Revision as of 05:40, 30 March 2024

Everwood is a living, sprawling organism that manifests as a primordial forest that hums with ancient magic, and serves as the sanctuary for the Wilder Fey. Unlike the regimented fairytales of human lore, the Wilder Fey are a chaotic tapestry of Fae creatures, each born from the essence of Everwood itself.

Here's a glimpse into the secrets that lie beneath its emerald canopy:

The Four Realms

Everwood isn't a homogenous whole. It's divided into four distinct Realms, each with its own unique character and the Fae races that call it home:

The Whispering Wilds: This ancient, primeval heart of the forest is shrouded in perpetual twilight. Towering redwoods pierce the sky, their gnarled roots harboring bioluminescent fungi that cast an eerie glow. Here, the Ferals dwell, living in harmony with the untamed wilderness.

The Verdant Glade: Bathed in perpetual sunlight, the Verdant Glade is a haven for the Sylvans. Lush meadows teem with life, crystal-clear streams wind through the landscape, and vibrant wildflowers create a mesmerizing tapestry.

The Glimmering Grove: A network of bioluminescent caves and underground rivers forms the Glimmering Grove. The Fungari thrive here, cultivating bioluminescent flora and tending to enormous caverns filled with pulsating mushrooms that house the Wellspring itself.

The Faelight Bluffs: This realm of windswept cliffs and hidden waterfalls is home to the Pixies. Crystal formations jut from the earth, catching the sunlight and creating mesmerizing displays of rainbows. Here, the air crackles with mischievous energy.

Hidden Wonders

The Spiritwood: Deep within the Whispering Wilds lies the Spiritwood, a grove where the veil between the material world and the spirit realm is thin. On moonlit nights, ghostly figures flit between the trees, and whispers of forgotten memories echo on the wind.

The Forgotten Library: Legend speaks of a hidden library deep within the Glimmering Grove. Its shelves are said to be lined with books written in luminous fungi, holding forgotten lore and powerful spells. However, the library is guarded by riddles and treacherous caverns, deterring all but the most determined seekers.

The Wyvern's Spine: A jagged mountain range known as the Wyvern's Spine cuts across the western border of Everwood. It's rumored to be the resting place of an ancient wyvern, its slumber keeping the forest safe from outside threats. Though no living creature has ever witnessed the wyvern, tremors and sudden gusts of wind sometimes emanate from the mountains, fueling the legend.

Threats to Everwood

The Blight: A creeping darkness occasionally threatens the forest's edges. Twisted trees and sickly flora mark its presence, and whispers speak of a malevolent entity at its heart, seeking to corrupt the Wellspring.

The Ironmongers: From time to time, greedy humans, known as the Ironmongers, breach the veil in search of Everwood's magical resources. These ruthless intruders cut down trees, disturb the delicate balance, and pose a danger to the Fae.

The Unraveling: A more subtle threat is the Unraveling. As the human world encroaches on Everwood's borders, the magic separating the realm weakens. This can lead to unpredictable consequences, from Fae magic leaking into the human world to the veil weakening and allowing monstrous creatures to enter Everwood.

Beings Within Everwood

Sylvans

Among the Wilder Fey, the Sylvans stand as the unyielding guardians of Everwood. Tall and androgynous, their very forms embody the forest itself. Their skin, often resembling aged bark or sun-dappled earth, blends seamlessly with the environment, granting them natural camouflage. Hair that flows like wind-tossed leaves changes color with the seasons, and their eyes, pools of emerald or molten amber, reflect the forest's ancient wisdom.

Sub-Races

Sylvans aren't a monolithic race. Centuries of adaptation to different parts of Everwood have resulted in three distinct subraces:

The Wardens of Oak and Ash: These Sylvans are the most common. Towering and strong, they dwell within the heart of the forest, fiercely protecting the ancient groves. Their connection to the Wellspring is particularly strong, granting them potent nature magic for defense and nurturing the forest's growth.

The Whisperers of Willow and Reed: Found along the banks of Everwood's rivers and hidden waterfalls, these Sylvans are more slender and graceful than their Oak and Ash kin. They possess an affinity for water magic, using it to cleanse and heal, and are known for their calming presence, often acting as mediators within the Wilder Fey.

The Weavers of Bramble and Thorn: Dwelling in the tangled undergrowth and thorny thickets, these Sylvans are smaller and more agile than others. They are masters of camouflage and illusion, using their magic to blend with the undergrowth and create illusions to mislead trespassers.

Society

Sylvans live in loose-knit communities centered around ancient groves or hidden waterfalls. Leadership falls to the Eldest, Sylvans who have lived for centuries and embody the forest's wisdom. Decisions are made through consensus, with each Sylvan having a voice, but the Eldest's counsel holds significant weight.

Sylvans are skilled hunters and gatherers, living in harmony with the forest. They build their dwellings from living trees, shaping branches and roots into comfortable yet organic structures. Clothing, when worn, is fashioned from leaves, bark, and animal hides, further blurring the lines between Sylvan and forest.

Magic

Sylvans are innately magical, drawing their power directly from the Wellspring. This connection allows them to manipulate the very fabric of the forest:

Growth and Decay: Sylvans can accelerate the growth of plants, mend wounds in trees, and even control the direction of growth for vines and branches. They use this power to maintain the delicate balance of the forest and nurture rare flora.

Earth and Stone: With a touch, Sylvans can manipulate the earth, creating bridges of rock over chasms or causing tremors to deter intruders.

