Glossary #2
Wild magic unique to individuals, comparable to genetic mutations.
You are born with innate mastery. Cannot be taught or replicated because the talent is an artifact of your mind and genetic (not inherited though) mutation.
No one else is exactly like you. Experienced Fae can help you learn your Skill through trial and error, but all they can do is stand on the sidelines and offer feedback while you figure shit out.
Approximately 1 in 50 Fae possess a Skill.
Users keep these secret as strategic advantages.
Skills can mimic affinities until over time it is clear the way you are wielding your power is unique.
Or the Skill can start off as obviously something different.
Maybe you can turn salt into blue sugar crystals that send people to sleep, and that’s all you can do.
Well, transmutation is an affinity, but what you do is so innate and unique that it is classified as a Skill.
Houses want people with Skills because it gives you more tricks to play with. A well trained unit of unique Skills can be deadly because they can work in tandem to create an offensive that the enemy isn’t trained to defend against—you can’t train against wild magic.
Special Abilities
Apex - Exclusively female descendants of Juhainah who can temporarily steal and use another's powers without consent. The duration depends on the Apex's strength and will.
Bridge - The ability to link multiple Fae's powers together, magnifying their combined effect. Requires being an Apex first. Considered dangerous as experienced Bridges can theoretically access unlimited power.
Avatar - A psychic manifestation of excess power, specific to Juhainah's bloodline. Appears when Dark Fae cannot contain all their power within their physical form. As the Fae learns control and is able to tap their power more and ore, the avatar will “grow.”
THE HOUSES OF EVERENNE
HOUSE MONTAGUE
Descendants of a Branch of House Temthrennes, many generations removed.
Sara al hudar, sa ni rasha
Call the Storm, and We Will Answer
Status: First House. They rule. They will always rule.
Patron Ancient: Assariel “Stormthrone” Temthrennes; Empath whose power manifests in storms, which he can control. Father of Prince Renaud.
Lords: Prince Renaud Gautier & High Lord Baroun Gautier, Regent
Symbol: Crown and Lightning strike
Colors: Silver-and-white (Prince’s personal colors, interchangeable with Montague House sapphire blue-and-silver) The colors of Kuthliele were once white-and-blue. Muriel and Raniel both used shades of blue to show unity.
Flower: Blue and white roses
District Festival: Festival of the Storm.
Held during the rainiest season. Lightning show if the Prince is awake.
Otherwise, fireworks. Tournament with winners receiving wreaths of blue and white roses.
District wide scavenger hunt for diamonds and sapphires (and other treats.) This is also the time in which you may request or offer favor of the House.
Everyone wears the House colors and paints silver lightning on their faces.
Character: Haughty, elegant, powerful, formal, dangerous, ruthless. Warrior house, but traditional
Known History: House of Renaud, Prince of Everenne. They are the most ruthless House, but not the bloodiest. They will take their time to ensure you deserve death. . .but it will be a slow one, depending on how you offended them. Do NOT cross these people. It is rumored they are of the Dark.
Trade/Income: Officially gems, but whatever they wish it to be and mind your business unless you happen to catch their attention and then it will very much become your business, you fool, but not in the way you wished
Stamp: Wavy red-black hair, brown/yellow topaz eyes, med brown skin, reddish undertone. Renaud and Embriel are exceptions—Renaud adopted the House. Baroun is a very distant relative.
Allies: Labornne, Sivenne, Lavigne
Enemies: Faronne, Wyvenne, Ramonne
HOUSE FARONNE
*Originally the Ruling House Kuthliele, of Avallonne by the Sea
Al mara'esh nasha lan al mara'vash hudar thalar
The Tide Retreats before the Tidal Wave Strikes
Status: Once second only to Montague, now struggling but maintaining rank through stubbornness. In a very personal cat and mouse feud with Montagu e
Patron Ancient: Psion, Ruler of the Sea
Lord(s): étienne (Human Regent) aka Otieno wa Mutongu, High Lord Danon Kuthliele (missing), Heir Presumptive, Lady Aerinne Kuthliele
Symbol: Trident or Kraken
Colors: Cobalt-and-vermillion
Flower: Hibiscus
District Festival: Festival of the Rising Tide.
Celebrated on spring equinox. Honors fallen warriors, make sacrifices to the sea Ancient Psion, pastries in the shape of krakens and tridents.
Will prepare a lot of seafood and have a feast after a three day fast which symbolizes being lost at sea.
Play tournament in the streets with blue and red exploding pouches.
Like a balloon fight. A bonfire every night with dancing.
Character: Young, fierce warriors, rowdy, impulsive, vengeance-oriented, loyal and fearless. They are, uh, a bit trailer park
Known History: Former High Lord Muriel was a founder of Everenne.
