The Black Road
Be careful what you wish for, sure, but be even more careful with where you go looking for itThe Fae rarely spoke of the homeworld they left behind. When asked about it, it seemed to evoke a terrible sadness, for many left brothers and sisters, parents, and loved ones behind there. Simply asking the most benign of questions was enough to open painful wounds in these highly emotional creatures. While they may weep for the land they lost, a cold shiver and dread hush claims them when they're asked about the journey from there to here. The places inbetween... the Black Road. Visually, the Black Road appears a realm of forest entombed in a starless night sky. It is a place of pure blackness aside the occasional lanterns that can be found along the road itself and a feint glimmer from the gold fleck of the bricks. The road is made of charred black brick, twenty feet wide in some places, as narrow as five in others. The road winds and twists through a seemingly endless forest that flanks both sides. Travelers who first find themselves on the road can arrive in a variety of manners, the most common being by accident. Fae trods, passages into this realm, have existed for ages. These magic portals often take the form of circles of flowers or stones. Sometimes these trods are inert, requiring magic to activate. At other times, they'll swallow anyone who stumbles upon them whole, spitting helpless victims out into the forests near the road. The other means of entry is by The Black Road's invitation. This comes in the form of strange, otherworldy, staircases with closed doors at their top. These staircases are always suspiciously clear of debris and their doors are always in immaculate condition. Those who climb the staircase and walk through are transported upon the road itself. The staircase door will usually vanish after the traveler enters (this can be avoided with a fae ritual known as the Rite of Heart's Flame). Travelers unfamiliar with the road and its rules will likely be lost here eternally or consumed by predators that lurk just off the road. This realm is unlike any other plane of existence. It defies linear logic; direction means far less than intent and conviction. It can only be navigated by those strong of heart and who's purpose is clear. Such souls, rare as they are, can will this shadowy place to lead them to their desired end. The trouble, however, is that this realm peers into the hearts of all who walk it. It can offer up temptations and torments all tailor-made to lead travelers astray. The fae know this well, for many of their kind lost their way as they traveled this place, becoming forever stuck. Once stuck, this realm has a way of changing its prisoners. It magnifies what the heart craves, warping it, perverting it, and condemning those effected into a cycle of endless obsession or craving. Yet, despite all its dangers, there is a power to this place. It can help lead one to that which they most desire, if they're strong and determined enough. Yet, there's more. This is a realm of doors. The fae who built the earliest trods used this as a shortcut from one place to another. It can make travel miraculously short if one knows the doors well enough, leaping from one trod to another. There are even ancient rituals that can create staircases, but such magic is powerful beyond most mortal ability. It's also a place where the lost and rare can be found if one looks hard enough. The woods are littered with precious things, either spawned by this realm or dropped by those that never found a way out. There are rules to travel the Black Road, if one so wishes. These rules can be found in the many ballads, poems, and folk tales concern the place. Much of it comes from the fae themselves who survived the journey, but the road predates the coming of the fae. Other mortals have stumbled on this place too and a rare few managed to find their way back. The most common rule, and the most important, is to NEVER leave the road. Ever. The things in the woods cannot step foot on the road without being invited. And no bloodshed is allowed on the road. Those who do harm on the path are dragged into woods. Even if they manage to find their way back to the road they'll need to make amends somehow before they'll be allowed to walk the bricks again. Certain powerful entities in the woods have the permission to grant access to the road once more. They can make an offering to the road as well, usually in the form of five years of their life. Once the offer is made their essence will turn into a new black brick that the petitioner can place into the path. There is another means as well, to seek the favor of the god of the Black Road. Which leads into the second rule. Never speak his name nor seek his attention. The god of terror, the The Autumn King. This entity seems to have unchecked dominion over this place and most of the entities within. There is no wish he cannot grant but the price will always be far too high. Even more dangerous is this; the rules of the road do not apply to King's men, nor to the King himself. Take care not to utter his name and if you must, take even greater care to not insult it or the Autumn Crown which he holds most dear. Lastly, if something is taken, something must be given. One must always take care to give back to road and to the woods if something is taken. To not do so can invite the ire of any of the greater or lesser entities who's domains a traveler may be crossing. It pays to know exactly where one is traveling and to whom or what they are giving, for a poor offering is just as insulting as no offering at all. Additionally, many fae entities dwell here and fae creatures have their own sets of bizarre rules and rituals they follow. Take caution when dealing with any of them.
