#the faewild

[cavernsofdarkness]

𝕸𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖓. 𝕸𝖔𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗. 𝕮𝖗𝖔𝖓𝖊.

~ The Lady of Murkwood Bog ~

Deep in the realm of Autumn lies the swampy expanse of the Murkwood Bog. Amongst the turbid waters and decaying matter, the Lady of the land suffuses magics unknown. All hail — The Hag Mother. The Witch Queen.

[ahhnutbunnies]

Was thinking about why the fae would want to swap children or take humans to their realm and I've come to the conclusion that it's mostly about lying.

A human can tell you you're the most beautiful thing they've ever seen. Or make a less hurtful excuse for why they don't want to do something when theyre upset with you for something you can't control.

I imagine fae toddlers are just as insufferable as human toddlers with their questions and demands, but not being able to (harmlessly) lie and say things like "blue's clues went bed because she needs rest just like you" would be incredibly unpleasant.

I imagine the fae want good liars, and admire the human ability to lie. They want secretaries who can say their schedule's full, messengers who can deceive their enemies.

I think it would be really funny if one of the Fair Folk became fascinated with affirmations and decided the favor some mortal owed them was saying their morning affirmations for them because they can't.

[cavernsofdarkness]

ƬӇЄ ƧЄЄԼƖЄ

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 & 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳

"The Seelie? Many a mortal has thought them to be the very best of the Folk—the preservers of beauty, wonder and "good", but at what cost?"

*ˡᵒʳᵉ ᵇᵉˡᵒʷ*

The Spring Court

The Fields of Spring, with rolling hills and crystal lakes, are a symbol of rebirth, youth and new beginnings.

The Court of Wonder is known for its romanticism, idealism and veneration of joy, whimsy and beauty. Indulging in decadence and hedonistic pursuits, many of Spring's inhabitants are free and flittering, but perceptive, keen on drama and in possession of an uncanny finesse.

Elements of the Spring Court: Earth & Water

𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔖𝔲𝔪𝔪𝔢𝔯 ℭ𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔱

Summer is the embodiment of life and strength. Dense, verdant forests, lush fields and glittering dunes, the lands of Summer are endowed with a beauty that is oppressive in its dominion.

Driven, stalwart and relentless, those of the Lumos Court are known for their temperamental nature.

Elements of the Summer Court: Fire & Air

**I finally got around to the Seelie introduction, almost two years after the Unseelie.

[cavernsofdarkness]

THЄ FАЄ

“тнєу’яє ѕтяαиgє fσℓк”

[cavernsofdarkness]

ƬӇЄ  ƲƝƧЄЄԼƖЄ

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘯 & 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳

“ ‘Good’ and ‘Evil’? Such concepts are but figments. Morality, as you know it, does not apply to the Folk. You see, they are but two sides of one coin.”

*ˡᵒʳᵉ ᵇᵉˡᵒʷ*

𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝓊𝓉𝓊𝓂𝓃 𝒞𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓉

Autumn, the twilight of life; a season of change, of harvest and of plenty. The Autumn Court, otherwise known as the "Court of the Empty Throne" and the "Court of Foxes", has no one ruler. Various archfey, ladies and lords of the realm, hold jurisdiction over their domains and collectively hold court when deemed necessary.

Autumn is a time of transition; from jewel-like forests to bleak bogs, both the realm and its denizens embody the spectrum between Summer and Winter. While many are taught to cower in the face of Winter, the wise know that it is on Autumn they should keep an eye.

The real charm of Autumn is fear; for there is an unknown terror lurking behind the warm smile and welcoming countenance. When dining at the table of harvest, the vile and sinister drink with the merry and kind.

Elements of the Autumn Court: Earth & Fire

ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛ:

Frigid and unforgiving, from delicate snowflakes to crystalline spears, the endless icy expanse a frozen tomb for the unadept; a visage of untouchable and unsettling beauty.

Known for it's ruthless, emotionless and unrelenting nature, the Winter Court, also referred to as the "Umbral Court" and the "Land of Eternal Winter", has one sole seat of power, The Gelid Throne.

With days short and nights long, denizens of the night relish in roaming these perpetually frozen lands. While Autumn deals in fear, Winter deals in sorrow and tragedy. Winter is a season of death and loss, but nature must sleep to be reborn.

Elements of the Winter Court: Water & Air

[cavernsofdarkness]

ƬӇЄ ƝƠƦƬӇ ƜƖƝƊ

°°°°°°°°° An entity as old as the land itself, beyond the concept of fae, something older, perhaps something else entirely; a stubborn and unrelenting force, the North Wind bows to no one.

The North Wind is omnipresent; from a whistle through the trees to the howling in a cavern, their incorporeal presence touches every corner of the Winter Realm.

There are stories of mortals and fae alike making the treacherous journey to the North Wind's home in the sky, beseeching an audience. Some speak of a voice in the wind, others of an ancient white and red dragon, and fewer still spread rumor of an ethereal, humanoid form.

Be careful what you whisper unto the breeze, for the Wind might answer.

°°°°°°°°°

Because I love their face, and you deserve to see the close-ups that I’ve been staring at for months: 

[cavernsofdarkness]

ƬӇЄ  ƛƧӇЄƝ  ƤƦƖƝƇЄ

°°°°°°°°°

The 'Ashen Prince', the 'Masked King', the 'Roving Gloom’ — the ruler of the Winter Court goes by many names. Widely regarded as the strongest and most dangerous of the winter fae, his dominion over the Gelid Throne remains uncontested.

While the Shatterveil Expanse is his primary domain, the entirety of the Winter realm responds to his will. For an entity whose presence is widely felt, he is rarely seen. They say, if you are unlucky, you can catch a glimpse of the elusive Ashen Prince roaming the Savariden Taiga.

°°°°°°°°°

*Lore Note*: The Shatterveil Expanse is a massive region within the Land of Eternal Winter that contains within it other areas. The Expanse is home to the capitol of the Winter Court. Though the Shatterveil is mostly tundra, the Savariden Taiga is the large (and only) forest in the region.