Post by Game Master on Aug 21, 2016 16:40:16 GMT
The Fey lords are largely an enigma. Creatures of extreme power and fickle temperament, some say that they were once mortals who attempted to usurp the the Celestials of Light, and were cursed for their hubris. Although some use male pronouns to describe themselves and some use female pronouns, the proper term for all is lord.
Unlike the Celestials, they greatly enjoy interfering in the affairs of mortals, and though each one has their own agenda, they often make sport of which lord's chosen mortal will best the other's, or some other contest that usually ends poorly for the mortal involved. Of all the fey creatures in the world, the lords are the most powerful and influential, and many cultures throughout the ages have housed cults to these sinister beings, some even venerating them as deities.
There are many fey lords, and perhaps ones that no one has ever heard of are still lurking in the void. But throughout recorded Atollamian history, the names of these fey lords keep popping up, and their existence is, as one scholar from Summerpoint put it dryly, "More likely than not."
-----------------------------
-Mervina the Dream-Eater: A fey lord whose domain is dreams and nightmares, and from whose mouth comes predictions of dark futures. Some claim she is the mother of torture, and that she eats the memories of sleeping mortals, replacing them with horrible nightmares. While Mogg is the fey lord who penitent vampires appeal to in lifting their curse, Mogg must in turn bargain with Mervina for the actual cure. The particulars of their "transactions" are not even whispered of.
-Mogg the Constrictor: A fey lord whose domain is domination and enslavement, he is known as the King of Slave's Tears, and the Harvester. His goal is to make slaves of many mortals by spreading hatred and savagery wherever he can, binding their minds to his will. Legend says he created the first vampire clan, the Vladier, by offering them a goblet of his blood in exchange for a goblet of theirs. It is said in obscure tales that he had a daughter, the fair maiden Brunhilde, who fell in love with the human prince, Sigurd. When Mogg learned of this, he struck Sigurd with vampirism in an attempt to make Brunhilde hate him. To her credit, Brunhilde did not abandon her love for Sigurd, and for the sake of his daughter, Mogg grudgingly turned a blind eye to their love. To this day, no one knows what happened to Sigurd and Brunhilde, and as the daughter of a fey lord and a vampire, it is possible that they are still alive to this day. Unlikely, of course, but... possible.
-Splatt the Mad: A fey lord whose dominion is insanity and obsession, his motives are completely unknown. Some say that he favors those who turn madness into an art form, and many legends are told of strong heroes who end up gibbering mad after interacting with this cunning fey lord. Others say that he finds the strongest, most powerful magic artifacts in the world, and makes sure they end up in the hands of the most unlikely of mortals. Sometimes, he gives boons to those in need, and other times he kicks people when they are down. He is a consummate trickster, and can appreciate a joke. Maybe.
Bacchus the Drunkard: A fey lord whose domain is celebration, drunken debauchery, and hedonism. True to form, his fat figure often appears on the signs of taverns and mead-halls. He is thought to appear whenever a party needs a little "spicing up", and mortals who imbibe his special wines have some of the most incredible stories to tell when they wake up... if they survive his revelries.
-Raven the Daughter of Twilight: A fey lord whose sphere is night and darkness, as well as stealth and sneaky behavior. She is often revered as a goddess by thieves across Atollamu, and many spies and burglars say a prayer to the Mistress of Shadow before engaging in their pastimes. She is distant and inscrutable to all but her chosen few, but what is known about her is that she is not depraved like some of her fey brethren, and does not value murder. She appreciates shadow, obscurity, and cleverness above all else. Some legends say that she once had a cloak called the Living Shade, and that a master thief once opened a hole in reality to steal her cloak, all in order to gain her attention. The story says that Raven wasn't even angry, she was so flattered at the lengths the thief was willing to go to in order to impress her that she appeared to him and told him to keep the cloak, which he did.
He became known as the Shade's Consort, and lived for more than five mortal lifetimes as her herald and paramour before Raven's power could no longer keep him alive, and he passed on. She took back her cloak, but the legend says that if another master thief were to similarly impress her...