Known Entities
The No End House - This seemingly simple house is far more than just a structure to be found in the woods. It's bigger on the inside than on the outside and it's filled with rooms that contain strange artifacts and puzzles. The house is said to be a maze of sorts that shows travelers what they seek, a sort of version of the Black Road but in the form of a house with infinite rooms. However, the house is hungry, and where the road keeps its promises, the house may not. It twists desires into nightmare things, things that can only exist if they consume the travelers whose desires gave birth to them. The Raven Man - A powerful warrior-philospher in service to the The Autumn Queen and who guards the precious places she left behind on the Black Road. He's a keeper of great secrets who is honor-bound to protect the Queen's treasures, preferring wit over violence when possible. The Queen left behind many such precious places and the Raven Man can be found at many of them. Candle Seekers - The remnants of lost fae who withered into nothingness on the road. They roam aimlessly looking for candle bearers (See: Rite of Heart's Flame) so they can steal their candle and find a way home. Burning Petititoners - These are said to be the last fae who tried to escape their home world but waited to too long, hoping the apocalypse would never come. Now, they forever burn, bathed in the arcane fires that turned their world to cinders. They walk the road looking for any who would willingly take their fire so they can finally rest. Some are found traveling alone, others have gathered into cloisters who walk together, trying to help each other through the pain of eternal conflagration The Peeled - These are victims of an entity known as Mr.Ripperskin. They are flayed alive by his awful long fingers and left on display, usually along the road. Sometimes known as Skinseekers, these victims will often jolt to life and try to shred the flesh off of those they find, even along the road itself. The violence they cause will soon get them ejected from the road but more often than not they'll take others with them. Either by the violence these victims cause back while defending themselves, or by gripping their targets tightly as the forest rips them from brick, dragging both into the woods. The King's Men - These can come in a near-limitless variety, but there is almost always some obvious jack-o-lantern aesthetic. These oath-sworn creatures were in some cases fae or other living things before choosing fealty to the Autumn King over an eternity of aimless wandering. In other cases, they are crafted by the King himself, nightmare creatures, not unlike demons whose entire purpose is to serve and to destroy. The Autumn King can only bless so many of his servants with the ability to breach the rules of the road. Thus, only the most powerful of the King's Men are given his blessing. This makes their appearance blissfully rare but those a traveler may cross paths with are terribly dangerous. The Briganock - These tiny, mouse sized, little creatures with this big bush white mustache and workshop attire are some of the more benign things a travel may cross paths with if they leave the road. They live in groups, often referred to as unions or guilds, and they build things. Sometimes useful magic items, sometimes utter nonsense, but they take each project very seriously. They deeply despise those who interfer with their work and most of their unions have a considerable dislike for the Autumn Queen herself. So much so that they abandoned her and the other fae as they walked the road, choosing the forests here over following her. The Heart Estate - Nestled within the woods somewhere is a vast manicured estate with tall limestone walls and a cold iron gate. Within the twisted bars of the gate is a symbol of a heart and grains of wheat. This is the Heart Estate, home to a family of elegant nobility who welcome all travelers that happen upon their home. Unfortunately, few of the travelers will ever leave. Some may join the family, but most will be eaten. The Hearts are hungry canibals who delight in butchering travelers and then prepared them into luxurious dishes. Caleb Heart is the paragon of the family, a wise and seemingly gentle man. His only goal is to protect and grow his family, either by fattening their bellies or finding suitable travelers to join their ranks. The Hearts are not fae and they have no interest in cruel bargains meant to trick or torment. Their offers are genuine and they tend to deeply care for any they deal with. Even those to be eaten are respected by most of the family. While it sounds like there is no reason to ever seek them out, the Heart Family are some of the most genuine souls that can be met on this side of the doors. And speaking of doors, they are expects at finding them. Second only to Jack Grey. Jack Grey - This rabbit-like entity is immensely powerful in its own right, a master of changelings and a stealer of children. This being is one of many whom have sworn fealty to the Autumn King. Jack can usually be found off the road and in the form of a large jackrabbit. While his craving for children and for replacing them with changelings is deeply disturbing, he is a master of doors. Jack can be bargained with for knowledge about where to find entrances and exits to just about anywhere. He is often thought to be the weakest of the great powers of the Black Road but the weakest god is still just that, a god. And something no mortal has any