Fae (Fay)
Origin of the Fae
Geographic Distribution
Shifting Sands of Seren
Forest of Echoing Whispers
City of Mirrors
Sea of Shattered Time
Realm of Endless Possibilities
Anatomy & Physiology
In this default form, a Fae appears as a humanoid figure, standing at an average height of about five feet. Their bodies are slender and seemingly weightless, giving them an otherworldly grace and fluidity in their movements. They possess two arms and two legs, much like a human, but their limbs are elongated and end in delicate, claw-like fingers and toes.
Perception & Sensory/Extrasensory Capabilities
The Fae do not hear in the traditional sense. Instead of ears, they have a series of thin, vertical slits on the sides of their heads that can detect vibrations in the air. This allows them to "hear" in a way, but it also gives them a form of echolocation, enabling them to navigate in complete darkness or through complex environments.
Their sense of touch is incredibly acute, able to detect the slightest change in air pressure, temperature, or texture. This sensitivity extends to their ability to perceive magical energies, allowing them to sense the presence of other magical beings or areas of high magical activity.
Perhaps the most remarkable of the Fae's sensory capabilities is their innate ability to perceive the flow of chaos. They can sense areas of high chaos or instability, even across different planes of existence. This extrasensory perception guides them, drawing them to places where they can revel in the chaos and sow further discord. It's an integral part of their nature, a sensory manifestation of their role as agents of chaos and change.
Genetics & Reproduction
Another method of Fae creation is through spontaneous manifestation. In areas of intense chaos or instability, a Fae can spontaneously come into existence, born from the raw chaos of the environment. These Fae are often more wild and unpredictable than those created by Amera, their personalities and abilities shaped by the specific conditions of their birth.
Regardless of their method of creation, all Fae are inherently chaotic and mutable. They do not possess fixed genetic traits or characteristics. Instead, their forms and abilities are fluid, able to change and adapt in response to their needs or desires. This fluidity extends to their lifespan. A Fae exists until it dissipates or is destroyed, its energy returning to the chaos from which it was born.
It's also worth noting that while the Fae do not reproduce in the traditional sense, they can create temporary copies of themselves. These copies are not true Fae but are instead manifestations of the Fae's chaotic energy. They exist for a short time before dissipating, often used by the Fae to cause further chaos or confusion.
Growth Rate & Stages
However, this does not mean that the Fae are static or unchanging. On the contrary, they are beings of constant change and evolution. A Fae's form is mutable, able to shift and adapt in response to their needs or desires. They can alter their size, shape, and even their abilities, effectively "growing" or "evolving" in response to the chaos around them.
This fluidity extends to their lifespan. A Fae does not have a set lifespan or stages of life. They exist until they choose to dissipate or are destroyed, their energy returning to the chaos from which it was born.
In essence, the life of a Fae is a constant cycle of change and adaptation, a reflection of their nature as beings of chaos. They do not grow or age, but instead, they change and evolve, their existence a testament to the unpredictable and ever-changing nature of chaos.
Ecology & Habitat
In the Shifting Sands of Serendip, for example, the Fae revel in the unpredictability of the ever-changing landscape. The violent sandstorms that frequently sweep across the desert create a high degree of chaos and instability, making it an ideal environment for the Fae. They often manipulate the sandstorms to create intricate and confusing patterns in the sand, adding to the desert's inherent chaos.
In the Forest of Echoing Whispers, the Fae interact with the sentient trees, spreading mischievous rumors and half-truths among them to cause confusion and discord. The forest's ever-changing maze of vegetation provides a constant source of chaos and change, making it a favored haunt of the Fae.
The City of Mirrors is another environment where the Fae thrive. The city's disorienting maze of reflective surfaces creates a high degree of chaos, which the Fae often amplify by using their magic to alter reflections and further disorient visitors. The city's inherent instability, combined with the Fae's mischievous antics, makes it a place of constant chaos and change.
The Sea of Shattered Time provides a unique environment for the Fae. The sea's temporal instability creates a constant source of chaos, which the Fae often exploit to play tricks on unsuspecting travelers. They can alter the flow of time, causing moments from the past, present, and future to overlap and intertwine in confusing and unpredictable ways.
Finally, the Realm of Endless Possibilities is perhaps the most chaotic environment in the Azzaron universe, and thus a natural habitat for the Fae. In this realm, reality is fluid and constantly changing, providing an endless source of chaos for the Fae to revel in. They can reshape reality at will, creating and destroying at a whim, their actions adding to the realm's inherent chaos.
In each of these environments, the Fae are more than just passive inhabitants. They actively contribute to the chaos and instability of their habitats, using their magic and their cunning to shape these places according to their whims. They do not simply adapt to their environments; they change and manipulate them, their actions serving to increase the chaos and instability that they thrive on.
