I've mentioned previously that warlocks all across #Auvia want power where they had none before. Sometimes that power is offered before a warlock even begins to look.
When someone is thrust into danger, and can't find a way to safety, a ghostly figure of their ancestor may appear before them, clad in mail and with seven swords about their person. They are unseen and unheard to all others, and they offer the imperiled the means to save themselves. Time stops so they can speak.
#Lore24 13/03/24
The Blademaster, as they have come to be called, does not offer an easy exit from the dangers that a would-be warlock faces. They simply offer a chance to survive, a test to overcome.
A prisoner bound and kept under guard by bandits, for instance, might find their bonds unravelled and a dagger where there wasn't one before. The Blademaster will observe, and may offer some small thought here and there. Should the warlock succeed, they join the ranks of the Voidblades.
Voidblades who spend time and effort to learn more about their newfound powers find themselves speaking with the Blademaster more and more. The spirit is curious and enigmatic in their speech, and they are always, *always* well-informed, perhaps more so than the Voidblade who speaks with them.
What some find unsettling, however, is that the Blademaster never speaks of their own agenda. They only ever take interest in the Voidblades, and the people they interact with...
"It's a curious thing, the void. I find my dreams take me there, but never to the same place twice. It glints with the light of the stars above and the treasures of the earth below.
"Sometimes my dreams tell me what I need to know. Other times I hear something and I don't understand it until much later. But I know this for sure: I will be more than I was, and I will help others like me to do the same."
- Excerpts from the records of Seta-Aza, hoblin voidblade
The Blademaster is based on, and replacing, the Hexblade otherworldly patron in #Auvia. Some features and patron-specific spells will be different from the Hexblade, in the interest of encouraging players to think differently about it and try out character builds inspired by the narrative just as much as, if not more than, their mechanics.
Warlocks have also been given a few upgrades as a class, to help them keep up with adventurers who might not need short rests as much.
#Lore24 17/03/24
While the Blademaster seeks out those in need and offer them their power, the fiends of Zhel may look upon a covetous Auvian in search of power and simply ask them to prove how far they will go for it. The warlock's power depends on their answer. Some engage their would-be patron in debate, others request a task to be given, and some go so far as to offer sacrifices and worship for a time.
The fiend known as 'Ophidia the Venomwing' is particularly fond of deal-making...
Through her deals with Auvians, Ophidia has obtained a sizeable chunk of Zhel as her own domain. She commands a legion of lesser fiends and minions from her illustrious island-castle.
But she wasn't always one of the major players. It all began during her time as a lowly temptress, when she was petitioned for aid. She thought for a moment, and then said,
"If you desire what power I choose to give you, then bring me the heart of my closest rival."
The warlock obliged.
At the time, Ophidia had no idea that her would-be servant would succeed. But a fiend's heart is a source of infernal magicks. By consuming a fiend's heart, you gain their power - in more ways than one.
The rival's servants fell in line with Ophidia's authority. Thus began a campaign to dethrone the temptress's enemies and literally steal their hearts.
But that was generations ago now. Today, Ophidia's power is on par with lesser archfiends, and she aspires to more...
In a stark contrast to the eagerness of fiends to make deals, the celestial servants of the Seven react to pleas for power with perplexion. Is it not the sacred duty of those chosen by the divine to carry out Their will? One who actively seeks the power of the divine is likely a pretender to divinity itself.
As a result, Celestial warlocks are few and far between. Most often, they are the travelling companion of a cleric or paladin, inspired to follow the same cause.
It takes a good bit of persuasion and bargaining to convince a servant of the divine to grant a measure of holy power. Acting in service of their would-be patron is the most frequently-used bargaining chip, but there are other means of paying what is owed. It all depends on who you're talking to.
There's no tricking or deceiving them, because they always know if they've been lied to. Nobody has yet managed to outsmart the divine, but there will always be someone to try.
A warlock who seeks power from the Courts of the Fey must be willing to risk more than they bargain for. The complexity of travelling to one of the moons of #Auvia is the easy part.
