"The fair folk dance, the fair folk sing as the fair folk step in the magic ring. Tread not here till the light of day lest the fair folk steal your soul away."
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 it was true? 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 its 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.
"Hold high the iron that they fear, when the fair folk call, don’t let them near. Flee the forests and keep away. Else with the fairy you will stay."
-More Information on this Realm-
No nicey-nice Fae that laugh and help each other while discovering the magic of friendship. Fae are ancient creatures that are well known for deceit and deception. They all want their lot in life to be the best for them. 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 powers vary but there is a general rule of thumb the old the Fae the more power they have. Survival of the fittest and all.
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.
Fae cannot utter a falsehood, they cannot tell a lie as their words and thus their promises are binding. But they can be lied to and they can report a falsehood told to them if they believe it to be the truth.
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 owe that fae till the debt is paid and the smart fae know how to draw out a debt. There is a magic in a promise that can be used to 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.
All Fae have a Glamour, 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.
Also, Never called them faeries. It is the worse insult that can be bestowed on a fae.
Fae artifact grow, and given a great deal of time can gain sentience, able to pick its own master, and warps its own magic. The older, the stronger and smarter. Essentially an ancient fae weapon can become a fae. Touch nothing in a fae home.
"DON'T TOUCH IT, DON'T TOUCH IT, DON'T TOU- ooh shiny!" then DEAD - Havok The Foolish (A dear friend and my drafting board for this idea)
Fae and humans may cross to the Mortal and Fae Realm by gates. Ancient pathways the Fae built through their human puppets- such as Stonehenge which was sealed by the fae rulers, the Lake of Avalon open only during misty days when the veil between the world blurs or the Pyramids, long ago destroyed. Some of these gates have been shattered 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.
This is an involved RP based on the players, while there is an overall plot this will be driven by what the characters accomplish. Because of this it is important that anyone who joins is at the very least semi active. Our lovely GM LadyRunic has worked very hard and long on the lore behind this world. She is open to new suggestions and new ideas but if at any point she tells you something stands firm it is important and though not obvious at the time there for a reason, please listen to her.
Premise
The Fae Courts are tense and are Gathering in a regular meeting of the Fae leaders. The Wylde Hunt of the Fall King is preparing to ride adding more tensions. As the Hunt will target any and all it comes across once it begins its ride. 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. War is on the horizon, every fae can sense it. Whether you be human or fae, an overlord or powerless great changes are coming to the fae realm that will change your lives. You'd best be prepared for them.
This RP has already started but it has not gotten very far. We require more players to keep it going lest it fade entirely like some of the fae of old. No serious events have happened yet that you cannot catch up on. If you are interested please voice interest here or follow this link to the RP and submit a CS. We are happy to have anyone and everyone no matter your skill level.
