Great Vassos: The City of Fey

A big and old leather-bound book with thick black writing on the front: "GREAT VASSOS: CITY OF FEY. WRITTEN BY JERUEL HOPKIS."

## Contents

*"Gather now ye weary children, ye inspired minstrels and poets, ye lovers of lore long lost, and I'll regale you with the tale of the mystical fey denizens of Great Vassos.*

*Long ago, 'ere mortals walked on mighty Uvonor, the gods did slave away creating all that is. They created our mortal plane, where we live and die. As they created our own plane, they found that bits of their creation were too dark, or too bright. And to the left they threw all that was dark and evil, and it became the Dimension of Shadow, and long has evil dwelled and thrived there unchecked. To the right, they flung those pieces which shone brightly, and it formed the Dimension of Faerie. The Dimension of Shadow was home to wayward devils, demons, undead, and the mysterious Shadar-Kai and was called Shadowfell. The Dimension of Faerie became inhabited by nature spirits, fey creatures, woodland beasts, and the magical Eladrin; the First-Elves. This place became The Fey-Wild.*

*The Feywild is a fantastical place, where hours become minutes, dreams becomes reality, and magic flows like water. Hardly able to be understood by mortals, those of us lucky enough to venture there never forget the experience. Indeed, many who give witness to the magical place often admit that they were consumed with longing to return to the Wild and adventure through it's untamable, immense forests.*

*Though the Fey-Wild is a magical place, that very magic is what makes it a danger. Fey are a cunning creature, and they have little regard for anything but their own entertainment. Often mortals are taken advantage of and brutally abused by Fey. There are powerful magics at place in The Feywild, and to break a deal, promise, or oath is to greet death - for the forest does not take kindly to oathbreakers, no matter what type of creature they may be.*

*Of course, not to say that all in The Feywild is wicked. There is much that is fair and beautiful, if one has the mind to look for it. There are many creatures too, that are fine and fascinating, not least among which are the dryads of the Towering Trees and the Nerieds of Blue-Rock Reef. Most wonderful of all to behold, however, are The First-Elves, The Shepherds of Creation, The Glory of the Fey-Wild, The Lost Ones, The Eladrin.*

*When the earth was new and fresh, and the immortals wagered over their creations, The Eladrin were first bornt. Bornt of Mitera, Mother of Existence, The First Author, The Eladrin were her entry into the Wager. In those days, when things were new, the Dimensions had not yet been walled off yet, and transportation between them marvelously easy. Some Eladrin went to live in The Feywild, and they kept their beauty and their purity, and they were merry. Some went to Shadowfell, where they were corrupted and their skin became grey and pale and their eyes blank. These are the Shadar-Kai. Others still remained in our mortal dimension, and they interbred and became High Elves, Wood Elves, and Dark Elves.*

*Then, as the Ages of Existence began, the gods lived with their children and kept them safe. In doing so, they created walls between The Three Dimensions of The Mortal Plane. No longer did there exist any way to travel between Dimensions. Or so the gods had thought. But the powers of The Dimensions were underestimated.*

*To Shadowfell, one can find portals where there is much ill history and corruption. Walking through curls of fog or dark hallways always have the danger of leading you into the Shadowfell. To The Feywild, portals seemingly open at random in places deeply rooted in nature. Only accessible at certain times of day, month, or year, Fey Portals can be tricky to track down. Some appear only on Full Moons, some only on snowy days. Some when it was high tide, some when it was low. However, they were found by those with the determination to look.*

*Fey Portals can be found in many forests across the lands, however nowhere are they as common as in the Five Forests. That is, the first five forests that existed according to legends of the Arcanum. One such forest is the gargantuan Vasilian Wood. Now friends, we reach the point where The Enlightened City enters. Great Vassos was built next to the mighty forest, and Fey-Links were strong there.*

*So it is that every year, on the summer solstice, portals to the Feywild open up in the city of Great Vassos itself, and fey come streaming through to enjoy festivals and merriments such that they cannot in The Feywild. They delight in regaling common folk with their tales of magic and impressing them with their abilities. Satyrs come in the droves to play games and hold parties, Pixies came in on Faerie Dragon backs in search of fun and entertainment. But most proudly of all, came the respectable Eladrin.*

*The Feywild is not a place of complete chaos, and indeed it does have a type of order. Split into different 'courts,' the Feywild was sectioned off and usually ruled by Eladrin Lords or Ladies. That one which lie in the same place as Vassos in the other dimension was called The Court of Summer, and with them they brought light, warmth, and happiness.*

*The Eladrin came and formed deep alliances with rulers of Great Vassos - past and present! So it was, that for a few enjoyable warm summer months, Vassos became flooded with light and glory - A City of Fey. Then, when the winter solstice came, the Fey crowds were forced to leave lest they become trapped in our dimension. The exodus was a sad day, and many a child mourned the going of the fun and always exciting fey.*

*So it was that Great Vassos formed a strong fey connection, and came to have a reverence for the elves and creatures from the other Dimension. Even now, centuries later, after we have lost contact with the gods, we still expect the Fey visitors yearly. Nothing, short of complete destruction and chaos, could break the link between Vassos and The Fey-Wild. So Vassos be hailed! The City of Fey!"*