Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world’s more full of weeping than you can understand.

–W.B. Yeats, “The Stolen Child”

Willingly or unwillingly, you left your life in the mortal world behind and dwelt among the fey. Something about you intrigued or amused them, so they granted you a place at court – perhaps a noble’s or Highlord’s personal court, or perhaps in the court of the Seelie Queen or the Queen of Air and Darkness. You may have longed for the life you left behind, or perhaps you rejoiced at such luck, but nothing lasts forever.

How long were you gone? Is it the same as the amount of time you subjectively experienced? How did your position at court end? How does the court regard you now?

Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Persuasion

Tool Proficiencies: Calligrapher’s supplies and one type of gaming set

Languages: Sylvan

Equipment: A set of fine clothes, calligraphy supplies, one type of gaming set, a favor given to you by a fey noble or Highlord, 50 gp of fools’-gold that revert to dried leaves 1 hour after you buy something with them

Suggested Characteristics

Your long exposure to the heights of luxury, living alongside beings of enormous power and vanity, leaves a lasting imprint on your outlook on the world. Even a mortal count or duke does not have the breadth of your political and planar perspective. You have been abruptly thrust back into the concerns of day-to-day life as a mortal. Such an adjustment – a total loss of stature and support structure – is rocky at best.

D8           Personality Trait

1              A steady stream of flattery was a survival skill at court, and it works well with mortals too.
2              If I’m in shabby clothing or accommodations, I prefer to hide my identity entirely.
3              I am as vindictive as the Queen of Air and Darkness herself, especially with oathbreakers.
4              I tell stories of the fey, because I wish they would take me back.
5              My knowledge of my mortal homeland is charmingly dated, because I was gone so long.
6              I still expect and strongly prefer the finest in food, drink, and entertainment.
7              I think in terms of fairy-tale logic and moral lessons – things really did work like that at court.
8              Everything I do has a long-term political angle.

 

D6           Ideal

1              Beauty. The Material Plane could be as beautiful as the courts of the fey, if we work to make it so. (Good)
2              Honor. Among the fey, oathbreaking is the root of all sins. My word is my absolute bond. (Lawful)
3              Free Spirit. Today’s beggar is tomorrow’s king. Anything can be granted or taken away at a moment’s notice. (Chaotic)
4              Pride. No one will ever respect me if I allow slights to go unavenged. (Evil)
5              Aspiration. The fey showed me the nature of power, and I will put those lessons into practice. (Any)
6              People. The fey taught me that high ideals can hide a treacherous nature. Deeds matter more than pretty words. (Neutral)

 

D6           Bond

1              I must go back for someone that I had to leave behind.
2              I need to keep moving – I made enemies, and they’ll settle scores now that I’m no longer protected.
3              I want to learn about the time that passed on the Material Plane, while I was away.
4              I was held long enough that everyone I knew is dead. Now I watch over my descendants.
5              I owe deep debts to my fey liege-lord, and I mean to pay them.
6              I fell madly in love while at court, and I must become worthy of my beloved once more.

 

D6           Flaw

1              I thought my time with the fey would never end, and I did things that I’m ashamed of now.
2              The world revolved around me at court, and I think that it still does.
3              I have a taste for the food and drink of the fey that makes me consider foolish risks.
4              My former liege-lord has leverage over me, and a desire to use it against me.
5              The fey and their desires are more real to me than any mortal could be.
6              I seek to hoard the treasures of the fey, which is sure to draw their ire.

 

d8	Personality Trait
1	A steady stream of flattery was a survival skill at court, and it works well with mortals too.
2	If I’m in shabby clothing or accommodations, I prefer to hide my identity entirely.
3	I am as vindictive as the Queen of Air and Darkness herself, especially with oathbreakers.
4	I tell stories of the fey, because I wish they would take me back.
5	My knowledge of my mortal homeland is charmingly dated, because I was gone so long.
6	I still expect and strongly prefer the finest in food, drink, and entertainment.
7	I think in terms of fairy-tale logic and moral lessons – things really did work like that at court.
8	Everything I do has a long-term political angle.

d6	Ideal
1	Beauty. The Material Plane could be as beautiful as the courts of the fey, if we work to make it so. (Good)
2	Honor. Among the fey, oathbreaking is the root of all sins. My word is my absolute bond. (Lawful)
3	Free Spirit. Today’s beggar is tomorrow’s king. Anything can be granted or taken away at a moment’s notice. (Chaotic)
4	Pride. No one will ever respect me if I allow slights to go unavenged. (Evil)
5	Aspiration. The fey showed me the nature of power, and I will put those lessons into practice. (Any)
6	People. The fey taught me that high ideals can hide a treacherous nature. Deeds matter more than pretty words. (Neutral)

d6	Bond
1	I must go back for someone that I had to leave behind.
2	I need to keep moving – I made enemies, and they’ll settle scores now that I’m no longer protected.
3	I want to learn about the time that passed on the Material Plane, while I was away.
4	I was held long enough that everyone I knew is dead. Now I watch over my descendants.
5	I owe deep debts to my fey liege-lord, and I mean to pay them.
6	I fell madly in love while at court, and I must become worthy of my beloved once more.

d6	Flaw
1	I thought my time with the fey would never end, and I did things that I’m ashamed of now
2	The world revolved around me at court, and I think that it still does.
3	I have a taste for the food and drink of the fey that makes me consider foolish risks.
4	My former liege-lord has leverage over me, and a desire to use it against me.
5	I owe deep debts to my fey liege-lord, and I mean to pay them.
6	I fell madly in love while at court, and I must become worthy of my beloved once more.