The Guide to the Realms of Faerie
The sky overhead shifts between shades of blue, purple and a deep magenta. The grass crunches slightly underfoot as you breathe in sweet, clear air, and the scent of flowers over the meadows makes your head spin. Away, just across a shallow vale, a unicorn watches, its flanks glowing slightly in the soft light. But beneath the wonder and beauty of this incredible realm, a string of danger is woven. This is the Realm of Faerie, like a dream come to life. And where there are dreams, there are nightmares.
Welcome, adventurers, to another episode of mapmaking and exploring! I’m Ryan of the Red Quills, and today, we're embarking on an extraordinary journey into the magical and mysterious Faerie. This ethereal realm, filled with enchantment and peril, is unlike any other place we've explored so far. The Wilds of the Fey, also known as the Plane of Faerie, is a place where magic is woven into the very fabric of reality, and time flows in unpredictable currents. It's a realm of eternal twilight, where vibrant forests and glistening rivers shimmer with otherworldly light.
You can download the full map to Aerania here: Aerania of the Fey | Downloadable Map
In this episode, we'll be delving into Aerania, the realm of the Fey King Auberon. You can watch the full episode here: The Guide to the Realm of Faerie
Known as his hunting ground, Aerania is a land where beauty and danger walk hand in hand. We'll start by crafting a map of this wondrous place, exploring its geography, inhabitants, and the unique magic that permeates every corner. By the end of this tutorial, you'll have the tools and inspiration to bring Aerania and Faerie to life in your own worlds.
So, let’s gather our supplies and set off on this enchanted journey.
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The realm of Faerie can be known by a thousand names - it exists just to one side of our own world, separated by the thinnest of membranes. That thin skin between planes can be pierced by magic, by gates at places like the henges, or by accident. But anyone venturing into it from our world should be prepared for a place more intense, more wondrous, more amazing, than anything in the material world.
There are an incredible number of variations on this theme, but we’ll be exploring just one today, and we’ll discuss how you can explore your own in your own games and stories - how you can add in your own ideas, some inspiration for your explorations, and what to know about the Fey.
For this topic, I’ll be drawing on inspiration from the mythologies of the British Isles, the writings of such authors as Shakespeare and Pratchett, and of course the more modern takes of names like the Feywild from Dungeons and Dragons.
So, let’s sharpen those pencils and we’ll begin.
Creating Your Feywild Map
We start our journey with a blank canvas. For this map, I'll be using a large sheet of A2 180 gsm paper and a combination of vibrant watercolours to capture the Feywild's vivid hues. Start by sketching the general layout of Aerania, focusing on the major geographical features such as the Enchanted Forests, Glimmering Lakes, and Mystic Glades. The landscape of Aerania is ever-changing, so feel free to let your imagination run wild.
I’m doing something different for this map. I spent a long time thinking about how I could create a map that would sufficiently represent the ever-changing chaotic nature of somewhere like Faerie, and had any number of concepts. For your own map, you can take a couple of such ideas, like:
- Using a binary shading of blues and reds over one another, so that the map shows different details under red light or blue light.
- Creating a layered map of pinned circles, similar to the concept in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, so that you can actually move points of interest around.
- Having folded areas that can be pulled back to reveal hidden areas.
And more. But in the end, due to the limited time that I have for these videos, and the aim to have this be downloadable for those who want it, I chose to go with Option C. I have two folded areas, just to showcase the concept, in which areas can appear or disappear according to the whim of the Fey King.
Similar to my other maps, I have sketched out some of the denizens of this realm. All are my own - or suggested by a subscriber - so you can use them if you’d like. The idea behind the realm is that it is the area that Auberon - the Golden King, the King of the Fey, the Consort to Titania - goes when he is not needed at court. He hunts for his pleasure there, and when he finds a victim that he wants to hunt elsewhere in the planes, he drops them at the Henge in the centre and gives them a head start.
I will be watercolouring this map in a slight isometric style, which I don’t normally use. I’m playing with the concept that the horizon away from the perspective of the map is actually the end of the realm. If one gets too close to it, they become turned around or moved across the realm.
