Mortal Ties to the Emerald Dream
Mortal Ties to the Emerald Dream
The Emerald Dream is a place of magic and mystery, where the primal forces of nature are most potent. It is a realm of beauty, enchantment, and danger, and those who bear ties to it often find their destinies forever shaped by its magic. While many of the Dream’s denizens are fey creatures or primal entities, the influence of this realm stretches far into the mortal world, particularly through ancient bloodlines that still carry the echoes of fey and primordial power. These bloodlines, often hidden or forgotten by time, have passed down the gifts of the Dream to their descendants, manifesting in both wondrous and dangerous ways. Mortals born with these ties can experience dreams and visions from the Dream itself, sometimes even crossing into it in their sleep, or wielding powers that defy the natural order. These individuals are often marked by unusual features, such as glowing eyes, strange tattoos, or an affinity for nature that borders on the supernatural. While these gifts can be blessings, they are also burdens, for the Emerald Dream is not a forgiving place, and the power it bestows can come with a heavy price.
Ancient Bloodlines That Still Carry Fey and Primordial Heritage
Some of the oldest and most influential bloodlines in the world trace their origins back to the Emerald Dream. These ancient lineages are the descendants of those who were either born within or closely tied to the Dream, with some families having made pacts with its denizens in ages long past. Over generations, the raw magic of the Dream has interwoven with their mortal essence, shaping their destinies in profound ways. These bloodlines may carry the latent abilities of the fey—the ability to influence emotions, charm others, or manipulate the forces of nature—or even the more ancient and chaotic powers of the primordials, like the ability to command storms or bend stone and fire to their will. The closer a family’s bloodline is to the Dream’s fey or primordial roots, the more likely they are to manifest unusual traits, such as elongated lifespans, resilience to poison or sickness, or a heightened sense of the mystical forces that permeate the world.
Despite the power these bloodlines bestow, they often come at a cost. The ancient magic that flows through them can lead to strange, uncontrollable urges or cause the bearer to fall prey to the influence of fey and primordial entities. Mortals connected to the Dream may find themselves susceptible to powerful, sometimes overwhelming emotions or inexplicable urges to wander into the wilds, drawn by the song of the Dream itself. Families with such heritage often live in isolation, protecting their secrets, or finding themselves called upon by powerful entities from the Dream that seek to reclaim the power of these bloodlines for their own purposes.
The Pact-Keepers and the Oath-Bound
In addition to bloodlines, there are those who become Pact-Keepers—mortals who make binding agreements with the fey or primordial beings of the Emerald Dream. These pacts often take the form of oaths or bargains that grant the mortal great power or favor in exchange for service, loyalty, or sacrifice. The Pact-Keepers are often revered or feared, depending on their station, for their close ties to beings of immense power. These pacts are not always made willingly; some mortals are born into them through their bloodlines, while others enter into them in moments of desperation or ambition. The terms of these pacts vary widely, but they often involve dangerous and unpredictable outcomes. The Pact-Keepers are bound by the promises they’ve made, and breaking an oath to a fey or primordial is a perilous proposition. Many who fail to honor their agreements find themselves cursed, bound in eternal servitude, or worse, lost to the Dream itself.
The Oath-Bound are those who have sworn eternal vows, often as part of a larger ritual or covenant. These individuals are bound by ancient rites that tie their fate to the forces of the Emerald Dream or to specific deities or beings within it. The Oath-Bound carry the weight of these promises, knowing that the power of the Dream will influence their actions for as long as they live. They are sometimes granted blessings, such as enhanced magical abilities, knowledge of long-forgotten rites, or even the ability to commune with the Dream itself. However, there are always those who seek to manipulate the Oath-Bound for their own purposes, knowing that the oaths sworn are often more binding than anything found in the material world.
Druids, Shamans, and Those Who Channel the Dream’s Power
Druids, shamans, and other practitioners of the natural arts have long been conduits for the power of the Emerald Dream. These individuals have devoted their lives to understanding the delicate balance between nature and magic, often drawing their power directly from the Dream itself. Druids are particularly attuned to the natural forces of the world, and many of them can feel the pulse of the Dream in their very bones. The most powerful among them can tap into the Dream to call forth storms, shape-shift into animal forms, or commune with the spirits of the land. Shamans, too, walk this line between worlds, acting as intermediaries between mortals and the fey or primordial entities that inhabit the Dream. They often undergo spiritual rituals to connect with these powerful beings, gaining insight, blessings, and power in return for their service.
For those who channel the Emerald Dream's power, the connection is often overwhelming. While the magic they wield is vast and potent, it comes with a sense of unpredictability. Magic drawn from the Dream is not easily controlled, and mortals who attempt to use it recklessly may find themselves swept away by the forces they seek to command. It can warp their mind and spirit, turning them into something more fey, more primal, or even something else entirely.
The Warrior-Kings and Their Forgotten Lineages
Throughout history, certain warrior-kings have claimed ancestry linked to the Emerald Dream. These rulers, who once commanded vast kingdoms or empires, bore the ancient blood of the Dream’s fey or primordial inhabitants. In their time, they were revered as both leaders and protectors, able to wield extraordinary powers in battle. The connection to the Dream granted them not only strength and longevity but also the ability to inspire loyalty and fear in equal measure. However, over time, these warrior-kings faded into obscurity, their lineages forgotten or lost to history. The lands they once ruled have since become wild, untamed places, their kingdoms crumbled, and their bloodlines scattered. Despite their fall, the legacy of these warrior-kings still lingers in certain bloodlines, waiting to be awakened.
Some believe that a return of the ancient warrior-kings would herald the rise of a new age of power and conquest, a revival of the ancient pacts and bloodlines that once shaped the fate of nations. Yet, the hidden warrior-kings are not always benevolent, and the resurgence of such power could bring both untold blessings and terrible curses, as the rulers of old were often bound by forces beyond their control.
Curses, Blessings, and Oaths That Cannot Be Broken
The connection to the Emerald Dream comes with a delicate balance of blessings and curses. Those who receive gifts from the Dream may find themselves imbued with extraordinary power or insight, but they may also become subject to powerful forces beyond their control. Blessings of the Dream might include enhanced beauty, the ability to see beyond the mortal realm, or the gift of eternal life. However, these gifts often come with strings attached—curses that weigh heavily on the recipient’s soul. The forces of the Dream do not give without taking something in return. Those who accept a blessing may find themselves forever bound to the will of the Dream’s denizens, forced to fulfill the terms of their pact or suffer consequences.
The oaths sworn to the Dream, whether by mortals or gods, are among the most binding and unyielding promises in existence. An oath sworn to the Dream cannot be broken without dire repercussions. Those who break such an oath may be cursed, their very existence unraveling as their power and life force are drained. Some oaths are so ancient and powerful that they can alter the very fabric of reality itself, leaving behind scars on the world that endure for generations.
