Fae

The Fae, sometimes called the Fairy Folk, are the native inhabitants of the Plane of Faewyld, a realm of boundless magic, emotion, and natural wonder. Known for their mutable forms and mercurial personalities, the Fae are as diverse as the landscapes of their plane, ranging from playful sprites to mischievous tricksters and fearsome crones. No single description captures the essence of the Fae, as they are deeply tied to the environment and emotions of their ever-changing home.

Unlike mortals, Fae do not truly die. All fae, sprites, spirits, beasts, and plant-forms undergo perpetual rebirth, emerging anew in forms shaped by their past actions and emotional imprint.

• Destruction of the physical form merely begins the cycle anew.
  
• Only self-inflicted death severs a Fae from the rebirth cycle—such souls become wraithlike wanderers or revenants, lingering without form or reincarnation.

This law of eternal renewal defines the metaphysical identity of all who dwell in the Faewyld.

Appearance and Characteristics

The Fae’s physical forms and traits shift dramatically based on their surroundings and moods, reflecting the emotional resonance and magic of the Faewyld. Their appearances can be as ephemeral as a flicker of light or as solid and imposing as ancient stone.

• Environmentally Influenced: Fae who dwell in lush forests might appear as verdant, leaf-clad beings, while those in shadowy swamps might take on darker, more sinister forms. Fae of crystalline glades often shimmer like jewels, while mountain-dwelling Fae may resemble weathered stone or flowing streams.
• Emotionally Reactive: Their forms also shift with their emotional states. A joyous Fae might radiate vibrant colors and warmth, while an enraged Fae may darken, their features twisting into something terrifying.

This adaptability makes the Fae both fascinating and unpredictable, as their physical and emotional shifts often occur without warning.

The Many Faces of the Fae

The Fae are as varied as the magic of the Faewyld itself, defying simple classification. They range from benevolent guides to chaotic tricksters and malevolent beings. Some common archetypes include:

• Playful Sprites: Tiny, winged Fae that dart through forests and fields, spreading mischief and joy in equal measure. They are often caretakers of flora and fauna, though their pranks can be troublesome.
• Trickster Satyrs: Mischievous and lively, Satyr revel in music, laughter, and games. They embody the chaotic joy of the Faewyld but can be dangerously cunning.
• Craven Hags: Fae of twisted power and dark magic, hags embody the darker, crueler aspects of the Faewyld. They are cunning manipulators, often preying on mortals who dare to bargain with them.
• Ethereal Nymphs: Beings of unparalleled beauty, tied to specific natural features like rivers, lakes, or glades. Their presence can inspire awe or despair depending on their mood.
• Guardian Dryads: Protectors of sacred groves and ancient trees, Dryads are deeply connected to the flora of the Faewyld. They are nurturing but fierce defenders of their domains.

The Fae are known by countless names—Green Folk, Fair Folk, People of Peace, Wee Folk—each reflecting the awe and mystery they inspire. Though their appearances, personalities, and actions may vary wildly, they all share a connection to the Faewyld’s magic and the emotions that fuel its ever-shifting nature.

The Fae remain a living embodiment of the plane’s beauty, chaos, and boundless potential. To encounter a Fae is to glimpse the heart of the Faewyld itself—vivid, wild, and untamed.

Emotional Resonance

The Fae are intrinsically linked to the emotional energy of the Faewyld. This plane amplifies emotions, causing them to shape reality and manifest new Fae beings. For example:

• A deep sorrow might create a forlorn boggle that skulks in shadows.
• A surge of love or joy could birth a radiant sprite or nymph.
• Anger or betrayal might give rise to a vicious redcap or meenlock.

Because of this connection, the Fae are deeply empathetic beings, capable of sensing and reacting to the emotions of those around them. This can make them great allies—or dangerous enemies. While Fae are reborn after death, their new life is dependant on their actions during their previous life. All Fae (except the Sylvarin) reincarnate endlessly. The form they return in depends on:

• their thoughts and emotions during life
• the deeds of their past life
• the nature of their death
• the environment they lived in and are reborn into
• the influence of seasonal courts or other fae they formed relations with

A dryad may return as a blossom-sprite; a sprite may return as a nymph; a hag may return as an awakened shrub; all possibilities arise from the soul’s emotional signature. Only self-inflicted death severs the cycle, producing a wraith or revenant.

As the Faewyld represents growth as the sub-element of life, every emotional impulse generates new life. The plane is always expanding, always blooming outward.This continual creation echoes the Faewyld’s cosmic role as the living counterpoint to The Netherveil (Decay, sub-element of Death).

Cultural and Social Structure

While the Fae have no unified society, many are aligned with one of the Fae Courts, which represent the natural and emotional forces of the Faewyld:

• The Court of Verdance: A benevolent faction led by King Cernunnos and Queen Visunna, dedicated to preserving balance and harmony.
• The Court of Wither: A malevolent and chaotic faction, seeking to unravel the plane’s delicate order.

Outside of the courts, Fae often form small communities based on their shared environment or emotional resonance, such as forest groves, shimmering lakes, or shadowed glades.

Most Fae trace their deepest origins to the three ancient Archfey, beings born from the Eldari sacrifice during the Solis Singularity:

• King Cernunnos, the Horned Lord, Warden of the Hunt
• Queen Visunna, the Lady of Light
• Morrígna, the Black Rose

These three Archfey wield Primus-level power, but only within the Faewyld. Visunna and Morrigna—sisters of light and shadow—once vied for Cernunnos’s love. His choice of Visunna sparked Morrigna’s descent into sorrow and spite, creating the foundations of the Court of Wither.

The Archfey are not gods, but in the Faewyld they are the closest equivalent, shaping its laws, seasons, and spirituality. Under their rule and the mandate of Ithandriel, the Faewyld is divided into four eternal seasonal realms: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, each expanding outward forever.

Travel between seasons requires crossing Visunna’s Lumenways. Only Sylvarin or Visunna herself can activate them.

Presence in The Prime Plane

With the Conjunction of the Realms, many Fae found themselves displaced into the Prime Plane, where fragments of the Faewyld merged with mortal lands (see: Faewylds). These Fae adapted quickly, their mutable forms allowing them to integrate with their new environments.

Fae in the Prime Plane are often revered or feared as spirits of the wild, capable of blessing mortals with fortune—or cursing them with mischief and despair. Hunters, druids, and bards often tell tales of encounters with Fae, ranging from whimsical to harrowing.