Court of Twisting Paths

The Fae Realm: The Ever-Shifting Veil

The Fae Realm—sometimes called the Veil, the Glimmerwilds, or the Endless Boughs—exists alongside the mortal world, a place of twisting enchantments, timeless beauty, and lurking treachery. It is not one place but many, a realm of overlapping realities, shaped by whim, magic, and the will of those who rule it.

The Gloomwood Forest has always been tied to the Veil, with places where the boundaries blur, where paths shift, and where time does not flow as it should. Those who step into the wrong glade at the wrong moment may find themselves walking in the Glimmerwilds without realizing it, only to return days or centuries later, forever changed.

The Fey of the Veil

The Fae are as varied as the trees of the Gloomwood, ranging from capricious tricksters to forgotten gods. They are not bound by mortal morality—some are kind, others cruel, but most are unpredictable, driven by their own strange laws and desires.

Lesser Fae: Small, mischievous spirits—sprites, nixies, mothkin, and trickster shadows—that flit between worlds, playing games with mortals or stealing small trinkets.
Greater Fae: Nobler beings—fae knights, courtiers, and ancient guardians—who move with purpose and intrigue, their beauty inhuman and unsettling.
Forgotten Lords: Ancient beings, older than human kings and elven bloodlines, some fading, some growing stronger, each tied to a law, a season, or a curse.

But it is the Elves of the Veil who once held dominion over the forests and the thresholds between worlds.

The Elves of the Veil: The Forgotten Kin

The elves of the Fae Realm are ageless, immortal, and bound to the rhythm of the realm. They are not like the Feral Elves, who were cast out, nor like the decadent, dying elves of forgotten empires. They are something older, sharper, and stranger.

The Silverborne – The Nobility of the Veil

The Silverborne are the lords and ladies of the fae courts, beings of moonlit grace and gilded cruelty. They weave glamours and bargains, binding mortals in eternal servitude for the price of a song or a whispered wish.

Tall, impossibly perfect, and inhuman in their elegance.
Eyes like mirrors, reflecting more than they should.
Masters of wordplay, twisting bargains into chains of obligation.
Some serve the Court of Twisting Paths, others rule their own forgotten halls.

The Gloamstriders – The Wanderers Between Worlds

Not all elves of the Fae Realm belong to a court. Some are nomads, walking between realms, living in the places where paths shift like running water.

Drifters, storytellers, and guides, but never for free.
Wear dark cloaks, their faces obscured in shadow except under the moon.
Will lead you home… but only if you can answer their riddle before dawn.

The Moonweavers – Those Who Weave the Veil

The Moonweavers are ancient, reclusive elves, tasked with keeping the border between the Veil and the Mortal Realm intact—or breaking it where it serves them.

Dwell in the hidden reaches of the Fae Realm, spinning silver threads into the fabric of reality.
Their fingers shimmer with magic, their eyes filled with endless constellations.
They do not suffer fools, and those who disrupt their work may find themselves lost in time.

But not all elves remained in the Veil. Some were banished, stripped of their immortality, and cast into the Gloomwood—these are the Feral Elves, who now roam as hunted exiles, shunned by their kin.

The Court of Twisting Paths

At the heart of the Fae Realm, where the trees spiral upward into infinity, sits the Court of Twisting Paths. Unlike the Seelie and Unseelie Courts of distant lands, this court is not of light or dark—it is a place of contradiction, whim, and deception.

Its halls are endless, shifting with every step.
Its ruler changes with the turning of the seasons, yet none remember who ruled before.
Its knights ride beasts that should not exist, bound to endless, forgotten quests.
Its laws are unclear, except when they are absolute. Its bargains binding, except when they are not.

The lords and ladies of this court are beings of pure guile, speaking in half-truths and riddles, bound by laws even they struggle to understand. Mortals who stumble into the Court may leave as kings—or never leave at all.

The Queen’s Undoing – The Fall of the Monarch of the Twisting Paths

Long before mortals spoke of the Court of Twisting Paths, before the Gloomwood was darkened by the creeping corruption, the Queen Who Was ruled over the fae of the Veil with wisdom, cunning, and an ever-drifting smile. She was not a ruler of thrones and conquest, but of secrets, whispers, and shifting roads that led where none expected. It is said she could walk every path at once, seeing every possibility, every choice before it was made. But knowledge is a dangerous thing, and what she glimpsed in the twisting reflections of her realm was something that should never have been known.

The Queen’s Fall – The Whisper That Should Not Have Been Heard

At the height of her reign, the Queen sought to unravel the nature of fate itself, bending the Twisting Paths to her will, ensuring that no darkness would claim her lands, no enemy would rise unseen. And so, she gazed too far, listening too closely to the winds that blow between worlds. What she found was not fate, but the whisper of the entity—the thing that dwells beneath, before, and beyond.

