Departure and Legacy

IN THE TWILIGHT BETWEEN WORLDS, A GODDESS DREAMED OF SOMETHING MORE.
Seraphine, the child of Dianus and Lir, had shaped the Fey Wilds into a realm of boundless magic and life, yet as she matured, her dreams began to shift. The Fey Wilds, once her entire world, became but a reflection of her burgeoning imagination. She longed to create something new—a realm that would go beyond the whimsical nature of the Fey Wilds, a world where structure and diversity could flourish alongside the wild beauty she had always known.
With a heart full of both hope and sadness, Seraphine departed from the Fey Wilds, leaving the Elder Fey to watch over her first creation. She did not sever her connection to them; instead, she forged the Fey Gates, mystical portals that linked the Fey Wilds to her new world, Tavomia. Through these gates, the magic of the Fey Wilds would continue to flow, ensuring that her beloved realm would never be forgotten, even as she ventured into the unknown.

— Elder Lateria, Druid of the Wilds.

Seraphine’s Departure

As the legends tell, Seraphine, the child of Dianus and Lir, shaped the Fey Wilds into a realm filled with magic and life. For a time, the Fey Wilds were the full extent of Seraphine's world, shaped entirely by her boundless creativity.
However, as Seraphine matured, her dreams began to take on a new shape. She envisioned something beyond the whimsical nature of the Fey Wilds—a new realm where her evolving consciousness could give birth to a more structured and diverse world.
Determined to explore these new ideas, Seraphine departed from the Fey Wilds. Her departure is seen as a step forward in her journey of creation rather than a farewell. The Elder Fey, bound to the magic of the Fey Wilds, could not follow her into this new realm, but Seraphine did not want to sever the bond with her earliest companions.
She created the Fey Gates, mystical portals linking the Fey Wilds to her new world, Tavomia, allowing the Elder Fey to visit. Though rarely seen, the Fey Gates are believed to exist in remote places, hidden where magic flows most strongly.
The myths say that Seraphine entrusted the Fey Wilds to the Elder Fey, leaving them as guardians of her first dream. To maintain balance, the Elder Fey divided themselves into two courts—the Summer Court, led by Dianus, and the Winter Court, led by Lir. Each court took on the responsibility of protecting the Fey Wilds, ensuring its continued existence without Seraphine's direct influence.

Formation of the Fey Courts

The creation of the Fey Courts marked a new chapter in the history of the Fey Wilds. According to Tavomian myth, these courts were established to maintain balance in the realm during Seraphine’s absence, reflecting the duality of her imagination and the cycles of nature.
The Summer Court, led by Dianus, The Summer Queen, governs the Fey Wilds during the spring and summer months. This court embodies the warmth, joy, and growth of Seraphine’s early years, nurturing life and energy. Legends tell of beings like Sliske, The Trickster, who became a reflection of Seraphine’s desires and the complexities of love, and Ailis, The Bloomweaver, who celebrates beauty and creativity. Over time, more Fey rose to prominence within the Summer Court, continuing to guide the realm through times of light and growth.
The Winter Court, led by Lir, The Winter King, rules during the autumn and winter months. This court embodies the more serious and protective aspects of Seraphine’s psyche, focusing on resilience and strength. Lir, alongside beings like Obadi, The Dream Taker, who guides the subconscious, and Ciaran, The Witherthorn, who represents transformation, ensures that the Fey Wilds remain a place of mystery and magic, even during the darker months. New Elder Fey have emerged within the Winter Court since Seraphine’s departure, adding new layers of wisdom and strength to the balance of the realm.
Mother Adranath, the wisest and most ancient of the Elder Fey, chose not to align with either court. Instead, she remained neutral, offering her wisdom to all and helping both courts navigate their responsibilities. As the oldest of the Elder Fey, Adranath’s presence is said to ensure that the balance of the Fey Wilds is always maintained.

