On the Fey and the Fey Courts

[DM Sabre]

In times long ago, before the time of man when the gods were new... Ioasia , Ineania and Teshalia yearned for children. A race of beings were created between the three, embodiments of nature, magic and beauty. This race of beings were near immortal, guardians of Ioasia's wilds and beings of love and laughter. This was the beginning of the magical beings known as the Fey.

In time though, the other gods saw what the three had done and birthed their own races, more suited to the world that was being created. The others were less whimsical, less magical and for a while the Fey existed in the wildlands as the other races created their own civilizations.

The Fey beings were frivolous and wild, their natures were mischievous and capricious. They did not understand the drive of the other races and their curiosity led them to mingling with the others. Their beauty and charm drew the other races, especially humans and elves. Much inter-breeding occurred, giving the gifts of magic to the other races to the displeasure of the other gods. Lochwar and Tharon saw these first children as defiant and untamed. Coloth and Farallis were not pleased that their magic was now being bred into the other races. And thus it was decreed that these first creations were becoming destructive.

The three mothers argued for their children and Etoth made the judgement. The Fey race would be given their own realm, separate from the other races and there they would stay. Naurari offered a realm that bordered on the Realm of dreams and the other gods agreed. Their females would not breed easily, their long lives ensuring that the race could go on, but never allowed to flourish as easily as the others. These first children were deemed imperfect. At the end of their long lives, they would not be judged by Etoth, but fade out of existence. The two realms would touch, but no longer interact.

The Fey could not understand the punishment or what they had done wrong, a few choosing to stay behind rather than make lives in their new home. Those that stayed found themselves changing. Some became guardians of the woodlands, dryads and nymphs, watchers of the goddess' most powerful places. Others rebelled and were punished by the gods, their size reduced, their magics reduced to charms and beguilement and their minds taken. Never again would they become a true threat to the other races.

The Fey who accepted the exile found themselves in a Realm of their own making. Magical and whimsical, they kept their beauty and grace, their charm and their magic. Some easily accepted the will of the gods and enjoyed their own world, creating a court that was made powerful by laughter, joy and pleasure.

Others however felt unjustly punished by the gods. These banded together and formed their own court, one that was made powerful by malice and greed. Still magical, these Fae were darker than their brethren and could be malicious and destructive. But both kingdoms found a way to co-exist, accepting each other in their exile and skirmishing now and then , but realizing that battles hurt them both...for they did not procreate easily and continued war could destroy them both.

As years went on, the veils between the Realm of the Fey and the Realm of man weakened...especially in places of power for the original Fey. Fey circles and certain places of nature could allow travel between the two realms. Some of the other races who had mingled with the Fey generations before could stumble into the Fey Realm, though time moved far differently there. The other races would return to their own world to find that decades had passed in what they believed was but a few days.

The Fey too began to visit, though the Court of Joy declared it forbidden. The mischievous nature of the Fey found their curiosity of the world left behind irresistible. So long as the Fey did not interfere in the Old Realm, they would be unpunished by the Court of Joy. They could watch, they could mingle from time to time and they could love the other races that they were so drawn to, but they could not take part in that World and must always return to their own Realm after a few days.

The Court of Malice placed no such restrictions but were far more harsh in the matter of visitors. They would attempt to lure and keep visitors from the other Realm, enslaving the beings they chose. In time, Coloth began to exert his own influence causing some of them to attempt to work their mischief on the other races out of spite or malice. But they too could only stay in the Old realm for so long which usually means their mischief was short lived.

Facts about Fey:
The magical blood of the Fey manifest in great charm and beauty and usually a chaotic nature. They are creatures driven by emotions, be it dark or light.

The blood of the Fey can determine what effects them and what draws them. Those of the Court of Joy thrive on pleasure and joy. Pain and sadness can effect them greatly and even make them ill. By contrast, those of the Court of Malice seem to thrive on suffering and discord. Places of too much love and laughter will repel them.

Fey cannot lie, but they can manipulate and twist the truth. What a Fey may deem as a gift to one of the other races could in fact be a curse to someone not of Fey heritage.

Fey that remained behind will often be mentally unstable. Those who move between realms will generally be more stable, but still have the mischievous and rather capricious nature. They are creatures of the wild.

Their magic is rumored to be an origin of wild magic. Many who practice sorcery and the bardic arts seem to draw the Fey and it is believed they may be the descendants of the Fey.

Fey believe in the power of names. Asking a full blooded Fey their name can be deemed an insult. Many of them will create nicknames for themselves and others.

Those of fey blood but not full fey will be judged by Etoth upon their death.