07 - Shades of Fey
07 - Shades of Fey
SHADES OF FEY
This batch of iconic campaign plotlines, monster stats, and player the only icon closely associated with the fey. You could use these
character options comes to you courtesy of the fey, shadowy connections as surprise plot elements for factions of the fey or use
travelers with ambiguous magic. an iconic association as the standard for all fey in your campaign.
Who Are These Fey? distinguishes between traditional
definitions and our use of the term, which mainly excludes the elves.
Iconic Options offers ten storyline options for integrating
A Fine Line
the magical fey into the world of the Dragon Empire’s icons. It’s of Naming
obviously useful for GMs but it might also work for players who
want their characters to draw on unusual backstories that the Names are important, so we avoided using most of the
archetypes wouldn’t predict. overtly Celtic language and terminology in these notes
Fey by Many Names is a slice of a bestiary. The monster for the Dragon Empire. With the nameplates filed
entries come with a unique complication, since certain fey off, you don’t have to think of all the original source
archetypes have multiple expressions each with its own name, material unless you want to.
appearance, personality traits, and power variants. If you’re playing in mythic Europe or a Dragon
The Faun is another option for players, specifically players Empire or world of your own creation that has no
who want to play someone who looks something like the problem using the original Celtic terms, feel free to use
Crusader-archer on the cover of this issue. We wouldn’t say the traditional names like the Aos Sí, the Seelie Courts,
faun is fey, precisely. More like a midpoint between the world of and so on.
the fey and the world of the elves.
THESE FEY?
they started “life” as magical spells rather than as normal people
like humans and elves. They might have been created as part of
the Archmage’s attempt to stabilize the world after overthrowing
Traditionally, the word “fey” can be used to describe elves as well the Wizard King. In this case, not all the magic that matters takes
as a number of other sprites, spirits, pixies, and brownies. For place in Horizon! The Archmage may be atypically indulgent
the most part, we’re using a narrower definition, because we’re of fey whims, excesses, and occasional rampages. Why isn’t the
happy with our three flavors of elves, their affiliation with the Elf Archmage more concerned with the trail of carnage left behind
Queen, and their tangled histories with orcs and dwarves. by a run of great hounds and malicious sprites? Because they’re
The shades of fey we’re focusing on in this article include part of the grand solution and the damage they’re causing is not
mostly non-elven magical creatures associated with faery. If worse than the alternatives.
you want to give your campaign world a big shake, you could Alternatively, these fey could be free-roaming fragments of
reinterpret elves along these lines; we’re not. failing wards. The Archmage isn’t exactly hostile to them, but
On the other hand, there is a standard 13th Age race that their increased presence in the 13th age is one more sign that
might accept a gentle push toward the fey. Given how little we wizardry is not holding the line.
have done with gnomes in published 13th Age materials, it might
be fun to apply some of the iconic campaign options appearing
below to illusion-loving gnomes. Or tell your players you’re going
Left Hand
to. But really don’t. Tricksy! of the Dark Gods
Most of the heroic icons and great powers of the Dragon Empire
ICONIC OPTIONS accept the Crusader as the lesser of two evils. The Crusader plays
along with that mindset because he knows that not all conquests
are achieved by force . . . and he has some unlikely allies.
Fey are traditionally associated with elves, the world of Faery,
In this storyline, the nastier fey are part of the Crusader’s
and the Elven Court. In the Dragon Empire, the Elf Queen is the
long-term strategy. He has plenty of frontline warriors. The fey
icon who stands for all things elven. If you want to stick with
are shadowy allies working to weaken the institutions that could
the style of archetypal thinking that generated our icons, use the
resist the darks gods once the Diabolist and her demons have
Aristocrats from Another World notes a few paragraphs below to
been taken care of. It’s an open question whether the Crusader
associate your fey, whoever they are, to the queen of the elves.
won these allies himself or whether they have been inherited via
But in a world where elves aren’t exactly unified, who says
unwise pacts between fey bargaining for power and gods that
the tricksy fey have to be? The nine other icon associations below
can’t be trusted to bargain fair.
serve as starting points for plotlines in which the Elf Queen is not
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If you’re using this storyline in your campaign, interpret demons, and they change from helpful and insightful to horrid
affected fey in as harsh a light as possible. They’re hugely evil, and deadly with no notice.
but patient. They don’t need to indulge themselves in the types Even if you don’t use this idea for all it’s worth, how could
of petty cruelties that might reveal the grand scheme too early. you resist enlisting a few pixie knights in the quest to restore the
Golden Citadel?
Leveraged Dynasties
Hellholes corrupt the land, and the Abyss holds the focus of
Elemental Expressions
the Great Gold Wyrm, but the Diabolist was not the demonic of the Land
horde’s first attempt to project influence in the Dragon Empire.
