Verkhwin

The **verkhwin** are a species of fae. Mosk Manytrees and his party encounter one during the ice plague. Ash Glashtyn makes a deal with the verkhwin to exchange a meal for a temporary haven. Gwyn ap Nudd later speaks with the verkhwin, who agrees to give them shelter for the night, where they will be safe from pursuers. This is the only verkhwin in the canon, and their name is not given.

## Physical Description

The verkhwin in *The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire* 'assembled itself from an old rope fishing net, limpet, oyster and abalone shells, bits of rock and bone. It stood not more than three feet tall, staring up at Mosk, holding a rusty knife in one hand.'

They have 'smoky black shadows' for eyes. Their fingers are covered in slivers of bone. When not being spoken to or otherwise busy with their own affairs, they return to a 'pile of shells and stones'.

## Abilities

Verkhwin can climb vertically up rock walls. The verkhwin in *The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire* has strong illusion magic that they use to protect their home.

## Characteristics (culture, habits)

The verkhwin in *The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire* first appears in 'a large stony clearing that could have comfortably fit at least fifty fae, maybe more. It was too neat and circular to be naturally formed, especially with the overhangs sensitively providing shade. In the centre, the black smears from an old bonfire. Empty shells all around.'

Verkhwin communicate in their own language, which involves squeaking and banging stones together, and can also communicate with hand gestures. For some reason (possibly for bringing Ash, who offered them a meal), they gift Mosk a pale green shell that 'was a pale green, flashing blue or violet when the sunlight hit it. The spiral shape of it curved inwards, until it made a perfect circle in the middle. Mosk wondered if it was part of a larger creature, or if it had been a bead once, or if it was a unique thing that the verkhwin made. When he turned it over, the rough side was carved with letters.' The shell might be some kind of currency, as sea fae will barter with shells, and the verkhwin gives Ash a shell when Ash gives the verkhwin some meat for consumption.

The verkhwin's lair is hidden in a pocket realm. To enter the realm, they use various quartz point crystals to set up an array that moves whoever the verkhwin wishes into the pocket realm. The verkwhin's lair has 'a large fire in the middle of the stone circle where the husk of a fire had been. The stars were no longer above them, they were protected by a dome of stone with small holes to help vent the smoke. Eran stared at the large bonfire, the fire healthy and happy. He looked around the circular space only to see many caves branching off from it now. At least eight.

The walls glimmered and shone with mica and other crystals embedded into the walls. Shells had been strung on twine all around the room in rich garlands, gleaming as the firelight touched them. Fish were smoked nearby on a rack by the fire.' Tiny worms and insects help create illumination in the otherwise dark cave system. Pebbles that absorb sound and feel like moss make up the walkways.

Verkhwin are very private, and while they will make exchanges with other fae for brief shelter, it is only brief.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 21 September 2018. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/37471571. Chapter 29: Don't Look.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 5 October 2018. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12036105/chapters/37845086. Chapter 30: Closing In.