The World

More information than you probably wanted… not required reading.

• Many Hy-Brasil fae look part animal, regardless of the kind of fairy born. This trait is unique to Hy-Brasil and is a result of integrating with the nature and energy of the isle itself. This is a rite of passage called becoming animalic. Not all Hy-Brasil fae are animalic, but those that have not yet developed animalicy are perceived as less magical.

• How a fae comes to their animal is part nature and part nurture; while two parents having the same animal increases the odds of their child also exhibiting that animal, it is not for certain. A child has been known to develop an animal outside of their genetics. The animalics of Hy-Brasil are not the ‘greater’ — e.g., wolves, tigers — but the ‘lesser’, like hounds and cats.

• The first animalics to settle Hy-Brasil were the rabbits, which is why Rabbit is the First of the Seven Crests. Anyone within a Crest is a noble and can claim title of Lord or Lady. Any rabbit-fairy, for example, is automatically a member of the Rabbit Crest. Notably, Rabbit does not include hares, which has caused contention.

• The Second Crest is the Hound; Cat the Third; Horse the Fourth; Deer the Fifth; Cattle the Sixth; and Fox the Seventh. The leader of a Crest is called the Herald, who is elected by its members. The group of Heralds is called a Cadency and their speaker, elected by and from the Heralds, is the Foreherald.

• All fae of every kind on the isle, including those grouped otherwise, are called the Gentry or the “fair folk.” All Hy-Brasilic fae have a familial surname ending in -ling. The surname can be from any parent. Hy-Brasil’s sacred flower is the heather plant and ling is another name for the same plant, so it shows connection to Hy-Brasil specifically.

• Every fairy on the isle chooses their Court when they come of age, either Seelie or Unseelie. There are four villages, or Chambers, on the isle: Calluna Hill and Mistian Hill, which are favored by the Seelie, and Calluna Mound and Mistian Mound, favored by the Unseelie. There are, of course, other places to live on the isle; these are just the most populous.

• Those fae who like to live in groups are called trooping fairies; those who live on their own and lead more independent lives are called solitary fairies. There is no stigma attached to either, it is simply up to the discretion and decision of that particular fairy.

• Hy-Brasil is ruled by deific Seasons who, in turn, choose their respective Scions from among the Gentry. Once a Season chooses, there is no refusal. The ritual becoming of a Scion requires a bonding magic that can’t be undone: being a Scion is an honor and a duty until death. Their belonging is expressed symbolically by a collar around each one’s neck.

• The Scions are also called kings or queens. The four rule the isle jointly and cooperatively. In the event of a need for tie-breaking, the Scion whose Season it currently is must wait seven days in contemplation before casting their tie-breaking vote. Winter is from the Winter Solstice through the Spring Equinox; Spring from then until the Summer Solstice, and so forth.

• Hy-Brasil holy days are feasts, each on the Equinox or Solstice when the power of the Seasons moves. They are named Evaire (Winter, Rebirth), Kirsy (Spring, Mirth), Moress (Summer, Growth), and Druath (Autumn, Death). Each has a ritual and traditional foods linked to the meaning of the word.

• Winter Solstice starts Hy-Brasil’s new year, as this begins the return of the light. The Seasons who have the light increasing—Winter and Spring—align Seelie and choose Seelie Scions, while those whose time increases shadow—Summer and Autumn—align Unseelie. More on the Courts can be found here.

• The Scions choose bodyguards that undergo the Seven Trials of Knighthood. Their Knights can be dismissed and a new trial held as the Scion wishes. Their Knights serve as Captains of their Seasonal guards. The Scions and their Knights reside in Castle Atria, which is the governmental palace as well as educational higher level magic school.

• The first to help the Scions were those who cared for the Castle itself: cleaning, cooking, and so forth. It is the beating heart of the isle, thus its name. Those who take care of the Castle are called Acolytes. They have different skills and talents, but their unified group is called a Coronary, and they are organized by and spoken for by the Foreacolyte, whom they elect.

• The next to help the Scions were those who called themselves Witnesses: they were librarians, historians, scribes, recordkeepers, and wise among the fae of the isle. They aimed not to make decisions, but to be resources to the Scions. Chief among them is called the Forewitness, appointed by the Scions from among 3 elected by all Witnesses.

• Over time, those who excelled were appointed by the Scions as assistants and mentors: a Winter Witness, a Summer Witness, and so forth. Each of the Seasonal Witnesses has secret records that only their Scion and the Forewitness know. When a Scion is new, they help teach rites and traditions; after the Scion is in their full power, they are an assistant and trusted confidant.

• As the Gentry increased in prosperity and population, the Castle grew from governance to include education. Any fairy who sets foot on the isle can be educated at Castle Atria, if they choose, and many do, as the Witnesses who work as faculty are renowned for rare and esoteric magics as well as those more well-known and expected. All Witnesses as a group are called a Corollary.

• Each Chamber village has an elected Chamberlain, who arranges audience sessions with that Chamber’s Scion. Calluna Hill for the Winter Scion, Mistian Hill for the Spring Scion, Calluna Mound for the Summer Scion, and Mistian Mound for the Autumn Scion. The Foreherald, Foreacolyte, and Forewitness can also arrange meetings with the Scions.

• The border between the human realm and the fae realm is called the Twilight Border. Hy-Brasil fae can make portals of mist, although that magic is fleeting and a portal will hold for only seven minutes. More enduring are mushroom ring portals—however, no one controls the mushrooms. The mycelium simply make rings as they wish, or they don’t.

• Birds are messengers, able to traverse between the Twilight Border as if it isn’t there at all. Fae often use birds to communicate between the human and fae realm. Birds can also be trained to do this without any expenditure of magic, so when some spellcraft is difficult, birds still work. While some birds are more helpful than others, all are technically capable.

• In addition to the heather as the national symbol of Hy-Brasil, the hawthorn is Hy-Brasil’s sacred tree. Lavender is a trademark of Hy-Brasilic culinary culture. Hy-Brasil does observe the seven-pointed fairy star among its symbols.