The Pact of the Fey-King

“In blood and blossom, let the veil hold.” — Inscription on the Emerald Sigil  

Type

Ancient Covenant / Interplanar Treaty  

Date

Pre-Caedryn Era – Signed during the Age of Thorns  

Participants

  King Branoc the Bold – Mortal ruler of early Tarnith   Queen Lyris, the Blooming Empress – Fey ruler of the Spring Bloom Court  

Overview

The Pact of the Fey-King is a mythic and binding agreement forged between the mortal realm of Tarnith and the Feywild. Desperate during a war with otherworldly invaders, King Branoc ventured into the Feywild and pledged a solemn covenant with Queen Lyris. In exchange for protection, he bound his bloodline to the The Verdant Veil, swearing that the rulers of Tarnith would forever act as its guardians.   This pact is considered the foundation of Tarnith’s connection to the Feywild and is honored through rites, relics, and the continued stewardship of the land.  

Terms of the Pact

  The Emerald Sigil was granted to King Branoc, allowing his descendants to sense disturbances in the veil and call upon fey spirits in times of need.   Tarnith’s rulers would serve as Wardens of the Veil, ensuring harmony between planes and preventing mortal corruption or exploitation of the Feywild.   In return, the Fey Courts would lend aid in times of dire need—though never without consequences.  

Legacy

  The pact is still honored by the The Knights of the Emerald Flame, who trace their origins to Branoc’s champions.   The Druids of the Veil conduct annual renewal rituals to reaffirm the agreement.   Violations of the pact (such as the Shadowthorn Rebellion) are said to bring curses, madness, and spectral retribution.  

Relics and Symbols

  Emerald Sigil – A living talisman that glows in the presence of fey energy or planar imbalance.   The first verse of the Pact Chant is carved into ancient stones around the Eternal Arch.  

Contested Lore

  Some scholars believe the pact came at a hidden cost—possibly tying Tarnith’s fate to the whim of the Fey Courts.   Others claim Queen Lyris never meant to honor the pact forever, and that she waits for the balance to falter before reclaiming Tarnith fully.

Cover image: by Kenneth Foote

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