Biological Cycle
However, this does not mean that the Fae are unaffected by the passage of time. On the contrary, they are intimately connected to the ebb and flow of chaos, which can fluctuate over time. Periods of high chaos, such as during a great battle or a natural disaster, can see a surge in Fae activity. They are drawn to these events, their energy and activity levels increasing in response to the heightened chaos.
Conversely, during periods of relative calm and order, Fae activity can decrease. They are less likely to be seen during these times, often retreating to the more chaotic planes of existence until the balance of chaos and order shifts once again.
Dietary Needs & Habits
However, while the Fae do not need to eat, they are known to engage in hunting, often for sport rather than sustenance. They are drawn to the chaos and fear that hunting can incite, and they take a perverse pleasure in the act. Their prey can vary widely, from other ethereal beings to physical creatures across the various planes of existence. The Fae are not bound by the physical constraints of their prey. They can hunt a creature of flesh and blood just as easily as they can hunt a being of pure energy.
Their methods of hunting are as varied and unpredictable as the Fae themselves. Some Fae prefer to stalk their prey, reveling in the fear and uncertainty that their presence incites. Others prefer a more direct approach, attacking their prey head-on and delighting in the ensuing chaos.
Once they have caught their prey, the Fae often engage in acts of torture. They take pleasure in the pain and fear of their victims, drawing energy from the chaos and discord that these acts create. However, they do not kill for sustenance. The act of killing is simply another form of chaos, another source of the discord that sustains them.
Behaviour & Psychology
The Fae are inherently playful, their mischievous nature often manifesting in pranks and tricks. They delight in causing confusion and discord, their actions often leading to unpredictable and chaotic outcomes. They might alter the course of a sandstorm in the Shifting Sands of Serendip, causing it to sweep through a previously safe area, or they might whisper a false rumor to a tree in the Forest of Echoing Whispers, sparking a chain of events that leads to widespread confusion.
However, their playfulness can quickly turn violent. The Fae are known to hunt and torture their victims, taking pleasure in the fear and pain they cause. They prefer to target sentient beings, their ability to feel fear and pain providing a richer source of chaos and discord. They might stalk their prey for days, weeks, or even months, their presence causing a growing sense of fear and unease. Once they strike, they often prolong the act, drawing out their victim's fear and pain for as long as possible.
One of the most terrifying abilities of the Fae is their ability to possess their victims. They can invade a victim's mind, taking control of their actions and thoughts. This possession is not subtle. The victim is fully aware of the Fae's presence, their mind a battleground as they struggle against the Fae's control. The Fae often use this ability to cause further chaos, forcing their victims to act in ways that sow discord and confusion.
Despite their violent and sadistic tendencies, the Fae are not evil. They do not act out of malice or a desire to cause harm. Instead, their actions are driven by their nature as beings of chaos. They sow discord and confusion, not to cause suffering, but to create the chaos that they thrive on. Their actions, no matter how violent or cruel, are simply a means to an end, a way to create the chaos that sustains them.
It's also worth noting that the Fae are not without a sense of honor or fairness. They often target those who seek to impose order or stability, their actions serving as a form of balance against the forces of order. They also respect those who can stand against them, their respect often manifesting in a form of twisted admiration.
Intelligence of the Fae
The Fae are highly intelligent, capable of complex thought and reasoning. They possess a deep understanding of chaos and change, their minds able to grasp the intricate patterns and flows of chaos that underlie the universe. This understanding allows them to manipulate chaos to their advantage, their actions often seeming random or nonsensical to those who do not understand the underlying chaos.
However, their intelligence is not merely analytical. The Fae possess a keen sense of intuition, able to sense the ebb and flow of chaos and react accordingly. They can anticipate changes and shifts in the chaos, their actions often seeming prescient to those who do not understand their connection to chaos.
The Fae are also highly adaptable, their minds able to quickly adjust to new situations or challenges. They thrive in situations of uncertainty or instability, their intelligence allowing them to navigate and manipulate these situations to their advantage.
Physique & Build
In their natural state, the Fae often appear as lithe, ethereal figures, their bodies seeming to shimmer and shift with an inner light. They possess a grace and agility that belies their strength, their movements often seeming to defy the laws of physics. They can move with incredible speed, their bodies blurring into streaks of light, or display feats of strength that seem impossible for their slender forms.
However, this is merely their preferred form, the one they most often choose to present to the world. The Fae can alter their physique at will, their bodies reshaping and reforming in response to their needs or whims. They might grow larger or smaller, their bodies bulking up or slimming down as needed. They can sprout wings to fly, or grow additional limbs for climbing or combat. Their bodies can harden to withstand blows, or become intangible to pass through solid objects.
Despite their mutable form, the Fae are not invincible. Their physical capabilities are tied to their connection to chaos, their strength and speed fluctuating with the ebb and flow of chaos. They are also vulnerable to certain forms of magic, particularly those that seek to impose order or control.
Facial Characteristics & Features
Their skin appears luminescent, often shimmering with an inner light that reflects their mood or the surrounding chaos. It can change color and texture at will, sometimes appearing as smooth and flawless as porcelain, at other times rough and textured like bark or stone.
