Stertes

Fanart of Stertes by inkyrobotsparks https://twitter.com/inkyrobotsparks

**Stertes** was an Unseelie merkhanwe envoy from the House of Atros to the Mantissa during *The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas*. He is the nephew of King Turus, and sibling to Tanares, Enaria, and Yescha. Mosk Manytrees kills him for assaulting Eran Iliakambar.

## Appearance

Stertes' true-form possesses a 'huge, silken fish tail of many fins, the palest of blue, his lower half gleaming in the same blues, whites, creams and pinks'.

In human-form, he is coldly and brutally handsome, '[f]rom the cut of his cheekbones, to his hooded aquamarine eyes that seemed to see everything . . . His hair was a strange translucent blue that fell in waves about a mouth that could almost be called slack or soft, except that it was on his face, so it looked disapproving instead.' He has deep blue eyebrows and his hands and feet drip water.

Eran Iliakambar says that Stertes is 'uncommonly attractive, but there was a perpetual smugness about his face, eyes pulled a little tight, like he was always amused at everyone else’s expense.'

He has two ridges down his back with fine, pale blue fins growing from them. Mosk describes the texture of them as silky.

## Personality

Stertes is confident, proud, and bold. He values etiquette and is well-mannered when speaking to fae of a similar standing, but elitist to others (mostly land fae). He has a tendency to be cutting and patronizing, although he will sometimes apologize when called out. He is sometimes poetic while expressing his deep love of the sea, and is happy to talk about its beauty and the fae who live there, such as when talking to Mosk about whale shifters. Despite his dismissiveness and cruelty toward land fae, he is charming and deeply beloved by his fellow sea fae, especially those of his city, Enerdias. Although he clearly likes to throw his authority around, he also appears to take his responsibilities seriously, as he loses sleep while working at them.

He has little regard for the personal space of others, often touching their arms or backs, or crowding them with his body. He enjoys seduction and is very manipulative when it comes to getting what he wants. He often uses his nullification ability to intimidate or make it harder for fae to fight him. He specifically targets fae he knows are weaker than him or show vulnerability, and enjoys when they try to fight back.

Ondine states that Stertes and his brother Tanares are power hungry, taking heavily after their uncle. Stertes himself states that he collects power. Eran sees Stertes as someone who only wants self-satisfaction and will hurt anyone to get it.

## Life

Stertes is the nephew of Turus, the ruler of the House of Atros. Stertes boards the Mantissa as Turus' envoy during the ice plague in order to negotiate the ship's passage through his family's waters, along with a retinue of mer-fae, seahorse shifters, and other sea fae. Stertes claims that he will need to talk to Turus before making any decisions, because while Stertes does have the power to act on behalf of the House of Atros, he doesn't have *that* much power. Ondine grants him and his retinue ship accommodations for the remainder of the negotiations. When Stertes is introduced to Gwyn ap Nudd, Eran, and Mosk, Stertes is pleasantly surprised when Mosk explains that the Aur forest once grew all the freshwater and saltwater plants that existed alongside land-based plants, and Stertes was also charmed by Eran, as fire fae are rarely seen on the sea.

He later spends time with Mosk near the ship railing, where they at first argue with each other, but then settle into an easy companionship, and Mosk listens while Stertes speaks about the sea and its people. From Mosk's comments and the rope on his wrist, Stertes realizes Mosk is a submissive, and Stertes flirts with and propositions him.

Stertes encounters Mosk again only hours later. Mosk confides in him about Eran, before they spot Ash Glashtyn hunting another fae. Stertes finds the sight entertaining, and grabs Mosk's wrist rope to pull him along as they follow. They arrive in time to see Ash pinning the fae to the wall, and when Mosk attempts to help, Stertes holds him back, telling him it isn't safe.

Stertes later invites Mosk to join Stertes' group in their lounge. Once there, Mosk asks if Stertes is making it harder for Gwyn to reach the Unseelie Court, and Stertes responds that perhaps he is. Stertes explains that sea fae have a history of being neglected by the Courts, though he also tends to make things harder just by existing, due to his personality. Mosk says he is the same. Mosk later asks Stertes to take Mosk's mind off things, and they go to Stertes' room to sleep together, where Stertes takes control and treats it like a conquest. Mosk blanks out during it, which Stertes finds disappointing. Stertes bluntly dismisses him afterward, and even insults Mosk as a bad taste that Stertes needs to wash out of his mouth.

When Stertes next approaches Mosk, Mosk tells Stertes to leave him alone, and when Stertes teases him, Mosk attempts to hit him. Stertes catches his wrist and laughs about it, and when Mosk yells at him, nearby fae notice the situation and Stertes gives Mosk a dark look before telling him to apologize for causing a scene. Mosk does so and Stertes lets him go. Before leaving, Stertes tells Mosk that he can come find Stertes if the loneliness becomes more than he can stand.

At one of the night gatherings, Stertes speaks with Eran alone. Eran tries to warn him off, but Stertes persists, and talks to him bluntly about his time with Mosk, then flirts with Eran, stroking his arm and telling Eran that Stertes had heard about the reputation of fire fae. Despite Eran's repeated rejections, Stertes remains playful, but his teasing quickly angers Eran, who tells him to stop playing. Stertes says he would play if that was what he wishes, and also tells Eran that he is good at getting what he wants, at which point Eran excuses himself and leaves.