Animal Kinship: Sylvans have a deep connection to the forest creatures. They can communicate with animals, forming strong bonds with the creatures of the land.

Culture

Sylvans are a stoic and introspective race. They value tradition and honor the ancient cycles of Everwood. Storytelling is an integral part of their culture, with tales passed down through generations around crackling campfires. Sylvans also practice a form of nature worship, venerating the Wellspring as the heart of the forest and source of their magic.

However, Sylvans aren't without a sense of fun. During the Great Bloom celebration, they participate in playful challenges that test their connection to the forest. These include blindfolded races through tangled undergrowth, contests of camouflage artistry, and intricate displays of nature magic used to create ephemeral works of art.

Outsiders

Sylvans are wary of outsiders. They see themselves as the protectors of Everwood and view intrusion as a threat to the forest's health. However, if an outsider shows respect for the forest and its inhabitants, Sylvans might offer cryptic guidance or assistance. They particularly value those who possess a deep connection to nature or a genuine desire to understand its wonders. There are even rare instances of Sylvans forming deep bonds with outsiders, becoming lifelong allies who bridge the gap between the Fae and the human world.

The Pixies

In the vibrant chaos of the Faelight Bluffs, where rainbows chase each other across the sky and crystal formations sing in the wind, dwells a peculiar group of Pixies. Unlike their miniature brethren who flit from flower to flower, these Pixies stand awkwardly at a towering human height. This isn't a natural state – it's the unfortunate consequence of a magical mishap that's become their defining characteristic.

Legends speak of the Great Gigglepuff, a prank gone wrong that forever altered the lives of a particularly mischievous band of Pixies. The story goes that they attempted to enchant a rare, pollen-spewing bloom with laughter magic, hoping to shower the forest in uncontrollable giggles. However, their calculations were off. The flower erupted in a blinding flash, dousing the Pixies in a shimmering mist. When the laughter subsided, they found themselves no longer flitting amongst the flowers, but standing awkwardly tall, their wings atrophied and useless.

Life as a human-sized Pixie is a constant struggle. Their once nimble bodies are now clumsy and vulnerable. Activities they once reveled in, like weaving through blades of grass or dancing on spiderwebs, are now out of the question. Even simple tasks like reaching for a high branch or navigating a rocky path are fraught with difficulty. Their voices, once high and melodic, now boom awkwardly, often causing startled reactions from both Fae and unsuspecting outsiders.

Society

The Pixies can no longer dwell in the delicate Pixie nooks nestled within flowers or carved into leaves. Instead, they've adapted by constructing oversized versions of their traditional dwellings – elaborate treehouses woven from branches and giant leaves, complete with rope bridges and platforms for sunbathing. These structures are marvels of ingenuity, showcasing the Pixies' resourcefulness despite their limitations.

Magic

Their magic has also undergone a transformation. While they can no longer manipulate their size or create elaborate illusions based on light manipulation, they've channeled their magical essence into other areas:

Illusions of Grandeur: Pixies excel at creating large-scale illusions. They can conjure shimmering phantasms of enormous creatures or distort the landscape itself, making a narrow path appear like a chasm or a small clearing seem like a vast meadow.

Booming Laughter: Their laughter, once a tinkling melody, now resonates with a powerful, booming sound. This can be used to disorient enemies, create sonic disruptions, or even trigger avalanches in precarious situations.

Magnified Mischief: The Pixies can manipulate objects on a larger scale. They can animate giant leaves to carry them through the air, create intricate traps from oversized vines, or even use their magic to temporarily inflate small objects to comical proportions.

Culture

Despite their predicament, the Pixies haven't lost their trademark mischievous spirit. They've adapted their pranks to their new scale, often using their height to create illusions or orchestrate elaborate, harmless deceptions. They frequently utilize enchanted ropes and harnesses to swing through the trees, a pale imitation of their former flight.

Outsiders

The Pixies view outsiders with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Their experiences with the outside world have been limited, often resulting in startled reactions or even fear from unsuspecting humans. However, they are more open to outsiders than their miniature counterparts. Their inability to fly and their clumsy nature make them more reliant on interaction with other races, fostering a sense of camaraderie with those who accept them. They might even use their oversized forms and booming voices to create elaborate distractions, allowing smaller Pixies to play harmless pranks on outsiders without fear of reprisal.

The Pixies are a constant source of amusement and frustration for the other Fae. Their predicament serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of magic, but their resilience and adaptability are also admired. They are a living embodiment of the Fae spirit – playful, resourceful, and forever adapting to the circumstances life throws their way.

The Wellspring

Deep within the Glimmering Grove, nestled amongst bioluminescent fungi and crystalline caverns, lies the Wellspring, the lifeblood of Everwood. It's more than just a magical pool; it's a nexus of energy, living entities that sustains the forest and its inhabitants. It's a constantly shifting network of shimmering energy streams that flow within a vast cavern. The colors are ever-changing, reflecting the vibrant life force coursing through Everwood. Sometimes, it appears as a swirling vortex of emerald and gold, while other times, it resembles a celestial tapestry woven from starlight and moonlight.

Guardians

A race of colossal, winged insects known as the Lumens act as its protectors. These bioluminescent creatures resemble a cross between a dragonfly and a stag beetle, their bodies radiating the same otherworldly glow as the Wellspring itself. Lumens are fiercely loyal to the forest and possess a natural connection to the Wellspring's magic, allowing them to sense disturbances and deter intruders.