Exfoliate

Rip. Crack. Dust.

Name immortal but the mask erodes.

A new husk is waiting after this existence.

Introduction

Dragons and Monarchs have changed life for humans forever and to many the thought that these statuesque creatures could be affected by age is bizarre. However, the bodies of fey in the human realm do slowly through a natural process erode, aka exfoliate.

Causes

There are multiple explanations as to why the fey form exfoliates. For one it is part of their design with their sensory dus. Sensory dust is small particles of their bodies floating around the fey. It lets them feel vibrations in the air, touch and hold objects, as well as movement and flying. The sensory dust does however erode the inner shell. The more dust the quicker the erosion process, until the body falls apart which ends the feys current body and existence. Dragons however seem to be able to use energy in order to build itself up again with its sensory dust, meaning lack of energy is another cause.
Anything that damages the fey shell speeds up this process, as the cracks become sensitive spots for more exfoliation. But due to the nature of fey nothing in the human realm seems to be able to affect their bodies; only objects built up from or laced with words of power, the building blocks of all fey existence, can break up the fey design. Meaning in the human realm what they have to fear is time, energy loss, and other fey.

Symptoms

The marble and metallic looking bodies of fey crumble and erode, the fey losing energy and strength, while its senses as well as speed increases due to the lighter body and excess in sensory dust.

Cultural Reception

The fey do not in general put as much value on their bodies as humans. Being made up from words of powers and a name they see themselves as immortals with different chapters to their existence. This does not mean they will not fight to survive or won’t look for ways to extend their current existence.
Though it is yet unknown how the stages of fey life may look like in their realm of origin, the Fade, it would seem fey acknowledges that they and others get weaker as they exfoliate, and with weakness comes opportunities to contest the others powers, fighting for territory and influence. For some fey they even get stronger as their body to sensory dust ratio changes.
As for humans reacting to their Monarch getting old there has so far been no reactions. Humanity have not had to face their protectors eroding away and to public knowledge the Monarchs do not age but are more or less immortal. To many it is a mystery as to why their Knights seem to be getting weaker and fewer, causing distress. Only time will tell how humanity will live with an eroding Monarch population.

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Common

Affected Species

• Monarch
• Dragons