We are the whisper between breaths, the shadow of a smile, the dream IO forgot to wake from.

Born of IO's dreams rather than his tears, the Vaelari are a race of breathtaking contradiction: at once whimsical and solemn, radiant and shadowed, timeless yet ever-changing. Forged from laughter, fear, love, and madness, they are the children of the World Tree’s dreaming mind. Once splintered into the Seelie and Unseelie Courts, their history is marked by poetic war, ritual duels, and sacred illusions. United only when the world threatened to erase them, they performed the Rite of Severing and vanished into the Twilight Veil, a place of eternal dusk and starlit memory.

Now they return not as divided courts, but as a unified people under the Triune Crown. Each Vaelari carries within them a fragment of IO’s dream and wields the power to shape perception, bind promises, and step between veils of reality. Ethereal, immortal, and cloaked in mystery, they walk the world not as conquerors but as arbiters of balance, ever seeking to restore the rhythm between light and shadow, illusion and truth. To encounter a Vaelar is to step briefly into a myth, one that might rewrite your fate forever.

FAE DESCRIPTION

~~ ORIGIN & LORE ~~

At the dawn of creation, IO dreamed. From this dream, when the All-Maker’s mind drifted beyond the tangible, the Vaelari emerged. They were not shaped by command or forged in fire, but whispered into being through sorrow, beauty, longing, and mischief. The Vaelari were the first race not made, but imagined.

Their first home was Vael’Thalas, a realm of endless twilight suspended between Seyruun and the Dreaming Plane. There, light and shadow coexisted in perfect rhythm, and time was but a suggestion. The Vaelari danced through this realm like thoughts between breaths, unaging, undying, and unbound.

Yet even dreams fracture. As the Vaelari matured, their emotions became philosophies, and their philosophies became identities. Two great Courts arose: the Seelie, who reveled in art, joy, and inspiration, and the Unseelie, who honored pain, decay, and the truth behind all masks. While neither court was good or evil, their values clashed until harmony frayed and Vael’Thalas teetered on collapse.

In a desperate act of self-preservation, the Vaelari enacted the Rite of Severing, an ancient ritual that dissolved their Courts and fused them into a single, living race. They became Vaelari, bound not by lineage but by dream, memory, and oath.

~~ HISTORY ~~

The Age of Shaping: Dream's Awakening

At the dawn of creation, when IO spun the stars and shaped the world of Seyruun, there was a moment of stillness. In that silence, the All-Maker dreamt. From the space between waking and sleep, where thought flowed unshaped and emotion lingered without voice, the first Fae were formed. They were not created by IO’s will but emerged from his subconscious dreaming, woven from longing, joy, sorrow, mischief, and wonder.

These beings, ethereal and formless at first, took root in a place between realms called Vael’Thalas. This realm existed in twilight, where neither light nor darkness held dominance, and time moved like ripples across a pond. The Fae danced within this liminal space, shaping it as dreamers shape dreams. They did not age, did not hunger, and did not die. In them, beauty was infinite and truth was fluid.

The Rise of the Courts: Light and Shadow

As they matured in thought and form, the Fae began to divide along the lines of emotion and philosophy. From this divergence emerged two great Courts. The Seelie Court, bathed in radiant illusion and harmony, championed art, love, and creation. The Unseelie Court, cloaked in shadow and silence, embraced the raw, unfiltered truths of chaos, pain, and inevitable decay.

Both Courts held immense power and influence, shaping not just Vael’Thalas but the dreams of mortals who wandered too deeply into enchanted forests or fell asleep beneath the stars. While their values clashed, the balance between them ensured the continued existence of the Veil, the metaphysical boundary between the mortal world and their own.

However, harmony between the Courts was always fragile. The Seelie longed to guide and inspire mortals. The Unseelie saw mortals as fleeting curiosities, better broken and studied than protected. Their conflict deepened with every passing age.

The Age of Divergence: The Rite of Severing

Eventually, tension between the Seelie and Unseelie Courts tore at the very fabric of Vael’Thalas. The Veil thinned. Dreamers were lost forever. Fae magic spilled into Seyruun uncontrolled. Entire glades dissolved into illusions. Others became prisons of sorrow that no soul could escape.

To prevent the annihilation of their realm and race, the wisest and most powerful among both Courts gathered in secret and enacted a final binding known as the Rite of Severing. This ancient ritual unmade the pureblooded Courts and rewove their essences into a singular new race, the Vaelari.

Though the Vaelari lost much of their immortality and divine purity, they gained something new: permanence in Seyruun. They could walk among mortals in full form, not as phantoms or echoes, but as beings with agency and identity. Vael’Thalas endured, though its connection to Seyruun would never be as it once was.

The Rise of the Triune Crown

With the fusion of their lineages, the Vaelari formed a new system of governance known as the Triune Crown. It consisted of three sovereigns, one from the Seelie, one from the Unseelie, and one who claimed no court at all, known as the Courtless. This structure ensured no single philosophy would again dominate or unravel their kind.

The Triune Crown preserved unity through tradition, ritual, and story. Each Vaelari was free to choose their path: to inspire and uplift, to test and challenge, or to wander between. The Courts, though no longer pure, lived on through ideology and magic.

Today, the Vaelari are rare. Most live in hidden places, cloaked in enchantment and myth. Some serve as muses to mortal kings, others as nightmares to the proud. A few walk openly among the people of Seyruun, often as performers, diplomats, or wanderers. They are often misunderstood, but never truly forgotten.

Wherever they go, they carry the echo of IO’s dream and the memory of a world that once existed in twilight alone.

~~ RELATIONS WITH OTHER RACES ~~

Aasimar:

Vaelari and Aasimar share a distant, almost reverent understanding. Both are viewed as divine or ethereal manifestations, one of dreams, the other of light. Among Concords, Seelie Vaelari are seen as sacred dancers of IO's joy, while the Unseelie are met with caution. Courtless Vaelari are more warmly received, often serving as mediators in divine rituals. However, Aasimar rigidity can clash with Vaelari whimsy, resulting in philosophical tension over truth and performance.