hope of defeating. The Black Stag - This elder entity has existed in many places across history, and the planes, but these woods seem to be its preferred home. It can appear to travelers as a giant black stag with horns of gold that are wreathed in flame. Its true nature is unknown but its certain it is not a fae being. It is some kind of wish granter, a tempter, and an insatiable hunger. It seeks to bargain for what the heart most desires and the currency it prefers is memories. This being, like Jack Grey, Mr. Ripperskin, and others, are not fae creatures. They seem similar in nature to the Autumn King himself. Many view the Stag and the rest as the Black Road's pantheon of gods. Equal and awful in all regards. Mr. Ripperskin - This shadow creature takes the form of an impossibly tall human with chalk white flesh and face with only a mouth, one filled with teeth that look more like broken glass than anything organic. It's dressed in a suit of decayed luxury and from its back writhe long tendrils of darkness. Yet nothing is as terrible about its appearance as its fingers. Long and branch-like, with filthy nails and stained red with blood. Ripperskin is another of native god-horrors of this realm, and unlike the rest of the pantheon he has no interest in bargains, games, or dominion. He wants only pain, to flay flesh from bone and drink in the screams. Some have managed to kill in his name, dedicating bloody rites to this artist entity, and earned temporary power for the offering. Yet, these mortals never enjoy their gifts for long. Madness and death follow in the wake of Ripperskin. The Queen of Air and Darkness - Often known more simply as Queen Mab, this being rarely takes a physical form, instead preferring to manifest as a dread wind then sends an icy shiver down the spine of all who feel it. Or, often times she will manifest as a strange shadow that defies any light which tries to illuminate it. When spells are used to view her, casters may see a beautiful, bone-white maiden with deep black eyes and hair. This is often the last thing they see for the Queen dislikes any who try to witness her without permission. Whether she is a fae being or something else entirely, she represents their caprcious and volitile nature very well. Tales speak of her wrath and scorn, and all those she's left broken. She delights in bargains and many prefer to treat with her over the other god-entities of the Black Road for she is the most fair. However, fairness has little meaning when discussing anything related to this realm. The Autumn King - The Black Road has many horrors both on and off its paths. Each is an insurmountable nightmare in their own right but none are the Autumn King, the greater god of the road and all who walk it. Much of this entity's time is spent influencing the mortal realm of Tairos, manipulating the remaining fae into bringing about his vision. He also works to topple the Shadow Court and the last supporters of the Autumn Queen. When he isn't manifesting among the dark forests of Tairos he is here, gathering his strength and preying upon all those that stumble upon the road unprepared. Rarely does the king bargain, he prefers instead to sow fear and consume the terrified. Though a deal can often be struck if it serves is ends In Tairos. As for defying him, perhaps in Tairos he can be confronted, even battled, but on the Black Road... it would be like challenging Vale to duel. In his presence here you can only kneel, hide, or die.Known Rituals
Rite of Heart's Flame - This ritual, known to most to the fae, allows for the creation of black candle with a flame that cannot be extinguished. The candle tracks the time left before the entrance the traveled entered the road by, vanishes. The candle's flicker can also be willed to point in the direction of what the traveler seeks. However; travelers must be careful when using this candle, for it is fae magic and can be fickle, prone to trickery, or influenced by any of the greater powers here. Rite of the Road - This is a prayer of protection that help shield a traveler from the prying eyes of many of the Black Road's entities. While it cannot shield them from being witnesses by living beings it will obscure them from the god-like powers here as well as the eyes of fae, Candle Seekers, Burning Petitioners, and similar lesser powers. This rite will only function while on the road and while in good standing with rules of the road. Rite of Heart's Desire - A rite crafted by the Hearts and something of a mockery of the Heart's Flame ritual. This will help the the seeker find what they think they desire and much more efficiently than the Heart's Flame. However; it also alerts the Heart Family to the presence of the traveler and to the desire they're seeking out. *The below rites are all known as Rites of Calling, and they detail the means by which you can contact the greater powers of the Black Road, the offerings you should make, and why you might make use of the calling. These are all likely paths for would-be warlocks to seal their pact with any of these beings. These rites work both within the Black Road and elsewhere, though invokers will get a much more... visceral... response if carried out within the Black Road. It is always suggested that when communing with greater powers that one prepares a magic circle for protection. Be aware that such protections are meant for the material realm though and can quickly lose their efficiency in places like the Black Road Rite of Darkest Blessing- This is