Some fey delight in beguiling mortalkind, from influencing their dreams to tricking them into traps. Though they may be kept in check by the Courts proper, some individuals can and will get away with anything they can. A warlock must navigate these perils to even reach the Courts and make an offer.
#Lore24 23/03/24
The Courts of the Fey all have the same hierarchy, as dictated by ancient law. Each Court is ruled by a King, who is attended by their Queen, Prince, Knight, and Aide. Titles are held regardless of gender identity, marriage, or other proclivities.
If the King of a Court dies, a new one must be crowned as soon as possible, for Kings hold the most power and authority - over both their subjects and the season they embody. The Queen is often first in line to become King.
How an aspiring warlock is received when they approach a Court of the Fey depends on a wide variety of things, but the largest factor is the Court they choose. The Summer and Winter Courts are the most prone to drastic shifts in emotion, while the Spring Court is more down-to-earth and jovial, and the Autumn Court is practically-minded.
Even knowing this, one must exercise caution in their choice of words, behaviour, and even their attire when speaking with the Fey.
While it has yet to be confirmed that creatures of the deep such as krakens or leviathans exist, it doesn't stop active imaginations of sailors and other coastal folk. The depths of the ocean hold great mysteries that few even think about and fewer have ventured out to see.
A warlock of the Fathomless or the Great Old One will have undertaken such a venture and been rewarded for their efforts - or driven to fear what they discovered even as it empowers them.
Elder water elementals also lend themselves well to the Fathomless patron. Dwelling in the depths of great lakes across #Auvia, they shun contact with non-aquatic peoples. However, water genasi are capable of breathing underwater, and often act as a go-between to convey the elemental's words to others.
In addition, sightings of a dread fiend on the sea are becoming more and more common. Though none yet dare to sail closer to learn more, Aeskell has given it a name:
Moby Duck.
#Lore24 27/03/24
Similarly to the elders among water elementals, those of earth, air, and fire are rarely seen outside of their natural habitats: the peaks of the tallest mountains, the depths below the grass, and the hearts of dormant volcanoes. Elder elementals tend to shut themselves off from the rest of #Auvia, though that does not stop the curious and the determined.
Elder elementals fill the role of the Genie otherworldly patron (though it needs a bit of reflavouring to suit this world).
#Lore24 28/03/24
When folk need to get in touch with their peers, comrades, friends, and lovers, but can't meet in person, the written word is always there to send a message. Letters and packages are delivered across the realm by none other than priests of the Seven Gods, one of the few groups nigh-unconditionally trusted by all.
Courier priests travel by khariot, horse, and even veyahn or crab to ensure the post is delivered in a timely manner, unread until it's in the right hands.
Many creatures of the Wild Untamed fiercely defend their territory from Auvian incursions. On the rare occasion that an adventuring party happens across a dryadic grove, they are welcomed with open arms, provided they have no intention to cause harm.
These groves are usually populated with dryads and their treefolk protectors, as well as beasts of the wild gifted with the blessing - and burden - of intellect, and the ability to communicate in the dryads' language.
The first dryads of #Auvia were eladrin punished for their crimes against the Courts of the Fey. A small group plotted to overthrow all four Courts at the same time. They were unsuspecting of the Kings' magickal might, and ultimately crushed before their plan could be completed.
Each of the four Courts contributed to their sentencing. Spring gave them new lives, turning them all into treefolk. Summer gave them the power to walk the land, but never return to the moons.
#Lore24 31/03/24
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Autumn bound them each to individual trees across #Auvia, that they would not stray far from their homes. And Winter erased their memories of their past lives, reshaping their minds to accept their place in the world.
Those few outside of the Courts who learn the history of the dryads' creation are asked not to blame the dryads of today for their ancestors' acts. After all, generations have passed. Those once-eladrin are now long gone, though their trees may remain.