Anthromorphs:

Beastkin tend to view Vaelari with superstition and awe. Forest-bound kin often believe the Vaelari are forest spirits or ancient ancestors, and may hold masked ceremonies invoking them. In regions like Triss or Obraxus, Vaelari are approached cautiously; feline anthromorphs, in particular, view them as unpredictable spirits. Some kinships even accuse Vaelari of stealing dreams or shifting faces to mislead. However, mutual respect exists between druidic anthromorphs and dreamweavers who protect sacred groves.

Celestials

Fae and Celestials often clash in philosophy. Celestials embody order and truth, while the Vaelari thrive in the shifting space between. Seelie may honor Celestials as noble allies, while Unseelie delight in testing their absolutes. History shows both unity, such as their stand together against the void, and conflict, when Celestials purged Fae enclaves they deemed corrupt. Still, rare bonds form where both recognize they guard different but equally vital parts of Seyruun’s balance.

Djinn

The Fae respect the Djinn’s mastery of Wishfire but approach them with caution. Both work through artful bargains, yet Djinn bind reality while Vaelari weave illusion. This creates mutual admiration and distrust, as each fears being trapped by the other’s wording. Some Courts ally with Djinn to anchor dreams, while others shun them as dangerously rigid. Old stories of broken oaths and clever betrayals ensure that trust between the two is never given lightly.

Dragons (Drakonari):

Dragons and Vaelari remember each other well from the Age of Shaping. Vaelari claim to have taught ancient dragons how to dream; Drakonari claim they taught Vaelari how to wield fear. Chromatic dragons often regard Vaelari with disdain, considering them elusive tricksters, while metallic dragons maintain respect, especially for the Triune Crown’s mastery of illusion. Seelie Vaelari and Silver Dragons have ancient pacts of light, while Courtless and Black Dragons once danced the Dreamblight Wars, remembered only in myth.

Dwarves (Durhammar):

Dwarves respect the ancientness of the Vaelari but often distrust them. The Durhammar value solidity, permanence, and truth, virtues the Vaelari consider masks themselves. While some Seelie may honor dwarven oaths as sacred, Unseelie and Courtless traditions view dwarven rigidity as a challenge to be teased or danced around. Despite tensions, Dwarves of Mithral Hall have honored a peace treaty with Vaelari envoys for over 3,000 years, kept only through rigidly structured masquerades.

Elementals:

Vaelari and Elementals consider each other distant cousins, both born from forces beyond mortal shaping. They share a mutual respect for natural balance and energy. Seelie and Flora Elementals often collaborate in the bloom cycles of ancient forests, while Unseelie Vaelari and Lightning Elementals have tangled in chaotic storms. The Courtless find kinship in the unpredictable nature of rare Elementals like Mist or Ash. They often exchange rituals, and Elementals have been known to guard Vaelari dreamseeds in hidden places.

Elves (All Subtypes):

There is deep shared resonance between Vaelari and the Elves.

Kethari (Wood Elves) treat Seelie Vaelari as nature’s avatars, and their druids often train together.

Nythari (Moon Elves) and Unseelie Vaelari share nocturnal rites and blood-oaths beneath veiled moons.

Ilvari (Astral Elves) revere the Courtless as echoes of celestial dreaming.

Iovanar (High Elves) maintain cool alliances, though they find the Vaelari dangerously chaotic.

Nhal'Valari (Drow) are outright hostile, seeing the Vaelari as aberrations that escaped the chain of IO’s design.

Humans:

Humanity’s reaction to the Vaelari is the most diverse. In Anfang and Elysia, storytellers worship them, portraying them as angelic or tragic figures. In Avalonia, Vaelari are seen as destabilizing illusions and are outlawed. Seelie are mythologized as muses, while Unseelie are demonized as seducers and corrupters. The Courtless are treated with both fear and fascination, often blamed for unexplained madness or disappearances. Yet in border villages, offerings are still left beneath twilight groves.

Lycans:

Vaelari and Lycans share a primal origin, yet their philosophies diverge wildly. Vaelari embrace change, illusion, and self-curation; Lycans are bound by blood, moon, and instinct. Seelie and some Nythari-aligned Lycans have ancient pacts honoring seasonal hunts, while Unseelie view feral Lycans as savage and predictable. Courtless Vaelari sometimes infiltrate Lycan packs as observers or messengers. Most Lycans view them with suspicion, believing them to be manipulators of fate.

Orcs:

Orcish cultures often revere Vaelari as ghosts or spirits from the old world. The Bruk'Thor of Stormhelm once hosted a Seelie queen for a decade in the Iceflower Accord. Warbands, however, consider the Vaelari deceptive and untrustworthy. Unseelie Vaelari are known to infiltrate orcish hierarchies to sow discord or challenge warlords through trickery and song. Courtless Vaelari are respected as dreamwalkers and shamanic guides in rare spiritual orc enclaves.

Tieflings:

Tieflings and Vaelari recognize each other as mirror-kissed, shaped by greater forces beyond mortal ken. Seelie are often mistrustful of infernal blood, while Unseelie are more welcoming of Tiefling cunning. Courtless frequently ally with Tiefling cults, exchanging rituals of binding and illusion. Tensions arise when Tiefling ambition clashes with Vaelari detachment. Still, the two races share many crossroads in shadowy places.

Undead:

The Vaelari despise undeath in all forms. To a Vaelari, undeath is the death of narrative, the stilling of the song, the corruption of dream into stasis. Seelie will sanctify ground to prevent the rise of the dead. Unseelie hunt liches and wraiths as abominations that steal meaning. Courtless Vaelari avoid even speaking the true names of undead beings. Vampires may sometimes intrigue the Vaelari, but only Pendragons are tolerated due to their divine resonance.