Originally House Kuthliele of Avallonne by the Sea, making them one of the most ancient and noble bloodlines.
Were originally sailors and explorers. They’ve always been rowdy.
Conquered first by Ayyarah, daughter of Nayya and Assariel (who pretended to be Renaud’s mother during his childhood) and then by Nayya and Assariel (to rescue Renaud.) Muriel was a childhood friend of Renaud when the island was conquered.
She was one of the survivors of House Kuthliele, mainly because Renaud pleaded with his parents to spare her and Nur (Nora.)
Trade/Income: Their trade permissions were maliciously revoked.
BUT, tea (new trade courtesy of Otieno and Fatma’s investments in Limuru tea fields,) spices, rice, and now bootleg beer and hard liquor.
Cannabis as well, since it does actually have a medicinal affect on Fae, and there is no social stigma in its use other than it being human grown and a bit basic.
Hire out as muscle quite a bit. Also known for their street food.
Stamp: Wavy/curly true gold to blonde hair, sea green/grey-blue/blue eyes, warm gold skin. Now expanding to include Kikuyu genetics through cross breeding
Allies: Wyvenne, Ramonne
Enemies: Montague, Labornne
HOUSE WYVENNE
Nar'esh tala'sera, kheth'esh tala'nasha
Fire Takes Wing, Fear Takes Flight
Status: Third House of Everenne. . .they have wyverns. They don’t have to do much to keep that status.
Patron Ancient: Syrielle Ava'wyvar, Mother of Wyverns
Lord(s): Manuelle, Lord of Flames
Symbol: Wyvern or flames
Colors: Black-and-flame yellow
Flower: Snapdragon
District Festival: The Hatching Festival. First full moon of spring (breeding season)
A celebration of new life but also terrifying possibilities.
The wyverns put on a flame and dance show in the sky, ridden by members of House Wyvenne.
Traditionally, this was also the time of year the wyverns would be let loose to hunt enemies of the House and burn them down.
They don’t do that anymore. Roasted meat, fire breathing competitions, wreaths of yellow snap dragons are all part of the festivities.
Gifts of wyvern scales and eggs (crafted, not real) are made.
Character: Breed and train wyverns, generally relaxed until provoked. They have zero fucks but will come for you. Adventurous, keep faith with allies. Warrior house
Known History: Their founding Lord was allegedly a wyvern herself
Trade/Income: Lumber, coal, livestock, feed/livestock related products
Stamp: Dark, thick curly to wavy hair, big dark brown eyes, cool light brown skin.
Allies: Faronne, Ramonne (actual cousins, though distant)
Enemies: Sivenne (Wyvenne loathes traitors)
HOUSE RAMONNE
Seraph'ni najneeha rahmuin, eld'sha'ni eld'maht
Our Petals are Soft, Our Shade is Deadly
Status: Fourth in the city only because they are content to be so. Stealth and discretion are their tools.
Patron Ancient: Lennerra, Twice-Blessed
Lord(s): Louvenia
Symbol: Poison vial and perfume bottle
Colors: Purple-and-persimmon
Flower: Nightshade
District Festival: Festival of the Night Blooming Flowers.
Celebration of their young females who have mastered the secret knowledge of the House poisons and perfumes.
A coming-of-age festival. Also, a festival to settle grudges, claim your true love, or embrace forgetfulness.
All with the use of poisons and perfumes of course.
Takes place during the first spring bloom.
Slightly different every year. The matriarchs will watch the flowers and when they first bud, the festival begins.
Character: Brooding, dangerous, vindictive, cautious. Be careful with them. If you don’t fuck them over, they’re cool. If you do. . .watch what you eat and drink for the rest of your life.
Unfortunately, they have a broad and sometimes petty definition of fucking them over. They don’t deal well with slights. Tend to be matriarchal.
Known History: Was once a House ruled solely by males, which is.
. .odd. They bred their females deliberately weak, and refused to train them in battle.
The females of the House decided to use more subtle means, and overthrew the male Lords, every last one.
Louvenia is the second youngest Lord in Everenne. (Aerinne/Otieno would be the youngest.)
Trade/Income: Poisons, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics & beauty
Stamp: Mahogany hair, green or gold eyes, ivory to light brown skin, neutral.
Allies: Allied with Faronne, blood cousin to House Wyvenne
Enemies: Sivenne, Labornne (Louvenia and Keysia can’t stand each other)
HOUSE LABORNNE
Baad khait ni yith dhahab
From Thread we Make Gol d
Status: Climbing ranks through political machination and sheer pettiness