Gaoithe Sidhe - The Faerie Winds

King who ordained the eight winds, advancing without uncertainty, full of beauty, the four prime winds He holds back, the four fierce under-winds. There are four other under-winds, as learned authors say, this should be the number, without any error, of the winds, twelve winds.
King who fashioned the colours of the winds, who fixed them in safe courses, after their manner, in well-ordered disposition, with the varieties of each manifold hue.
The white, the clear purple, the blue, the very strong green, the yellow, the red, sure the knowledge, in their gentle meetings wrath did not seize them.
The black, the grey, the speckled, the dark and the deep brown, the dun, darksome hues, they are not light, easily controlled.
King who ordained them over every void, the eight wild under-winds; who laid down without defect the bounds of the four prime winds.
From the East, the smiling purple, from the South, the pure white, wondrous, from the North, the black blustering moaning wind, from the West, the babbling dun breeze.
The red, and the yellow along with it, both white and purple ; the green, the blue, it is brave, both dun and the pure white.
The grey, the dark brown, hateful their harshness, both dun and deep black ; the dark, the speckled easterly wind both black and purple.
Rightly ordered their form, their disposition was ordained ; with wise adjustments, openly, according to their position and their fixed places.

From the Southern Church Canto Saltair na Rann c. 561 SI

Introduction

The Hud, a reality-spanning flow of magical energy and spiritual lifeforce, courses freely through Alvez like a river, running in streams and pooling in lakes and eddys. The Hud takes many forms, flowing along natural axes like roads, rivers, and mountain ranges. Among the most visual striking and easily apparent manifestation of the Hud comes in the form of the Gaoithe Sidhe, the Winds of Faerie.
The Gaoithe Sidhe flows out of Old Elfriche, through tears in The Veil into Bedouar, carrying with it the metaphysical energies from all it passes through.
Whirlwinds or barrioù-aveldro are common in Letha, and are typically given special consideration both in navigation and cultural associations.

Controlling the Winds

The Gaoithe Sidhe are one of the most overt and accessible manifestations of the Hud, resulting in rudimentary drawing of Druidecht from them being considered one of the most basic and accessible forms of spellcasting for the novice similherez. Truly mastering windmagik is far more difficult, however, and most rely on tools to perform more blunt manipulation, such as windropes, windblades and more specialized Talismans.
The unique magical properties of the Winds has allowed for the creation of Windships, aerial vessels capable of sailing the 12 Winds like currents on the sea.

Fis

The winds do not have spoken Fis, but instead are identified, summoned and controlled by distinctive whistles. Sailors and aeronauts on voyages are forbidden to whistle, lest a breeze become a dangerous gale when the wrong pitch is reached.

Windblade

A windblade is a simple iron blade, such as a knife, sword or scythe, with a black haft. These are kept as an emergency counter to a whirlwind. A windblade, slashed or thrown into the wind will dispel it, and, if the wind was summoned by an attack from a Similherez, rebound the cut back upon the spellcaster. On windships, windblades are carried by the crew as a last-ditch measure to becalm a tossed vessel.
Windblades are typically kept dull out of respect for the Fair Folk, but some, like those sympathetic to anti-fae movements like the Staunchists, sharpen these as weapons and as a political statement.

Windrope

A special rope, enchanted to be linked to each wind, is used in windships. These ropes are tied in three knots. When the knots are loosened, the wind blows wilder and stronger than when they are tightened. One knot undone would trigger a soft breeze, two a fair wing and a third a gale, capable of destroying an unprepared ship. Windrope is essential to the operation of Windships.

Other Effects

False Rainbows

While mundane atmospheric rainbows, caused by light and water, are still common in Alvez, the Gaoithe Sidhe creates a similar visual occurrence, called a false rainbow. False rainbows occur when various winds and their aurora overlap and create a circle-like path of coloured light. These are discernible from their mundane counterparts by their shifting patterns and inconsistent colouring, as well as often appearing as circles rather than arches.
For the casual daytime observer, however, they can be difficult to identify. As a result, all rainbows, be they atmospheric or false, are considered omens of misfortune and bad weather, signs of a coming Wyldstorm forming at sea. Ships and windships passing through false rainbows are sure to be taken by the sea, according to popular tradition more than empirical reality.
Unlike their mundane counterparts, false rainbows are an unstable and localized Bleed. Reality itself is turbulent, rife with chaotic magic and corrupted Foyson. Things passing through the eye of a false rainbow may be dramatically altered, including sapient beings, with ample stories of travelers emerging with altered sex, age or species.

