I have devoted a lifetime of study to the Fae, and the best I can claim is a rudimentary understanding of how it works. I cannot tell you what created it. I cannot tell you why it exists. After sixty years I know surprisingly little about it, and even now when I Sing I am still filled with awe.
Though my knowledge is incomplete I do understand some of its workings, and I have decided to pass it on in this primer. If you seek understanding of the force that governs our world then please read on. I envy you the journey you are about to begin.
The Eight Aspects
The Fae is broken into eight very distinct types. Each corresponds to a different aspect of our world. There is one for each of the elements: Fire, Air, Water and Earth. There is one to represent each realm: Dream, Spirit, Nature and Void.
Each of these Aspects are a primal force of incredible power. Harnessed singly they enhance the abilities of the user, and allow a degree of control over their corresponding force. For example those touched by Fire are volatile and often violent. If they harness their abilities they can learn to control any open flame.
The Harmonies
As powerful as the aspects are they but a single musical note. Harmonies are the symphony that combines those notes into the music of the Fae. A harmony is the blending of two or more aspects to alter the world around the user. All eight are listed below:
Destruction- Fire, Void
Illusion- Dream, Fire
Binding- Earth, Spirit
Healing- Nature, Water
Divination- Air, Dream
Weather- Air, Nature
Scrying- Water, Spirit
Summoning- Earth, Void
Each harmony is capable of producing powerful effects called Chords. Destruction chords can annihalate scores of men. Healing can close the most greivous wound. Binding can enslave a man’s will.
Singing the Fae
A Chanter invokes a Chord using a process called Singing. This process is always structured, but is not always musical in nature. Some Chanters do sing, but that is one of dozens of method to Sing the Fae. Others hum, play an instrument, or simply speak in the eldritch tongue. The method isn’t nearly as important as the Chanter’s will.
The Fae is a living force, and responds to the strength of the person using it. A weak willed Chanter with an amazing singing voice will produce feeble Chords, while a tone deaf Chanter with a will like iron can produce Chords that will crack the earth or enslave a Dedicated.
The Native Aspect
Those capable of singing the Fae are called Chanters, though some prefer the title Minstrel. Each is born in tune with an aspect, known as their Native Aspect. It is these Native Aspects that give the Circle of Eight its name, which comes from how each relates with the others.
A Chanter may only learn harmonies that involve their Native Aspect. Following our earlier example a Fire Chanter may learn the Destruction or Illusion Harmonies. An Earth Chanter may learn Summoning or Binding.
Because each Harmony is comprised of two Aspects it may be learned by natives of either. In other words since Binding is comprised of Earth and Spirit it may be learned by either an Earth Chanter or a Spirit Chanter.
Learning a Harmony can take years. Mastering it takes decades. For this reason there are very few Chanters who’ve mastered both Harmonies available to their Native Aspect. Those that have wield earth shaking power and are widely feared throughout the world.
An In Depth Look at the Harmonies
Many arguments have sprung up over which Harmony is the most powerful. Most beginning students assume Destruction or Binding to be the pinnacle of the Circle. They couldn’t be more wrong. The truth is that all Harmonies are equal. Each is unrivaled in the sphere it governs.
Destruction is unparalleled if you wish to destroy, but to save life Healing is obviously far more powerful. If you wish to know the future you must turn to Divination. Each of these abilties is a vital part of our world, and none should be underestimated.
Binding
Component Aspects: Spirit, Earth
Binding is the most widely feared Harmony beacause it robs people of their will. Chanters who master it are able to enforce their will on others, forcing them to do whatever they wish. This Harmony was banned during the thousand year reign of the Elentian Empire. Celeste herself forbade its use, and her Battlemages vigorously hunted any unwise enough to defy this ban. After The Fall it became impossible to enforce, and since then Binders have sprung up all over the West.
The most feared Binders are the vampyr offspring of the dreaded Olivanticus. For four centuries he and his children ruled the country of Olivantia. They used their magic to enslave the entire populace, until the Knights of the Dawn led the people in a revolt that ended their foul reign. Whispers say that some of the vampyr survived the purge, and still practice their dark magic from the shadows.
