Countess of Cages and Chains

Welcome to my humble abode, darling. I'm so pleased you could join me, at last...
  The Countess of Cages and Chains is a powerful arch-lady of the Fae, current ruler of the Faelands, and lover of one Amelia Korp, at least if you ask her. Ageless and striking, the Countess is a tall, strong woman with red hair and golden eyes, rarely seen without a roguish smile on her lips. No matter the circumstance, she is dressed in some elegant gown or dress of the kind only Fae can make, made from gossamer and crystalized delights.  
She's partial to purple, you know.  
 
by Pixabay
The Countess rules her domain from her Tower of Cages, a macabre structure seemingly made from thousand of interconnected, locked cages held together by chains. They are packed so dense as to become walls, with countless chains dangling from the exterior.  
More than one invader has found that the cages are hungry.
  Inside, the Countess entertains visitors, holds courts, and houses an army of Hobgoblins eager to do her bidding. As with any Fae mansion, it is a nest of intrigues and counter-ploys, schemes and betrayals, and all the rest that keep the Fae busy and amused.
  When angered, the Countess turns chains into weapons. Anywhere there is darkness, she can conjure chains and move them with a thought to strike, constrict, or even impale those who have displeased her. Those who particularly irks her often find out she has the ability to cause these chains to sprout barbs, razors, or even bleed an angry acid to really put the hurt on whoever's on the receiving end.   The Countess has many other tricks, but the chains remain her favorite for their power and brutality.  
Ah, but I can do wonderful things with them, too! Just ask my beloved!  
— The Countess
I'm gonna hit that with a 'No comment!' None at all, not even a little.  
— Amelia
  To magi, the Countess is an enigmatic figure - even for a Fae. In the past, she participated in the Wild Hunt, breaching through worlds to hunt mortals for sport, but in the present seems to regard magi almost maternally. No one is really sure what changed; at least one lost group of Walkers have emerged from the Faelands, claiming to owe their lives to her benevolence.  
How long that lasts is anyone's guess.
  To other Fae, the Countess's strange love for a mortal and unorthodox attitude to the magi make her immensely popular. Those are the kind of stories that, whether they end in tragedy or joy, will be amusing to no end, with so many roles for bored Fae to fill. They can be foils for the Countess seeming kindness, noble knights who carry her banner to rescue poor stranded humans, or even fight her for the affection of that mortal she seems so keen on.   The possibilities, and the entertainment, appear endless.  
You guys are way out of your league. Not one of you holds a candle to her.  

Faelands

Fae lives in the part of the Beyond called the Faelands, a kingdom of wonder and nightmare they've carved from magic and dying gods.   It is a realm of horror and magic, of majestic wonder and terrors not found anywhere else. Within primordial would and industrial nightmares of pipes and choking gas, the Fae hold court and drown their boredom.  
Faelands
Geographic Location | Jul 17, 2021

Deep within the Beyond, the Faelands beckon through dreams and ill-omen. It is a land of wild and primal power, lust and whim unfettered, emotions untamed.

The Wild Hunt

When the fae-mists shroud the world and the wall that shields the Prime weakens, the Wild Hunt ride among mortals. A rare occurrence of Fae organized for a singular purpose, the Wild Hunt selects prey and hounds them to their death, either for sport, avenging some slight, or extinguishing something deemed unworthy of life.   Fae being Fae, they are thankfully distracted from their mission with some frequency.   Though she was once a frequent participant, such hunts appear to have fallen out of favor with the Countess.  
The Wild Hunt
Organization | Jul 19, 2021

When the wild hunt rides into the mortal world, reality cracks and breaks, and the fae chase their quarries until the veil can tolerate their presence no longer.

Children


Cover image: by K Stormcrow

Comments

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Jul 29, 2021 04:57 by sebastian

This is really cool. I'm so interested in the relationship between Amelia and the Countess.

Aotra awaits.
Jul 29, 2021 07:26

It's complicated, but good. Stay tuned for the book about it, probably :D   Thanks for reading and commenting! :D


Creator of Araea, Megacorpolis, and many others.
Jul 30, 2021 23:44 by JRR Jara

Amelia's quotes are hilarious!! I like the Countess a lot!! Can I befriend her?

Creator of Hanzelot and many more.
Aug 2, 2021 12:25

That might be a dangerous thing, but sure! Fae are tricksy...


Creator of Araea, Megacorpolis, and many others.
Aug 4, 2021 08:41 by Amélie I. S. Debruyne

I'm very curious about that tower... Does she has things like carpet and wall tapestries or is it really just chains and cages everywhere? XD   Great article, you're always making the countess soooo mysterious and intriguing! Now you just need to add a link to the book to let people find more :p

To see what I am up to: my Summer Camp 2024.
Aug 12, 2021 18:10

I think the cages might be so dense at some point that it forms solid floor and walls, which then has carpet and tapestries! :D   Thank you :D I really do need to write that now, don't I...


Creator of Araea, Megacorpolis, and many others.
Aug 12, 2021 01:52 by Jaime Buckley

Freakin' brilliant. My absolute favorite of this challenge.   That is a crazy-cool background!!

JAIME BUCKLEY
Storyteller, Cartoonist,..pretty awesome friend =)
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Aug 12, 2021 18:09

Thank you very much :D


Creator of Araea, Megacorpolis, and many others.
Aug 17, 2021 20:41 by R. Dylon Elder

Ooooo yesss. Loved it. Dont take at as a bad thing, cause it's awesome. I read these quotes and immediately heard cruella de ville. Dont know why, or if its intense. it just seemed like that would be how the countess talks... it's amazing.

Aug 18, 2021 06:07

Hahaha thank you very much :D


Creator of Araea, Megacorpolis, and many others.