Vampires:

Vampires are divided in Vaelari eyes. Seelie view most vampires as tragic echoes of faded joy. Unseelie respect their power but abhor their hunger. Courtless may walk alongside certain vampire lines, particularly Pendragons, whose holy lineage disrupts the cycle of corruption. Vaelari rarely make pacts with vampires but may enter dreambonds with those who retain remnants of mortal soul or poetic sorrow.

Warforged:

Among all the races, Warforged puzzle the Vaelari most. They are soulless and cannot dream, yet some exhibit creativity and emotion. Seelie see them as broken toys; Unseelie regard them as fascinatingly tragic. Courtless may treat Warforged as blank slates, inviting them to develop an identity through performance and ritual. While the two races may never truly bond, mutual curiosity sustains a fragile and growing rapport.

FAE PHYSICAL INFORMATION

~~ APPEARANCE & PHYSIOLOGY ~~

Born of dreams, bound by illusion, and shaped by emotion, the Vaelari walk between reality and myth.

The Vaelari, known among scholars and storytellers as the Fae, are not born in the traditional sense. They are woven from the dreamstuff of IO himself. No mortal womb births them, and no divine will commands them. They emerge through ritual, shared memory, or the confluence of powerful emotional currents. Each Vaelari is a unique fragment of IO’s dreaming mind, formed from the balance of creation and chaos, whimsy and sorrow, beauty and terror.

Fae do not feed on blood or flesh. Instead, their sustenance comes from emotional resonance. Inspiration, awe, fear, love, and sorrow are all nourishing to a Vaelari. Some specialize in weaving grand illusions that provoke reactions, while others draw quietly from moments of intimacy, tragedy, or triumph. They do not steal these emotions, but rather drink from them as one might sip dew from a leaf. Consent is not always required, though it is deeply honored.

The Dreambond is the closest Vaelari equivalent to the vampire Embrace. Through the Dreambond, a mortal may be transformed into a Vaelari-like being known as a Changeling. This process requires an intense emotional connection, a shared ritual under the twilight moon, and the offering of a name. Changelings are rare and often unstable, bearing both mortal soul and dream-fragment within them. Only the Triune Crown may sanction a true Dreambond without consequence.

Vaelari do not age, and their forms are preserved in a kind of fluid stasis. Their bodies are not perfect in the traditional sense, but they reflect idealized self-perception. A Vaelari with a missing limb may appear whole in the Veil, while retaining their mortal wound in Seyruun. Their appearance is mutable through glamour, but always carries a surreal or otherworldly touch. Glowing eyes, skin like bark or glass, hair that moves with no wind, these are common traits among their kind.

To encounter a Vaelari is to step into a living poem. To love one is to risk vanishing into a story that may never end the way you expect.

~~ FOOD, DRINK, AND MISC ~~

Drinking and Eating:

Vaelari do not require physical sustenance in the way mortals do. They are born of dream and emotion, and while they may consume food or drink for pleasure, performance, or cultural ritual, such acts are symbolic rather than necessary. The nourishment of a Vaelari comes from emotional resonance. Laughter, sorrow, awe, fear, love, and creative inspiration all serve as metaphysical sustenance.

When partaking in mortal meals, Vaelari often enhance the experience with illusions, storytelling, or shared dreams. A Seelie might dine during a celebration simply to soak in joy. An Unseelie may drink deeply from the silence after heartbreak. The Courtless often feast during performances, feigning mortal needs while quietly drawing power from the emotions of their audience.

Food itself is metabolized if infused with emotion or memory. Otherwise, it may pass harmlessly or dissolve into motes of glamour within the Vaelari’s form.

Alcohol:

Intoxicants have a curious effect on the Vaelari. While their bodies do not process alcohol traditionally, empathic intoxication is possible. If surrounded by drunk, elated, or grieving individuals, a Vaelari may begin to mirror their state. The more emotionally charged the environment, the more the Fae are affected.

A Seelie among revelers may become giddy and disoriented. An Unseelie sharing company with despairing souls may fall into melancholy or creative madness. The Courtless often play along with intoxication, their minds sharp while mimicking inebriation as a social tool.

Substances with emotional histories, such as wine aged in the vault of a lost lover or tea brewed from the herbs of a sacred grove, are sometimes cherished by the Vaelari and used in rituals.

Weather and Environment:

The Vaelari are creatures of the liminal. Natural weather affects them emotionally more than physically, often enhancing or disrupting their glamour and dreamcasting.

Cold: May intensify their presence, causing illusions to become more brittle or crystalline. Unseelie Vaelari thrive in cold environments.
Heat: Encourages blooming illusions and passion. Seelie Vaelari often radiate in warm climates.
Rain and Mist: Strengthens the boundary between realities. Courtless Vaelari are especially empowered in storms or fog.
Thunderstorms: May provoke a Dreamrage state if emotionally provoked. Glamours become more chaotic and harder to control.
Direct Sunlight: Harmless to their bodies, but it weakens illusion-based abilities unless drawn from internal reservoirs. Many Vaelari prefer twilight or overcast environments for this reason.
Moonlight: Strongly enhances glamour and divination. The full moon is sacred to many Vaelari lineages and used as a time for renewal or oathbinding.

Miscellaneous Physical Traits:

Vaelari do not have a fixed heartbeat, though they may simulate one for effect. Some Courtless carry no pulse at all.
Their bodies do not sweat, but their skin may glisten with ambient starlight, petals, frost, or dreamdust depending on mood.
Vaelari often smell faintly of perfume-like illusions: things like fresh rain, old parchment, bloodroses, or smoke. These scents shift with emotion.
Their eyes change color, intensity, or pattern depending on their Court alignment and current emotional state.
Lying causes a visible distortion around their face or voice unless masked with Glamour or ritual oaths.
Prolonged exposure to emotionally dead environments (such as undead fortresses, corrupted cities, or technocratic null zones) may weaken their powers and cause emotional fatigue or fading auras.
Vaelari cannot be truly invisible, but their glamour allows them to appear forgotten, misplaced, or overlooked when they wish to pass unnoticed.