Tan-Noz

The Tan-Noz is expressly connected with the Gaoithe Sidhe, strengthening in brilliance as the winds pick up. The begou-noz are carried on the winds, words and phrases snatched away by the mischievous winds. Of particular note is the grey-greenwind, which carries the shouted names of those who are lost at sea without proper burial, which can be heard by loved ones in the storms that roll in from the sea following their death.

Cultural Attachments

The Windfolk

In Letha, the winds are often personified with folkloric figures.

The Blackwind is represented by a great dragon with silver-white scales with a breath of ice and snow.

The Lightwind is personified as a dragon with green scales, flying low over the fields

The Redwind, personified by the Gargan Surouas, is often considered the twin rival of the Greywind.

The Whitewind is personified by a great golden dragon, shimmering like the sun on fields of wheat.

The Palewind is represented by a dragon with deep blue scales.

The Grey-Greenwind is associated with the Dark Lady, a black-skinned female gargan who appears to those who will die in a coming storm.

The Greywind, personified by the Gargan Norouas, is often considered the twin rival of the Redwind.

Other Cultural Associations

In Letha, the arrival of a sudden, strong gust of wind is believed to herald a violent death outside of a fated end, usually a suicide, in the surrounding area. The wind is thought to be the passing of the Ankou in a rush to collect the Anoan of the deceased.
In folk tradition, Whirlwinds traveling towards the sea are often remarked upon as "going to fetch water", and a rainstorm will follow within three days. Likewise, if bits of hay are carried in the updraft, the following Winterrule is sure to be a harsh one.
Lethan folklore believes that (atmospheric) rainbows are stairways connected the mortal realm with Mag Mor, frequented by Anaon and the Ankou. Rainbows are often called Hent Ankou (Ankou's Road) as a result of this belief.

Manifestation

Rose de Vents

The peoples of Alvez, both Fae and Bediz, have adopted a 12 pointed compass, consisting of 4 cardinal directions and 8 ordinal directions. Each of these is associated with a colour, which can be scene as a celestial aurora in the sky. These are more vibrant at night, and in regions of heightened magical activity.
These "coloured winds" are as follows: N (Black), NNE (Speckled), NEE (Dark (Purple), E ((Light) Purple), SEE (Yellow), SSE (Red), S (White), SSW (Greyish-Green), SWW (Green), W (Pale (Brown)), NWW (Dark Brown), NNW (Grey)

Black Wind (North) - The harshest and coldest wind, and the most difficult to control. The Blackwind is said to originate from Rupes Nigra, the "top of the world".

Speckled Wind (NNE) - A dry, intense wind, known for bringing freezing winter temperatures. Its aurora is a dark violet with specks of black carried like dust across the sky. It carries the scent of pine

Dark Purple - (NEE) Purplewind is considered opportune for planting crops. It is a more "pure" violet than the black-spotted Wpeckled Wind.

Light Wind (East) - The lavender wind from the East is considered carries the smell of its namesake.

Yellow Wind (SEE) - Planting crops should be avoided while this wind blows.

Red Wind (SSE) - Also called the Stormwind, the Red brings harsh summer storms.

White Wind (South) - A benign and malleable wind.

Grey-Green Wind (SSW) is associated with rain and humidity, and was often combined with watermagik.

Green winds (SWW) are similarly water associated, but are stronger, taking time to build up, but for larger effect. Waterspouts are often formed with Green Winds.

Pale Wind (West) - A light brown, sand-coloured aurora accompanies this wind.

Dark Wind (NWW) - A dark brown aurora, like stained pinewood, accompanies this wind

Grey Wind (NNW) - An intense wind that carries storms in winter.

Type

Metaphysical, Elemental