Fae Realm info post no. 1! (Patreon)

I'm getting more involved in the fae world stuff, especially since I've had a lovely commission from a wonderful patron who wanted a story with the fae prince of the Night Court. Because of this, I've been working on some background on the structure of the realm a little, and thought I'd share it here with you. 

Next up, as January's story (a bit later this time because of the 5 stories I posted at the start of the month for Monstermas), will be that creepy but sweet kelpie boy I posted about recently. 

Anyway, here's Ghosti's Fae Realm 'Wiki' pages!!

Court Structure and Background Info

The Fae Realm is ruled over by the immensely powerful Seelie and Unseelie Royals for half of each year, with the exchange of power occurring at Summer Solstice (Unseelie rule begins), and Winter Solstice (Seelie Rule begins).

Beneath the Royal Fae, who rarely involve themselves in the affairs of the ‘lesser princes’, are the Twelve Courts. They largely govern themselves individually, but are ultimately answerable to the current ruling Royal Court. There is open hostility between various courts, and some have even waged war on each other. So long as their activities do not threaten the realm itself, then the Royal Fae stay out of their business. The duty of the Royal Fae is to protect the Fae Realm in general from other realms, especially the Mortal Realm. The Royal Fae are said to be very ancient and incredibly powerful, having been born practically with the Realm itself. 

There is a long and bloody history between the Mortal Realm and the Fae, the end result of which is that neither party willingly strays between realms, and those caught in the realm of the other are not often treated well. 

There are 12 Courts in the Fae Realm 

· The Elemental Courts of Earth, Air, Fire, Water

· The Seasonal Courts of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter

· The Solar Courts of Dawn, Day, Twilight and Night. 

Each Court is comprised of a single ruling dynasty, and beneath them are a number of noble houses of fae which are usually related, however distantly, to their own court’s royal family. The Elemental Courts tend to be the most powerful, and they think themselves above the others (in station and in power), with the Solar and Seasonal Courts ranking just below them in magical ability, though many individuals of these two courts are more powerful than those of the Elemental Courts. 

An ancient treaty was signed millennia ago between the two Royal houses of Seelie and Unseelie, and it is this perfect balance that keeps magic stable and the lands prosperous. The two royal lines must share power, and so long as they exchange power on the solstices, then all magic remains stable within the Fae Realm. 

Recently - in the last 100 or so years - there have been ‘anomalies’ which are causing fae with weaker minds, bodies, and magic to become corrupted and ‘rabid’. Some courts are worried, others are not taking any action…

The Elemental Courts

Earth Court - one of the oldest bloodlines. 

· House of Minerals - jewels, colours

· House of Metals - Gold Silver, Bronze nobles… 

· Arboreal Houses - Flowers, Trees, Grain

Powers are drawn from the earth itself, and include growth, manipulation of matter, and some affinity for healing. 

Prince of Earth rules over them, and usually marries from one of their own lesser houses. 

Air Court - newest of the ‘old’ courts, but immensely powerful

· House of Wind

· House of Birds

· House of Sky

· House of Rainbow

Powers are drawn from the air around them, and include flight - some of the House of Birds even being born with feathered wings - and manipulation of air currents etc. 

Princess of Air is usually the ruler, regardless if she marries or not. 

Fire Court - powerful, magic runs deep in their blood, always passing down the male line. Somewhat patriarchal because of this… 

· House of Flames

· House of Embers

Powers include fire based magic

Prince of Fire rules, and his wife has no power

Water Court - another powerful house, extensive territories within the Fae Realm (which itself is vast)

· House of the Sea

· House of Rivers

· House of Mist

· House of Mires

· House of Dew (very small but very ancient noble family)

Powers include manipulation of water, sometimes similar to Winter’s ability to conjure ice/etc. and healing.