I’ll be painting this, which as a process does not take longer than inking it with a pen. It’s worth noting the different effect that this has, but if you want to try it for yourself, watch my process. It’s about layering the colour, beginning with a lighter shade and working your way darker. My method uses pens - I’ll put the pens that I use in the description - after painting, and stippling and hatching and crosshatching to shade as well as the colours.
I’ve started by sketching the rough shape of where I want everything, and then I’ll go through the mountains, the terrain, the naturalists sketches, and then the annotations.
Understanding Aerania and the Wilds
Let’s get into the world itself, and we’ll discuss its purpose and function while I’m laying the initial foundation. The Realm of Faerie is a realm of contrasts, where beauty and danger coexist in a delicate balance. It’s a place where the rules of the material world don’t always apply, and time and space can behave unpredictably. In Aerania, this unpredictability is not just part of its charm, but also its perilous allure. Here, Auberon uses the enchantment of it to cloak himself in mystery and glamour, all as a part of his hunt.
I have added several areas here, but first I’ll give an overview of Aerania’s intention and history.
The Summer Court is ruled by the Queen, Titania. She is graceful, beautiful, and glamorous, and her control over the Court is absolute. She is a consummate politician, but her consort, the King, is not. He is a powerful mage, a formidable warrior, and a terrifying hunter, but he cares not for the frippery of the courts. He would rather be out in the world, using his skills.
And so the Queen gifted him Aerania for his use. Between the mountains and the horizon line, he does whatever he wishes. To this end, he has populated it with the things that he wants, and the things that he thinks that he needs.
The aim is to create a land that can serve as the area for a hero trying to outpace and outwit the King. Fighting the King head-on is folly, but if one can find a way to outwit him or access his weakness, then the tables can turn. The secret that the land reveals is that the King is much like the Land of Faerie itself: he is all sparkle, and no substance. He is powerful, yes, but he cannot change. He is knowledgeable, but not wise. His majesty is only skin deep, and he can be manipulated.
For instance, in the west of Aerania, he has allowed an old hag called Gertie to live in a cottage. He does not hunt her, and nor is she in any danger. Auberon has responded to the myths and stories of Kings going to old ladies for wisdom by finding an old lady and placing her where he can find her, if he ever needs advice. The old lady in question is undoubtedly a witch with her own agenda, but this provides a clear example of the kind of shallow thinking that Auberon uses.
The Glamorous
“They are wonderful; they provoke wonder. They are marvellous; they cause marvels. They are fantastic; they create fantasies. They are glamorous; they project glamour. They are enchanting; they weave enchantment. They are terrific - they beget terror.”
Terry Pratchett wrote that about elves in his book, Lords and Ladies. But that is, I think, the heart of what the Faeries are. They pull you in, they string you around, and you realise that their smiles are beautiful, but very much full of teeth.
Everything in this realm is heightened from our own. Everything is more intense, more overwhelming, more emotional. More dangerous. The Fey King is incapable of feeling any small feeling. When he is annoyed, it is rage. When he is happy, it is climactic. And the moods pass like rain in the night, easily forgotten.
To hide their true selves, many of the denizens of Aerania have cloaked themselves in illusion, using the pervading magic of the realm to power their cloaks. That way, they can hide their weakness, their power, their true selves from outsiders. Truth has power, particularly here.
The Guileful
In a place where there is so much smoke and mirrors and so little substance, those who are cunning and intelligent are very powerful indeed. The curling tendrils of magic that pervade the very air can heighten the abilities of any mage, and there is nothing so dangerous as a mage with an imagination.
In order to hide their natures and their intelligence from the others, they will cloak themselves in illusions like the others, and act harmless. They will watch and wait for their opportunity to strike, lay traps, and manipulate others into doing their bidding.
While Auberon himself was not particularly blessed when it came to his mind, there are others here who are. The Groundskeeper - who keeps his name from the lips of those who enter Aerania - and Old Greta are two examples of this, and are both key players when Auberon is away.