~~ AGING ~~

Fae do not age as mortals do. Their existence is not measured by time’s decay but by resonance, memory, and identity. Born of IO’s dreaming mind, a Vaelari’s body does not wither, and their spirit only deepens. They move through life not by the turning of years, but through stages of transformation shaped by emotion, oath, and dream. Only powerful magic, soul severance, or the unraveling of their Court identity can truly bring their story to an end.

The Vaelari pass through three major phases of existence:

1. The Dreamborn Bloom (0–100 years)
In this earliest phase, a Vaelari is still solidifying their form. Though they appear as young adults to mortal eyes, their glamour and identity shift often, influenced by dreams, nearby emotions, or changes in the Twilight Veil. During this period, their connection to their chosen Court (Seelie, Unseelie, or Courtless) is not yet permanent. Fae in this phase are often whimsical, unpredictable, and more prone to emotional instability or glamour accidents. Their speech may echo songs or stories they have never heard, and they may vanish from memory if not anchored by ritual or bond.

2. The Veiled Stature (100–1,000 years)
This is the era of full emergence. Their glamour stabilizes. They manifest their true voice, form, and chosen alignment. Their power becomes focused, and they gain mastery over illusions, oaths, and ritual binding. Fae in this phase are recognized by the Triune Crown and often serve as emissaries, guardians of dreamseeds, or performers of the Rite of Reflection. They may begin to affect mortal realms more directly, establishing long-term glamours or forging pacts that span generations.

3. The Echoing Myth (1,000+ years)

After a thousand years of walking both the mortal and dreaming realms, a Vaelari begins to manifest mythic traits. Their name carries power. Their presence shapes local dreamscapes even when asleep. They may be mistaken for gods, angels, or spirits of legend by mortals. These Vaelari often withdraw from the world, existing as advisors to the Crown, protectors of sacred places, or the last keepers of forgotten oaths. Their form may shift fluidly between memory and matter, and they no longer require sustenance or rest. They speak in metaphors, sleep in starlight, and remember things that have not yet occurred.

Rare Fate: The Fracture of Self

In rare cases, a Vaelari may experience a Fracture of Self, a metaphysical collapse caused by oathbreaking, overwhelming grief, or loss of identity. In this state, the Fae may lose form entirely, becoming an echo, a shadow, or a sentient illusion drifting in the Veil. Fractured Vaelari can sometimes be restored through sacred rituals or poetic resolution, but many remain forever as weeping voices in forgotten groves.

Death and Endings

True death is rare for a Fae. Most are undone only through violence by iron, the severing of all Oaths, or soulbinding magic. When a Vaelari dies, their body may unravel into flower petals, butterflies, glass dust, or dreamsongs. Their memory lingers in the Veil. In some stories, Vaelari rebirth occurs when their name is spoken in story or when a mortal dreams of them with perfect clarity.

~~ PROCREATION RULES ~~

The Vaelari do not reproduce as mortals do. They are not born of flesh and blood, but of dream, intention, and story. New Fae are not conceived through carnal means, but are woven into existence through rituals of shared memory, emotional resonance, and arcane binding. Every new Vaelari is a tale incarnate, drawn from the veiled threads of IO’s dreaming mind.

Dreamweaving the Soul

To bring forth a new Vaelari, two (or more) existing Fae must enter the Rite of Reflection, a ceremonial union of dreams and essence. During this rite, participants sacrifice fragments of their identity, emotion, or memory. The weaving may only be completed when their intentions harmonize into a unified narrative. The result is a nascent soul, an echo of their combined spirits, shaped into new form.

Conditions for Birth

A Vaelari child may be Dreamwoven when:

A deep bond of shared emotion, whether love, rivalry, or grief, culminates in ritual convergence.
A dreamseed is planted in Vael’Thalas and nourished beneath starlight or ancient song.
A mortal soul becomes entangled in the Twilight Veil and is claimed by Vaelari magic.
A Courtless Fae weaves a story so profound it demands incarnation.

Signs of Woven Life

When a new Vaelari is forming, the surrounding world often reacts in subtle but poetic ways:

Mirror pools ripple even without wind or touch.
Whispers of unborn voices echo in the leaves.
Dreams shared by unrelated mortals carry overlapping symbols or fragments of a future name.
Fae groves or twilight glades bloom in radiant color overnight.

Compatibility Across Races

Though Vaelari rarely reproduce with mortals, their magic sometimes binds them to other races:

With Elves: Produces dream-born children with sharp memory and powerful illusionary talent.
With Humans: Occasionally yields changelings, touched by glamour but often unstable without Court guidance.
With Aasimar: May result in a Starborn child, an incredibly rare being with mirrored soullight and veiled ancestry.
With Tieflings: Known to produce Whisperbloods, hybrids who walk between shadow and desire, often becoming performers, spies, or curse-binders.
With Elementals: Result in Veilkin, strange beings who fluctuate between form and essence, born more of magic than matter.

The Fragmented Lineage

Vaelari children do not inherit appearance or lineage in the mortal sense. A child woven from Seelie and Unseelie may emerge with Courtless traits, or even embody an emotion neither parent consciously offered. Their essence is less about inheritance and more about narrative role, each child an archetype in IO’s living dream.

Rare Phenomenon: The Remnant Rebirth

Sometimes, when a Vaelari is slain in the mortal world but not forgotten, their essence lingers in Vael’Thalas. Over decades or centuries, this essence may coalesce into a Remnant. If a ritual is performed by someone who remembers the fallen Vaelari with powerful emotion, the Remnant may return, reborn, not as the same person, but as a continuation of their myth. Remnants often carry haunting familiarity, unfinished purpose, and echoes of past oaths.