Talking about fey this month, just because I can: #Feypril
Ormharach, the King of Spring, enjoys literal flights of fancy from his lunar palace: a building made purely of jade, emerald, and gold, set in a massive floating daffodil flower that roams the moon. Ormharach himself is somewhat mercurial in his rulership, announcing decrees on a whim, surprising his Court with all manner of events or requests, and changing moods quicker than an Auvian can change their clothes.
Maorghnea, the Queen of Spring, handles the vast majority of actual day-to-day operations, administration, and overseeing of things that Ormharach doesn't care to attend to. Some say they are the de facto ruler of the spring moon, even if they must defer to their king's judgement.
Some spring fey whisper that Maorghnea has designs on the throne proper, while others believe they use Ormharach's flightiness to hide schemes even more sinister than a simple coup...
Griannamai, the Prince of Spring, oversees the Court's standing military and ensures they're prepared to muster at a moment's notice. The Courts of the Fey might rule the moons, but they too have hostile inhabitants that oppose them.
Prince Griannamai has the patience of unbreaking stone. She endures and tolerates her King's whims: she is expected to respect him, but she believes that trust and respect are earned and Ormharach hasn't done anything to earn hers.
Toghalann, the Knight of Spring, handles matters internal to the Court. Xey are also the first major fey that those visiting the Court of Spring must speak with, that xey might learn of potential petitioners - and would-be warlocks.
Xey are also charged with undertaking missions that the King, Queen, and Prince cannot resolve themselves. Whether this is by ancient law or the whims of King Ormharach, xey are... well, indifferent to. A mission is a mission.
Curalamh, the Aide of Spring, is at first glance a fey of many trades. He can routinely be found almost anywhere, whether at the Court proper, elsewhere on the spring moon, or even venturing to #Auvia itself in the right circumstances for some errand or other.
Few can say they truly know Curalamh, however, for he presents many different faces to many different people. Most often these personae are figurative, but he has been known to adopt the guise of other fey...
A wide range of plant life, awakened or otherwise, can be found all across the spring moon. Botanists, gardeners, florists, and alchemists make the journey from #Auvia every new year to gather new or unfamiliar plants as they begin to bloom and grow - if they have permission from the Court. Some, however, travel to the spring moon simply to take in the sights.
(The Auvian calendar begins with the first month of spring and ends with the last month of winter.)
The Court of Spring is not without problems of its own. King Ormharach routinely ignores diplomatic meetings with delegates from the other moons, finding them uninteresting and thus not worth his time. Rumours abound of rebel factions seeking to undermine or dethrone the Court. Creatures of the wild, reflections of #Auvia below, run rampant through settlements. The chaotic nature of Spring moods leave the land in constant upheaval.
But they persist, somehow.
Whetuwhiti, the King of Summer, conducts herself as she believes the head of a Court of the Fey should: with the utmost elegance, grace, and compassion for her people. She rules the city of Sunharbour, the Court that people of #Auvia can reach by sailing ship.
Though a just ruler who does right by her kin, Whetuwhiti is not without flaw. Her taste in art varies from day to day, and much of her time is spent designing and redesigning her Court aesthetics and function.
Ahiraumati, the Queen of Summer, is the chief advisor to the throne. They have seen many take the throne of King in their lifetime, but to be Queen, naught more, is enough for them. They are often asked why.
They are a curiosity among the summer fey, for none can quite recall how old Ahiraumati is, even though they've been at the King's right hand for as long as anyone can remember. Ahiraumati is often the first of the Summer Court to speak with petitioners.
Ātahāpara, the Prince of Summer, is currently next in line to become King, contrary to tradition among the Courts. Sie has little experience in ruling, however, and is unlikely learn much of it from sier mother Whetuwhiti, who prefers to attend to every decree herself.
In the absence of guidance, Ātahāpara has taken to walking among the people sie may someday be tasked with guiding. Sie finds the people of #Auvia fascinating, and speaks with them whenever possible.