Prince and Princess rule with equal power

Seasonal Courts

Each, like the Elemental Courts, have their own territory and subjects, but they also have roles in the courts of the elements too, to aid the change of seasons across all the fae realm. Some are more like diplomats and move between the courts, while others find more permanent homes in the Elemental or Solar Courts, if not within their own. They tend not to be as powerful as the Elemental Courts, and are seen as ‘lesser’ princes, though technically they wield the same authority at the Great Moot (Parliament), and many individuals are more powerful than those of Elemental Courts

Spring Court

Aids with growth and rebirth after winter

· House of Blossoms (not to be confused with the Earth Court of Flowers! They hate that… :P)

Powers include regeneration and rejuvenation, growth, and healing. They are highly sought after as healers across the fae realm

Summer Court

Also aids with growth and life

· House of the Sun

Powers include some heat based magic like the Fire Court, and some light based magic, like the Day Court

Autumn Court

Aids with fruition and change

· House of Leaves

· House of Fruit

· House of Thorns

Powers of shape shifting (which a lot of the fae have) run deep and powerful in the autumn court, and it goes beyond illusion and glamour to true and permanent change.

Winter Court

Very large territory in the furthest extreme of the Fae Realm. 

Associated with death, but also rebirth, rest, recovery, and sleep. 

· House of Ice

· House of Snow

· House of Storms

Powers include cold-based magic, as well as some illusion similar to the Twilight and Night Courts. They are more vulnerable to fire-based magics

Solar Courts

These Courts are powerful in the Great Moot, with strong magic, they do not have individual noble houses (except for the Night Court), as the courts themselves are quite small. 

Dawn Court 

The royal family has feathered wings, a genetic gift supposedly from the House of Birds, in the Elemental Court of Air. 

Day Court

Can create points of light, as well as dangerous levels of light as weapons… depending on the skills of the user. 

Twilight Court 

The royal family has moth-like wings 

Night Court

The only Solar Court with noble houses. It is a large court, rivalling only the Winter Court in its expansive territory, and they have been sworn enemies with the Winter Court for nearly a thousand years. 

Can create darkness at will, which can be used as a weapon, manipulated to form solid shields of pure darkness, and some from the Court of Shadows can travel through shadows, becoming one with the shadow

· House of Stars

· House of Shadows

Other Inhabitants of the Fae Ream

Beneath the fae of the Twelve Courts are any number of spirits, sprites, faeries, and elemental beings. Some are so powerful that they rival the Royal Fae, but tend to be left alone to their own devices, and so long as their affairs are not meddled in, they are harmless. Others are dangerous and aggressive, and require the lords of the lands upon which they live to be vigilant. 

There are lesser fae who look like the noble and royal fae (humanoid, pointy ears) but who have no magic. They live in villages and towns under the protection of their court nobles, and are the ones who work the land etc. 

There are some creatures which move freely between the two realms as traders, including goblins, but mostly there is little interaction between the two. 

Human slaves are kept in some courts, and across the Realm they can be found labouring in mines and doing the hardest, worst jobs, usually as punishment for straying into the Fae Realm. 

It’s not exactly easy to enter the other realms, so it is usually assumed that if a fae is in the Mortal Realm, or vice versa, that they are there deliberately, and therefore must face the consequences. Often the riches and allure of immortality in the Fae Realm draws humans to seek the places where the veil is thin, and sometimes curious fae slip across. There are also slavers from both sides, who seek out individuals to sell on the other side for profit. 

Fae magic is rarely strong enough in the Mortal Realm for them to be able to wield it without forming a contract with a human. Thus, they might be able to defend themselves physically – though really only the nobles upwards receive any decent training, unless they’re a soldier or guard – but if they are ambushed or taken by surprise, they can be easily trapped. Iron drains them of any power and weakens them physically, while rowan wood also negates their power. Mistletoe acts as a poison to them. 

Many fae are seen as beautiful or exotic, and are kept in cages and on iron leashes as ‘pleasure’ pets in the courts of the human nobility. Humans are rarely seen by fae as particularly attractive, though their tenacity and ability to hope beyond reason is often admired, if rather patronisingly. Humans are also kept in the same capacity by some fae, but mostly they’re put to work until they die. 

Some of the more ancient species of fae, like elemental wraiths, faeries, kelpie, cobolds, etc. can be very hostile towards humans, and some are hostile to fae as well. 

The Fae Realm is not the paradise that some humans seem to think it is. It is a harsh and cruel world, where it is the honour of one’s house, or one’s lord, that comes first. Betrayal is often met with death, and the Twelve Courts are constantly scheming against one another for political power and gain. 

Wow, if you read to the end of that, well done. I salute you. I hope you're keen for kelpie boy, Winter Prince (who's gonna get a story soon, and it will be 3rd person, not 2nd), and Night Prince, whose commission is already over double the length paid for because I can't contain myself apparently :/