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There Roams the Pumpkin King

In a world were all stories are real - or they become it if you believe hard enough in them - fey children are very familiar with the myriads of dangers that await them out there, or even closer by, living in the darkest corner of their room, their eyes shining bright only when you aren't looking directly at them. They know they're here, there, they're everywhere. These tales became real because mortals from other planes believe in them, because their children are scared of them and let such normal things convince them that they should behave. But fey children are better, they're special, so of course they wouldn't be scared by any such tales.   Or at least that's what people like to believe in. The scary tales are meant for others, not for them. Why would they need stories when they've got the real deal?   Fey children are specially mischievous. Whether well-intentioned or otherwise, their misbehavior can be taken to extremes, like so many things in the Feywild. It's simply in their nature. So the tales they're told must be of the Feywild as well, rooted in those same extremes and traditions. They're not simple stories, limited by the way they've been told, not capable of going beyond that. They must be real, true, they must know no boundaries and be incredibly powerful. Even Fey have fears, horrors which take hold of their minds. They might be magical, powerful, and exquisite, but there are things that even they are wary of.
 
And after all, who wouldn't be scared of the Lord of Terror himself, the Archfey of fear?
 
The Pumpkin King holds a very powerful place in the Unseelie Court. Any Archfey is someone to fear or respect, sometimes even both. So naturally the Archfey of fear became a cautionary tale for all the unruly children, for he will very much appear to terrify them, always with a bone-chilling grin on their bone carved mask. Even adults are wary of the Master of Scares, as they very well should. He stalks the land at night, and brings the weary spirits of the dead to haunt possible victims. He's a true Fey who draws his power from causing fear.  
Misbehave, little child, misbehave. I shall call the Lord of Terrors and he will come from the darkness, bring all your fears along with him. Try as you might, you cannot hide from him who weaves horror and fright. He'll look deep into your mind, eyes like dreadful pools of darkness, and take from it all that he needs. Your fears will take form, surround you, terrify you. They'll chase you back into the shadows, your tears the only pay they'll ever need.   And next time, perhaps, you'll take heed. For the Master of Scars always has new ways to frighten and terrify. You'll always have your fears, and no place to hide. Run wherever you might, there also roams the Pumpkin King.

The Archfey

Archfey are the most powerful creatures of the Feywild. The Fey Queens - sisters Queen Titania and the Queen of Air and Darkness - are the most famous and powerful archfey, but they are not the only ones. Most of the archfey are sidhe who have amassed great power through loyalty to their Queens. Others are fey beings who have existed since time immemorial and have gained their powers through other means - through old stories, legends, traditions, and beliefs. Some archfey are the lords and ladies of a specific group, like the lord of centaurs, or werewolves; others are a representation of something, like the Northern Wind, of Summer and wealth, of lost ways, of Death.

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Comments

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Jul 5, 2019 20:12

The more I read, the more I'm really digging the feywilds in this world. It's got that lovely wicked fairy vibe to it and mixing in some of those old school stuff. It helps that the one of the fae factions in one of my favorite games all have pumpkin heads, too :D   Awesome work Storm. Keep on camping! :D


Creator of Araea, Megacorpolis, and many others.
Jul 5, 2019 23:28

This comment really made my day. Thank you so much, Qurilion!!