explore the realm
The Otherworld is an alternate realm filled with magic, which is the home of the fae. There are various one-way portals to the Otherworld hidden in the human realm. These portals become easier to access during certain liminal times, such as Samhain and Beltane, which mark the beginning of winter and summer respectively. During these festivals, the barrier between the realms becomes thin, and more humans find themselves wandering into the Otherworld.
Based on their experiences with the fae, humans have come to classify them as Seelie and Unseelie. Seelie faeries have a decent relationship with humans. They will offer help, forgive accidental offences, and repay kindness with gifts of their own. However, they can still be a little mischievous and will avenge insults. Seelie faeries tend to look more like humans and are more likely to live in groups or communities. Unseelie faeries are more malicious and will attack without being provoked. They tend to look more like beasts and are more likely to be solitary than the Seelie.
As magical beings, faeries have many different abilities. The most common ability is shapeshifting, for example, Odhran can change his form into that of a fox. Some of the fae are able to create illusions and change the form of other objects. This has led to the legend of faerie gold, which would change into useless items like leaves after payment. Other abilities include invisibility, healing, controlling the weather, and prophesy. Many faeries are also able to freely cross between the Otherworld and human realm.
It is very rare for faeries to have children of their own, so some take human children and raise them. The magic within the Otherworld slowly transforms humans into faeries, but the Queen can speed this process up and even grant magical powers through the potions she makes. When faeries do have children of their own, they temporarily take human women to help with the birth or nurse the baby. The fae cannot take without giving something in return; as a replacement for stolen humans, faeries tend to leave behind enchanted logs or other objects that appear to be a sick and dying version of the stolen human. Occasionally, a faerie will take the place of the human to live the rest of their life coddled by human parents. These are known as changelings. In addition to making new faeries by taking human children, the magic of the Otherworld can turn spirits of the unforgiven dead into faeries, typically Unseelie ones.
the otherworld and the fae
A one-way portal to the Otherworld hidden in a forest in the human realm. Will o’ Wisps tend to gather around highly magical places and items, like portals.
A one-way portal to the Otherworld hidden in a forest in the human realm. Will o’ Wisps tend to gather around highly magical places and items, like portals.
barrier portal
A large heavy door under constant guard that leads to the prized garden of the Faerie Queen. Within the garden is the ancient hollowed out stump in which the Queen creates her potions, as well as the only portal that humans can use to return to their realm.
garden of the faerie queen
A grand castle that has been home to many generations of the fae royal family. The current queen, Léander, and her son, Reegan, live there.
castle of the faerie queen
A grand castle that has been home to many generations of the fae royal family. The current queen, Léander, and her son, Reegan, live there.
A large heavy door under constant guard that leads to the prized garden of the Faerie Queen. Within the garden is the ancient hollowed out stump in which the Queen creates her potions, as well as the only portal that humans can use to return to their realm.
garden of the faerie queen
