Sidhe, Fey Elves
Hauntingly beautiful are the first words that came to your mind when you looked into her eyes. The Second were painfully perfect and following that eternal and terrible. All this you learned from her eyes, her too vibrant, too keen eyes. You can only surmise what you see of her body is equally perfect yet you find it near impossible to break her gaze. Her hair is like red gold, no you correct yourself elven-gold as the northmen say. Her skin is flawless white as new fallen snow and her lips are like glistening red rubies. She approach's with a practiced sway and speaks with a voice like warm honey and sweet milk and that is when you see that she is not alone. They are all beautiful by human or nearly any other races standards built as if sculpted by some divine hand, male and female alike are stunning creatures their eyes dancing with colors that seem too rich to be real their pointed ears and willowy builds are a clear sign of elven kind but even the beauty of elves seems to pale in compare next to these ethereal fey beings, the sometimes deified and immortal fey elves called the Sidhe.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The SIdhe primarily speak Sidhe a blend of Sylvan and Elven that requires one to understand both languages to properly understand. Sidhe also further confuse others by changing between both tongues as the mood strikes them. This is less a Dialect then what other races call a haughty and annoying game of dancing between two languages for personal amusement. When they do speak Elven it is of an much older and very formal dialect with a stress on exacting pronunciation and speech.
Culture and cultural heritage
Sidhe are the root ancestor of the elven peoples and cultures and thus elements of what are considered elven are found through out the Sidhe. While the Elves became freewilled creatures of the mortal world the Sidhe remained as courtiers of the Fey Nobles and creatures more akin to the Faerie World. For Sidhe it is rare to break or change from their nature as courtiers and nobles as if it is that they have acted as courtiers for so long it has become a very part of their nature and woven into all levels of their culture.
Shared customary codes and values
Sidhe are sharply devided between the Seelie and Unseelie courts of the fey and their families and clans often have ageless traditions of loyalty and service to either the Seelie (Summer) or Unseelie (Winter) Court. Some Sidhe align themselves with smaller and less powerful courts but they are often regarded as rustic or wishing to be large fish in a smaller pond so to speak.
Sidhe value honor (or the appearance of it at any rate), courtly prowess, tittles and keeping sworn oaths. Regardless if a Sidhe is a wicked servant of winter or a nicer agent of the Seelie courts they typically will hold themselves to a noble and haughty standard. The law of three is also very important and any oath that is sworn thrice is all but unbreakable to any Sidhe. They also consider true names to hold great power and swearing an oath upon their hidden birth name (All Sidhe are given a name to keep secret at birth and a seperate public name) is a grave oath indeed. In turn Sidhe often like to collect the names of others especially if they can hear them first hand and pronounce them exactly as the names owner might. Many Sidhe are also avid practioners of name magic and many stories of this have made other beings wary to speak their full name in the company of a Sidhe, especially a Sidhe Spellcaster.
All Sidhe fill the roles of courtiers and nobles serving the much more powerful demi-god like fey royals and other powerful fey who rule their otherworldly homes. A small number of Sidhe travel to the mortal realms to build small settlements hidden away from prying eyes under hills in magical pocket realms for trade, to gain power free of their fey lords or else some scheme to further their families position among the courts of the Fey Realm.
Average technological level
The Sidhe are creatures who often defy understanding and their development of technology is another faccet of this. For Sidhe civilzation, metal work and magic have always been as they are and innovation has come more as an alteration or improvement on what is already and has always been known. New creations are often adapted from other peoples and cultures though the Sidhe are quick to adapt anything that is beautiful. For the most part Sidhe technology and magic is and seems to have always been on par with the cultures of Syann but often seems to become frozen in certain romantic incarnations that appeal to Sidhe Aesthics.
Common Etiquette rules
To most Sidhe etiquette is second to breathing. Their own custom is frightfully similar to that of the high elven nobles and all Sidhe consider themselves nobility. Even the wicked unseelie Sidhe are creatures of finely attuned etiquette and can be terrifying polite and genteel even as they torture and torment their victims. Politeness, good manners and conversation are all held as three of the most admirable traits a Sidhe can display in public and many often study other peoples traditions of etiquette and decorum to flawlessly move through other cultures social strata.