the calling to the Queen of Air and Darkness. You should gift precious jewelry, magical rings, masterfully crafted mirrors, and rare stones when seeking her favor. Those who invoke this calling beseech the Queen for boons of concealment, magical power, physical perfection, and revenge. Her ritual involves mirrors, total darkness, and wind chimes. The seeker must complete the rite nude, having cast off any finery or symbol of station, groveling to the only true Queen. Rite of the Replacement - This is the calling to Jack Grey. The seeker must locate the largest and most shaded tree they can, far from any civilization. There, they can make an offering in the form of children's toys, mothers' milk, clay shaped in the form of a recently born child with hair from that child stuffed within the clay form, or... if the seeker is truly looking to earn Jack's favor, they can offer a newborn baby. Jack will appear if the offering is favored, usually as a large jackrabbit. Jack can be called upon for boons of loss (speaking to the dead and such), directions and navigation, pacts with changelings, and prosperity or luck. Rite of Ragged Lips - Fae tomes are rather clear that the calling of Mr.Ripperskin is extremely treacherous and should not be undertaken lightly. He can be called with blood, pain, and broken bones from unwilling victims. These things must be carefully arranged into an intricate circle within which the seeker sit. As the invoker calls upon Mr.Ripperskin to come, they will ritually slice and scare their lips, orften chewing them ragged. Ripperskin prefers the deep woods or long abandoned places for these meeting. If he finds the offerings worthy the invoker will feel his horrible hands upon their shoulder as he stands behind them, just out of view. If he finds the offerings lacking he will take the invoker instead. Ripperskin is called upon for boons of prophecy, magical power, physical strength, deadly weapons, and murder. Rite of Black Flame - The imperious and ominous Black Stag prefers his invokers choose a place where the forest meets a clearing. There, they will build a fire during the darkest hours of the night while filling a page with a precious memory of theirs. The Stag requires no pomp or ritual like the other greater entities, instead, the invoker need only finish the page and then then fold it three times before placing it in the fire. This is the offering and it will plucked from the mind of the invoker. If the offering is accepted a fog will billow from the forest edge and the shape of the stag will appear within it, its presence known by the burning golden horns. The Black Stag is called upon for boons of summoning, magical binding, prophecy, arcane might, and insights into the hidden. Rite of Autumn - The old fae texts are clear, never do this. Never conduct the Rite of Autumn. Those who have tried have died screaming, their hearts exploding in their chests as fear shreds their minds. The dead erupt with branches and vine-like growths before bursting into unnatural flames. Yet, the details of the Rite of Autumn do exist. They speak of rituals conducted in the ruins of holy sites or ancient cemeteries. Here, offerings of severed heads with burning candles in their mouths are made. These grimoirs tell of the great boons the Autumn King can grant to those who call him ; boons of dominion over fae and over the geometry of the Black Road, boons of magical power, immortality, and even wish granting. Do not invoke the Rite of Autumn no matter how safe you feel or what precautions you've taken. In Tairos, magic circles meant to ward against such dangers will slowly crumble as the minds of the summoner break against the fear that floods their thoughts. On the Black Road, such protections do not belong to ritual user, they belong to the Autumn King. Circles can become prisons, torture chambers, birthing pods for a new Kingsman, or even a doorway for his majestry to directly manifest.Ballad of the Black Road
The Black Road winds in endless night,
No stars to guide, no moon for light,
Stay on the bricks, don’t stray, don’t roam,
Or you may never find your home.
Where shadows whisper, breath runs thin,
The heart’s true path begins within.
The road is safe, but off the way,
The hungry dark begins to play.
Mr. Ripperskin’s grin so wide,
Peels flesh away—no place to hide.
The Heart Clan feasts on meat and bone,
Their mansion’s halls a haunted moan.
Jack Grey hops light, with teeth so bright,
He steals the children in the night.
Changelings left in beds so still,
He takes them to the Autumn’s will.
The Stag with horns of burning gold,
His eyes will find the weak and bold.
He hunts beneath the silent trees,
No mercy in his endless pleas.
Queen Mab, the wind, so cold, so cruel,
She scorns you with her shadow’s rule.
Invisible, yet mirrors gleam,
Her eyes upon you as you dream.
Her breath of frost, her spite, her hate,
Will find you and forever seal your fate.
But worse than these, beyond them all,
The Autumn King will hear your call.
A god of terror, fear made flesh,
Your heart will burst within your chest.
The Black Road bows to him in dread,
Where he walks there are only the dead.
But if you dare and if you crave,
The thing your heart must surely save,
The road will lead, it twists, it turns,
To what your deepest desire yearns.
Few walk it twice, most walk it never,
For on the Black Road, night’s forever.
So know your wish, your heart’s last need,
For those who falter, only bleed.
Related Species
Related People
Related Organizations
Comments