Vila
While those elves and elven subjects living within the shadow of the frontier mountains were able to seek the protection of the Draykon, those from urban centers or the vast central floodplains were not so lucky. They were unprepared for the great seething mass of their former noble masters, who consumed the greater part of the peasantry in those days after the First Gnosis. Some survivors fled across the sea, or across the narrow coast to Cossack controlled plains, but the bulk of the flood plain population was forced to flee into the Great Fey Swamp. There the Old Witch Baba Yaga gave them sanctuary on two conditions. The first was that her monstrous children would serve as their new nobility, ruling over the mortal kin as the cannibals once did. Second they must provide mortal spouses for these new fey lords. Thus the refugees became known as the Vila meaning little fairies in Baba Yaga's tongue, and came to take on the fey traits of their new homeland.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Angharad, Gwenllian, Gwladus, Dyddgu, Lleucu, Eve, Tangwystl, Generys, Gwerfyl, Morfudd, Nest, Hunydd, Gwen, Gwledyr, Morfyl, Myfanwy, Erdudfyl, Gwerydd, Madrun, Margaret, Perweur, Alice, Genilles, Geneth, Gwir, Elena, Iwerydd, Mabel, Mary, Millicent
Masculine names
Madog, Deykin, Einion, Iorwerth, Adaf, Ieuan, Gronw, Ithel, Gwyn, Cynwrig, Cadwgan, Philip, Rhiryd, Gruffydd, Tegwared, Meilyr, Ednyfed, Gwrgenau, Llywelyn, Gwion, Hywel, Tuder, Heilyn, Cynddelw, Madin, Meurig, Llywarch, Gwilim, Griffri, Ednowain, Moriddig, Cydifor, Iago, Iocyn, Iohannes, Rhys, Bleddyn, Cyfnerth, Maredudd, Thomas, Ieuaf, Ifor, Morfran, Seisyll, Deheuwynt, Gwasdewi, Llygad, Robert, Hova, Ynyr, Trahaearn, Gwogan, Idnerth
Unisex names
Culture
Shared customary codes and values
No History Before Grandmother- The initial refugees who became the Vila occupied a wide range of social ranks within the Elven Empire. While most were yeomen farmers, there also non-elven subjects and slaves. Since their migration though these distinctions have been purposely forgotten. The only marker of rank is closeness to Baba Yaga and her children.
Stay Silent, Stay Safe- Making noise in the Swamp is liable to draw unwanted attention. As such Vila use as few words as possible and generally keep as low a volume as they can.
Common Dress code
It is customary for non-fey Vila to wear bulky clothing and masks to give themselves a more monstrous appearance. Meanwhile changelings and others who have significant bodily alternations as a result of fey magic tend to wear little clothing to show off their noble features.
Art & Architecture
The Vila live on raised stilt houses over swallows and coastal regions that become flooded by the swamp's seasonal movements. This allows them to remain close to coastal fishing grounds and keep out of reach of most swamp predators.
Encompassed species
Related Organizations
Related Locations
Slavic Fairytales
Media Inspiration
Dune (Novel/Film) sort of swamp Fremen
Pan's Labyrinth (Film)
Hellboy 2 (Film)
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