Common Dress code
Dress to impress is the only rule for Sidhe attire, one can wear whatever one pleases so long as they dress well and in beautiful or impressive manner. Body art is rarely permanent but sidhe are not unknown to adorn their skin in gorgeous paints and go naked to display their bodies. However they do respect the cultures of others enough to wear acceptable (but always gorgeous) clothing as befits the situation or culture they are interreacting with. Though this is not always the case and if a Sidhe can unsettle or gain an advantage over a another being (especially powerful beings) they will happily dress in a manner sure to impress even if it is wearing little more then a smile and a few carefully placed leaves or gemstones.
Art & Architecture
The Sidhe adore art and beauty from the gentle and warm places of the Summer Court to the frightful and frigid beauty of the ice Spires of Winter and everything in between no Sidhe Settlement or even home would be acceptable to them if it was not beautiful and awe inspiring. Sidhe adore the arts though few Sidhe ever set upon the path of the artist. Sidhe Artists are often seen as odd by their kin for dedication to music, craft or creation in favor of political maneuvering or direct power and prestige. However they do recognize Sidhe artists and admire their works. It is more common for Sidhe to embrace the works created by the masters artists of other races and many sidhe will bribe, hire, trick into fey contract or outright kidnap artists and craftsmen who catch their fancy. Dedicated fey artists often find this practice disdainful and insulting or else the games of Sidhe nobles too lazy to create art of their own.
The Sidhe preference for improving on the work of others also applies to the art of magic, while many Sidhe excel at it few are true artists and innovators. As noted with all arts and crafts when a Sidhe embraces such they often become hyper dedicated to perfecting that art and expressing their prowess with it. Sidhe smiths produce armor, shields and weapons of enchanted beauty and might, Sidhe painters seem to bring art upon the canvas to life, Sidhe bards often sing songs that make gods take notice and Sidhe spellcasters rival legendary magi in their dedication to mastery of magic. For when a Sidhe dedicates themself to the act of creation they do with the goal of utter perfection. Sidhe treat warfare and battle as an art and many a Sidhe knight or duelest is as deadly as they are beautiful.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Hospitality is an almost painfuly observed rite among Sidhe with guests in their homes offered protection and faiir treatment (Unless violated by the guests actions). Sidhe of all kind are prone to scheming, manipulation and using others as catspaws and they admire the ability to subtley use and trick rivals, enemies and friends over more direct methods.
The courtly manner of the Sidhe is nearly identical to that of the Nytalf Elsa and shares elements with many cultures with old and established noble castes. Steeped in regal custom, grace, haughty and aloof every Sidhe is held to a standard most would reserve for royal ladies, princes, queens and dukes and all interwoven with a certain romantic passion for it all and taken to extreme levels. A Sidhe ball isn't just a social gathering to dance and mingle for example, it is a chance to display ones power wealth and status while playing ones guests off against each other and gathering information all set against the backdrop of the most impossible beauty and luxury the Sidhe can offer for their guests to partake of.
With any custom observed by the Sidhe can be certain they will be over the top and focused on utter perfection in its application and if sworn oaths, deals and agreements are involved then the interest of the Sidhe are almost sure to be doubled for without a doubt all Sidhe adore word play, hate direct lies and consider carefully maneuvering through contracts, deals and oaths with their wits and words the height of games.
Sidhe Justice and vengence is regarded as an art and an absolute necessity, for a Sidhe not to extract some measure of equal repayment for a wrong commited against them is unheard of and few Sidhe are forgiving enough to not at the very least teach an important lesson to those who cross them. The perfect vengeance for a Sidhe is almost often ironic and involves powerful curses and ideally teaches the victim not just to avoid wronging the Sidhe but to correct their poor behavior.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Sidhe are ageless and death causes their souls to be reborn in the Faerie Realm, however this does not mean they can not or do not have offspring however child birth is rare among the Sidhe and often the result of an agreement as part of a marriage contract or an expression of true love. Sidhe fertility is not well understood and almost seems supernatural with Sidhe being fertile or not when the mood strikes them.
The birth of a child Sidhe is always a cause for celebration and yet another excuse for the Sidhe to show off and attempt to gain social status. Thus at birth and various milestones of a Sidhe's life his or her family are likely to have held grand parties and celebrations. The rite of birth is rarely the same and always directly related in scope and grandeur to the wealth and power of the Sidhes parent families. The one exception to this is the Naming.
