Fae

These are creatures of pure magic. The original Firstborn stepped wholly formed from the Mists of Creation and they make claim to be the original Fae and first beings. Now, however, they are either children of other firstborn, or the result of minor fae spirits, called Sprites, gaining enough power and control over their magic to take an active role in the affairs of the Courts and Fae. A Firstborn stepping from the mists has not occurred in the living memory of any Fae.

The Firstborn are the closest Fae to the chaotic magic of the Mists and favor Unleashing their magic in displays of power rather than carefully controlling it with Cantrips. These Fae have a limited understanding of humanity and the world they have created yet typically hold the highest positions of power with the Courts and Fae society. They resent that this must change after the Battle of Stone, they resent that their magic and knowledge is weakening, and they fear that the world is no longer for them.

Appearing spontaneously from the intersection of the Mists and the natural world they are the very elements that creation is based on. The Inanime were the second type of Fae to spring into being and are the most alien and removed from humanity. Comprised of the element of their birth; fire, water, ice, wind, sand, stone and so forth, they are the Fae most in touch with the natural world and sensitive to its changes.

Inanimae are, by humans, often mistaken for elementals or spirits when their true forms are revealed. They have the most difficulty relating to humans and understanding their cultures and so struggle to take on the myriad human forms of the Changeling and First Born. They don’t much mind though, as they much prefer to exist in nature around the element from which they sprang forth.

Changelings are unique among the Fae as they are a mix between them and humanity. Some are children of humans and firstborn, others are  firstborn children swapped for human infants or those human infants raised by the Firstborn. Both the fae child and the abducted human baby may grow up to be changelings.

Changelings have, historically, been looked down on by the Firstborn and Inanimae as being less, tainted by their human parentage or rearing. Since the Battle of Stone they have come into their own and have begun taking on positions of authority within their Courts. They are, by far, the most numerous Origin in the 900’s and their ability to step into human society with such ease is a major boon.

The Spring Court embodies the vibrant and lush places of the world and celebrates the variety of life. It is a mistake to think that a Spring Fae is a peaceful being focused on the cultivation of life. Spring Fae embrace change in all forms, watching life progress and reveling in all of its myriad variations, including the many different ways it can end. The Spring Court began the War of Seasons in their bid to influence the entire world and are among the Courts most eager to get back to it in earnest. Their penchant for renewal, growth and change make them, in their eyes, the most likely to win and this long cold war has grown stale indeed.

They have lost many of their greatest holdings from centuries past, but of all the Courts, they are most adept at finding new homes and adapting to new surroundings. They are rebuilding their Court faster than most others, perhaps with the exception of Autumn in preparation for a great offensive. They embrace the change that the War of Seasons brings but are blinded by their ambition to the change humanity is causing in the world and their place within it.

The Summer Court embodies the unforgiving heat and stifling beauty of the sun and warm places. Deserts are their homes and tradition their culture. They pride themselves on adherence to the traditions of old, their hierarchical structure, and a harsh observance of discipline, For, like the deserts they crafted, those who break the rules or are weak must be taught through harsh lessons or meet death. Summer fae are stern but fair masters, and their love of traditions means that they have retained many treasures and strongholds from ages past.

Their order and traditions make them the most organized and martial of all the Courts. A trait they believe will see them to victory in the War of Seasons. Of all the Courts the Summer are still mostly ruled by First Born with Changelings relegated to the lower ranks, with a few notable exceptions. Unwilling to bend tradition and lax its standards on recruiting the Summer Court has rebuilt slowly since the Battle of Stone and is a shadow of its former glory.

The Autumn Court embodies the places of transition in the world, such as where harsh desserts transition to frigid mountains. Fascinated with humanity, even more than most fae, the Autumn-kin are contemplative and clever. Swearing an oath with an Autumn fae is much like making a deal with the Devil — enticing, empowering and often deadly in the final analysis when the human invariable breaks it. The Autumn Fae look at humans and their faith with wonder and fear.

The majority of the Autumn Court are Changelings and this closeness with humanity has led them to see the truth. The world is no longer theirs. Since the Battle of Stone the Autumn Court has sought to understand humanity and what they have found has terrified them. Many believe the War of Seasons needs to be abandoned before humanity and the rising God of Christianity seals their doom. Others believe a swift end to the war is the only way the Fae can survive, regardless of which court wins.

The Winter Court embodies the coldest and harshest lands of the Earth. They, like the lands they crafted, are the most brutal of all the fae. While they are vicious warriors, they are the least organized Court and the least interested in the War of Seasons. Instead focusing on their own aims, goals and hunger. Organized war isn’t much to their liking, but preying on humanity, the thrill of nighttime hunts, the taste of blood and fear — these things are very much to their tastes. It is only the notion of plunging the world into a dark, savage night that spurs them to participate in the War at all. That, and the thought of another Court forcing them into submission.

The majority of the Winter Court are Inanimae and First Born, prior to the battle of stone Winter Court Changelings were simply killed and eaten more often than not. Since the Battle of Stone little has changed and this complacency and reliance upon the self and self alone leaves the Winter Court ill prepared to renew the War of Seasons. They believe their individual prowess, strength and brutality will carry the day if any of the other Courts dare to attack them and, for the most part, they haven’t been wrong.