The Influence of the Fey Wilds

The Fey Wilds, with their ever-shifting magic, exert a powerful influence over Tavomia. Through the hidden Fey Gates, Fey energies shape the land, seasons, and magic within the world. The activities of the Summer and Winter Courts affect the cycles of life on Tavomia, causing the seasons to shift with the courts' power.
Spring and Summer are times of abundance and growth, tied to the reign of the Summer Court under Dianus, The Summer Queen. During these months, the energy of life flows freely, bringing blooming flowers, greening forests, and warmth. The Fey of the Summer Court are most active in these seasons.
Autumn and Winter mark the ascendancy of the Winter Court, led by Lir, The Winter King, whose energy brings colder months. The Fey Wilds' influence causes colder temperatures, shorter days, and a focus on survival. The Fey of the Winter Court embody the strength needed to endure, reflecting these qualities in the lands around the Fey Gates.
The Fey Gates are also responsible for Wild Growth areas, where the magic of the Fey Wilds flourishes without control. These places, revered by Druids, resist civilization, and magic behaves unpredictably, blurring the line between Tavomia and the Fey Wilds.

Modern Mythology: The Elder Fey in Tavomia

In modern Tavomia, the Elder Fey are seen as "Old Gods"—primal forces of nature. Their influence is strongest in rural and wild regions, where villagers revere or fear them. Offerings are made to gain their favor or avoid their wrath, as the Elder Fey are believed to be the original spirits of the land.
Druids have a deep connection to the Elder Fey, honoring them as the true guardians of nature. They believe the bounty of the earth comes directly from the Fey and give thanks through rituals and offerings. Drawing their power from the Fey Wilds, Druids channel the raw energy of nature into their magic, often communing near the rare Fey Gates, where the Fey Wilds' magic is strongest.
Rangers share a respect for the Fey but use their magic to survive in the wild places governed by the Elder Fey. While not spiritually devoted, Rangers understand the power and influence of these primal beings.
Warlocks form pacts with specific Elder Fey to gain power. These pacts are not with gods or demons but with the unpredictable Fey who rule over wild magic. Warlocks aligned with the Elder Fey draw power from the Fey Wilds, gaining abilities that reflect the nature of their patron. Each Fey offers unique gifts, from illusionary magic to prophetic visions, shaped by their nature and whims.
Though often feared for their unpredictability, the Elder Fey are revered as the most ancient and powerful spirits, and their influence continues to shape Tavomia.

Elder Fey’s True Power

Dianus and Lir? Old stories say they were nature itself.

While the mortals of Tavomia worship the gods, Druids and Fey-touched mortals speak of an older power—the Elder Fey, beings so ancient that their magic shaped the very fabric of the Fey Wilds. These primordial entities hold dominion over nature's cycles, from the blooming of spring flowers to the biting frost of winter. Some scholars speculate that the Elder Fey could rival the gods themselves in raw power, though they choose not to meddle in mortal affairs.

Of Fey Gates

The gates are alive... some say they whisper in the night.

The Fey Gates are hidden, ancient portals connecting Tavomia to the Fey Wilds. These gates are found in natural formations like twin trees or cave entrances, their presence unnoticed by most. Only those of Fey blood or possessing the right knowledge can open them. Legends speak of those who cross through, entering a realm where magic and nature blend seamlessly, and the wilds bend to the whims of Seraphine’s first dream.

The Courts of Seasons

The Fey Courts? They rule the turning of the wheel—every season is theirs.

The Summer and Winter Courts of the Fey Wilds reflect the cyclical nature of life. Led by Dianus, the Summer Queen, and Lir, the Winter King, the courts embody the eternal balance between growth and decay, warmth and cold. Mortals believe the changing of the seasons is a reflection of the power struggle between these courts, each vying for influence over the natural world. Their rivalry is less one of hostility and more of balance, ensuring the Fey Wilds and Tavomia remain in harmony with nature's cycles.

Unseen Guardians

Step lightly, traveler... the woods have eyes.

In the oldest forests of Tavomia, Dryads and other Fey spirits are said to watch over the land, unseen but ever-present. These beings, connected to the trees and rivers, are believed to protect the natural world from harm. Travelers who wander too close to sacred groves without proper reverence are known to disappear without a trace, only for their belongings to be found months later, overgrown with moss and vines. Whether it is the work of the Elder Fey or their Feywild guardians, no one knows for sure.

The Forgotten Wilds

There are places in the world where even the gods would not tread.

Hidden deep within the most untouched corners of Tavomia are the Forgotten Wilds, places where the influence of the Elder Fey remains strong and untamed. These regions are rarely mentioned in history books, their existence passed down through Druidic whispers and campfire stories. It is said that nature runs rampant here, defying the attempts of mortals to cultivate or control it. Strange creatures roam these forgotten lands, and time itself seems to behave erratically, bending to the will of the Fey.