-Centra the Vivid: She is an obscure fey lord, and not much is known about her by many mortals. What is known is that she is associated with positive energy, and is among the few fey lords to not be considered evil or sinister in some way, shape or form. Also known is the fact that she has an everlasting hatred of the undead in all their forms, and is willing to grant great power to those whose mission is to slay them. She is said to get along well with Arkon, the god of balance, as he similarly detests the undead, and is on atypically good terms with the Celestials.
-Arachnia the Spider Queen: A fey lord whose appearance is that of a half human, half spider hybrid. She is considered the mother of spiders, and her domains are assassinations, adulteries, and secrets. It is said that she is the inspiration of many assassin cults that have risen up over the centuries, and many cheating husbands say a quick prayer to Arachnia for discretion when going to meet their mistress. She sees life as a web, in that pulling one strand can often cause the whole thing to collapse. She entertains herself by plotting the rise and fall of nations, and it is with good reason that people say she is the sister of Abyss, the fey lord of knowledge.
-Abyss the All-Seeing: A fey lord who consists of a dark, shadowy mass with a single purple eye at the center. His domain is knowledge, and he seeks secrets about the universe that would drive most men insane. He is on very good terms with Splatt, as followers of Abyss all too often end their lives as pawns of Splatt, made insane by knowledge that no mortal eyes should witness. He often offers knowledge to those in need of it, in exchange for some act or service to be rendered at a later time. Unfortunately, many agree to this pact, then find the cost too steep when their number is up.
-Drakas the Crusher: A most destructive fey lord whose domains include battle, power, and ambition. He is said to be constantly looking for a way to defeat the Celestial Albain, whom he considers his eternal foe. To this end, Drakas attempts to gain disciples, offering them the power to destroy their enemies in exchange for their aid in sabotaging the worship of Albain. Clerics and paladins of Albain are always vigilant when word of Drakas cultists reaches their ears. He is associated with fires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters as well.
-Scrawm the Orc-Father: The fey lord credited with the creation of orcs. His domain is those who are spurned and neglected, and he is hailed by his followers as the Outcast King. In an appropriate turn of events, Scrawm is not officially recognized as a lord by the other fey lords, and this suits him just fine. Scrawm is worshipped primarily by orcs, and those who hate beauty and love strength. Scrawm only cherishes those who desire the strength to take what is theirs, and his wrath is upon those who are content with weakness. He is, in the words of Splatt's cultists, "Not popular at parties."
-Kraven the Wilder: A fey lord whose domain is the hunt, honor, and challenge. It was Kraven who is known as King of Beasts, and he gives the gift (and curse) of lycanthropy to hunters that he deemed worthy. Lycanthropy is also known as the disease that turns people into werewolves. Werewolves reflect Kraven's personality well, hunting in the dark, and being pursued by hunters in the day. He is also the father of various monster beasts, like owlbears and ettercaps, although the latter he credits Arachnia with for inspiration. Kraven is more neutral than pure evil, and he has standards for his hunts that he follows well. He and his followers never hunt weak prey, and he always gives the hunted a chance at escape or victory, no matter how small. It is said that Kraven created a white stag that roams the continent of Atollamu, and that any hunter who can catch and slay this mythical creature shall be granted an audience with Kraven, and make a request of him. He may choose not to honor the request if it's absurd, but more often than not, he will grant a boon. Kraven is like the wilds he loves so much: Impartial, and deadly.
-Faust the Pact-Maker: A fey lord whose domain is inscrutable, he travels to and fro offering contracts to mortals that will give them great power, but at an eventual great price. More than any other fey lord, Faust loves granting power to warlocks who seek his power, as well as giving boons to those in need. This is not out of altruism, however, as the terms for these agreements are often steep. One tale tells of a man who lost both of his legs in battle. He made a deal with Faust to walk again, but he ended up receiving his wife's legs as a result of the trade. Faust will occasionally gamble with mortals if they'd rather leave the results of their bargains up to fate, and to his credit, he will never cheat. Cheating would fly in the face of what Faust appreciates and stands for. If outwitted or if fortune falls in favor of the mortal, Faust is nothing but respectful, and will leave that mortal alone forever after... unless called for once again.
-Ebony the Blooded: The fey lord who rules over the domain of treason, plotting, and rebellions. Ebony is generally seen as male, though occasionally is referred to as the Queen of Blood. Ebony is credited with raising up any who rebel against lawful authority, and who seek to plot and conspire.