FAE RACIAL GROUP INFORMATION

~~ RACIAL HIERARCHY ~~

In Seyruun, the Fae are bound not by blood, but by story, emotion, and sacred oaths. Their society is organized into Courts, mystical and ideological collectives born from the divided essence of the Dreaming. Once fractured into the Seelie and Unseelie, and later reconciled through the Rite of Severing, the Vaelari now walk a path of Triune Harmony, choosing their allegiance to Seelie, Unseelie, or Courtless philosophies. These Courts form the foundation of all Fae society, influence, and magical tradition.

Each Court represents not only a school of thought but a living myth, a shared identity cultivated through ritual, glamour, and veiled truth. While some Courts preserve luminous tradition, others dance through chaos and challenge. A few walk no clear path at all, embracing ambiguity and freedom.

Courts function as formal racial groups under the Seyruun system and use the shared 1 to 5 dot advancement path. They do not unlock custom discipline trees but offer immense cultural, narrative, and magical benefits over time. Courts influence Fae politics, rites, enchantments, and even reincarnation cycles.

What Is a Court?

A Court is a living ideology shared by a number of Vaelari, defined not by blood but by:

A shared mythos or ancestral dream
A central seasonal, emotional, or spiritual theme
Rituals of passage, storytelling, and glamourbinding
Oaths, illusions, and veiled rites of allegiance
Symbols, totems, and encoded lore

In practice, a Court is equal parts cult, bardic guild, and myth-collective. Many Courts trace back to the pre-Severing days of pure Seelie or Unseelie bloodlines, but others have emerged anew under the guidance of the Triune Crown.

Courts often host seasonal masquerades, dream festivals, or secret trials in places where the Veil runs thin. They are rarely static, Courts evolve, and even dissolve, based on story, sacrifice, and memory.

Forming a Court in Seyruun

To form a recognized Court under the Triune Crown, you must:

Have 3 or more active Vaelari characters
Choose a Court name, emotional resonance, and core myth
Submit a group sheet including:
- Court symbols, colors, or masks
- A primary Dream Oath or Rite of Binding
- Internal ranks (e.g., Dreamwalker, Thornbearer, Masked Speaker)
- Seasonal or story-based rituals
Log regular IC activity (festivals, illusions, Veilwalks)
Maintain the group as an active and thematic RP presence

Once submitted and approved by Storytellers, a Court becomes an official racial group and may advance through the ranks of the Triune Path.

Court Rank Advancement

XP may be split across all active members. Storyteller moderation ensures fair advancement and theme integrity.

Court Benefits by Rank

CREATING THE FAE CHARACTER

To create a Fae character on the Seyruun server, follow the base rules for character creation using the modified oWoD system, with the following race-specific additions and expectations:

Step 1: Choose Your Court

All Vaelari must choose a Court at character creation, Seelie, Unseelie, or Courtless. These paths define your emotional lineage, spiritual resonance, and how you express glamour, illusion, and truth. Your Court shapes your identity, traditions, and role in the Triune Crown.

A character’s Court determines:

Your emotional core and magical philosophy
The themes of your social rituals, oaths, and aesthetics
Your internal stability and access to certain Racial Merits
Once chosen, your Court cannot be changed without undergoing a significant in-character transformation approved by a Storyteller, such as a Veilbinding or Shattering Rite.

Step 2: Assign Attributes and Skills

Use the standard Seyruun system:

Attributes: 7 / 5 / 3 (Physical, Social, Mental – any order)
Skills: 13 / 9 / 5 (Physical, Social, Mental – any order)

Vaelari are naturally gifted in Social and Mental realms. Characters often emphasize Performance, Persuasion, Rituals, Subterfuge, or Insight, though some Courtless lean heavily into obscure physical styles tied to dance, fencing, or elemental grace.

Step 3: Select Starting Disciplines

Vaelari begin with access to 3 Discipline Trees:

1 must reflect your Court’s ideology (Seelie, Unseelie, or Courtless-specific)
2 may be chosen from the general or themed tree list

Each Discipline begins with 1 dot, and you may assign a total of 3 dots between them.

Discipline trees follow the 10-dot structure and may only be advanced with XP and narrative development. Unique Court Disciplines (e.g., Seelie’s “Radiant Glamour” or Unseelie’s “Echo of Thorns”) must be approved by staff if custom-built.

Step 4: Assign Backgrounds and Resources

Vaelari may begin with up to 5 Background Points, reflecting influence, lore, or magical resonance. Recommended options include:

Dreamseed (Fae equivalent of Haven, a glade, mask, or token that links them to the Veil)
Lorekeeper (Allies among the Dreaming)
Troupe (Performance or masquerade group)
Glamour Favor (Access to enchanted resources or favors)
Status (standing within a Court or as a bard, oracle, or whisperer)

Step 5: Apply Racial Mechanics

Vaelari receive their racial strengths, flaws, and innate traits automatically at creation. You may also choose from a list of racial Merits unique to the Fae, as well as the standard server-wide Merits and Flaws.

Each Fae begins with 20 Glamour Points, the Fae Power Pool, which fuels Disciplines, rituals, and narrative effects tied to illusion, storycraft, and dream-weaving.

Step 6: Define Your Origin Myth or Binding Tale

All Fae characters must submit an Origin Myth or Binding Tale, a short narrative describing:

Their first awakening from the Twilight Veil (or mortal birth if halfblooded)
How they chose or were claimed by their Court
The first oath or mask they ever wore
If applicable, the moment they crossed into Seyruun from Vael’Thalas

Courtless characters must instead define their Unbinding, the moment they cast off allegiance to the other two Courts and claimed their independent path. This tale becomes the foundation for future growth and social trials.

Vaelari Character Creation Checklist

Once your sheet is finalized and submitted to Storytellers, your Vaelari may step into Seyruun’s stories, draped in mystery, illusion, and the dreams of the gods.