It spoke in echoes of dreams long dead, in promises of control over the great weave of time and choice, in honeyed words that melted into madness the longer they were heard. She did not trust it, not at first—but she sought to understand it, to see what no fae had seen, to wield knowledge forbidden even to her kind.

For the first time, the Queen lost her way.

The thing cursed her, not with fire or shadow, but with something far crueler—forgetting. The paths she once wove unraveled, and the knowledge of who she was slipped from her mind, piece by piece. First, her name was lost, then her court’s memory of her. Her reflection showed a stranger’s face, and when she spoke, the echoes of her own voice no longer recognized her words.

By the time she realized the trap, there was nothing left of her rule—only a ghost, wandering in a thousand shapes, a queen no longer known even to herself.

The Aftermath – A Court Without a Throne

The Court of Twisting Paths did not fall overnight, but without its Queen, it was like a body without a heart, a river without a course. At first, the courtiers believed it to be a trick, a test—but as the years passed and no ruler returned, they began to turn on each other, seeking what power remained, what alliances could be forged, and what secrets had been lost.

The Wandering Lords, once loyal to the Queen, each claimed to follow the will of their absent ruler, but their visions of her rule twisted into contradictions. Some claimed she still lived, others that she had perished, and others still that she had become something else entirely.

Without the Queen, the Twisting Paths began to unravel, making it easier for the entity’s corruption to seep through the cracks in reality. Where once the fae could step through the Veil with grace and certainty, now the paths shift unpredictably, leading into places they were never meant to go—or worse, letting things in that should never have crossed over.

The Court and the Underworldly – A War of Shadows and Spite

The Underworldly, the cruel and ancient beings of the Hollow Below, had always been rivals of the Twisting Paths, but never had their reach been so bold as after the Queen’s disappearance. Where once they were contained, their dark realm shut away beneath the earth, now they slip through the broken roads of the fae realm, invading the places once held by the Queen’s court.

The Underworldly Queen, a being of terrible beauty and endless hunger, has exploited the Queen’s loss with ruthless precision. Where once she feared the Queen’s ability to see and unravel her schemes before they took root, now she finds no such resistance.

The Hidden Roads of the Veil, once safe passage for fae and wayward travelers, are now haunted by Underworldly spirits, whispering false invitations and luring the lost into their endless depths.
The Moonlit Bridges, which once connected the Twisting Paths to the fey realms beyond, have begun to fade and crumble, and in their place, blackened stairways spiral downward, leading only to the Underworldly domain.
Even the fey who walk the Twisting Paths have begun to vanish, claimed not by battle, but by the slow suffocation of the Hollow Queen’s silent war.

Without the Queen, there is no single force to unite the fae against the Underworldly. Some Wandering Lords have turned to open war, launching raids to burn away the creeping shadows. Others have begun to bargain with their ancient enemies, desperate to hold onto what remains of their power. And some have simply fled, seeking sanctuary in the mortal world, where even the taint of the entity is preferable to the certainty of the Hollow Queen’s grip.

How This Has Affected Other Forces

The Witches of Gloomwood

The loss of the Queen has had dire consequences for the witches, whether they acknowledge it or not. The balance between the fey and the mortal realm was once held steady by the Queen’s influence. With her gone, the fae have become unpredictable, desperate, and in some cases, outright hostile.

Selene, in her time, suspected something had gone terribly wrong, but her poisoning left her powerless to act on it.
Agatha, the last stabilizing force, has been forced to deal with fae lords who no longer trust the old accords, constantly renegotiating alliances to keep the forest from fracturing further.
Isolde, though aligned with the entity, does not yet realize that the Queen’s loss was its doing—if she ever discovers this, it could shift the balance of power between her and the ancient force she serves.

The Feral Elves

Once, the Queen’s court and the feral elves were reluctant allies, connected through ancient treaties and shared bloodlines. Now, with the Twisting Paths in disarray, many of the elves no longer see the fae as kindred spirits, but as unreliable ghosts of a dying age.

The Moonwhisper Shamans still follow the old ways, seeking traces of the lost Queen’s magic, hoping to restore the balance she once upheld.
The Thorn Sisters have grown more savage, rejecting the fae entirely, claiming they have lost their right to walk the forest.
The Bloodriders, locked in their endless war against the corrupted Dark Riders, are far too occupied to care—but if a new ruler of the Twisting Paths were to rise, they would demand recognition of their place in the forest.

The Black Talon Mercenaries & Ravenshollow’s Corruption

The loss of the Queen is not merely a fae tragedy—it has spilled into the mortal world in ways unseen.