Dark elves (elves with jet black skin and pure white hair are also called Di'mera) are those outcast from the Ali'mera when they completed the Black-Gold Ritual to cleanse themselves of compassion and love. These dark elves worship Ebony, and in their cavernous cities below the surface of Atollamu, they relish their lord's treacherous teachings, growing strong in power and malice.
-Lunara the Moonshadow: A fey lord whose domain is dawn and dusk, and the mystical in between time known as twilight. Said to be Raven's mother, she is also one of the only fey lords to be considered largely non-evil, even good. She maintains a consistent female appearance, and is treated as such. She consistently is said to show more concern for her mortal followers than almost any other fey lord, and is quick to aid those who call on her.
In many legends, Lunara is seen as more of a cosmic force than a personality, and she almost always gets her way. Her followers have admittedly called her "Ruthless and implacable, but wise and understanding." She has been likened to a mother, one with high expectations, but who wants to help her "children" reach those expectations. She often sets out nigh-impossible challenges for her followers, but her rewards are gracious.
One story tells of Lunara accepting a wager from Splatt the Mad that her high priestess, a Wu'mera named Liafi, could not go 100 years without speaking, in the name of her lord. For 99 years, Liafi obeyed Lunara, and in the last days of her challenge, was faithful even in the face of Splatt attempting to drive her insane, and causing her almost unbearable agony. As the 100 year mark was reached, Liafi screamed, and collapsed, sleeping for ten years. When she awoke, Lunara was beside her, and gifted her servant with incredible divine power. Liafi went on to become an extremely potent druid, guarding the shrine of Lunara in the Emerald Sea, perhaps even to this day. Although, it is said that apart from the verbal components of spells... she never spoke a single word thereafter.
-Gyrus the Immaculate: A fey lord who is feared by almost all the others. He represents order, deduction, and calculation. It is said that the other fey lords feared his almost machine-like intelligence so much, that they enacted a ritual to raise up a power to oppose him. Someone who was his complete opposite. That apprently spawned Splatt, and the two have locked horns ever since. Eventually, Gyrus could not anticipate anything that Splatt would do, and he has since withdrawn from the world of Atollamu, spending centuries and centuries attempting to do what none would deem possible: Calculate madness. It is unknown if he will ever succeed, or whether his attempts will finally corrupt and drive him mad as well.
Unlike the Celestials, they greatly enjoy interfering in the affairs of mortals, and though each one has their own agenda, they often make sport of which lord's chosen mortal will best the other's, or some other contest that usually ends poorly for the mortal involved. Of all the fey creatures in the world, the lords are the most powerful and influential, and many cultures throughout the ages have housed cults to these sinister beings, some even venerating them as deities.
There are many fey lords, and perhaps ones that no one has ever heard of are still lurking in the void. But throughout recorded Atollamian history, the names of these fey lords keep popping up, and their existence is, as one scholar from Summerpoint put it dryly, "More likely than not."
-----------------------------
-Mervina the Dream-Eater: A fey lord whose domain is dreams and nightmares, and from whose mouth comes predictions of dark futures. Some claim she is the mother of torture, and that she eats the memories of sleeping mortals, replacing them with horrible nightmares. While Mogg is the fey lord who penitent vampires appeal to in lifting their curse, Mogg must in turn bargain with Mervina for the actual cure. The particulars of their "transactions" are not even whispered of.
-Mogg the Constrictor: A fey lord whose domain is domination and enslavement, he is known as the King of Slave's Tears, and the Harvester. His goal is to make slaves of many mortals by spreading hatred and savagery wherever he can, binding their minds to his will. Legend says he created the first vampire clan, the Vladier, by offering them a goblet of his blood in exchange for a goblet of theirs. It is said in obscure tales that he had a daughter, the fair maiden Brunhilde, who fell in love with the human prince, Sigurd. When Mogg learned of this, he struck Sigurd with vampirism in an attempt to make Brunhilde hate him. To her credit, Brunhilde did not abandon her love for Sigurd, and for the sake of his daughter, Mogg grudgingly turned a blind eye to their love. To this day, no one knows what happened to Sigurd and Brunhilde, and as the daughter of a fey lord and a vampire, it is possible that they are still alive to this day. Unlikely, of course, but... possible.