Whakarewa, the Knight of Summer, began his days as a humble blacksmith. When it came to light that one of his commissioned works was used in an assassination attempt, he swore before the Court to ensure that such things would never be permitted again. He was thus appointed Knight and head of the army.
The smith continues his trade, outfitting the fey under his command with the finest arms and armour he can produce - and also training his people in their use.
Rākaipuke, the Aide of Summer, has the duty of overseeing Sunharbour's naval fleet and its operations. Travellers from #Auvia come to the Summer Court by sea, and they're always met by a welcoming committee of sorts: sailor fey armed and ready to repel those who don't sail under a banner of peace.
Rākaipuke has the loyalty and trust of the captains who answer to xem, even if those same captains feud among themselves each summer when tempers flare and skirmishes ensue.
There is much to be said of the markets of the Summer Court. Folk from all across #Auvia and the other Courts visit in the summertime, hoping to trade for all manner of curios, rare valuables, and magicked crafts. However, coin matters little to the summer fey, who find the shiny metals that Auvians prize to be lacking in excitement.
As a result, traders can and will exchange goods for anything and everything, from silver-plated swords to live musical performances.
Settlements across the summer moon grow more and more dissatisfied with their lot as the years go by. As much as Whetuwhiti provides, the people seem to want for more, and neither their King nor travellers from #Auvia seem to be able to solve the problem.
Perhaps the people are scared... of strange bandits that shrug off their fey magicks. Of spontaneous decrees. Of fey from the other Courts, even as they try to help the smallfolk.
But they persist, somehow.
Bierce, the King of Autumn, is also known as the Masked King. They never show their real face, covering it with a mask of leaves and vines. The mask shifts and reshapes itself to match Bierce's moods - or so it is believed.
Some fey of other Courts say they wear the mask to hide their intentions. But Bierce alone knows the reason for the mask, and confounds all who ask to see their true face. Those who persist... well. The palace garden ever wants for company.
L'macea, the Queen of Autumn, keeps the Autumn Palace in order as best she can. Practically-minded almost to a fault, she ensures the palace has everything it needs: no more, no less. Hers may be the harvest season, but to hoard would be wasteful when resources can be used by others.
In this way, the Court carries on the teachings of their first King: all people who dwell upon the autumnal moon shall have their material needs fulfilled. Then, now, and always.
Larign, the Prince of Autumn, oversees the study and application of magicks. The academy he operates is one of, if not *the* most advanced outside of Ioh-Né, and naturally draws the curious and magically inclined from all across #Auvia and its four moons.
In truth, however, Larign delegates the vast majority of the administration work to his subordinates and pursues much more leisurely activity. Without a change of attitude, he might not remain Prince for much longer.
Acera, the Knight of Autumn, is a researcher by trade. Zhe has a tendency to roam the autumn moon, conducting studies in the field for the benefit of the people. Of course, wandering is a dangerous game whether you explore the moons or #Auvia's mainland, and so zhe took up druidcraft in zher spare time, wielding the magicks of nature alongside zher own inherent affinity for fey spells.
Acera's main research camp is currently on the southern coast of the Autumn Court.
Okerne, the Aide of Autumn, has the role of emissary for the Autumn Court. It is her duty to convey King Bierce's will to the other Courts and act on his behalf. Speaking in her King's name requires her to take her role seriously.
Her time spent in the other Courts has required her to train in powerful defensive magicks. There will always be unscrupulous folks across #Auvia and the moons who might dare to raise a hand against the ambassador of the Autumn Court.
The cities and settlements of the Autumn Court are built with the aim of accommodating the needs of all who live there or may visit. Many autumn fey are nothing if not hospitable.
The autumn branch of nature magicks allows them to shape and reshape their surroundings as they desire. Homes are sculpted from trees, grasslands, and even earth and stone worked into the land itself. This command over the environment also helps the autumn fey defend their homes.
Whether fey or Auvian, folk who cause mayhem and disruption for its own sake are unwelcome in the Autumn Court. But this doesn't mean that the Court lacks individuality and creativity. From artists to weavers, playwrights to performers, all manner of creative types can be found on the autumn moon.