Lord Callion, the Watcher in the Pools, has begun showing things he should not—half-truths of what the Queen saw, images of what might have been. This has led to whispers in Ravenshollow, fear growing in those who believe something ancient is watching them.
The Black Talon mercenaries, unknowingly stepping onto fading fae roads, have begun experiencing strange disappearances—patrols vanishing without a trace, only their weapons left behind, their footprints leading in circles that never end.
The land itself reacts to the loss—the Twisting Paths have become erratic, warping time and distance, making travel through the forest more dangerous than ever before.

The Last Echoes of the Queen

Though she is lost, the Queen is not gone entirely.

Some claim that in the deepest part of the forest, where the Twisting Paths still remember her, she can be glimpsed—a shadow without a name, watching but never speaking.
Others say she whispers through the wind, speaking riddles to those on the verge of losing themselves.
And some, the most desperate of all, seek her not to restore her, but to use her loss—to take what she was and twist it into something new.

The Queen may be forgotten, but her story is far from over.

The Court’s View of the Mortal World

To the Court of Twisting Paths, mortals are both amusing and disposable. They delight in binding humans and witches in impossible bargains, playing with them like fleeting dreams.

However, the corruption of the Gloomwood has not gone unnoticed. The Fae of the Veil despise what Isolde has unleashed, for it threatens the delicate balance between worlds. Some wish to seal off the mortal realm entirely, while others whisper of using the witches to cleanse the rot before it spreads further.

The Faery Court of Gloomwood

At the height of their power, the fae of Gloomwood were ruled by a loosely structured but respected Faery Court, led by the Lady of the Glade, an enigmatic figure shrouded in moonlight and mist. The court was a council of the elder fae races, each with its own role in preserving the harmony of the forest. The Lady herself is rarely seen, a figure of legend, but her influence was felt in every breeze that rustled the leaves and every ripple that danced across the river’s surface.

The fae of Gloomwood are divided into several races, each with its unique connection to the natural world. While some remain uncorrupted, many have been twisted by the dark magic now spreading through the forest.

Fae of Interest

The Stranger in the Greenwood – The Wandering Lord, Lina Ashford’s Father

Position: A mid-ranking noble of the Court of Twisting Paths, though he lingers in the mortal world far more than most.
Nature & Fate: He is neither cruel nor kind, but he is dangerous, not in malice, but in indifference. He once held a place of honor at the fae court, but he prefers the shifting chaos of mortals, drawn to their contradictions, their defiance of rules, their strange, fleeting emotions. He speaks in riddles and half-truths, his bargains twisting things in ways no mortal ever anticipates.
Opinion on Humans & Witches: He finds humans fascinating, reckless, and entirely unpredictable. He watches them as one might watch fire, delighting in how they burn and what they leave behind. His relationship with witches is complicated—he respects their will and knowledge, but he resents their tendency to twist the forest’s magic into something unnatural.

Sir Varian & Dame Morrigan – The Quarreling Blades

Position: Twin knights of the Court of Twisting Paths, an unbreakable pair, forever at each other’s throats yet inseparable in duty and fate.
Nature & Fate: They bicker, they taunt, they argue—and yet, where one goes, the other follows, for to be apart is unthinkable. They are a reflection of the duality of fae nature—Varian, the honor-bound protector, Morrigan, the mischievous challenger. In battle, they fight as one, a dance of steel and shadow. But even when blades are sheathed, their words are like daggers, constantly teasing, prodding, provoking—yet their bond is unbreakable, older than the court itself.
Opinion on Humans & Witches:
Varian sees humans as foolish, reckless, and undeserving of the magic they stumble upon—but he cannot deny their spirit. He is wary of witches, believing them to be thieves of power, though he begrudgingly respects those who keep their bargains.
Morrigan delights in human cunning and trickery, finding their short-lived schemes and ambitions endlessly entertaining. She admires witches—the clever ones, at least—but has little patience for those who fear making a true gamble.

Lord Callion, the Watcher in the Pools

Position: A reclusive lord of the Veil, dwelling in the unseen places between worlds, forever peering through the waters of the Gloomwood.
Nature & Fate: Callion watches. He sees all who pass the pools, the streams, the still ponds of the forest, their reflections becoming his windows into the mortal world. He plays pranks—a reflection that does not match the movement of the body, a glimpse of something that should not be there—but he also reveals things no one wishes to see. He shows truths that feel like lies, and lies that feel like truths. He does not interfere directly, but he delights in nudging events forward, watching what mortals do with the knowledge he offers them.
Opinion on Humans & Witches: He finds mortals hilarious and tragic, their ignorance and boldness alike a constant source of amusement. He has no true hatred for witches, but he resents those who try to divine the future, for none should claim to know what is to come better than he does.

