The Court of Wither is a malevolent faction within the Faewyld, standing in direct opposition to the Court of Verdance and the balance that its rulers, King Cernunnos and Queen Visunna, strive to maintain. The Court of Wither seeks to unravel the harmony of the Faewyld, returning the realm to a state of unchecked chaos and decay. Its members revel in the darker, more destructive forces of nature, embracing corruption, entropy, and the brutal law of survival.
Ruled by Morrígna, the Black Rose, the Court of Wither represents the shadowed counterpart to the Court of Verdance. Morrígna’s influence spreads like a creeping blight, twisting the land and its inhabitants into malevolent forms. Her court is home to some of the most feared and infamous Archfey, as well as countless corrupted spirits and beasts.
The Didacts of Decay
Where the Court of Verdance embodies life and growth, the Court of Wither views decay as an inevitable force of nature, one that must be embraced rather than resisted. Its members believe that destruction clears the way for power and transformation, and that balance is merely an illusion to maintain the weak.
To the Court of Wither, the Faewyld’s harmony is a chain that binds the realm, and they seek to break it at every opportunity. Their methods are as cruel as they are insidious, from corrupting peaceful Fae to unleashing devastating forces like The Wild Hunt.
Rituals of The Hunt
Every few centuries, the Court of Wither unleashes the Wild Hunt, a primal and brutal event that exemplifies their philosophy. Led by Morrígna and her generals, the hunt calls forth the malevolent spirits and beasts of the Faewyld, who descend upon the forests and glades in a wave of slaughter and terror.
The Wild Hunt is not merely an act of destruction—it is a declaration of dominance. Through the hunt, the Court seeks to weaken the Court of Verdance and assert their vision of the Faewyld. The event is a reminder that no place, not even the most sacred groves of the Faewyld, is truly safe from their reach.
Leadership and Key Members
The Court of Wither is ruled by Morrígna, the Black Rose, whose dominion is the darkness where her sister Visunna’s light cannot reach. Under her command are several of the most dangerous and fearsome Archfey in existence, each representing an aspect of destruction, decay, or corruption:
Morrígna, the Black Rose
- Role: Queen of the Court of Wither and first shadow of the Faewyld.
- Description: A shadowy apparition of beauty and terror, she embodies corrupted allure and veiled evil. Her influence creates malevolent spirits and beasts, spreading decay and chaos wherever her presence touches.
Baba Yaga, Mother of Witches
- Role: Morrígna’s closest ally and the court’s master of dark magic and curses.
- Description: A twisted Archfey of immense power, Baba Yaga crafts sinister bargains and enforces the court’s will through her network of witches and hexed servants.
Borealis, the Warden of Winter
- Role: Harbinger of ice and desolation.
- Description: Borealis commands the frigid, lifeless regions of the Faewyld, spreading eternal winter and sapping life from the land. His presence heralds despair and isolation.
The Prince, Dashing Deceiver
- Role: Cunning and cruel trickster spirit.
- Description: A dashingly handsome and deceitful Fae who revels in unraveling the lives of peaceful beings byway of blood-signed deals filled with false promises.
Conflict with the Court of Verdance
The Court of Wither and the Court of Verdance are locked in an eternal struggle, their opposing philosophies fueling a war that shapes the Faewyld itself. While the Court of Verdance seeks to maintain balance and harmony, the Court of Wither thrives on destruction and chaos, viewing their counterparts as weak and complacent.
Their conflict often manifests through proxy battles, such as the Wild Hunt, but also in more subtle ways—corrupting fey creatures, spreading despair, and undermining the Verdance Court’s efforts to restore balance.
Legacy of Wither
The Court of Wither’s influence reaches far beyond the Faewyld. Through dark bargains and cursed alliances, they extend their power to the Prime Plane, sowing discord and destruction. After the Conjunction of the Realms, their reach expanded, with Morrígna’s creations haunting the mortal world and Baba Yaga’s hexes taking root in new lands.
The Court of Wither remains a force of unrelenting darkness, a reminder that decay is as much a part of nature as growth—and that shadow is never far from the light. Their existence is a testament to the Faewyld’s duality, where beauty and terror coexist in a delicate, eternal balance.