~~ STRENGTHS, FLAWS AND BANES ~~

The Vaelari are not mortals touched by magic, nor immortals born of blood or stone. They are the living fragments of IO’s dreaming mind, shaped from poetry, illusion, and emotional truth. Their powers draw from ancient Courts, living stories, and the veils between worlds. While their presence inspires awe, their nature is volatile, shifting with feeling, ritual, and unseen threads of fate.

These benefits apply to all Vaelari characters unless suppressed by supernatural trauma or Court banishment. They reflect the timeless resonance of the Dreaming and the mystical legacy of the Triune Crown.

RACIAL STRENGTHS

Twilight Grace
The Vaelari move with otherworldly poise. You gain +1 die to all Dexterity-based rolls involving evasion, acrobatics, or dance. This bonus applies in both combat and performance.

Glamourweaving
You may use subtle illusions or sensory shifts as free narrative effects when interacting with mortals. These do not cause harm, but enhance social checks (Performance, Persuasion, Subterfuge) with +1 die when invoking mystery, awe, or fear.

Dreamsense
Vaelari can perceive lies, emotional currents, and lingering magic. Gain +2 to Perception or Insight when sensing enchantment, deception, or emotional residue.

Oathborn
When you enter a formally sworn pact, you gain 1 temporary Glamour Point. If the oath is broken (by either party), the violator suffers a –2 penalty to all rolls involving Glamour or illusion for the rest of the scene.

Veilstep (1/day)
Once per day, a Vaelari may shift partially into the Twilight Veil, teleporting up to 30 feet to a visible location, even through barriers such as foliage, doors, or fog. This is a reflexive action that may also be used to evade grapples or disengage from combat.

Power Pool Access
You begin with access to the Glamour Pool (see Power Pool section). All Racial Disciplines and magical rituals draw from this resource.

All Vaelari bear the consequences of their mythic heritage. These banes are inherent to their nature and cannot be removed except through powerful rituals, divine pacts, or catastrophic transformation.

RACIAL BANES

Ironbane
Pure, untreated iron bypasses all magical defenses and deals an additional +2 damage to Vaelari. Touching raw iron causes searing pain and a –2 penalty to all actions for one round.

Oathbound Existence
If a Vaelari breaks a spoken vow, they suffer –2 to all Glamour-based abilities for 24 hours and may attract curses from the Dreaming. Breaking sacred pacts may also cause Court censure.

Fragmented Identity
When acting against the nature of your chosen Court, roll Composure (Difficulty 6) or suffer narrative instability. On failure, lose access to one Veil or illusion-based ability for 1 scene due to emotional dissonance.

Emotional Flux
When under extreme emotion (rage, grief, heartbreak), you suffer a –2 penalty to spellcasting or Glamour use. Veilstep is unusable until you regain composure.

Naming Vulnerability
If a mortal or divine being speaks your True Name, they gain 1 automatic success on all Social rolls against you and may issue a single command you must resist with a Willpower (Difficulty 7) check. Protection of your name is a sacred cultural rite.

To deepen character complexity, you may take one of the following Vaelari flaws at character creation. Each offers a thematic challenge tied to dream, identity, or illusion.

OPTIONAL FLAWS (+3 Freebies Optional)

Mirror Haunting
You do not reflect accurately in mirrors, water, or polished metal. Your image appears distorted or delayed, and illusions may fail in mirrored spaces. +2 Difficulty to disguise or Glamour use near reflective surfaces.

Fractured Dream
Your connection to the Veil is unstable. Once per day, roll Resolve (Difficulty 7) or experience a hallucination or emotional memory that distracts you from your task (–2 to next Mental action).

Glamour Dependency
You must perform or inspire emotion once per day to retain access to your Veilstep. If you fail to express art, love, sorrow, or fear in that day, you suffer –1 to all rolls until the emotion is purged through performance or dream-binding.

Cursebound
You were born under a fractured star or broken oath. Once per Chronicle, you may trigger a Dream Surge, but afterward suffer a –1 penalty to all rolls for 3 scenes due to spiritual backlash. NPCs from your Court may distrust or avoid you.

Addicted to Wonder
You are obsessed with mortal dreams, stories, or sensations. You must pass a Willpower check (Difficulty 6) to resist investigating new myths, entering unknown doors, or interrupting a mortal's dream. Failure may cause narrative diversion or emotional risk.

Banished Mask
You were exiled from one of the Courts. You may not use any Court-based merits or benefits (even if rejoining) until redemption or acknowledgment is achieved in play. You begin with a secret stigma that Court-aligned NPCs may sense.

All Vaelari in Seyruun receive the following innate Merits and traits automatically at character creation. These represent their origins as beings formed from the dreams of IO and their mystical attunement to illusion, story, and oath. These Merits do not cost XP or Freebie Points and cannot be removed except through full race transformation, Court exile, or divine unraveling.

~~ INNATE BENEFITS (Free Merits/Traits) ~~

Innate Merits

Dreamtread (2 pt Merit)
You move with the grace of a dream given form. Gain +1 die to any Dexterity-based rolls involving stealth, dance, or sudden movement. This applies in combat when evading, escaping, or shifting between terrain. Your footfalls are nearly silent in natural environments.

Glamour-Born Flesh (3 pt Merit)
Your body is partially composed of essence rather than matter. You gain +2 bonus HP beyond your base maximum and +1 die to resist non-metallic physical restraints (e.g., rope, grapple, pressure). Your form may subtly twist, flicker, or bend away from harm.

Enchanting Presence (2 pt Merit)
You gain +1 die to all Social rolls involving charm, mischief, or intrigue when speaking in poetic or symbolic language. This includes Performance, Persuasion, or Subterfuge rolls against sentient beings capable of emotion. This effect does not stack with illusions, but enhances natural charisma.

Dream-curse Resistance (1 pt Merit)
You receive a +2 bonus to resist magical curses, dream afflictions, or illusion-based attacks. This includes powers or rituals that induce hallucination, madness, or nightmare. Your bond with the Veil shields your soul from unwanted tampering.