The Thorn-Eyed Jester

Position: A trickster of the Veil, a collector of broken things—people included.
Nature & Fate: Once a prince, now a fool, but one who never forgets, never forgives, never tells the full truth. They wear a thorn-crowned mask, their true face forgotten, their laughter sharp as glass. They never lie—but never tell the truth plainly, either. Their deals are fair, but never kind.
Opinion on Humans & Witches: They adore mortals—especially the desperate and the lost. They make bargains that always benefit them most, but they never take what is not freely given—a distinction that is little comfort to those who realize too late.

The Hollow King – Lord of Empty Feasts

Position: A powerful fae who rules a court of phantoms, waiting for a banquet that will never come.
Nature & Fate: He was once a great ruler, but he made a bargain with something older than himself—and it cost him everything. Now, he sits in a crumbling hall, surrounded by faded guests, forever toasting a feast that does not exist. His table is set with gold and silver, but the plates hold only dust.
Opinion on Humans & Witches: He envies mortals, for they can still change their fate. He invites them to dine with him, offering gifts beyond price—but those who eat never truly leave.

Selvara, the Frost-Warden

Position: Guardian of the Winter Gates, where the Veil is thinnest in the coldest months.
Nature & Fate: Selvara is ancient, an arbiter of oaths made in winter’s breath. She keeps the doors closed, ensuring that things which should not enter the mortal world remain behind the ice. She does not break her word, nor does she tolerate those who do.
Opinion on Humans & Witches: She respects those who keep their bargains and despises oath-breakers. To her, witches are dangerous, for they borrow power not their own—and debts, once called upon, must always be paid.

Rumors and Stories of the Fae

The villagers of Ravenshollow speak of the fae with a mix of reverence and fear. They leave small offerings of milk, honey, and bread at the forest’s edge, hoping to appease the fae and earn their protection. However, stories of encounters with corrupted fae have begun to spread, sowing distrust.

The Wailing Grove: It’s said that in the deepest part of the forest lies the Wailing Grove, where the corrupted fae gather. The air is thick with the sound of their mournful cries, and the trees weep black sap. Those who enter this grove rarely return, and those who do are changed, haunted by visions of the twisted fae.

The fae of Ravenswood are a crucial part of the forest’s spirit, caught in a struggle between light and dark. While some remain uncorrupted, holding onto the old ways, others have fallen, twisted into grotesque mockeries of their former selves. This conflict mirrors the broader struggle within the forest, as ancient forces battle against the encroaching corruption, and the balance teeters on the edge of collapse.

The Uncorrupted Fae: Guardians of the Old Ways

The uncorrupted fae still maintain their ancient duties, working in secret to hold back the encroaching darkness. They are wary of mortals but can be allies if approached with respect and genuine intent.

1. The Sylphs (Wind Fae)

Description: Sylphs are ethereal, air-bound spirits that resemble wisps of smoke or shimmering dragonflies. They are small, delicate beings, barely visible to the mortal eye except as glimmers of light or gusts of cool wind.

Role: The Sylphs are the keepers of the breeze and breath of the forest. They stir the wind through the treetops, carry seeds from one glade to the next, and whisper secrets to those who can listen. They act as messengers for the Faery Court and are often seen dancing in the sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Fate: The Sylphs have largely remained uncorrupted due to their affinity with the wind, which has kept them mobile and distant from the spreading taint. However, they have become elusive and distrustful of outsiders, often leading travelers astray to protect their hidden groves.

2. The Mosskin (Earth Fae)

Description: The Mosskin are sturdy, humanoid creatures with bark-like skin covered in patches of moss and lichen. They are slow-moving and blend seamlessly into the forest floor, often mistaken for small, gnarled trees or stones.

Role: Mosskin are the guardians of the forest floor, tending to the roots of the great oaks and caring for the smallest plants. They are wise and patient, acting as the memory-keepers of the forest, recalling stories from centuries past.

Fate: The Mosskin have been less affected by the corruption due to their strong ties to the deep roots of the earth. However, they have become more withdrawn, retreating to the oldest parts of the forest to avoid the dark, corrupted patches. They are known to share their ancient wisdom with herbalists and foresters who earn their trust.

3. The Will-o’-Wisps (Guiding Fae)

Description: These small, glowing orbs of light float through the forest like lanterns bobbing on an invisible current. They are playful and curious, often mistaken for fireflies or distant stars.

Role: The Will-o’-Wisps are guides and tricksters, leading lost travelers through the forest. While they are known to play pranks, they also offer help to those who are truly in need, guiding them away from dangerous areas and towards safer paths.

Fate: The Will-o’-Wisps have managed to evade corruption by staying close to the edges of the forest, where the light is stronger. However, they have become wary, sometimes refusing to help strangers for fear of leading them into the dark, tainted parts of the woods.