Natural spirits have always been here and always will be. Their
Ages ago, demonic pacts turned entire bloodlines into powerful
forms are many and their minds are as fluid as the winds. The
beings of magic and madness. These dynasties may now view the
old ways are returning to these lands, and these creatures are
Diabolist as the herald of their ascendance, or they might think
among the first to return, often in the lands closest to the Koru
of her as a usurper, an overly public wielder of demonic power.
migration path.
These demonic dynasties stay hidden, upholding their
Nature cares little for mortal plans, and even the mightiest
agreements with infernal lords and passing their knowledge down
tower will crumble with time. These creatures are just more
to their children. “Eccentric” and “reclusive” are the adjectives
direct about it. Apparently, the High Druid agrees.
often used to describe these wealthy families by outsiders.
Occasional suspicions of demonic influence come to naught,
because while these families aren’t precisely human, they’re not Eternal Life, at a Price
demons either. Yes, they’re fey, and the illusions that cloak them
Remnants of the Lich King’s servants in ages past await the
in the human world aren’t evil, per se, so they’ve managed to stay
reclamation of his Empire, protecting sources of ancient power
hidden through the centuries.
from those who would trespass. Masters of illusion, they appear
Of course, player characters tend to trample through circles
as normal people or even function as beneficial spirits until it’s
of secrecy, so if these dynasties enter your campaign, they’re
time to rise in the service of their true king.
probably going to be earning some new adjectives!
If you take this approach, the fey often manifest as ghosts
before they take physical form. Slain once, they may well return
Aristocrats from for a rematch.
Another World
The fey may not entirely look like it when they’ve translated into
Sinister Reflections
this world, but they’re actually the immortal rulers of a verdant of Savagery
realm that mirrors the mortal world. Time flows in odd cycles for
Odds are that at least one of the PCs is aware that the elves
these fey, they can’t quite see the world as mortals see it, and in
created the first Orc Lord. If you want to tie some fey to the Orc
this case, the elves are the most relevant mortals.
Lord, complicate his origin story. The Orc Lord was the terrible
These Faerie courts claim they seldom interfere in the
physical result of the elven magic; these fey were the spiritual
affairs of their mortal kin; history begs to differ. Allegedly, the
result of the rituals. Unlike the Orc Lord, the savage fey possessed
Elf Queen is descended from refugees, exiles, and adventurous
magic power and mercurial intelligence—they hid in the shadow
types that left the courts behind aeons ago.
of the great orc and have lain dormant in the generations and
Visitors from the Spring Court are flighty, easily distracted,
centuries of the Orc Lord’s disappearance.
and especially close to nature. Courtiers of the Summer Court
But with the return of the Orc Lord, these savage changelings
are strong in magic and the most receptive to assisting mortals.
are gaining strength. While the Orc Lord musters hordes, the
The Autumn Court distrusts the shorter-lived races and seems to
savage fey tear communities apart from the inside. They’ve been
take delight in driving home their mortality. The most dangerous
successful while they’ve remained mostly hidden, but increasing
are those beholden to the Winter Court, because what’s pleasure
power is going to blow their cover. Now that they’re fully awake,
for them feels like pain and despair to everyone else.
the savage fey are probably too bloodthirsty to stay hidden for long.
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shades of fey
MANY NAMES
which name it has taken.
Brownie: When the rascal rolls a natural even hit with its small
tool attack, one nearby ally can roll a save.
The fey bear many faces and many names. There could be room Boggart: The rascal deals additional damage equal to the
for an entire book of fey creatures, or at least a substantial portion escalation die with its small tool attack.
of a bestiary! We don’t have a full book, so to maximize the Gremlin: When the rascal gets a natural even roll with its small
utility of this section of text, and because we have spotted some tool attack, the target takes a –2 penalty to AC if it’s wearing
archetypes beneath ever-shifting fey illusions, we’ve added a new heavy armor (save ends; non-cumulative but it does apply to
mechanic to several of the monsters that follow—power of a name. that attack).
Creatures with this ability have differing effects that depend
on which name they are using. Names are both fluid and eternal—
AC 18
you’re meant to make the most of their possibilities. Clever fey
PD 14 HP 11 (mook)
might masquerade as another form to throw off heroes who think
MD 17
they know the score. For example, a banshee may cast a glamour Mook: Kill one rascal mook for every 11 damage you deal to the mob.
spell upon herself and pretend to be a siren tied to another icon.
When a certain trigger is met, or deception is no longer needed, What You’ll Find in their Lairs
she will revert to her base form and powers. Brownies will have hobnails and thread in their pouches. Boggarts
You’ll see that some of the names invoked by creatures with hoard trinkets taken from fallen travelers. Gremlins always take a
the Power of a name ability have been used elsewhere, or are trophy from their work, usually a crucial bolt or pin.
going to be used again in products appearing soon. There’s more
than one way to skin a pixie. . . . Adventure Hooks
Demonic Sappers—As the Crusader’s army assaults a hellhole,
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shades of fey
Initiative +10
Tiny winged humanoids that punch far above their weight.
