Orgins of the Fey

Origins of the Fey

myth of the Fey, the ArchFey, and the Norns

As Nythe, Archduke of Starlight, and many other gods labored to shape the realm of Serene, their ambitions grew vast. Each sought to craft wonders that would earn the admiration of their peers. Yet, as they worked with the raw essence of creation, their thoughts, passions, and rivalries left echoes upon the forming world. From these echoes arose new beings—some no more than drifting vapors of light or shadow, others solid as stone and brimming with awareness.

At first, the gods were astonished, then delighted by these spontaneous spirits. They found eager companions and servants in the Fey, embodiments of the moods and dreams born of divine labor. Some attended the gods in artistry and revelry, while others wandered the forests, shaping glades and streams by whim alone. Thus were the Fey born—creatures of the gods’ emotions, woven into the fabric of creation.

As the Fey multiplied and grew more willful, the gods sought to bring order among them. Reflecting the balance of life in Serene—the cycles of seasons, renewal, and decay—they appointed two great rulers to guide the Fey in harmony. Tholrom the Golden was made sovereign of the Seelie Court, inspiring growth, light, and delight in all living things. Umbraeth the Shadow-Veiled ruled the Unseelie Court, embracing shadow, endings, and the quiet necessity of decay.

While Serene remained whole, the two courts worked in harmony, though rivalries simmered, growing bitter and infected with malice.

When Serene was broken to create Dunia, both Tholrom and Umbraeth perished. The life of a Fey is tied to the realm itself; when the realm shattered, so too were they. The great courts fractured as the gods moved some parts into the mortal realm, others became the Feywild, and still others drifted into The Shadowfell.

Among the Fey, some gained more power due to their relations to the land and court—the most powerful are named the ArchFey.

In the Feywild, the remnants of the Seelie Court reformed, echoing the mortal seasons:

• The Spring Court, symbols of renewal, growth, and hope, thrives in the Fields of Spring, where land bursts into bloom and new life awakens. The Fey here embody youthful exuberance, mischief, and the promise of endless possibilities.
• The Summer Court, embodying the fullness of life, passion, and radiant power, reigns over the Emerald Forest, a place where the sun’s warmth never wanes and vibrant energy hums in every leaf and creature.
• The Autumn Court governs the Pastures of Autumn, where light fades into golden hues and the land prepares for the quiet rest of winter. This court balances celebration with melancholy, honoring harvest, reflection, and the bittersweet nature of change.
• The Winter Court, dominated by cold beauty, endurance, and solemnity, rules the Wastes of Winter—the frozen lands at the Feywild’s northeastern reaches.

The Unseelie Court also fractured into dark, dreadful courts embodying decay and ruin:

• The Court of Darkness, masters of shadow and despair, dwelling in endless twilight.
• The Court of Carrion and Decomposition, embodying death’s cycle and the renewal born from decay.
• The Court of Ruin, agents of destruction, where broken dreams and shattered places gather their power.
• The Court of Calamity, heralds of disaster and inevitable endings, weaving misfortune across realms.

These courts continue to shape the darker patterns of the Feywild, each ruled by enigmatic lords and ladies who claim the legacy of Umbraeth.

It was intended by the gods that these eight courts would work in harmony to maintain the realm and impose order upon the ArchFey and Fey. To this end, three Norns, judges were empowered to enforce fate and law among the Fey:

• Urðr (Urth) — "What Has Been"
  Keeper of the past, she oversees oaths, traditions, and the consequences of ancient deeds, judging with wisdom born of experience.
• Verðandi (Verdan) — "What Is Coming into Being"
  Arbiter of the present moment and current actions, maintaining balance among the ArchFey by ensuring their dealings align with divine law.
• Skuld (Skaldr) — "What Shall Be"
  Bringer of fate’s final verdicts, feared for her power to enforce the inevitable and punish those who transgress sacred rules.

Among the Fey, open war is rare; conflict now unfolds through elaborate courtly rules and games. Compliments hide mockery, and mockery disguises malice. Games, wagers, and favors—won and lost—are deadly serious, and extremely perilous for any mortal caught in a Fey creature’s game.

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The Queen of Air and Darkness is the ArchFey to whom the lords, ladies, and all the folk of the Court of Darkness, the Court of Ruin, and the Court of Calamity now bend their knee. A mystery shrouds her origins; known only to have been part of the Court of Darkness shortly after its formation, she vanished, and her name was lost—perhaps by enchantment of unspeakable power. Upon her return, bearing a Black Diamond upon her brow, all marveled and shivered at the dark power radiating from her. In a short time—short by the measure of ageless ArchFey—she became unrivaled in the Court of Darkness. Lords and ladies from other courts joined her faction, and she took control of the Court of Ruin and the Court of Calamity. She took the title Queen of Air and Darkness, and though she has not challenged the Norns or the gods, her followers believe she could defeat them.