Chrysalis: The War of the Faerie Courts

In a world hidden within ours, they live... the Good Neighbors, the Gentry, the Fair Folk, Elves, Fairies, Elementals, Djinn, Alfar, and endless other names. They can alter their appearance in any way they desire, changing their clothing, hair, eyes, ears, and limbs at will, and growing fur, scales, feathers, flames, breezes, water, crystal, stone, armor, wings, horns, antennae, fangs, gills, extra limbs, smoke, strange colors, lights, shadows, electric sparks, frost, snowflakes, vines, leaves, thorns, bark, tendrils, exoskeletons, animal heads, legs, tails, claws, teeth, and patterns. This transformation of spirit to physical form is accompanied by a glow or fog of magical energy that shrouds the fairy in transformation, and each chrysalis is unique to that fairy. What would do if you could drastically alter your appearance every day? They each live in and are mystically bound to a feature of the landscape (beach, sea, river, lake, well, swamp, glacier, tundra, tree, forest, jungle, cavern, grassland, bush, wind, garden, abandoned house/mansion, ruins, stone, gemstone, brass oil lamp, canyon, sky, storm, mountain, valley, grove, desert, island, snowfall, etc) and the size of their "Locus" (as such things are called) is not a determination of their power level (hence, a solitary rose fairy might be more powerful than a mountain ogre or a lightning sprite). They change their appearance, themes, and attitudes at a moment's notice, but all are vulnerable to iron or damage to their locus. Many of them have withdrawn from the world, however, and either remain slumbering deep within their loci, or involved in life within Nogtirna, the City of Youth, located in the middle of a lake in the roots and branches of a twisted tree, where the fey in their most diminuitive forms glide, flutter, dance, and swim about day in and day out. However, not all fey agree on how best to carry out their task: nurturing and improving both nature and humanity. Their are two courts, each led by a child of the long-lost Oberon and Titania, and his or her consort. King Lugh of the Long-Arm and his bride, Gloriana the Faerie Queene rule in the Seelie Court, home of the Bright spirits of Summer and Light while Queen Nicnevin, the Raven Queen, and her consort, the Dark Elf sorcerer Fafnir the Weredragon keep an iron grip over the Night fey of Winter and Darkness. Nogtirna is considered neutral ground for the two courts, as the Seelie Court reigns in an eternally peaceful land beneath a vast lake, while the Unseelie court rules from beneath the Hills of the kingdom, in a palace of roots, stone, and crystal. Neither court is truly good or evil, and both has its share of dangers and heroes. Meanwhile, Robin Goodfellow, known as the Puck, has formed a group of rebels, exiles, and outcasts who mockingly call themselves the Shadow Court and seek to either find their own way or just stir up chaos for the courts.

To play, you will need to post your character's Name, Rank (in ascending order: Rogue, Goodfolk, Merchant, Mystic (choose one of the following - Witch/Druid/Sha'ir/Oracle/Scholar), Knight/Dame, Lord/Lady, Count/Countess, Duke/Duchess, Prince/Princess), Locus/Type (i.e. Oak tree/Dryad, limestone cave/oread, wolf pack/barghest, farmhouse/brownie, breeze/sylph, hearthfire/salamander, stone/gnome, bridge/troll, lake/nixie, flower/pixie, etc. If you want a specific locus but don't know of any legends regarding fairies or spirits around it, feel free to make one up), Court (Seelie, Unseelie, or Shadow) and Background. Please note that I did NOT include appearance on this list, since each of the fey is a natural shapeshifter and can (and usually does) change appearance as often as you or I might change clothes. Therefore, appearances must be described IN PLAY, and be creative.

Note: This story is set in a medieval fantasy world, though some of the fey might have resources and styles that look anachronistic (or even futuristic).

A Note about Magic - All fey have Locus magic, tied to whatever their locus is and the essential elements and symbolism involved with the locus. A Djinni's lamp is tied with fire and metal and light, as well as that of air (through smoke) and mental/spiritual illumination and learning. A stonehenge would be a place of earth, light (since it is designed to chart the path of the sun), time, life, and death. A Leshiy or Dryad's tree would be a locus of earth, wood, water, air, and life energies, while an abandoned mansion "haunted" by a redcap or banshee would be a place of death, darkness, war, and anger or sorrow. A mermaid's coral rock for singing and hair combing would be a locus of water, earth, air, beauty, or music, while a fairy ring of mushrooms might be a locus of earth, life, death, music, and change. Each locus is different, and the fey can use "cantrips" or minor spells from their locus. The shapeshifting, invisibility, teleporting, illusion, telepathic, telekinetic, and energy-blasting (either raw magic "levin bolts" or psychic "elf-shot") powers are also considered cantrips. True magic, however, must be cast in the presence of a locus, requires membership in either the Seelie or Unseelie Courts, gets best effects when the caster has some connection (such as a lock of hair or drop of blood or a prized possession, or the subject itself) to the subject, and these spells tend to be permanent, dramatic, and powerful, especially as the caster goes up in rank. These are the traditional fairy tale spells... like cursing someone to die on their sixteenth birthday after pricking her finger on a spindle (Unseelie) or changing the death to sleep and making it affect an entire palace and growing a forest of thorns to protect the sleepers for a century (Seelie). Seelie spells are supposed to be positive, and Unseelie ones negative, but this is a flimsy definition... however, all Seelie Spells must involve morality (rewarding or protecting someone for good deeds, or punishing someone for evil acts) and all Unseelie Spells must specify some way to break the spell, even if it is through a riddle. The mystics and leaders of the Shadow court are still trying to invent their own brand of spells (as opposed to cantrips), but they have been unsuccessful, and must instead rely on their closer connections with the other races (humans, orcs, demons, angels, etc) to make up for this lack of power in faerie society.