The Grandiose
There are other ways to remain safe in Faerie - but sheer displays of unadulterated power. Titania will use this herself: her favoured way of telling her consort that his presence is requested is to move her entire palace to the Waiting Hill in Aerania with a sound like a thunderclap and the flash of a sunrise.
Other creatures also have incredible power, and often in unexpected ways. The unicorns that roam the forest are left alone by most predators for good reason. In the Dark Hunt, where the secret passages of the King lead to the Dark and the Darker, Sleepy Boodahn is quite capable of fending for himself.
Inhabitants of Aerania
So we know something about the major players here in Aerania, but stories about the Realm of Faerie are often focused on their courts, their cities of white towers and splendour, their gardens and their mansions. Aerania is more wilderness than that, so let’s talk about the kinds of inhabitants that one might encounter.
It is true that the inhabitants of Faerie come in all shapes and sizes. A ‘faerie’ is not a race, if one wants to be accurate. It refers to any denizen of the realm, and they are generally altered in some way by the raw magics of the land.
Aerania is no different. There is no high city here, unless Titania moves her Court to the Waiting Hill.
When Auberon is here, everything is ruled by his whim. There is no law but the desires of the King. When he is away, however, the power struggle surfaces. The Groundskeeper is officially in charge, but Old Greta has the ear of the King. The nymphs in the bathhouse care not for their squabbles, but they can be roused by intrigue or gossip, and Tom in the Weary Innkeep is a useful source of information.
Here’s a couple of the creatures that live in Aerania:
The Groundskeeper’s Pawns
Scurrying through the underbrush and lurking in the shadows, the Groundskeeper's pawns carry out their master's bidding with ruthless efficiency. From the diminutive Handstands, with their blue-skinned visages and nimble fingers, serve as the eyes and ears of Auberon's ever-watchful gaze. And as they carry out their master's commands, they ensure that Aerania remains a realm of mystery and danger, where the unwary traveller may find themselves ensnared in a web of illusion and deceit.
The Ever-Watchful Woodsman
Among the ancient trees of Aerania's enchanted forests, the ever-watchful Woodsman stands sentinel, his form blending seamlessly with the whispering leaves and shifting shadows. With his silent vigil and unwavering gaze, the Woodsman guides travellers through the labyrinthine paths of the Feywild, his cryptic gestures leading them ever closer to their destiny. But beware, for the Woodsman is no mere guide; his true motives lie shrouded in mystery, his allegiance bound to the whims of the Fey King himself.
Tom of the Weary Innkeep
Long ago, Auberon was travelling through the mortal plane with the Summer Hunt, when he came to an inn after midnight. Wanting to test the hospitality of the inn’s owner, he roused Tom and requested room and board for the entire hunt. Tom claims that he was reasonable in his refusal: that the inn did not have enough rooms for the entirety of Auberon’s entourage. The King, however, was insulted by Tom’s manner. He cursed Tom and his inn into Aerania.
Now, the inn, renamed to the Weary Innkeep, wanders across the realm on great duck’s feet, waiting for the Summer Hunt to need room and board. Tom will serve and house any travellers that come across his threshold, and the inn is a safe area from the rest of the realm, but Tom cares only for his own wants and desires - specifically, to be released from his torment.
The Flora and Fauna of the Aerania
The Realm of Faerie is a realm teeming with life, where fantastical creatures and vibrant plant life coexist in a delicate balance. In Aerania, this balance is reflected in the diverse array of flora and fauna that call the realm home. You can come up with your own, but here are some concepts that you can use.
I’ve come to these by either plucking something straight from mythology and fitting it into the setting, or by using the rule of Faerie - which is that anything you find here is going to be a heightened, more intense version of something on the material plane - to craft something. I have the Libraeries, which are faeries transformed by Auberon to guard his library, pixies that serve Titania, and the Ungolites, which are the hideous cross between spiders and octopods, because I needed some new nightmare fuel.
