The Echoes of Legends and Lore
Origins
To comprehend the True Fae, one must journey back to the origins of *Changeling: The Dreaming*, to the very heart of its mythology. The Kithain themselves are a blend of mortal and immortal blood, a union born from the interaction between humans and faeries. The True Fae, however, represent a different order. They are the original, primal beings, the gods and heroes of myth, the embodiment of pure, untamed faerie power. They existed long before the human world, shaping the earliest dreams and walking the unseen pathways between worlds.
The Sundering and Retreat
Before the Sundering, they existed alongside the Kithain in the Dreaming. Their realm, Arcadia, was an almost perfect world, a place of endless wonder and vibrant expression. But as the human world expanded and disbelief began to creep into the minds of mortals, the power of the Dreaming waned, and the True Fae were forced to retreat. They disappeared from the mortal world, returning to Arcadia, leaving behind a world of loss and the remnants of their once immense power.
Consequences of Exile
Their retreat wasn’t a simple act of departure. It was a consequence of changing realities. As the Age of Reason dawned, the strength of the Dreaming and the Glamour that fueled it diminished, driving the True Fae back into their own, isolated realm. Yet, this exile did not remove their influence; it only changed the arena in which they played. Their hunger for Glamour, their innate desire to shape and control, remained, forcing them to become even more cunning, even more elusive.
Beyond Mortal Understanding
Nature and Power
The True Fae are not simple beings. Their very nature defies easy categorization. They are beings of pure belief and untamed imagination, whose minds operate on a scale far beyond human comprehension. They perceive time differently, viewing events as interconnected pieces in a grand tapestry. Their motivations are often alien, driven by whims, obsessions, and cruel, capricious pleasures.
The most striking feature of the True Fae is their power. They wield the power to shape reality itself. They can bend the laws of physics, manipulate emotions, and create illusions of stunning detail. They can create and destroy with a gesture, twisting the very fabric of the Dreaming to their will. This power comes from the innate magic of their existence and from the Glamour of the Kithain.
Limitations and Rules
However, even the True Fae are not omnipotent. Their powers are often bound by ancient rules and pacts. They are constrained by the nature of the Dreaming itself. True Names carry significant weight, as do oaths and promises. The ability to control someone’s True Name can give a being immense power, allowing them to compel or bind the True Fae. Likewise, breaking a promise, however small, can have devastating consequences.
Appearance and Disguise
In appearance, the True Fae can vary wildly. Some might appear as humans, impossibly beautiful, or eerily familiar. Others might take the form of creatures from myth, towering giants, or mischievous sprites. They are masters of disguise, capable of shifting their forms to suit their purposes. Their true forms are often hidden beneath layers of illusion, protecting them from the prying eyes of the Kithain. The very act of looking upon a True Fae can shatter minds or twist perceptions, making their manipulation even more effective.
A Shadow on the Kithain
The Fetch and the Hedgeway
The True Fae’s influence on the Kithain is profound and often devastating. They see the Kithain as a source of Glamour, a resource to be exploited and manipulated. The Kithain’s connection to the mortal world, their ability to experience and express strong emotions, makes them the perfect fuel for the True Fae’s insatiable hunger.
One of the most insidious methods the True Fae employ is the Fetch. They steal away Kithain and replace them with Fetch. These duplicates appear to be the same as the missing Kithain, but they are empty husks, often used as agents or simply broken toys for the True Fae’s amusement.
The Hedge, a dangerous and ethereal realm that exists between the Dreaming and the mortal world, serves as a hunting ground for the Fae. This is where Kithain may find themselves trapped, pursued by the servants of the True Fae, lost forever in a world of thorns, shadows, and broken dreams. It’s a place of illusion, where the very laws of reality bend to the will of the Fae.
Bargains and Deals
The True Fae are relentless bargainers. They offer promises of power, beauty, and immortality, but these deals always come at a steep price. A single bargain may seem harmless at first, but it can quickly lead to enslavement, turning the Kithain into puppets. The True Fae thrive on deception and the exploitation of vulnerabilities.
Seelie and Unseelie
Seelie and Unseelie, these courts offer a glimpse into the societal structure of the True Fae. The Seelie are associated with beauty, creation, and wonder, while the Unseelie represent the darker aspects of faerie existence, including cruelty, malice, and despair.
Court Politics
They also use courtly politics and the struggles for power in the Dreaming to gain influence and manipulate the Kithain. They may back one court or another, causing internal conflicts and exploiting divisions among the Kithain. The Fae are masters of manipulation, weaving intricate webs of lies and intrigue to achieve their goals.
The Scourge of Arcadia
Abduction and Enslavement
The presence of the True Fae is not just a threat to individual Kithain; it’s a threat to the entire Dreaming. The True Fae’s activities have the potential to destabilize the very fabric of the Dreaming, causing it to unravel and collapse.
Abduction is a frequent tactic employed by the True Fae. They seek Kithain for their Glamour, as slaves, or for their amusement. Those who fall into the clutches of the True Fae face a fate far worse than death. They can be twisted and transformed, their minds and souls broken, their very identities erased. They can become playthings, forced to endure endless torment and suffering.
Corruption and Torment
Even among the Unseelie Court, there is a wide range of depravity. Some are cruel, enjoying the suffering of others, while others are simply indifferent, seeing the Kithain as pawns in their games. The True Fae can also corrupt the environment of the Dreaming, turning wonder into nightmare, and twisting the natural order of things.
Overall Threat
The True Fae represent a constant danger, a shadow that hangs over the Kithain, threatening to extinguish their dreams and shatter their hopes. Their influence creates an atmosphere of fear, suspicion, and distrust, making it difficult for the Kithain to thrive.
Against the Darkness
Awareness and Knowledge
For the Kithain, survival against the True Fae requires vigilance, knowledge, and strength. The struggle against the True Fae is a battle for the soul of the Dreaming and for the very survival of the Kithain.
The most crucial defense is awareness. Understanding the nature of the True Fae, their weaknesses, and their methods is paramount. Learning the lore, studying the history, and knowing the signs of their influence can help the Kithain to avoid their traps and to recognize their schemes.
Protection
Protecting Glamour is another vital step. Since the True Fae thrive on Glamour, the Kithain must find ways to shield themselves and their allies. The Arts provide a defense, with some Arts offering protection from the Fae’s powers. Protective charms and rituals can further aid in defense, creating barriers against their influence.
Community
There is also strength in unity. Forming alliances with other Kithain, sharing knowledge, and working together to counter the Fae’s schemes is important. Kithain can also use their own abilities to shape the Dreaming, creating their own wonders and using their dreams to ward off the influence of the True Fae.
Fighting the Threat
The fight against the True Fae is a difficult one, but the fate of the Dreaming depends on the Kithain’s ability to fight. The only way to survive is to stay strong, learn and have faith.
The Legacy of Faerie
The True Fae are more than just antagonists; they are the embodiment of the challenges and the opportunities inherent in *Changeling: The Dreaming*. They test the Kithain’s beliefs, push their boundaries, and force them to confront the darkness that exists within themselves and in the world around them. The True Fae represent the ever-present danger that comes from the source of all imagination.
Their presence in the game adds a layer of complexity and intrigue. Their influence can transform a simple quest into a dangerous journey. Understanding the True Fae’s nature adds a critical dynamic to the game, making for a more enriching and memorable experience.
Whether you’re a seasoned player or a new adventurer, understanding the True Fae is essential for navigating the wonders and the perils of *Changeling: The Dreaming*. Embrace the challenge, and be prepared to dream bravely.