Every year at the season's turning, the King hosts a week-long festival to celebrate the artistry of the people. Folk peruse, admire, and trade for pieces they love.
Khionis, the King of Winter, rules his Court from a palace made of solid snow and crystal atop a mountain sacred to the winter fey. He spends much of his time in meditation and only emerges from it when he feels the need. If, however, he is provoked into ending his meditations early, a temperamental side of the King shows itself.
Petitioners may find that Khionis greets them with a smile and a bow, or with spell and sword. But they cannot know until they speak.
Párenómi, the Queen of Winter, serves as the head of the Court's military. Xe leads from the front, with a cadre of elites xe has handpicked spread across the winter moon's army following in xeir footsteps.
The more militaristic among the winter fey are trained to prepare for any eventuality, and rightly so, because their moon is perhaps the most dangerous to navigate and live upon. But thanks to Párenómi's rigorous training, the army suffers few casualties.
Diápágo, the Prince of Winter, is always the first winter fey that a traveller from #Auvia will meet. Because they are the one digging you out of the snow and leading you to safety.
A jovial and pragmatic fey in equal measure, they are always curious about the world below and the people who live there. When meeting those who seek a boon from the fey, Diápágo may even forgo the tradition of bringing them to the palace and provide the wanderer their quest directly.
Thélinoú, the Knight of Winter, serves as King Khionis's advisor. Bedecked in crystalline armour and often sporting a dour expression, she has the duty of providing a voice at court when her King requires a second opinion, and also of ensuring the winter moon's inhabitants have enough food and resources to get by. She handles trade requests and responses to petitioners.
Many address her with some amount of fear, even if Thélinoú will hear their case fairly.
Krýskhei, the Aide of Winter, is the artisan of the Court. Ce has a wide array of skills in the craftsfolk's arts, and jumps from one to another faster than the weather changes. Sometimes this means leaving half-finished projects in ceir wake, but ce always comes back to them when the mood strikes.
The Winter Palace, as well as the surrounding city, was the result of Krýskhei having a small decades-long obsession with shaping buildings out of snow and crystal.
Few travel from #Auvia to the Winter Court, for not many are willing to brave the journey. Those who do take the risk, however, find themselves in a hauntingly beautiful place, shaped by the ethereal power of winter magicks and the fey who wield them.
Flutes, chimes, and sylvan choruses seem to be around every corner, even in places where silence would be expected. This music always sounds familiar, though if the songs have lyrics at all, it's hard to understand them.
The winter moon is the harshest, and it invariably shapes those who call it home. Creatures of the wild, half-beast and half-elemental, routinely plague the routes between the Winter Court and outlying settlements. Snow ranges from light drifts to full-force blizzards in a matter of hours. Clear skies are a rare occurrence.
The Winter Court and its people face many a challenge in their day-to-day lives, from weather to wildlife.
But they persist, somehow.
Of course, it's not just the people of #Auvia who make the journey to the Courts of the Fey. The reverse is also true. Inhabitants of the four moons often visit the world below, whether at the behest of their Court or for their own reasons. On occasion, they may be moved to enter a bargain for power, resulting in warlocks who borrow of their magicks.
There are even stories of some fey being sent to Auvia by their Kings, though they are often portrayed as outcasts.
Of those exiled from the Courts of the Fey, perhaps the tale of Asímia is the most well-known. She came to #Auvia from the Winter Court at the turning of the seasons, found love with a traveller, and married him in the summer seven years later.
Their daughter Kosmi, half-fey and half-Auvian, was gifted with unusual magicks of her own: a deep connection to the natural elements of the world. Ever since, Kosmi's powers have passed down to the daughters of her line.
Each of the Auvian nations keeps its own currency, which can cause problems for travellers. Coins of each nation are made with different amounts of precious metals, and international relations and diplomacy can affect the value of foreign coin and products.