The Libraeries
Guardians of knowledge and keepers of secrets, the Libraeries are small faeries that take the form of library index cards. These diminutive creatures flutter through the air, their translucent wings shimmering with iridescent hues. Found in the Lopsided Library, where Auberon keeps his menagerie in picture-books, the Libraeries are tasked with safeguarding the vast repository of wisdom contained within its pages. With their keen intellects and unwavering dedication, they ensure that the secrets of the Feywild remain hidden from prying eyes.
Pixies, the Little Folk
Dancing through the sun-dappled glades and shimmering meadows of the Feywild, the Pixies, also known as the Little Folk, serve as loyal subjects to Queen Titania. With their delicate wings and mischievous smiles, these diminutive beings embody the whimsical spirit of the realm. Unlike the denizens of Aerania who serve Auberon, the Pixies flit about the Summer Court, tending to the lush gardens and frolicking in the eternal twilight.
They are wilful, emotional, and extremely prideful. Many take offense to the name ‘pixie’, and require those who ask their aid to call them other names, like ‘Little Folk’. But they play games, weave enchantments, and can carry the commands of the Queen.
Ungolites, the Dark Weavers
In the shadowed depths of Aerania's darkest recesses, lurk the Ungolites—sinister creatures that are a cross between spiders and octopods. These monstrous beings spin webs of inky blackness, ensnaring unsuspecting prey within their sticky strands. Known for their unnerving appearance and insatiable hunger, the Ungolites are feared by even the bravest adventurers who dare to venture into the Dark and the Darker. With their razor-sharp fangs and multiple tentacles, they are formidable predators that strike fear into the hearts of all who cross their path.
Stories and Legends of Aerania
In Aerania, stories aren't just tales to be told around a campfire—they're the very essence of the realm, shaping its landscape and defining its inhabitants. These stories, passed down through generations, hold sway over the Feywild, altering its very fabric under the right circumstances. The realm is filled with stories, such as the tale of Tom and his inn, known for its warm hearth and hearty meals. It was a haven for travellers seeking respite from the dangers of the Feywild. But when Auberon tested Tom's hospitality and found it lacking, he cursed the innkeeper and his establishment to an eternity of servitude within Aerania. Now, the Weary Innkeep wanders the realm on duck's feet, forever bound to serve Auberon's whims.
There are others too:
The Groundskeeper's Gambit
Once a mighty archfey, the Groundskeeper now serves as Auberon's loyal servant, trapped in a cycle of servitude and longing for freedom. Desperate to reclaim his lost power, the Groundskeeper schemes and plots in the shadows, seeking a way to break free from Auberon's grasp. But the Fey King's watchful eye never wavers, and the Groundskeeper's path is fraught with danger at every turn.
The Wizard's Folly
In ages past, a wizard sought to unlock the secrets of the Feywild and harness its arcane energies. His hubris led him to build the Wizard's Folly—a towering spire that reached towards the heavens in a bid for power. But his experiments went awry, and the tower was consumed by the very magic it sought to control. Now, the ruins of the Wizard's Folly serve as a warning to all who would dare to tamper with the forces of the Feywild.
The Lopsided Library
Deep within the heart of Aerania lies the Lopsided Library—a repository of forbidden knowledge guarded by the enigmatic Libraeries. Here, Auberon stores the creatures he has hunted and bested, imprisoning them within the pages of enchanted picture books. Within the library's walls, the boundaries between reality and fiction blur, revealing the true nature of Aerania to those brave enough to seek it.
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And so, our journey through the Realm of Faerie and Aerania comes to an end. We've explored its enchanted forests, shimmering lakes, and mystical glades, and we've learned about its magical inhabitants and their captivating stories. I hope this guide has inspired you to create your own version of the Feywild and bring it to life in your own campaigns and stories.
If you enjoyed this deep dive into the Feywild, don't forget to leave your thoughts in the comments below. I'm here to discuss, answer your queries, or even take suggestions for future creations. Also, for those who love seeing the process in action, check out the Shorts on my channel for high-speed timelapses of today’s mapping session.
Next week, we'll continue our exploration of different biomes within your fantasy worlds, starting with the sunken ruins beneath the sea. Keep your eyes open, hit that subscribe button, and tune in next week.
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Safe travels in your creative journeys, and I'll see you on the next map!