Laceleaf Flashlashes was the respected Elder of the Faeriefort, and one of the principal figures responsible for its survival in the Prime Material. Though whimsical in temperament like every Fairy, she possessed an unusual level-headedness for her kind, and this steadiness made others turn to her in moments of crisis. When a mad Lizardfolk Druid dragged the Fey from the Vivid Realms and bound them to the Murkmire Marshlands, Laceleaf was among those who adapted quickest. In the chaos following the druid’s death and the realization that return was impossible, she helped calm panic, organize shelter, and establish routines that gave the displaced fairies a sense of stability.
It was Laceleaf who first proposed claiming the collapsed sinkhole as a permanent settlement. She recognized its defensible shape and its distance from the worst threats of the swamp, and she argued that survival required more than hiding. Under her guidance, the fairies cleared the hollow, shaped homes into its walls, and raised a fort above it to control access and provide early warning against predators. Laceleaf believed that the Faeriefort's permanent defenses would allow their people to endure in a world not meant for them, and encouraged the building of Sprite's Hollow to give space from threats emerging from the Undermire.
As the Elder, Laceleaf consistently favored caution, safety, and cooperation with neighboring smallfolk over ambition or expansion. This stance put her at odds with Coriander Thorn as his desire for power grew, and she supported the council’s decision to keep the Faeriefort isolated rather than follow him into the wider world. At some point, Laceleaf bore a child, Sassafras Flashlashes, to an unknown father, raising her with the intention of her becoming an elder of the village. Around the same time, Coriander left the Faeriefort to form the Glitterati, and many others followed over the years.
Laceleaf did her best to silence rumours of Sassafras' heritage, forbidding mention of it in her household; however, rumors abounded that Sass was actually the child of Coriander. She loved her daughter, but considered her tryst with Coriander to be her life's greatest shame. Thusly, tragedy occurred when a rebellious teenage Sassafras also left her home to join the gang, not knowing that its Don was in fact her father. Despite these sorrows, Laceleaf continued to lead with patience and quiet resolve, holding firmly to the belief that home remained open, and accepted the return of any who strayed.
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