Veil Kiss (2 pt Merit)
When you perform a glamour ritual or illusion on a willing target, they experience a euphoric trance for 1 full turn. During this time, they cannot take hostile action against you unless under magical compulsion. This only applies to sentient mortals or spirits and requires no roll unless resisted.

Innate Systems Access

Power Pool Access: Vaelari begin play with access to the Glamour Pool (see Power Pool section). You start with 20 Glamour Points. These are used to fuel illusionary Disciplines, Veil-related abilities, and racial powers.
Illusory Manipulation: You can manipulate light, sound, or minor perception shifts at will as free actions for narrative flavor. These illusions have no mechanical effect unless backed by powers or rolls, but can still shape scenes, social moments, or deception.
Oathbound Core: You are bound by ancient law. Any voluntarily spoken promise or magical pact becomes spiritually binding. Breaking such a vow causes 1 unsoakable Lethal damage and may invoke a penalty to Glamour-based abilities for the remainder of the scene.
Veil Perception: You can see auras, emotional echoes, and trace glamours even when inactive. This allows for +1 die to any Investigation or Insight roll involving spirits, illusions, or hidden truths. You cannot be fooled by mundane disguises unless magically enhanced.
Court Resonance: Each Vaelari is spiritually linked to their Court (Seelie, Unseelie, or Courtless). You can sense other Vaelari within 30 feet through whispers of shared dream-frequency. You may also send a one-word emotional echo to another Vaelari once per scene.

~~ RACIAL MERITS (Unique to This Race) ~~

These exclusive Merits are only available to Fae (Vaelari) characters in Seyruun. They embody the dream-woven origins of the Vaelari, their connection to the Veil, and the metaphysical power of illusion, oath, and identity. Players may purchase these Merits using XP or Freebie Points during character creation, or later through roleplay and Storyteller approval. These are not accessible to other races.

Minor Racial Merits (1–2 XP)

Whisperstep (1 XP)
You suffer no penalties when moving silently through natural terrain. Gain +1 die on Dexterity + Stealth checks when within forests, ruins, or veiled glades.

Dancer’s Grace (2 XP)
Your body moves like flowing starlight. Gain +1 die to all Dexterity + Performance rolls and may reroll 1 failed die once per performance scene.

Moonlit Gaze (2 XP)
Gain +1 die to Manipulation + Subterfuge when cloaked in illusion or moonlight. This benefit only applies at night or in dimly lit conditions.

Echo of Emotion (1 XP)
Once per scene, you may spend 1 Glamour to read the emotional state of a target within 10 feet. This grants +2 dice on Insight or Empathy rolls against them for the remainder of the scene.

Standard Racial Merits (3–5 XP)

Veil-Ward (3 XP)
Gain +2 dice to resist illusion magic, dream intrusion, or emotional manipulation (e.g., Seduction, Fear spells). This includes resisting Glamour from hostile Vaelari or Fae-aligned beings.

Oathbound Mantle (4 XP)
You are protected by an ancient contract woven into your spirit. Choose one spoken vow or self-imposed rule. As long as you uphold it, you gain +1 die to all Willpower-based resistance rolls and cannot be forced to break that oath by magical means.

Court Echo (5 XP)
You may select one passive benefit associated with your chosen Court (Seelie, Unseelie, or Courtless) and gain it as a minor constant effect (e.g., Seelie gain +1 die to Leadership in social gatherings, Unseelie gain +1 die to Intimidation in shadow, Courtless gain +1 to Defense while invisible or unseen).

Glamour Echo (3 XP)
If targeted by the same supernatural power (spell, Discipline, curse) twice in the same scene, you gain +1 die to resist the effect on the second attempt and beyond. This stacks up to +3.

Advanced Racial Merits (6–10 XP)

Dreambound Familiar (6 XP)
You are bonded to a sentient illusion or semi-spirit called a Dreamling. This companion may take the form of an animal, spirit, or object. It can scout within 100 feet, speak in your mind, and grant +1 die to one mental skill it embodies (e.g., Investigation for a fox, Rituals for an owl). It can be harmed only by magic or other Glamour-bound creatures.

Living Masquerade (7 XP)
Once per day, you may assume an alternate identity so complete that it resists magical detection. You gain a full new appearance, voice, and aura. Anyone attempting to pierce the illusion must roll Perception + Occult (Difficulty 8). This effect lasts for one hour or until dismissed.

Twilit Sovereign (8 XP)
For one scene per day, you may invoke the Triune Crown’s ancestral power. During this scene, you gain +2 dice to all Glamour-based powers, immunity to fear, and your illusions cannot be disbelieved except through divine magic. When the scene ends, you lose 2 Glamour and suffer –1 to all rolls for the next hour due to spiritual strain.

Dreamblight Reversal (10 XP)
Once per Chronicle, you may completely undo a scene of magical or narrative trauma using Glamour. You must declare this within 5 minutes of the event. All actions, damage, deaths, or consequences affecting you and one ally are reversed by stepping through the Veil. After use, you fall unconscious for 12 hours, and the cost is written on your soul (ST determines the narrative toll).

~~ RACIAL POWER POOL NAME & FUNCTION ~~

Power Pool Name: Glamour Pool

The Vaelari do not draw strength from blood or bone, but from Glamour, the sacred essence of stories, emotion, dreams, and truth turned illusion. This radiant substance fuels all Fae magic. It is both the wellspring of their power and the tether that binds them to the Twilight Veil. Without Glamour, a Vaelar begins to fade, losing color, voice, and finally form, until they become nothing more than forgotten myths in the wind.

Power Pool Basics

Starting Pool Size: 20 Glamour Points
XP Advancement: +1 Maximum Glamour Point per 5 XP spent
Hard Cap: 50 Glamour Points (unless increased through Storyteller blessings, sacred pacts, or relics)
Refill Method: Harvesting dreams, emotions, and bound oaths through roleplay, ritual, or artistic expression

How Glamour is Gathered

Fae do not “feed” in the traditional sense. They draw Glamour from moments of resonance between themselves and the world. These may be artistic, emotional, spiritual, or narrative events that reflect their core truth as dream-born beings. Only through such acts can they regain their power.