The Naming is a private and solemn rite where a new born Sidhe is granted a true name by their parents and a public name. The true name of a Sidhe is granted with great consideration and often accompanied by divinations to determine the ideal name for the child. This name is kept secret and only shared willingly with loved one or for dire oaths. The public name of a Sidhe is mutable and is often changed by the Sidhe upon reaching adulthood.
Coming of Age Rites
When a Sidhe reachs physical adulthood at age twenty five they cease aging and this marks a Sidhes coming out party. These parties are like all Sidhe customs, elaborate, steeped in noble ritual and ultimately an excuse to show off and engage with others of their kind in social maneuvering.
Funerary and Memorial customs
It is rare for a Sidhe to suffer true death, and death is often considered a major inconvenience as over time a Sidhe soul will be reborn and eventually (over a period of centuries) rediscover their past memories and power. The rare Sidhe who suffer true death (Either due to powerful magic or death via cold iron weapons) are either given grand monuments or utterly forgotten and disdained depending on the nobility and glory of their death. For if a Sidhe dies a failure they are just as often forgotten and considered unworthy of memory.
Common Taboos
The Sidhe are so deeply rooted in their nature as fey courtiers that they are bound magically to certain fey customs, Sidhe find it hard to be outright deceptive and thus will speak careful and subtly rather then outright lie. Saying an oath three times is utterly binding and breaking such an oath risks terrible punishment for the Sidhe (Or so they believe). Rites of hospitality and neutral grounds are practically sacred and the thought of violating them has been known to cause Sidhe to become physically ill. Vengeance is an artform and not seeking reprisal for a wrong against a sidhe is seen as a sign of weakness and even a minor act of vengeance is preferable to. forging a slight against a Sidhe.
Common Myths and Legends
The Sidhe were created by the lords of the Fey Realm in ages past to act as their courtiers and according to the Sidhe give them beautiful beings to fill their noble halls and homes as to please them. Sidhe being immortal and at least to some small degree alien in nature do not separate myth and legend from reality. To the Sidhe they are as they have always been and will always be and take pride in feeling that they were created with a purpose unlike the lesser races. The Sidhe speak of a time when the gods bargained with the fey lords for Sidhe courtiers and those Sidhe who went with the gods and called the mortal world home would be changed, their eternal cycle altered and granted mortal souls. These Elves all are descended from the Sidhe but often the Sidhe find elves difficult to comprehend and dangerous due to their nature being tainted by their mortality and separation from their fey nature. Some Sidhe tell that the Elves are simply children playing at some grand game of rebellion and one day the elves shall return to the Fey Realms and become Sidhe once more.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
The SIdhe have no ideals among their own regarding beauty, to them they set the ideals by their very nature that other races should aspire to. This said Sidhe do have a liking for elaborate cloths and armor that have organic and nature oriented design elements typically symbolic of the fey court they are allied to and often adorned with heraldic jewelry. A sidhe is as likely to wear a clothes made of rose petals, wisps of dancing mist, exotic silks, shining silver armor or nothing at all as the mood strikes them.
Gender Ideals
Like the elves who descended from them the Sidhe hold little in the way of Gender Ideals or strict customs with males or females allowed to live and persue what ever path or way of life they desire.
Courtship Ideals
Nearly all Sidhe consider themselves noble and while courtly romance and deeply affectionate trysts are not uncommon most Sidhe are arranged to be wed to for political reasons by their parents. These courtships are typically rather elaborate with exchanges of gifts, poetry and valiant deeds being presented by one or both lovers to each other. Sidhe consider oaths to be quite powerful things however and even arranged marriage oaths are never taken lightly. Courtships are often prolonged and if both parties are romantically interested they will engage in trying to match and outdo the others tokens of affection. An uninterested Sidhe will rarely engage beyond what is required for social acceptance while working out an equitable arrangement for the marriage (or in some cases trying to escape the arranged wedding). Such marriages in either case may have an agreed upon expiry date and host of rules and stipulations enforced by the strange rules of the fey.