-Splatt the Mad: A fey lord whose dominion is insanity and obsession, his motives are completely unknown. Some say that he favors those who turn madness into an art form, and many legends are told of strong heroes who end up gibbering mad after interacting with this cunning fey lord. Others say that he finds the strongest, most powerful magic artifacts in the world, and makes sure they end up in the hands of the most unlikely of mortals. Sometimes, he gives boons to those in need, and other times he kicks people when they are down. He is a consummate trickster, and can appreciate a joke. Maybe.
Bacchus the Drunkard: A fey lord whose domain is celebration, drunken debauchery, and hedonism. True to form, his fat figure often appears on the signs of taverns and mead-halls. He is thought to appear whenever a party needs a little "spicing up", and mortals who imbibe his special wines have some of the most incredible stories to tell when they wake up... if they survive his revelries.
-Raven the Daughter of Twilight: A fey lord whose sphere is night and darkness, as well as stealth and sneaky behavior. She is often revered as a goddess by thieves across Atollamu, and many spies and burglars say a prayer to the Mistress of Shadow before engaging in their pastimes. She is distant and inscrutable to all but her chosen few, but what is known about her is that she is not depraved like some of her fey brethren, and does not value murder. She appreciates shadow, obscurity, and cleverness above all else. Some legends say that she once had a cloak called the Living Shade, and that a master thief once opened a hole in reality to steal her cloak, all in order to gain her attention. The story says that Raven wasn't even angry, she was so flattered at the lengths the thief was willing to go to in order to impress her that she appeared to him and told him to keep the cloak, which he did.
He became known as the Shade's Consort, and lived for more than five mortal lifetimes as her herald and paramour before Raven's power could no longer keep him alive, and he passed on. She took back her cloak, but the legend says that if another master thief were to similarly impress her...
-Centra the Vivid: She is an obscure fey lord, and not much is known about her by many mortals. What is known is that she is associated with positive energy, and is among the few fey lords to not be considered evil or sinister in some way, shape or form. Also known is the fact that she has an everlasting hatred of the undead in all their forms, and is willing to grant great power to those whose mission is to slay them. She is said to get along well with Arkon, the god of balance, as he similarly detests the undead, and is on atypically good terms with the Celestials.
-Arachnia the Spider Queen: A fey lord whose appearance is that of a half human, half spider hybrid. She is considered the mother of spiders, and her domains are assassinations, adulteries, and secrets. It is said that she is the inspiration of many assassin cults that have risen up over the centuries, and many cheating husbands say a quick prayer to Arachnia for discretion when going to meet their mistress. She sees life as a web, in that pulling one strand can often cause the whole thing to collapse. She entertains herself by plotting the rise and fall of nations, and it is with good reason that people say she is the sister of Abyss, the fey lord of knowledge.
-Abyss the All-Seeing: A fey lord who consists of a dark, shadowy mass with a single purple eye at the center. His domain is knowledge, and he seeks secrets about the universe that would drive most men insane. He is on very good terms with Splatt, as followers of Abyss all too often end their lives as pawns of Splatt, made insane by knowledge that no mortal eyes should witness. He often offers knowledge to those in need of it, in exchange for some act or service to be rendered at a later time. Unfortunately, many agree to this pact, then find the cost too steep when their number is up.
-Drakas the Crusher: A most destructive fey lord whose domains include battle, power, and ambition. He is said to be constantly looking for a way to defeat the Celestial Albain, whom he considers his eternal foe. To this end, Drakas attempts to gain disciples, offering them the power to destroy their enemies in exchange for their aid in sabotaging the worship of Albain. Clerics and paladins of Albain are always vigilant when word of Drakas cultists reaches their ears. He is associated with fires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters as well.
-Scrawm the Orc-Father: The fey lord credited with the creation of orcs. His domain is those who are spurned and neglected, and he is hailed by his followers as the Outcast King. In an appropriate turn of events, Scrawm is not officially recognized as a lord by the other fey lords, and this suits him just fine. Scrawm is worshipped primarily by orcs, and those who hate beauty and love strength. Scrawm only cherishes those who desire the strength to take what is theirs, and his wrath is upon those who are content with weakness. He is, in the words of Splatt's cultists, "Not popular at parties."