Valid Methods of Glamour Recovery:

Note: Dream-linked harvests require Storyteller approval or meaningful roleplay resolution. Fae who exploit others without artistry or meaning gain only hollow echoes.

USING THE GLAMOUR POOL:

Some Merits, Racial Traits, or Storyteller-granted relics may offer alternate uses or discount costs.

Glamour Pool Recovery

Unlike stamina or IO Blessings, the Glamour Pool does not regenerate through rest, meditation, or time. It must be earned through meaningful interaction with the world, echoing the Vaelari’s origin as living myth.

The higher the emotional or mystical resonance, the more Glamour restored.

Glamour Pool at 0

When your Glamour Pool reaches zero:

You cannot use any Fae Disciplines or Glamour-based powers
You suffer –1 die to all Social and Mental rolls due to spiritual dimming
You appear dull, semi-transparent, or mortal to others
Your connection to the Veil begins to fracture; illusions unravel
You lose access to Veilstep, Court Traits, and any illusion-based Merits

Prolonged Glamour starvation may result in:

Memory loss
Identity fractures
Involuntary return to Vael’Thalas for recovery
Dream-death (rare, ST controlled)

Special Notes

Seelie Vaelari often harvest Glamour through music, love, or awe
Unseelie Vaelari thrive on fear, sorrow, and broken truths
Courtless Vaelari walk the line, favoring chaos, identity disruption, or contradiction

Fae who overuse Glamour without replenishment begin to unravel. They risk Oathbreak echo, losing their sense of self, or collapsing into Whisper-husks, hollow shells echoing broken dreams.

FINISHING THE CHARACTER

FINISHING YOUR CHARACTER

Once you’ve chosen your Vaelari’s ancestry, court path, racial strengths, and supernatural traits, you are ready to finalize your character sheet and step fully into the Twilight Veil. This final checklist ensures your Fae is prepared for meaningful roleplay, character growth, and courtly intrigue across the world of Seyruun.

Checklist for Finalization

Before submission, ensure the following items are fully completed:

1. Attribute Assignment

Follow the standard allocation:

7 / 5 / 3 across Physical, Social, and Mental categories.
You may assign in any order. Most Fae emphasize Social and Mental attributes, but all builds are viable.

2. Skill Allocation

Distribute:

13 / 9 / 5 across Physical, Social, and Mental skill trees.

Your skill choices should reflect your origin within the Vaelari mythos. Consider Performance, Subterfuge, Occult, Insight, Rituals, or Persuasion when crafting a Court-born Fae or dreamweaver.

3. Discipline Selection

All Fae characters begin with 3 Discipline Trees:

One from your Court or racial tradition (Seelie, Unseelie, or Courtless)
Two from general access (Illusion, Emotion, Glamourcraft, Dreambinding, etc.)

Each selected Discipline starts at ● (one dot). Custom trees must be unlocked through roleplay and XP.

4. Merits and Flaws

Select:

Any racial Merits unique to Vaelari (see racial Merit section)
General Merits and Flaws from the Seyruun master list

You begin with 15 Freebie Points at creation.

Each optional racial flaw grants +3 Freebie Points, if taken.

5. Backgrounds

Assign 5 Background Points to options such as:

Allies, Mentors, Court Status, Leyline Access, Resources, or Glamour Sanctums

Your heritage, former role in the Courts, or connection to mortal dreamers may influence this.

6. Power Pool

All Vaelari begin with 20 Glamour Points (see Glamour Pool section for full rules).
Note how your Fae recovers Glamour: through dreamwork, oathbinding, emotion harvesting, or performance.
You may also define your preferred emotional resonance (fear, joy, sorrow, etc.)

7. IO Blessings & Core Saves

IO Blessings (the renamed Willpower Pool) start at 5
- This functions as your character’s inner resolve, self-conviction, and power to resist mental influence.
- Can be spent to resist manipulation, enforce oaths, or succeed at key narrative moments.
Willpower (Saving Throw version) begins at 1
- Alongside Reflex and Fortitude, it is used for resisting effects like domination, illusion, and dream curses.
- May only be increased via XP or Merits.

8. Health and Defense

Base HP = 10 + Stamina
Defense is calculated as:
- Reflex + relevant defense modifiers or passive bonuses from Merits and magic
Fae do not enter torpor. At 0 HP, they either vanish into the Veil (ST discretion) or begin to unravel, depending on the source of the damage.

9. Profession and Wealth

Select a starting Profession Rank if applicable (e.g., Veilspinner, Ritualist, Performer, Spy, Seer).
Assign a Wealth Rating (● to ●●●●●) based on origin, assets, and roleplay justification.
- Some Fae begin with access to Veiled Theatres, enchanted courts, or even twilight markets.

10. Racial Group Registration (The Triune Crown)

Choose your Court Affiliation: Seelie, Unseelie, or Courtless.
Register your character under the Triune Crown’s racial group system.
If founding a new Courtline, you must:
- Have 3+ active members
- Submit Court color, emblem, core ideology, ritual style, and glamour rite
- Follow Gathering Group Rules for Fae racial advancement

Storyteller Reminders

Once completed, submit your character for approval by tagging a Storyteller or Staff member. Include:

Your finalized sheet (using the server’s character template)
Your Courtline Affiliation and brief backstory
Any custom Merits, magical heirlooms, or Oathbinding requests
Confirmation of any dreamlinks or soulbonds affecting your character
Details on your Veilstep origin or connection to Vael’Thalas (if applicable)

Once approved, you may enter into the dance of myth, illusion, and memory. Walk among the Veil, shape the dreams of kings, and speak truths no one else dares utter.