The Fae do not have traditional noses or ears. Instead, they have a series of thin, vertical slits on their faces that serve as sensory organs. These slits can detect vibrations in the air, allowing the Fae to "hear" and "smell" in a way that is different from most species.
Their mouths are often wide and filled with sharp, needle-like teeth. These teeth are not used for eating, as the Fae do not require physical sustenance. Instead, they are often used for intimidation or in their sadistic games.
Body Tint, Colouring & Marking
The Fae can also choose to take on a more solid appearance, their bodies taking on the colours and textures of the physical world. They might appear as figures of stone or wood, their bodies marked with the patterns and colours of these materials. They can also mimic the appearance of other creatures, their bodies taking on the colours and markings of these beings.
Despite their ability to mimic the physical world, the Fae's true nature is always apparent. Their bodies always possess a certain ethereal quality, a sense of otherworldliness that sets them apart. Even when they mimic the appearance of other creatures, their bodies often shimmer with an inner light, their colours more vibrant and their markings more intricate.
Symbiotic & Parasitic Species Associated with the Fae
One such species is the Voridrel, a type of ethereal creature that exists in a symbiotic relationship with the Fae. The Voridrel are beings of order and stability, their existence serving as a counterbalance to the chaos of the Fae. They feed on the excess energy produced by the Fae's chaotic actions, their presence helping to prevent the Fae's chaos from spiraling out of control. In return, the Fae feed on the stability provided by the Voridrel, their presence helping to maintain the balance of chaos and order. This symbiotic relationship is crucial for the survival of both species, the Voridrel and the Fae existing in a delicate balance of chaos and order.
The Lumivex is another species that interacts with the Fae, although in a more parasitic manner. The Lumivex are shadowy creatures that feed on the light produced by the Fae, their bodies able to absorb and store this light for later use. They often follow the Fae, their presence unnoticed as they feed on the Fae's light. While this parasitic relationship does not harm the Fae, it can cause them to appear dimmer, their light less vibrant.
Finally, the Cascryx are a species of ethereal parasites that feed on the chaos produced by the Fae. They latch onto the Fae, their bodies able to absorb and feed on the chaos energy. This parasitic relationship can weaken the Fae, their chaos energy drained by the Cascryx. However, the Fae often tolerate the presence of the Cascryx, their parasitic relationship serving as a reminder of the cost of unchecked chaos.
These relationships between the Fae, the Voridrel, the Lumivex, and the Cascryx are a reflection of the complex and unpredictable nature of the Azzaron universe. They serve as a reminder of the delicate balance of chaos and order, and the intricate web of relationships that exist between its many species.
Social Structure
However, this does not mean that the Fae are without social bonds or relationships. They form fleeting alliances and rivalries, their interactions often driven by the desire to sow chaos or indulge in their sadistic games. These relationships are often complex and unpredictable, reflecting the chaotic nature of the Fae.
Despite their solitary nature, the Fae do recognize a form of leadership. The most powerful and chaotic Fae often command the respect and fear of their peers, their actions serving as a beacon for other Fae. These leaders do not rule in the traditional sense, but instead serve as catalysts for chaos, their actions sparking waves of chaos that ripple through the Fae community.
The Fae also have a unique relationship with the goddess Amera. As her servants, they revere and fear her, their actions often guided by her whims. However, this relationship is not one of subservience. The Fae view Amera as a source of chaos, her presence a constant source of change and unpredictability.
Byproducts & Exploitation
One such byproduct is Faelight, a form of ethereal energy that the Fae emit when they are particularly active or chaotic. Faelight is a radiant, shimmering energy that pulses with the chaotic essence of the Fae. It is highly sought after by the Zephyri, a species of energy beings that inhabit the Nimbus Expanse. The Zephyri feed on various forms of energy, and Faelight is particularly nourishing to them due to its chaotic nature. They have developed ways to attract and trap Fae, creating chaotic situations that stimulate the Fae and cause them to emit Faelight. The Zephyri then absorb this energy, using it to sustain themselves and fuel their own abilities.
Another byproduct of the Fae is the Chaos Echo, a residual imprint of chaos that the Fae leave behind in areas where they have been particularly active. These echoes are invisible to most species, but the Silurin, a species of psychic beings from the Mindsea, can perceive and interact with them. The Silurin use these Chaos Echoes to navigate the psychic currents of the Mindsea, the chaotic energy of the echoes acting as a beacon that guides them. They have also learned to harness the energy of the Chaos Echoes, using it to amplify their psychic abilities.
However, exploiting the byproducts of the Fae is not without risk. The Fae are unpredictable and often dangerous, and their byproducts can be equally volatile. Faelight can be unstable, its chaotic energy potentially harmful if not handled correctly. Chaos Echoes can also be dangerous, their chaotic energy capable of causing psychic disturbances or even madness in those who are not properly trained to handle them.
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