Divination
Component Aspects: Air, Dream
Divination is the art of reading possible futures. It is a dark and muddy path, and even the most skilled Chanter has difficulty pinning down certainty from the mass of probability. This becomes more difficult the further out a Chanter seeks, though prophecies have been created regarding events that will not occur for centuries.
The most prevalent practicioners are Divination are the Eyeless. They Eyeless are monks dedicated to the Steward Zelek, the great seer. They put out their eyes on completion of their training to prevent the present from interfering with their view of the future.
Destruction
Component Aspects: Fire, Void
Destruction is very aptly named. It channels the power of fire and the chaos of the void to create spectacular Chords of annihilation. These forces are difficult to control, and many Chanters have inadvertently caused far more damage than they ever intended with these titanic forces.
The most infamous practicioners of the Harmony of Destruction are the Imperial Battlemages. Twelve centuries of tradition have crafted the ultimate killing machines. The Battlemages are a holdover of the ancient Elentian empire. They train at the Academy of Celeste in the Hasra Imperium, and their name is spoke of in hushed whispers by friend and foe alike.
Healing
Component Aspects: Nature, Water
There is an old Elentian saying that it is harder to create than it is to destroy. The Harmony of Destruction is swift, violent and often very flashy. Yet anyone can kill be it with magic or steel. Only the Harmony of Healing can restore life to the dying, purge disease and cure sickness.
The most famous practicioners of the arts of Healing are the Dedicated of Aelianna. They can be found in every land, of every race and of all ages. Wherever they are found they act to preserve life, and harming them is a crime punishable by death in most nations of the west.
Illusion
Component Aspects: Fire, Dream
Most Harmonies are blatantly obvious when used. Chanters are by nature an ostentatious lot. Most enjoy attention, and are flagrant in their use of magic. Not so those who follow the Harmony of Illusion. Illusion allows them to disguise the true nature of things. They can alter the appearance of their surroundings, change their shape, or perform dazzling displays of magical lights.
The most famous practicioners are the Troubadors of Lukantria. They use their natural charisma and command of Illusion to spread tales across the known world. Kings vie for their attentions, and a Troubador’s visit is always a noteworthy event.
Scrying
Component Aspects: Water, Spirit
Knowledge is power. It can bring wealth. It can save lives. It can prevent catastrophies. The Harmony of Scrying allows its Chanters to see through illusion, over vast distances and through riddles or obsfucations. In short, nothing is hidden from those who wield the Chords of Scrying.
The most famous practicioners are the Cognizant, an order devoted to the Stewardess of Magic and Knowledge. Their services are available to any who can pay, and they can find anything from a lost cat to the most secret name of an arch demon.
Summoning
Component Aspects: Earth, Void
Why fight your battles when you can have others fight them for you? The Harmony of Summoning allows the Chanter to tap into the void and summon forth all manner of creatures. From powerful elementals to souless demons nearly anything can be brought forth. This comes with a price though. Summoning grants a modicum of control over the summoned entity, but it is a constant struggle. Weak willed summoners risk being torn apart by the very minions they brought into creation.
Ironically the vampyr of Olivantia are known for more than just binding. Many are summoners as well, and are infamous for waging war with armies of summoned demons who fight alongside the consumed that they have Bound to their will.
Weather
Component Aspects: Air, Nature
The Harmony of Weather is one of the most feared. Tales of Chanters summoning tornadoes to destroy towns, lighting to smite foes or hail to destroy crops are legendary. Yet Weather also allows for creation. Gentle rains to irrigate crops, snow drifts to stop invading armies or clear skies to speed ocean vessels to safety.
The most famous practicioners of this Harmony are the Shepherds. The Shepherds are Dedicated of Amarigen, the Steward of Nature. They live and work within the farming communities of the West, and are universally loved for their benevolent care. They help crops grow, keep frost from ruining them, bring rain when needed and occasionally call on storms to smite those who would harm their charges.
