feedback the first time around, but not many followed through with it. I ended up stopping RP altogether for a bit, so I was part of the problem, but the OP seems pretty good in my opinion.
@Prince of Seraphs I loved OUATIW, especially how they did the Jabberwocky! She and the Red Queen were my fav characters.
I was planning on making Aryssyla fairly young for a ruler fae, younger than the other rulers. She and Feoras are at war right now so if Falk approached her with a plan to take down make things difficult for Summer she would probably be on board with it.
@BlackPanther A female fae is still a female Feoras. And yes she is probably going to try and steal Lyra cuz come on Lyra is a cutie pie! (I say that with no bias whatsoever)
I just read the OP again and I'm not very familiar with fae in general, but I actually thought it was rather well written and organized. Falk is supposed to be the most powerful so most of what anyone else does would be technically more of a side story. The list of Fae with their courts was especially helpful to denote that they were supposed to have certain characteristics based on where they are from and certain Fae are more akin to certain courts. This RP got a lot of feedback the first time around, but not many followed through with it. I ended up stopping RP altogether for a bit, so I was part of the problem, but the OP seems pretty good in my opinion.
With all due respect you already know what's going on with the RP. For those completely uninformed it is a little haphazardous. I'm not saying it was terrible just that it could be improved. What's done with my suggestions are of no concern to me. Runic can use them or not as she chooses.
@Prince of Seraphs I loved OUATIW, especially how they did the Jabberwocky! She and the Red Queen were my fav characters.
I was planning on making Aryssyla fairly young for a ruler fae, younger than the other rulers. She and Feoras are at war right now so if Falk approached her with a plan to take down make things difficult for Summer she would probably be on board with it.
So good, I was really hoping there would be a second season but I suppose the story was told. Anything more would be superfluous. The knave of Hearts was great and I loved how sympathetic the villains were. Not that most OUAT villains weren't but in the regular show they played up the whole redemption thing way too much. In OUATIW it was done just enough to make them enjoyable.
How young precisely? Has she been ruler for two thousand plus years or is she younger than that. If she's younger who was the ruler prior to her?
I wanted to make her the youngest so I guess that would depend on how old everyone else is. I was talking about it with @LadyRunic so I will post it here once we make a clear decision. I don't remember how thrones are passed (if from parent to child or if they were taken by force). All I can say is that it's been long four days at work and I will have to get my head on straight again. I am leaning towards her earning the right to the throne from another, possibly a family member, but whatever will work best for the world and the story is what I will go with.
I just finished my description of the Winter Realm and am waiting on a review from Lady Runic to see if I need to correct anything.