Savage bite +13 vs. AC—40 damage
Sprites tend to be effervescent and bubbly. Many are natural
pacifists, preferring to put their attackers to sleep and restrain Overbear +13 vs. PD—32 damage
them for everyone’s safety. In game mechanic terms, this may Natural 16+: The target is stuck and can’t make ranged attacks
mean their psychic damage is drowsiness and being dropped to 0 (save ends).
hp means you’ve fallen asleep.
Power of a name: This creature gains different abilities based on
But some sprite laughter is cruel. Sprites’ darkest
which name it has taken.
incarnations are as malicious pranksters who delight in toying
Barghest: When the hound scores a critical hit with its savage
with their victims until madness or death takes them. Unless
bite attack, it heals 20 hp.
you’re a supremely good judge of character, you’re not likely to
Grim: When the hound hits with its savage bite attack, the
know which type of sprite you’re dealing with until they hand
target is also vulnerable (save ends).
you a fresh strawberry or feed you a knife. (Watch out for knives
Warg: When the hound rolls a natural even miss with its savage
concealed in strawberries.)
bite attack, the target takes half damage and the warg’s rider,
4th level caster [HUMANOID] if any, takes the other half. In addition, a creature riding the
Initiative +11 hound deals only half damage with natural even misses with
melee attacks.
Tiny knives +9 vs. AC (2 attacks)—7 damage
Nastier Special
R: Whispered song +9 vs. MD (one nearby enemy)—14 psychic
damage Dire Feature: Add a dire feature. Roll a d6.
1: Armor plates—Add +2 to the dire animal’s AC, and add
Fluttering: The sprite flies, but never too far from the ground.
+1 to its PD.
Power of a name: This creature gains different abilities based on 2: Spiky bits—Whenever an enemy hits the hound with a
which name it has taken. melee attack, deal 10 damage to that attacker.
Pixie: When the sprite scores a critical hit with its whispered 3: Carnage—The hound’s attacks that miss deal 5 damage.
song attack, instead of taking damage, the target falls When staggered, its missed attacks deal 10 damage.
unconscious (save ends). 4: Poison—Savage bite also deals 10 ongoing poison.
Grig: When the sprite rolls a natural odd hit with its whispered 5: Dire regeneration—When the escalation die is even, the
song attack, the target loses its next move action as it begins hound heals 15 hp.
dancing uncontrollably. 6: Fury—While staggered, the hound gains a +2 attack bonus
and deals +4 damage, but at the end of each of its turns it
AC 21 takes 2d6 damage.
PD 15 HP 46
MD 17 AC 18
PD 17 HP 140
Great Hound MD 12
Malice is when it takes out your throat; mockery is when it What You’ll Find in their Dens
pretends to fawn for your touch a moment before. When functioning as a harbinger of death, the grim doesn’t seem
to have anything to call its own, no possessions, no trophies, and
In the shadowlands, terrible dog-like beasts howl omens of death.
no den. Wargs and barghests have bone trinkets and fetishes if
Some bear grim warnings, others carry raiders and reavers, and
they are “domesticated.” Otherwise, they have only remnants of
the most vicious will simply kill you.
their victims.
The grim is the herald of death, a dog the size of a horse with
long ebon fur; its bite prepares the ill-fated for the cull.
Wargs bear savage riders to battle, but their bloodlust makes Cold Iron?
fighting while atop one a dangerous proposition.
The barghest is a beast of pure animal hunger known to Traditionally, iron and “cold iron” are anathema to
consume its fallen enemies. When trained, barghests are effective faeries, but since we’re not dealing with weapon
guard animals as long as you don’t mind dead intruders (and materials in 13th Age, feel free to ignore them here too.
occasionally, dead handlers). If you’re feeling nasty, want to play off the old
faery stories, and want to give specific powerful fey
a powerful nastier special, you could use something
like this: Fey resistance: The fey gains resist weapon
damage 12+ except against iron or cold iron weapons.
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shades of fey
Verdant sword +11 vs. AC—18 damage Scraggly fist +11 vs. AC—15 damage
Natural even hit: The target takes 5 ongoing damage. Limited use: Only usable when the spriggan is at its normal size.
R: Fairy bow +11 vs. AC—18 damage R: Fairy lights +11 vs. MD (1d3 nearby enemies in a group)
—20 damage
Fluttering: The pixie knight flies, but never too far from the ground.
Natural 18+: The target is dazed (save ends).
Dancing mote: The pixie knight can’t be intercepted and doesn’t Limited use: Once per battle, with an additional use for each
provoke opportunity attacks by moving. critical hit scored by the spriggan’s enemies this battle.
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shades of fey
THE FAUN hooves. That’s not necessary in Concord, but walking the other
seven cities won’t be comfortable for long.
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