During this time, Ondine negotiates with Stertes and the House of Atros for the Mantissa to be able to sail into the Sea of Sculptures to visit the raft Markets there. Churielle believes this negotiation to be 'the House of Atros pushing for favours they don’t need or deserve'. During their first day docked at the Markets, Stertes corners Eran to asks him how he likes the Markets, saying that the House of Atros is very proud of them. When Eran becomes defensive, Stertes nullifies Eran's powers to demonstrate what it would feel like if Stertes really wanted him at a disadvantage. Once he returns Eran's fire, he again asks Eran about the Markets, and Eran says they were great, which made Stertes grin.

Mosk tracks Stertes down in the Markets, using Court manners to get him alone. Once alone, Mosk confronts him for hurting Eran. Stertes insists that he wouldn't hurt Eran and was just *explaining* something to him, and Mosk asks what he was explaining. Stertes says he was only demonstrating what it would feel like if he *did* mean Eran harm, and then nullifies Mosk's dryad powers. When Mosk uses his magic to grow a sapling from his palm anyway, Stertes is shocked and afraid. Mosk says not to threaten Eran around him, and Stertes slyly replies, 'What will you do? Will you dare do it here? You *do* realise that you’re on House of Atros waters, don’t you? If I return from our tête-à-tête with so much as a scratch on me, there will be war. And no one wants to go to war with the House of Atros.' Mosk orders him to leave Eran alone, and when Stertes says no, Mosk threatens that if he doesn't, there *will* be war. Stertes grows triumphant upon hearing that, and tells Mosk about how the sea fae adore him and will defend him. Stertes also points out that Gwyn wouldn't want that, and tells Mosk to control himself.

Gwyn confers with Augus Each Uisge, worried about Augus' worsening health, but notes that leaving would start a war, and Augus comments that war is inescapable, so Gwyn sought out Ondine, who agrees. When Eran next sees Stertes, Stertes is with a much larger retinue than normal and was more serious. Churielle says that Stertes wants to make an example out of the Mantissa. Stertes then nullifies Eran's power again, catching Eran by surprise and causing him to panic. Stertes waves and blows a kiss when Eran looks at him, before continuing his conversation with other fae. Eran quickly leaves, but Stertes doesn't return Eran's power until midnight that night.

By the next day, the Mantissa is preparing for war, though Awan says it might not happen, as Stertes sometimes bluffs. Awan adds that Stertes might not want to sink the ship there, as it would impact Enerdias, and Stertes doesn't want to lose favor with Enerdias by damaging it. Awan believes that Stertes might let the Mantissa sail, only to sink it once it is further away. Stertes brings more of his people onboard, and the Markets refuse to do any trading with anyone from the Mantissa, regardless of alignment.

Stertes nullifies Eran's power when they next see each other, and stalks Eran through the cabins, cornering him in an empty guestroom. Eran tries to defend himself, spurred on by Stertes' mocking, but Stertes is too powerful. When Stertes grows bored of beating Eran up, he pins Eran to the bed and assaults him. Mosk then enters the room, having used his invisibility to follow them, and kills Stertes with a tentacle of wood.

Gwyn takes responsibility for the murder to take the brunt of the consequences off Mosk, and fighting breaks out. Albion ultimately saves the Mantissa by blocking the attackers and carrying the Mantissa to safer waters.

## Special Abilities

### Fae Abilities

**Nullification:** Stertes has an innate ability to 'block anyone from shifting into their true form, or using the abilities associated with their true-form.' He needs to consciously use the ability, but it also comes easily to him, and he can perform it over a distance and on multiple fae at once. He cannot use it to nullify magic.

### Skills

**Combat:** Stertes is a highly trained warrior and is able to defeat Eran in a fight even in human-form, which he states was his least-favored form.

**Language:** Stertes can speak at least two languages, if not more.

## Relationships

### Eran Iliakambar

Stertes finds Eran to be a marvel from the get-go. Eran dislikes Stertes after the latter sleeps with and hurts Mosk, and tries to warn Stertes off when the merkhanwe next approaches Eran. Stertes finds this amusing and teases him, seeing Eran's refusal to associate with him as a challenge. Stertes' harassment quickly escalates, culminating in Stertes cornering and assaulting Eran. From nullifying Eran's fire and making him feel like he is dying, to eventually sexually assaulting him, Stertes has, thus far, frightened Eran more than any other fae that they've encountered, and Eran still has post-trauma symptoms as a result of his encounter with Stertes.

### Gwyn ap Nudd

Gwyn dislikes Stertes from their first meeting. Stertes thinks little of Gwyn, other than to be patronizing and show off Stertes' authority. Stertes often points out that the Unseelie Court has done little for the sea fae, yet expects much of them. Gwyn tells Mosk that he'd have killed Stertes if Gwyn had witnessed Stertes' assault on Eran.

