Laurel, the Lilac Queen

Laurel the Lilac Queen is the radiant Archfey who rules the Feywilds corresponding to the United Colonies of Orpheus - a realm of dreamlike beauty and ancient sorrow. Her dominion mirrors the mortal Wildlands, yet where Orpheus is a desolate expanse of sands and broken dunes, Laurel’s reflection is a shimmering sea of silver waters surrounded by vast, living forests that breathe with magic. Fey creatures of every shape and kind dwell beneath her boughs, from whispering dryads and playful pixies to ancient, reclusive treants who speak in the language of the roots.   The veil between worlds is at its thinnest near Methuselah Grove, where the great Methuselah Tree acts as a living bridge between the planes. Its colossal roots stretch across realities, and its blossoms shimmer in both moonlight and dreamlight — marking the passage between the mortal and the fey. Travelers who approach the grove in reverence may feel the pull of Laurel’s realm, while those who come in greed or ignorance risk being forever lost within the lilac mists.   Laurel herself is a being of profound grace and quiet strength. Her body is composed of living vines and bark, woven together with delicate lilac blooms that never wither. Her eyes shimmer with hues of violet and spring green, reflecting both the renewal and decay inherent to all natural life. She is known for her compassion, fairness, and deep empathy — a queen who regards even the smallest fey as precious children of the weave.   Yet centuries of imperial incursion upon the material realm have tested her patience and her mercy. As the Eternal Empire exploitation of Orpheus spread — tearing open its ley lines and despoiling sacred places — Laurel’s once-peaceful heart hardened. To protect her realm and her children, she has turned to desperate and ancient magicks, weaving enchantments that blur the border between worlds and twist mortal intruders into beasts of bark and bramble.