// don't worry, it's great! my opening post will only be exposition of the world building, my character will arrive after Aleyah talked with her mother cx //
Life on Eatth began on one humongous land, before the planet dried and cracked and water filled between, creating the islands as it was when this story began. The planet remained too large to be held by gravity when a meteorite struck, wrenching it off its original path closer to the Sun, and the two chunks that crumbled became the twin satellites, Makoon and Manaar, that accompanied its path in the solar system to this day. Yet the planet was held steadfast by Yggdrasil, a clonal colony of the Quaking World Tree; Its living roots pulsed deep beneath the ground to this very day, and Its branches damned the grounds beneath It to eternal darkness. The Dark Continent, Gorelph.
It was said the faeries were the first-borns of Yggdrasil, cocooned in Its diamond-shaped fruit—pearl-hued with transluscent sheen; glimmering in the darkness of Gorelph.
They were giants, at first, a pure force imbued by the essence of Yggdrasil, able to hear Its whisper and connect with each other through Its roots. Equipped by just enough strength, speed, and wit to endure Gorelph's extreme cold and complete darkness; the extreme seasons of Aenir, the lands lit by the Sun before the first trees grew; and drank acidic, poisonous water of Serza, the seas that surround the surface lands.
Yggdrasil was cursed by Its own growth. As the World Tree's four trunks continued to reach above the atmosphere, the roots tangled and suffocated themselves, nutrients of Eatth depleted. Along with Yggdrasil's expiring over the centuries, the First Faeries grew smaller and weaker with each passing generation.
Humans, on the other hand, rose from dirt when Yggdrasil's every pulse no longer shook the surface. Born after the cracking of Eatth surface to a more forgiving weather and accessible clean water, the humankind was a far inferior race from the fae folk, and for millenias they were slaves and livestocks of the latter.
Yet for all their weaknesses, humankind was not Yggdrasil's children, and thus wasn't effected by Its degradation. Meanwhile the once glorious and unshakable faerie civilization continued to decline, until eventually arrived the time when human Lords and Ladies of the 17 Territories waged wars devastating enough to force a Treaty with the High Farie Kings and Queens of the Four Seasons Courts.
Since, the faeries released their tyrannical grip off the 17 Territories and left the humans to rule themselves. 10 Kingdoms and 7 Queendoms rose in their place. Humans, blind in their hard-earned and yet newly found freedom, quickly turned against each other as their meager replicas of faerie's Courts waged wars driven by cluelessness, greed, and generational anger that no longer had a common enemy to fight against. In the midst of man-made devastation, it took only 100 years for the people to forget what true faeries were like. All that was left for the new generation were tales of fae, muddled by fear-mongering and thirst of beauty and power, fueled by imagination or delusion. Even on the towns scraping by the borders of neutral grounds between human and faerie rule, the common folk no longer grasped which was myth and which was true of the faerie nature.
There were, however, some common knowledge that remained firmly in tales passed by parents to their children about the fae folks.
High faeries, also known as the Sidhe, were the rulers of all fae folks. They were the most powerful of all faeries.
High faeries were known for their regal and imposing presence, and were often depicted as tall, beautiful beings with pointed ears, ethereal wings, and shimmering clothing made of fine silks and jewels. They possessed powerful magical abilities, and were said to be able to manipulate nature and the elements at will. All Sidhe possessed glamour, the ability to create illusions. As most fae folk, perhaps even more so, they were bound to their promises.
The Kings and Queens of the Four Seasons Courts were the highest authority of the faerie race. They presided over the four courts, each one representing a season: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
The Spring Court of the North was ruled by King Thalion and Queen Lilyana, both of whom had hair as green as fresh leaves and eyes as blue as the sky on a clear day. Their court was the most festive and lively of all, filled with bright colors, flowers, and laughter. The faeries of the Spring Court were known for their love of music and dance, and their magic was infused with the power of growth and rebirth.
The Summer Court of the South was ruled by King Solstice and Queen Ember, both with hair as bright as the sun and eyes as fiery as the flames. Their court was hot and passionate, filled with the scents of blooming flowers and ripening fruits. The faeries of the Summer Court were masters of fire and light, and their magic could bring warmth and healing to those in need.
The Autumn Court of the North was ruled by King Oaken and Queen Elara, both with hair as red as falling leaves and eyes as brown as the earth. Their court was the most solemn and introspective of all, filled with muted colors and a quiet sense of mystery. The faeries of the Autumn Court were experts in magic related to death and decay, but also transformation and change.
The Winter Court of the South was ruled by King Nograve and Queen Vebunn, both with hair as white as snow and eyes as blue as ice. Their court was the most austere and cold of all, filled with the beauty of snowflakes and icicles. The faeries of the Winter Court were capable of manipulating the elements of water and ice, and their magic was infused with the power of stillness and contemplation.
These were again divided into two factions: Seelie and Unseelie.
The Seelie was composed of faeries who were generally considered benevolent, and they were known to be more willing to interact with humans in a positive manner. They were associated with the lighter, brighter seasons of spring and summer, and they were often seen as the "good" faeries.
The Unseelie, on the other hand, was composed of faeries who were considered more malevolent and mischievous. They were associated with the darker, colder seasons of autumn and winter, and they were often seen as the "bad" faeries. The Unseelie faeries were known to play pranks on humans, and they were said to be more likely to cause harm or mischief.
The division between Seelie and Unseelie faeries was not always clear-cut, however. Some faeries were considered to be neutral, while others were seen as belonging to both courts. There were even faeries who could switch between the two courts depending on their mood or the situation at hand. Despite these distinction, even Seelie faeries were to be avoided, as all faeries had distinct and complex rules wildly different from humans. It was way too easy for a human to anger a faerie, and all faerie was dangerous.
The fae folk were a diverse and complex race, with many different kinds of beings existing within their society. Some of the most well-known types of faeries were the pixies, who were small and mischievous creatures known for their love of pranks and tricks. Pixies were often found in the forests and meadows, where they played games with each other and delighted in confusing humans who stumbled upon them.
Another type of faerie was the brownie, a creature often associated with the home and hearth. Brownies were said to be helpful beings who would perform household tasks such as sweeping and tidying up in exchange for a bowl of cream or a piece of bread. They were generally considered friendly to humans and were known to protect households from evil spirits and other malevolent creatures.
Other types of faeries included the selkies, who were seal-like creatures that could shapeshift into human form, and the banshees, who were known for their wailing cries that foretold the death of a family member. There were also the naiads, who lived in bodies of water and were said to be guardians of rivers and streams, as well as the dryads, who were tree spirits that lived in the forests and protected the trees from harm.