King Cernunnos, the Horned Lord, is a towering figure of strength, wisdom, and primal power. His emerald-green skin glistens with the dew of ancient forests, and his glowing amber eyes seem to pierce through to the soul. Massive antlers crown his head, entwined with vines, moss, and blooming flowers that shift with the seasons. Draped in robes woven from living foliage, he carries the presence of both a sovereign and a guardian. His commanding aura can calm the wildest beasts or instill fear in the fiercest foes.
While Cernunnos is a protector of life and harmony within the Faewyld, he is not without ferocity. Threats to the balance of his realm are met with unyielding force, his judgment swift and often final. However, his love for Queen Visunna, the Lady of Light, tempers his wild nature, giving him a grace and gentleness that balance his primal strength. Together, they rule the Court of Verdance, preserving the equilibrium of the Faewyld and safeguarding it from destruction.
Founding the Faewyld
The Faewyld as it exists today is deeply tied to the union of Cernunnos and Visunna. Before their marriage, the plane was a fractured realm of untamed chaos, divided between the wild, unrestrained forests of the Wyld Woods and the ephemeral, luminous lands of the Witchlights.
Their love created a harmony that merged the two realms into a single, interconnected ecosystem, balancing the primal energy of the woods with the ethereal light of the spirit lands. This balance gave birth to the thriving, magical plane known today as the Faewyld.
Their union is also believed to have brought forth the Sylvarin, the Fae elves. These beings embody the harmony of the Faewyld, their appearances changing with the seasons and their moods—a reflection of the emotional resonance of the plane itself. The Sylvarin now serve as loyal stewards of the Faewyld and often stand as emissaries of the Court of Verdance.
Palace of Ithandriel
King Cernunnos resides in the majestic palace of Ithandriel, the capital city of the Sylvarin. Ethandriel is a breathtaking city of living trees and glowing crystal, where the boundaries between nature and architecture blur. At its heart lies the Palace of Verdance, a sprawling structure formed from ancient oaks and adorned with magical blossoms that never fade.
Though he resides in Ethandriel, shrines to Cernunnos can be found across the Faewyld and beyond. After the Conjunction of the Realms, his reverence spread to the Prime Plane, where hunters, druids, and those who live off the woodlands hold him in high esteem. These shrines are often simple yet sacred—a circle of stones, an antlered effigy, or a glade left untouched by mortal hands.
Omens of the Horned Lord
Cernunnos is said to reveal himself in omens to those who seek his guidance—or to those who draw his ire. These visions often take the form of animals sacred to him:
- A great antlered elk, symbolizing protection, guidance, or the call to restore harmony.
- A shadowy wolf, forewarning danger, vengeance, or a hunt that cannot be evaded.
These omens are never given lightly and are often accompanied by changes in the natural world—a sudden bloom in winter, an unseasonable storm, or the stirring of beasts in the woodlands.
Legacy and Worship
Though he does not demand worship, Cernunnos is honored as a patron of hunters, druids, and all who rely on the land for survival. His teachings emphasize respect for nature’s balance, the protection of the vulnerable, and the necessity of strength in the face of destruction.
His legacy extends beyond the Faewyld into the Prime Plane, where his image has become a symbol of the sacredness of the wilderness. Stories of the Horned Lord walking the woods, his shadow falling over those who would despoil the land, are whispered in reverence and fear alike.
Cernunnos stands as both the protector and enforcer of the Faewyld, his presence a reminder that harmony is not born of weakness, but of strength tempered by love and wisdom.