-Kraven the Wilder: A fey lord whose domain is the hunt, honor, and challenge. It was Kraven who is known as King of Beasts, and he gives the gift (and curse) of lycanthropy to hunters that he deemed worthy. Lycanthropy is also known as the disease that turns people into werewolves. Werewolves reflect Kraven's personality well, hunting in the dark, and being pursued by hunters in the day. He is also the father of various monster beasts, like owlbears and ettercaps, although the latter he credits Arachnia with for inspiration. Kraven is more neutral than pure evil, and he has standards for his hunts that he follows well. He and his followers never hunt weak prey, and he always gives the hunted a chance at escape or victory, no matter how small. It is said that Kraven created a white stag that roams the continent of Atollamu, and that any hunter who can catch and slay this mythical creature shall be granted an audience with Kraven, and make a request of him. He may choose not to honor the request if it's absurd, but more often than not, he will grant a boon. Kraven is like the wilds he loves so much: Impartial, and deadly.
-Faust the Pact-Maker: A fey lord whose domain is inscrutable, he travels to and fro offering contracts to mortals that will give them great power, but at an eventual great price. More than any other fey lord, Faust loves granting power to warlocks who seek his power, as well as giving boons to those in need. This is not out of altruism, however, as the terms for these agreements are often steep. One tale tells of a man who lost both of his legs in battle. He made a deal with Faust to walk again, but he ended up receiving his wife's legs as a result of the trade. Faust will occasionally gamble with mortals if they'd rather leave the results of their bargains up to fate, and to his credit, he will never cheat. Cheating would fly in the face of what Faust appreciates and stands for. If outwitted or if fortune falls in favor of the mortal, Faust is nothing but respectful, and will leave that mortal alone forever after... unless called for once again.
-Ebony the Blooded: The fey lord who rules over the domain of treason, plotting, and rebellions. Ebony is generally seen as male, though occasionally is referred to as the Queen of Blood. Ebony is credited with raising up any who rebel against lawful authority, and who seek to plot and conspire.
Dark elves (elves with jet black skin and pure white hair are also called Di'mera) are those outcast from the Ali'mera when they completed the Black-Gold Ritual to cleanse themselves of compassion and love. These dark elves worship Ebony, and in their cavernous cities below the surface of Atollamu, they relish their lord's treacherous teachings, growing strong in power and malice.
-Lunara the Moonshadow: A fey lord whose domain is dawn and dusk, and the mystical in between time known as twilight. Said to be Raven's mother, she is also one of the only fey lords to be considered largely non-evil, even good. She maintains a consistent female appearance, and is treated as such. She consistently is said to show more concern for her mortal followers than almost any other fey lord, and is quick to aid those who call on her.
In many legends, Lunara is seen as more of a cosmic force than a personality, and she almost always gets her way. Her followers have admittedly called her "Ruthless and implacable, but wise and understanding." She has been likened to a mother, one with high expectations, but who wants to help her "children" reach those expectations. She often sets out nigh-impossible challenges for her followers, but her rewards are gracious.
One story tells of Lunara accepting a wager from Splatt the Mad that her high priestess, a Wu'mera named Liafi, could not go 100 years without speaking, in the name of her lord. For 99 years, Liafi obeyed Lunara, and in the last days of her challenge, was faithful even in the face of Splatt attempting to drive her insane, and causing her almost unbearable agony. As the 100 year mark was reached, Liafi screamed, and collapsed, sleeping for ten years. When she awoke, Lunara was beside her, and gifted her servant with incredible divine power. Liafi went on to become an extremely potent druid, guarding the shrine of Lunara in the Emerald Sea, perhaps even to this day. Although, it is said that apart from the verbal components of spells... she never spoke a single word thereafter.
-Gyrus the Immaculate: A fey lord who is feared by almost all the others. He represents order, deduction, and calculation. It is said that the other fey lords feared his almost machine-like intelligence so much, that they enacted a ritual to raise up a power to oppose him. Someone who was his complete opposite. That apprently spawned Splatt, and the two have locked horns ever since. Eventually, Gyrus could not anticipate anything that Splatt would do, and he has since withdrawn from the world of Atollamu, spending centuries and centuries attempting to do what none would deem possible: Calculate madness. It is unknown if he will ever succeed, or whether his attempts will finally corrupt and drive him mad as well.