Fae Realm

## **Description of Plane**

The Plane of Fae is unknown to most, and yet, stories of its wonder and beauty can be heard around Phantara. To enter the plane you must be granted favor by a Fae of the Realm, one who has not cut ties with their homeland, and has the "rights of invite" that are granted to them. Individuals can never become familiarized with the lands, this ability only being granted to those who call it solely their home or those with strong enough ties to the ways of the Fae that have been granted permission.

This plane consists of a single layer - with no realms being present. It is divided into four segments that are all separated by Rivers. The Plane does have a beginning and an end, making it possible to lose yourself forever if you go too far and reach the edge. This unfortunately also allows those beyond Phantara's reach to push their way in from their prime plane and is why realms are considered a danger here.

The Four Segments of the Plane are also known as the names of the individuals that live within them. Many go by the "Season" if they choose but the official name of the Segment is based off of the placement in their cycle. When one decides to change and they live beyond the Segment they must present themselves to the Great Tree. The Great Tree will make them prove if they are worthy to enter a new phase of the cycle.

### Birth (Spring)

As you walk along the River of Birth you will pass the seedling fields witnessing the pollen clouds caught on the wind and dusting all with a yellow hue. Fresh green grass leads you towards the dwellings of the Birth Fae. The makeshift tents and canapes decorated with colorful banners and flags signal your arrival. Streamers and crafts alike adorn this homestead with vibrancy and a childlike feel. Past the camps of the young you arrive at the rolling hills, these gentle slopes lead to the edge of "The Nothing". The river that separates the Birth Fae from the Life Fae starts as a spring and quickly becomes a babbling brook. When a child is ready to take on the responsibilities of Life they join together with others of like mind and cross the river carrying anything matured with them into the river and out the other side. This process is called the "Awakening" for they have accepted and brought forth the next phase of their current existence.

### Life (Summer)

Stepping into Life is considered the most joyous and memorable moment for a Fae. The newly built Metropolis shines its golden colors down across the lands around it. This beacon is the highlight of Life, and surrounding it are the Flower Fields, The Great Forest, The Farming Fields, and the Peaks of Nothingness. The city itself is populated with the Life Fae and the lands around it tended by those called to it. Within these golden walls all that can be found and held in life are at the Fae's fingertips.

### Death (Fall)

When the maturity of a Fae is established they collect their belongings they find true, and began to walk the bridge towards Death. This bridge begins ornate and bright but steadily becomes more loved and used as it approaches Death. The rivers water from afar look to be made of red and gold, but when approached you see the many fallen leaves floating atop its surface. A well cobbled path leads the walker towards the Great City, a replica of the one found previously in the Life Fae's territory. The Great Forest has become the Untamed Woods, the farms the Aged Orchards and the now the Snow Tipped Mountains crack with time. The Great City is well used and the golden walls are now tarnished with age. You can feel the appreciation this grand city has been gifted by the Fae. Those who dwell here know the secrets of the world, and have proven their worth within the ranks. They are wary of those they should be wary of and yet loving towards others of their kind.

### Rebirth (Winter)

As the Death Fae give their memories to the Collectors Keep they begin to feel the pull towards Rebirth. They now gather their treasures and begin to cross the Last Bridge. The river's bed is frozen over, littered with rocks and sticks, its glazed surface reflecting the darkening clouds above. Snow begins to fall from the sky but never seems to stick to the dusty lands ahead, just eternally casting shadows and silence over the land. The once beautiful city has aged with time, and is now dressed in their final gown. Many manors have been built along the path back into life, their bulky shapes the only silhouettes against the barren lands. A Grand Library sits before the River leading back into Birth with a collection of knowledge grown throughout the Cycle. The Rebirth Fae are not sad, nor lonely, they are ready and content with the life they have led. Many take time in the Halls of Mirrors, where they can enlighten those still on the journey in Life and Death. When they finally feel the pull of their Rebirth they leave all behind, gifts for the next generations to find and treasure. They begin the walk towards Birth, with the river frozen and cracked below them, waiting for their final march. The last thing a Rebirth Fae will feel is the icy waters below claiming their old body to grant them a new awakening as the ice opens beneath their last step.

## **History before joining the cycle**

“There was a tree, a great tree, back in the beginning of time. It grew from the only acorn, in the only plot of soil, under the only moon. There was no sun, no water for this tree, and around it was nothingness. It was the Tvha’Val'Treah, the greatest oak, and it stood alone. The Tree of Life. Inside the Tvha'Val’Treah were three groups of beings: the pale fae, the dark fae, and the Fae of the Green, all making their home within its thick walls. These fae and their magics made the tree thrive. All went quietly and well for ten thousand generations. Then one day, the pale fae spoke.

"It is bright above us," said the pale fae. "All else is darkness, and but for that light we are alone. This puzzles us. Grow taller, so that we may draw nearer and see what is there." So the great tree began to grow. It grew taller and taller over uncountable years, one day reaching the far-off moon. The moon was gigantic, much much larger than the moon you seen in the sky now and much larger than the pale fae expected. The pale fae spoke again. "Grow closer to the light. Let us explore this light, that we may learn of it.” The great tree's branches embraced the moon and held it close; as close as a man holds his love. And so the pale fae walked upon the moon. As they walked and pondered, they began to excitedly talk amongst themselves. One day, after much deliberation, they spoke to the tree. “Tree, we care not for your smell, the pulse of the sap in your trunk, the creaking of your branches. We cannot think clearly there. Your living hurts our heads. Here on the moon it is quiet, light, and cool. The dust here soothes our skins. We do not wish to return. This place is our home now.” And they did not come back. The great tree began to grieve at its loss. Its embrace tightened as it tried to hold its pale children close, crushing the moon and sending thousands of its pieces shooting across the sky. The moon—what was left of it—is now much smaller, and its broken pieces became the stars.