Relationship Ideals
For the Sidhe relationships are predominately about power, status and political maneuvering or at least marriages. Sidhe are by nature romantic and drawn to passion and emotion and many long for true and eternal love. Many Sidhe will have lovers and romantic interests outside their marriage (always ensuring that such freedom is part of their wedding day oaths if they desire this) and to the Sidhe the perfect union is between two Sidhe who both love each other deeply and will further their status and power. Younger Sidhe who reject or have little love for the power struggles and courtly maneuvering of their Seelie and Unseelie courts often seek love for the sake of love alone. All Sidhe are prone to passion and curiosity and it is not uncommon for them to sport with beings who interest them if not just for a midsummers night.
Noteable Sidhe
Witch Queen of the north Consolida "Lark or Larkspur"
Witch Queen of the North, crowned twice, slain once only to return for revenge upon her betrayers. As a Sidhe Youth she ran to the mortal world to escape being wed to an ugly unseelie noble by the whims of her cruel stepmother. A mistress of witchcraft she now rules the city state of Cailleachthwaite and holds no small amount of respect and envy from her peers.
Lady Eilise of the summer smile
Is a diplomat of sorts, she is said to have a liking for the mortal world and thus happily became a diplomatic envoy to the Borda Elsa. A meddler and gossip Lady Eilise can be found sticking her nose in the business of everyone with a measure of power. It is rumored she is also the lover of the Borda Elsa court arch mage Talwren Verdenhart and acts as the tutor in the ways of courtly manner to the young king of the Borda Elsa.
Duke Rumaan of the People under the hills
Is a Seelie court Sidhe and the father of Lady Consolida who long ago formed formal alliances between the Druids of the Talroch Isles and the Sidhe who frequent that fey touched region. He acts to this as a diplomat and ensures that the fey and non fey of the Talrochs abide by rules and customs meant to ensure an uneasy peace between them. Rare among Sidhe of the Seelie court he understands that the darker fey of the Unseelie and the many fey of the lesser courts are important and has been known to act on their behalf.
Lord Glas of the Hoarfrost
Glas is as unseelie as a sidhe can be. Calling the wilds of the Northren Vistaghast his domain. He considers his mystical realm hidden below the Ice Shield Glacier a fortress for the unseelie and a safe haven for the wicked fey of winter to launch their schemes upon an unsuspecting world. Glas styles himself as a classic villainous noble relishing in his service to the Unseelie and the woe and wickedness spread from his domain. Glas is also known to a deadly magus blending his mastery of magic and the lethal edge of his sword into a nightmarish union of frost and sidhe forged steel.
Ladies Dil & Nev
These Wintercourt Sidhe woman are seemingly twin sisters, tall, beautiful, pale blue of hue and powerful one is armed with a crystalline great sword and the other a mighty axe both are forged from enchanted black ice as strong as adamantium. The Sisters of frost almost always work together and are the favorite enforcers of Lord Glas. They have also been seen in the employ of other powerful dark fey and often working alongside with the infamous Fey-Lost elf Sorcerer Faur Reoanam, so dangerous and deadly is this pair of unseelie knights that in some regions they are seen as heralds of death and cold.
Pathfinder 1st Ed race stats
Type: Monsterous Race
Race Type: Fey (Humanoid, Elven)
Size: Medium Speed Normal
Starting Languages: Elven, Sylvan
Starting Language choices: Aklo, Common, Halfling, Gnome, Dwarf, Goblin, Draconic
Ability Scores: Standard with Advanced Dex and Advanced Int +4 Dex, +2 int, +2 Cha, -2 Con
Traits
Defensive
Energy Resistance (Seelie 5/- fire or Unseelie 5/- Cold)
Fey Damage Reduction
Pride
Spell Resistance Greater
Feat and Skills
Fey Thoughts
Gregarious
Quick Reactions
Silver Tongued
Sociable
Magical
Envoy
Fey magic
Movement
Fast
Fleet Footed
Senses
Low Light Vision
Other
Fey Born Soul: When a member of this race dies their body starts to fade away into brightly colored motes (this processes takes 1rd per level/HD to complete and may be revived via normal means in that time). Once this fully occurs they can not be raised from the dead by any means and their spirit can not be contacted. One day later the are reincarnated as if cast by a 20th level druid however they will always reincarnate as the same race often the same gender and even cosmetic appearance.
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