As a result, adventurers most often keep an amount of coin from each nation they visit, leading to having multiple coinpurses on hand and occasionally needing to barter for goods or a stay at a roadside inn.
It is theorised by some scholars across #Auvia that the world is composed of natural elements that sprang from the "Core Elemental Forces" of air, earth, fire, and water. Iohnite experiments have revealed elements that can be harnessed by combining the Core Forces, and are beginning to discover more.
For example, a combination of elemental Air and Fire produces Lightning for a few seconds. This led to the development of spells to shock one's enemies whether near or far.
#Lore24 02/05/24
Some combinations of the Core Forces that share an element are similar, but others are vastly different. For instance, combining Air and Earth, two drastically opposite elements, creates Thunder, while Air and Water become Ice.
These combined elements are expressed in the natural world as well, in the form of lesser elementals that inhabit environs similar to their core. Lesser elementals of Thunder, Lightning, and Ice, for example, live in, on, and around mountains.
Most elementals aligned to Earth make their homes in caverns, under mountains, and in dark places where Auvians tend not to venture, lest they delve too deep. Combining other elements with Earth lends itself to results that are naturally found in the same habitats.
Earth and Fire combine to create Lava, a dangerous substance at the best of times, while Earth and Water produce Poison - something many creatures who dwell in the dark and the deep are all too familiar with.
Efforts in studying the arcane combination of elemental forces have determined that blending them in a specific order or quantity has little to no bearing on the element created. As a result, science has concluded that there are six combinations that result from two different pairs, four results for combining three, and one for merging all four.
Without introducing other elements, combining Fire and Water creates Steam, a curious element that appears in heated regions.
Naturally, elemental combinations that require three or more elements grow more complex - and more difficult to manipulate - as more components are added. Thus they are named the Complex Elements.
The first of these to be discovered was Blast: a blend of Air, Earth, and Fire. Blast-aligned magicks create explosions - plain, simple, and lethal, as researchers learned.
Blast has no elemental counterpart in the wild, and can thus be considered the first manmade element.
The arcane combination of Air, Earth, and Water grants a spellcaster control over plant life, allows them to commune with creatures of the wild, or helps them create magical poisons from natural ingredients. However, when presented with these findings, the druids of #Auvia, especially those of Khava, reject this scientific method as being an imbalanced form of their own nature magicks. To a druid, the balance of nature must be upheld in all things, even the destructive aspects.
#Lore24 07/05/24
One of the Complex Elements was discovered by attempting to blend elements that were themselves combinations of the Core Four. This was Storm: the result of combining elemental Lightning, Ice, and Steam.
Storm is one of the most destructive Complex Forces, requiring immense amounts of control to wield it without collateral damage. It is similar to the seas surrounding #Auvia in that it does not respond well to being contained or directed. Rather, it lashes out at any and all.
#Lore24 08/05/24
The fourth Complex Element, Corrosion, is the product of Earth, Fire, and Water. As far as arcane researchers can tell, it takes the form of a magical substance that viciously erodes almost anything it comes into contact with, from flesh and wood to stone and starsteel.
That is not to say that there are no non-destructive uses for this magick. The problem with that, however, is that no-one has found any yet. As such, use of Corrosion is heavily regulated within Ioh-Né.
When the power to combine the elements was discovered, many researchers thought the same thing: "let's put four of them together and see what happens!" The result was surprisingly disappointing at first: a colourless, shapeless creation that held no form for any extended length of time.
This concept later proved to be one of the foundations of arcane spellcraft: Force, the humble embodiment of elemental balance. It is all aspects and none, flexible and easy to wield.
The practice of arcane magicks is, of course, unbound by nation or creed. Only by knowledge. After all, you can't wield an element you don't know about.
It is rumoured that there are two elements of magic that work alongside Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. Few know their names, and fewer still know how to wield them.
An adventurer who gains power over these obscure elemental forces will soon find themselves a force to be reckoned with purely through fear of the unknown...
WriterRaven