### Mosk Manytrees

Stertes is surprised and interested in Mosk early on, whether it is from Mosk's knowledge of sea plants or Mosk's beauty and status as a submissive, and Mosk frequently confides him, and enjoys learning about the sea from him. Mosk even enjoys arguing with him, and Stertes seems to appreciate Mosk's bluntness. Stertes did give Mosk questionable advice, suggesting he leave Eran at one point because, 'That’s what love is, isn’t it? You have to let go of the ones you love sometimes, and if they *really* care, they’ll come back.' Stertes also takes advantage of Mosk's mental conflict over his relationship with Eran in order to sleep with him.

Mosk's anger over Stertes' harassment of Eran causes Mosk to threaten Stertes. Stertes' refusal to back down only further angers Mosk. Although Mosk ultimately kills Stertes to protect Eran and to channel his anger at the fae, upon reflection, Mosk is just sad about the whole thing, and regrets it, as he could only see the good moments they'd had, and that Stertes was just as broken as everyone is.

### Ondine

Although they are relatively polite to each other during political matters, and Ondine respects Stertes' powers, she considers him a stuffy jerk. Stertes is patronizing towards Ondine, and happy to take advantage of the power he holds over her and the Mantissa. Ondine later describes him as 'a wretched, manipulative little squid', though she also acknowledges his popularity among the sea fae.

### The Raven Prince

Stertes expresses interest in meeting the Raven Prince when the latter is on the Mantissa, though they're only shown in a scene together when Stertes observes the Raven Prince calming Ash's bloodlust. Stertes seems to have high regard for the Raven Prince, commenting that Turus met him a few times and spoke of him highly, and that the Raven Prince was one of the few reasons anyone should bother to leave the sea.

## Quotations

* ‘I am so unused to seeing her like this, the beautiful sea. But she’s everywhere, isn’t she? She’s the rain and the mist and the vapour that touches us, she’s the coating of water on the railing, and the frost here. She’ll leave her salt behind and make her way to the land, and give it only a little bit of herself, and even that will be enough to make the land happy. See, how giving she is?’
* 'You will know when I threaten you. I forget that not everyone knows my reputation. Their loss. They will one day, anyway.'
* ‘I negotiate on behalf of my Uncle Turus, but on behalf of myself too. The sea fae have a long history of being neglected by monarchs who like to conveniently claim they rule us in times of war, but want our weapons and bodies without offering anything other than neglect. But, my dear Mosk, you could simply argue that I make it harder for everyone just by existing. I have that kind of personality.’
* ‘When you can’t stand that loneliness any longer, you know where to find me. I wouldn’t even hurt you for your disrespect. Anyone can see you’re so pathetic you can’t help it. I could shore you up against the world. For a little bit of effort on your behalf, I could be ever so generous. But for now, I will leave you alone.’
* ‘Besides,’ Stertes said, stepping closer and directing that smirking, mocking look at him, ‘you will play this game with me, if I wish it. But I can see that now is not the time! Ah, my sense of timing has always been a little off! Perhaps later? Give me time, Eran Iliakambar, I am very good at getting what I want.’
* ‘I like your true colours. . . . Are you really someone who will damn the lives of thousands – of tens of thousands – just because I scared your owner? I didn’t even touch him. Honestly, I am harmless. But these people around me, they love me so. They adore me. I wish they wouldn’t! If only we could show them how flawed I am! Maybe then they’d understand. But Mosk, what you’re doing for Eran? That? That is what *cities* will do for me.’

## Trivia

* Although Stertes has little respect for land fae, he regards bird fae, such as the Raven Prince, differently, stating, 'Bird fae are different. They are from the sky. They don’t like the land much either.'
* Stertes gives Mosk an alcoholic drink called vier, made from an underwater fruit called viernan.

## Gallery

Fanart of Stertes by SpyroForLife https://spyroforlife.tumblr.com/post/650149728512802816/i-made-an-attempt-at-some-fanart-of-stertes-akaFanart of Stertes by inkyrobotsparks https://twitter.com/inkyrobotsparksFanart of Stertes by KoiKalico https://mythoughtfulwindow.tumblr.com/post/728307784918138880/stertes-from-not-poignants-beautiful-story
## References

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 30 August 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/48516644. Chapter 13: The Glory of the House of Atros.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 5 December 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/51724180. Chapter 20: What Did You Expect?
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 24 October 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/50374646. Chapter 17: Just Like You.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 23 January 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/53470720. Chapter 24: Bound Together.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 2 April 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/56194975. Chapter 29: Fury Unleashed.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 13 September 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/48959894. Chapter 14: Too Far.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 27 September 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/49401356. Chapter 15: Own Yourself.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 9 January 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/52978921. Chapter 23: The Sea of Sculptures.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 21 November 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/51287020. Chapter 19: Evolutions.
10. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 27 December 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/52448491. Chapter 22: Service.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 March 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/55596259. Chapter 28: Farewell.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 2 - The Seething Seas.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 16 April 2020. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17959874/chapters/56856169. Chapter 30: Helpless.
13. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Ice Plague: Book 3 - The Ice Plague.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 22 October 2021. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26266345/chapters/66297152. Chapter 5: The Dryad and the King.