The Mysts

= The Mysts = The Mysts are the homeland of the Fey. All the Fey currently on the Material Plane either came there from the Mysts or are descended by those who made the journey. Fey who have been to the Mysts have found it extremely hard to put a description of them into words. The best most are able to come up with is, “Like here, only better.”

The Mysts are also the home of Faerie and the True Fey. The True Fey are powerful unpredictable creatures, who rule under Faerie's watchful gaze. It is Faerie who created the Fey and the Fey worship her as a God.

Theories as to why the Fey left the Mysts vary. Some believe they were sent by Faerie to conquer the humans. Others believe they were sent as either a punishment or a reward. Still others, say that it was to relieve the overpopulation of The Mysts by allowing them to take up space vacated by the death of most of the humans. And then there are those who believe it is part of some larger cosmic cycle.

The name, The Mysts, is derived from the blue mist that emerges through the portals opened between the two planes.

The Courts
The Mysts are ruled by four main courts, each associated with a season. These courts are comprised of True Fey elders, who act as rulers in these courts, but all Fey have some kind of allegiance to one, for to not have any is to have no political protection in the Mysts.

The courts of Summer and Winter are in conflict the most, as well as the courts of Spring and Fall. Courts will often make and break alliances as they see fit, and the power of the courts is always shifting.

Mystreaving and Mystweaving
The wilder, untamed areas of the Mysts themselves are reactive to the thoughts and minds of those who pass through them. Exploring within the shapeless places where the Mysts gather is dangerous indeed, as they often take the shape of that which the wanderer has otherwise buried in their mind. As such, it takes those with much time, dedication, and natural affinity to become what are known as both Mystreavers, and Mystweavers.

Mystreaving
The role of Mystreaver is largely one of reconnaissance and survival, and is tempered with mental discipline. While the Mysts are not actively malicious, they are highly impressionable, and without mindfulness, it is very easy to find oneself facing creatures of nightmare simply because that’s what you were thinking of at the time.

Mystreavers are individuals who are adept at keeping their minds clear as they venture into new, uncharted territories in the Mysts. They are skilled navigators who keep precise notes, which enables them to return to their encampments without the use of typical navigation methods, such as Astral navigation. Impulsiveness and risk-taking are not prevalent traits among Reavers.

Mystreavers work closely with Mystweavers - in fact, a party of Reavers will often travel with a Weaver in their midst, just in case they encounter obstacles that they cannot overcome.

While there is no limitation on which species of Fey can and cannot be a Mystreaver, it is widely accepted that Kaern, Fauns, and Orcs are best suited to the task. Arluru have only recently begun to re-integrate themselves into the Mysts, so while they are equipped with traits that would be advantageous, there simply are not many who have finished learning the Ways.

Mystreaving is not a skill that is easily learned, and seems to bear a genetic/hereditary component.

Mystweaving
The role of Mystweaver is one of cultivated meticulousness. They are highly-trained in the ways to impress their will and intentions upon the Mysts as a means to make lasting creations within the otherwise ephemeral space. Many Weavers have a specific purview, such as creating landscapes, architecture, or creating living organisms, etc.

Mystweavers are often detail-oriented and highly motivated perfectionists. Even a single oversight in the creation of a new space could have underlying flaws that lead to the endangerment of the Fey living in the areas that they have cultivated. Mystweaving requires immense patience, as it often involves cultivating entire ecosystems from the ground up.

Mystweavers work closely with Mystreavers - in fact, a party of Reavers will often travel with a Weaver in their midst, just in case they encounter obstacles that they cannot overcome.

While there is no limitation on which species of Fey can and cannot be a Mystweaver, it’s widely accepted that Elves, Dwarves, and Halflings are more suited to the task. The predisposition toward stability and structure that they exhibit is a boon in this vocation.

Like Mystreaving, Mystweaving is not a skill that is easily learned, and seems to bear a genetic/hereditary component.

Faerie Circles
These places of power often signal a place where the barriers between the Mysts and the Material Plane are thinnest.

Faerie circles often appear as naturally-occurring rings of mushrooms, circles of arid land where grass will not grow, perfect rings of identical trees, etc. These are not the only places of power, but they are the most notable and easily-recognized Circles.

Faerie circles enable Faerie to have an increased ability to exert her force and will upon the surrounding area. They sometimes function as portals to and/or from the Mists, but this is often unpredictable and unreliable unless executed correctly. Nevertheless, these places often become spaces of veneration (if there is a present population of active Faerie worshippers) or are outright avoided with caution (if there are humans who recall the connection between these rings and the Plague).

Faerie Champions and Honour Guard
To those who are truly devoted to their worship of Faerie and the True Fey, there are positions of religious power that can be granted.

Faerie Champions
Faerie Champions are the priests and religious leaders of the area surrounding a Faerie Circle. They are chosen by Faerie to take up a holy mantle, to lead local Fey in their worship and religious ceremonies, and be an example for all Fey. As such, Faerie Champions are required to follow the Elven Code for all Fey, never lie to another Fey, always giving aid when needed, etc. For more information, see the Elven Code on the Elf page. Any Fey can be a Faerie Champion.

Honour Guard
Where Faerie Champions are priests, the Honour Guard are the paladins of Faerie. Those who devote themselves to the protection of Faerie and her children, the eradication of Dragon and his followers, and the curation of Faerie Circles are known as the Honour Guard. These specially chosen soldiers often take on oaths, such as an oath of poverty, of silence, of chastity, of vengeance, etc. These oaths represent their devotion to their goddess and their cause.

Most Honour Guard are elves, as it is an old tradition that tends to be passed on from parent to second child, however, no Fey is barred from being an Honour Guard, should they prove themselves devoted.

(Needs to be expanded)

Elves that offer themselves to me in silence, in great plate of silver shall I clad them and their weapons shall be by my finest smithies forged. For their voices shall I give them strength and resolve to weather any battle. To no great host or petty lord shall they be beholden. They shall be my shield, a wall against all that would harm what is mine. They shall march from the Mysts, and they shall know no fear.