Fey

When creation was young, and the planes were still settling into place, the desires of mankind resonated through the planes, moulding and shaping the nascent realms. This creative potential was especially notable when humans were dreaming or forging stories. In these moments, when a human's creativity ran amok, the realm of Faerie shook. And through telling after telling, the echoes of the beings and creatures in those stories began to take on a life of their own. And thus the fey came into being.

The fey are living stories, the children of the Storybook Realm of Faerie. They are beings that incarnate the fundamental principles of life and passion, of the vibrancy and dynamism of the living world. Though metaphysically they may be a living story, most fey create an avatar of themselves, known as a character, though which they will interact with the world. A character only represents a facet of a fey’s particular story, but for most fey, their story-soul and their character are inseparable. However, when a fey’s character is slain or otherwise perishes, their story-soul will typically create a new character—be that over the course of a few weeks or a few centuries. This new character will not always embody the same elements of the fey’s story as their last one, and may not even share any of the memories of their predecessors. However, all of a fey’s characters share the same story-soul, and thus there are usually a great deal of similarities between the various characters of the same fey down through the centuries.

Since time immemorial, the majority of fairykind have aligned themselves into myriad courts, which serve as both a fey's closest allies and family, and the closet thing most fey have to a nationality. There are dozens of courts, the most notable of which are the seasonal courts: the Summer Court of Titania and Oberon, the Winter Court of Mab, the Autumn Court of Fortuna, and the Spring Court of Puck. However, there are those who fey exist outside the structure of the courts, most notably the myriad wyldfey as well as the dwarves of Nidavellir. It is not unheard of for a wyldfey, or more rarely a fey of the courts, to grow tired with the endless politics and intrigue of the Storybook Realm and seek refuge—or at least a reprieve—in the realm of mortals. 

Dwarves: Kin to brownies, kobolds and domovoy, dwarves are fey who embody the stories of craftsmen. But where their kin focus on household chores, the svartalfs forge great arms and armour for kings and heroes. They have built great kingdoms in the mountains of Faerie, beyond the politics of the courts, greatest of which is Nidavellir, ruled over by the sorcerer-king Hreidmar. While dwarves are much more than just craftsmen—with numerous knights, merchants and scholars arising from their ranks—every dwarf knows at least a few glamours of artifice and the forge.

Pookas: Jesters, pranksters and rapscallions to the last, the shapeshifting, bestial pooka embody the archetypal stories of the trickster—or, as they’re sometimes known today, the comic relief. They love to play and bring joy to others, and hate work they are not invested in. When angered, a pooka can be a cunning and ferocious foe. But they are also staunch defenders of those they consider their friends and allies, going so far as to lay their lives down for the innocent. Due to their kinship with beasts, pooka have a natural knack for glamours of the wilds and metamorphosis.

Satyrs: Rebels who live their lives to the fullest, satyrs seek out to indulge their passions wherever they go, be it in wine, lovers, or battle. Satyrs know little restraint, and will throw themselves head-first into whatever stokes the fires of their imaginations, be it philosophy, art, music, law, or another field of interest. Despite their fiery passions, satyrs are not flighty, and are devoted friends and allies. Satyrs have a natural gift for glamours of knowledge and inspiration.

Sidhe: The sidhe, or elves, are the nobles of Faerie, and embody the stories of queens and princes, of dukes and countesses. They are renowned for their unearthly grace and beauty, as well as for their mastery of the blade and the arcane arts. Sidhe are schooled in the arts of courtly politics, chivalry, and governance from a young age. The sidhe possess a knack for the glamours of majesty, as well as the arts of sorcery.

Trolls: The hulking, brutish trolls embody the stories of warriors, from savage berserkers to noble guardians. Blunt, stubborn and straightforward, most trolls value their personal honour above all else, and they don’t take kindly to seeing their reputation impugned by others. Though often seen as simple, or even savage, trolls can be just as chivalrous and courtly as any sidhe—often to the surprise of outsiders. Trolls favour glamours of might and oaths