SOME EXAMPLES OF FAIRIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD, ACCORDING TO ATTITUDE AND ENVIRONMENT
Domestic Faeries - Abbey Lubber, Boggart, Arkan Sonney, Derricks, Bauchan, Brownie, Buttery Spirit, Hobgoblin, Knocky-Boh, Bwbach, Bwca, Killmoulis, Chao Phum, Phi, Chin-chin Kobakama, Fendoree, Dobie, Silky, Gunna, Cluricaune, Green Glaistigs, Domovoy, Duende, Follet, Folletto, Grama-Devata, Grogach, Grugach, Urisk, Hausbock, Kaboutermannikin, Kobold, Menahune, Monaciello, Nis, Tomte, Banshee.

Fearsome Faeries - Bokwus, Buggane, Bugbear, Busao, Imp, Awd Goggie, Jack-in-Irons, Boobrie, Fachan, Nuckelavee, Redcap, Fomorian, Foawr, Gabriel Ratchets, Cwn Annwn, Brown Glaistigs, Kakamora, Ogre, Oni, Spriggan, Troll.

Fey Vampires - Baobhan Sith, Joint-Eater, Ganconer, Will-o'wisp, Leanan Sidhe, Night Hag.

Hags - Baba Yaga, Black Annis, Cailleach Bheur, Hannya, Vetala.

Little People - Abatwa, Bakemono, Ellyllon, Tylwyth Teg, Ganharava, Goblin, Hob, Inukin, Kiliakai, Leprechaun, Mekumwasuck, Nagumwasuck, Pech, Pixie, Trow, Drow, Yombo, Yunw Tsundi, Zip.

Mountain Faeries - Auki, Gwyllion, Fir Bolg, Mimi, Rubezahl, Vila, Yaksha.

Noble Faeries - Alven, Daoine Sidhe, Fees, Gwragedd Annwn, Tuatha De Danaan, High Elves, Patupaiarehe, Turehu.

Sylvan Faeries - Agogwe, Anhanga, Bela, Brushman, Dama, Dagenda, Dame Verte, Fankenmannikin, Seligen Fraulein, Fairy Cow, Faun, Lampong, Leshiy, Lipsipsip, Oakman, Nat, Phi, Saci, Skovmand, Skognufva.

Trickster Faeries - Brag, Hedley Kow, Church Grim, Barguest, Brochllan, Skriker, Fetch, Waff, Thrumpin, Cait Sith, Cu Sith, Lutin, Phouka, Pugot, Pooka, Gremlin.

Underground Faeries - Blue-Cap, Coblynau, Gomme, Knocker, Matanda, Meister Hammerlinge.

Victorian Faeries.

Water Faeries - Asrai, Awabi, Bonze, Gwragedd Annwn, Ben-Varrey, Catao, Kelpie, Selkie, Shellycoat, Ughoy, Jalpari, Korrigan, Lamignac, Siren, Stromkarl, Tapairu, Vodyanoy.

NAME: Aujord Hwi
RANK: Knight/Dame
LOCUS/TYPE: Waterfall/Fossergrim
COURT: Unseelie
BACKGROUND: Fossergrim are waterfall spriits, and Sir Aujord's locus is a rather magnificent one, complete with submerged air pockets and hidden grottos, secret pathways behind the curtain of water, and magical chambers that exist momentarily within the plummeting water itself. Inside, it is fairly sumptuous and slightly hedonistic, with fragrant rooms full of pillows and diaphanous curtains, smooth marble floors and limestone walls, pools of water and light and mist and ice, and a crystal library, all decorated in sky blue, sea green, indigo, silver, and forthy white, for Aujord likes to be comfortable, and his habit of charming mortal lovers and taking them away has resulted in the creation of many spacious rooms and a collection of treasures and wonders washed over the falls. When the mortal lover's life has been extinguished, Aujord sorrowfully and carefully embraces him or her, and they melt into their fey paramour, where their memories and emotions remain while their souls depart, making this knight one of the most human and noble in the Unseelie Court. Equally comfortable in male, female, and animal forms, Aujord chose the Unseelie Court both for its links with cold and depth and for its more obvious (and therefore, defensible) dangers. Also, a noble fairy knight and lover is something one finds every time one throws a stone in the Seelie Court, and Aujord thought it would be easier to stand out and make a name with the Unseelie. This theory has, thus far, been proven right.

Beneath the frothing waters of Winterbreath Falls, something was stirring. A mixture of glitter and shadows and ripples spun from the dark and broke the dancing surface into the cool air as the afternoon surrendered to dusk. Indigo sparks of Aujord Hwi's magic whirled around the fossergrim, spinning flesh, bone, garments, and hair from thin air. As he entered the Chrysalis, he felt not unlike the goosebumps of excitement you get when someone you like whispers in your ear, but instead of goosebumps sliding over his skin, skin was sliding over his personal energies. He willed himself into an elf form, with long silver hair that fell to his shoulders like the water fell into the pool behind him. His slate-gray eyes flashed in the fading light, and his skin was fair and pale. His ears were slightly pointed and swept back, and his angular face seemed almost as if it too had been carved into smoothness by centuries of thundering water. Shining silver armor with wavelike ice-blue edging. A two-handed sword was sheathed and belted to his waist in a gleaming scabbard, and he appeared to be standing on the surface of the water. With another dazzling cloud of the Chrysalis, he added the finishing touches... a feathered mask that resembled a bald eagle with outspread wings and a pair of wings of his own... huge black spicebush swallowtail butterfly wings, with a dusting of iridescent blue on the lower wings. Usually he favored dragonfly wings, asthey were more likely to be found near the falls, but tonight was a time to be impressive. "After all," he reasoned as his wings lifted him into the evening air and carried him towards Nogtirna, "I'm going to a ball."