Once the dark fae saw what had happened, they began to develop a plan. “Drop your leaves," said the dark fae to the tree,"so that we may get a better look at the moon. We shall watch your departed children for you.” So the great tree began to drop its leaves so that the remaining fae could see the moon. Its leaves fell for ten thousand years, filling the nothingness. The day came when the great tree had but one leaf, and the void below was filled with fallen leaves. The cold light of the moon glowed clearly through its bare branches. The dark fae then ran from the tree, starting various bands and wars on the newly-formed earth below. "We will not return, tree,” they said. "Here, we have our own lands. We have a place that is ours. We are free to do as we please."

The Fae of the Green then wept for the tree's loss, the loss of so many of its children. Their tears created the rivers, lakes, and seas. “They do not understand," said the Fae of the Green. “Their coldness and wickedness has driven them mad. We shall appeal to them and give them a chance to repent their ways."

So the Fae of the Green called to their departed brethren. “Pale fae, dark fae! Return to your parent that loves you, that sheltered you. Cannot you feel its spirit dying?" And indeed the tree was dying, for without the energy given by all its children it could not survive. A few pale fae and dark fae took pity and returned, but it was too late. The greatest tree began to wither and die.

The Green Fae became enraged at the pending loss of the Tree of Life. They said to the tree,“They are no longer part of you, by their own evil decision. They have chosen to no longer know life's secrets, to know life itself. We apologize deeply for them, Tvha'Val’Treah. We curse their breaking your heart; we curse their deception. We shall ensure that they never return to harm you further."

So the Fae of the Green began to work their own magics. They took the great tree's one remaining leaf and laid enchantment upon enchantment on its veined frame. They created a large glowing object that radiated heat and light. They called it the Sun and placed it near the moon. “Sun!" the good Fae of the Green cry. "Chase the moon away!” And the sun chased the moon away, and chases it still. “Sun! Drive the dark ones underground!” And the dark fae had to make their home underground, as the Sun burned them and made them suffer when they were on the surface. And then the fae began to change...

For those born of the Tree of Life needed it to survive as surely as the Tree needed them. Those fae who had left the Tree began to lose their fae energies and felt themselves growing weaker. The pale fae, tired of being chased by the sun day after day, took the remains of their beloved moon and built with them a great stone city in a far-off forest. They became what the world calls “light elves”. The dark fae continued to build deeper and deeper tunnels, the better to hide from the sun and defend themselves as they weakened. They are now known as "deepelves”, feared and hated for their deception.

The Fae of the Green remained. They soon decided that they would have to sacrifice themselves to save the Tree. If they gave the tree all of their life force, it could survive and grow once more. As they each drained their energies into the tree, it began to grow stronger. The drained Fae of the Green became elves themselves, but a different sort. They became wood elves, still attuned to the great tree and the ways of nature. Not every Fae of the Green gave all of their life to the Tree, but there was still enough energy from those who did sacrifice for the Tree to live and grow once more.

The tree soon saw that its loyal children, those who had given so much, now had corporeal bodies. Bodies that required food, bodies that needed shelter. The Tree was determined to reward them for all that they had done so that it might live.

The Tree of Life produced acorns and seeds and cast them over the land. These became great trees, which gave the wood elves shelter. Plants and animals sprung from where the land and tear-filled waters met. The plants provided food, and the wood elves swore to look over those creatures that were born from the fallen leaves of the Tree of Life.

Now, those of you who see the work of the Tree of Life in all things may have noticed that the winds and breezes are as of yet unaccounted for. These, my children, are the comforting, guiding voices of your long-removed aunts and uncles, parents and grandparents that live in the Tree still. These are the whispers of the Fae of the Green.

## **Realms**

Realms within the Fae Plane are different then those found throughout Phantara. They are breaches from other primal planes trying to invade Phantara. Some have been deemed worthy to exist within the cycle, and those are given access through the Fae Plane and placed in the most appropriate location on another plane within their reach. The Fae Council has always taken the lead in deciding where these entities will be placed. The most recently relocated was the City of Radiance, an entity that was deemed safe by the Council and much needed within Phantara itself.

During the 12th moon of the year 1022 PEW a group of adventurers with a strong tie to Radiance answered the call of the Fae and assisted in severing an invading Realm of pink creatures that nearly forced their way in. As the group quietly spoke of, they had to help set Radiance orbs into places along their strength of land and at the same time as multiple other teams sever the attaching tentacles. Once they were all severed a feminine voice echoed over all the land that "You are judged not worthy of this Prime Plane and are cast into the Deep Void" and the realm was truly cast into the nothingness at the end of the Fae Plane and fell back into the abyss of darkness. Each time the small group speaks on what happened, the horror of what they witnessed and awe at the power of the act is known.

## **People/Flora Fauna**

The Queen and King of Fae - The absolute rulers of the Plane of Fae. They have recently been giving more power to the Council of Seasons.

The Council of Seasons - Composed of 4 citizens from each Segment of the Plane for a total membership of 16 Fae. They are slowly becoming the public ruling body to the Plane and are taking on more burdens from the Queen and King. They are the ones that decide if an invading Realm from outside the Prime Plane will be severed or placed inside the Prime Plane.

The Hunter - This figure is the leader of the "wild hunt" that is unleashed on one night of the year to cleanse the Plane of any that are not welcome. Only those invited to the Hunt are allowed to join and are transformed into one of the numerous War Hounds that run with the Hunt.