Fairy Rings
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“Do you hear the voices of nature? See the Fae creatures dancing within the moonlight? If so, tread carefully young one for the realm of the Aspects isn’t a place to get lost within.” -A Forgotten Druid
History
Where the Aspects touched down upon this realm, the sacred grove was created and formed. A natural merge of both the Mortal and Fae Realms where nature in its purest state resided. Various creatures of the Fae, Mani Spirits, and flora lived there and protected the area for centuries until the destructive day would come of the Betrayer and his undead army marching across the ancient forest. Though the elves and druids fought alongside the Aspect’s creations and eventually drove them back, the damage had already been done. The realms were severed from each other as silence would only be heard within the remains of the forest. The druids thought the connection was forever lost and for a time, all hope seemed to fade on restoring the merge to the Fae and Mortal Realms. Until of course, the day would come when a discovery was made. Deep within the forest, a dedicant had lost their way from being sent to gather herbs for a task. The sun would set to cast off the area into a twilight. Fireflies giving off their illuminating glow and seemingly dancing among the flowers and various thick bushes. A slight rustle would then be heard off in the distance. The dedicant curious to the sound and ventured deeper where just behind a tree, a most peculiar sight could be seen. As the sun would fully set upon the moonless night, tiny little winged creatures with various colorations appeared and began to dance and fly about a small ring of mushrooms that was upon the ground. The dedicant’s eyes widen for he remembered the stories his guide told of the once magical Fae creatures that coexisted with the wilds, but rumored to have vanished with the war that occurred so long ago. It was then the mushrooms would give off an illuminating emerald hue before the Fae creatures would seem to have vanished. The dedicant, confused by where these tiny beings went, emerged from behind the tree to move closer towards the fungus upon the ground. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first yet when the dedicant went to step foot inside the fairy ring, he would collapse. Voices immediately filled his mind, the flow of life around him felt within his very being, and the faint specks of light green globes were seen running along the flora around him. The experience so overwhelming, the dedicant would struggle to get out of the ring. The sensations the dedicant discovered took him quite a few moments to catch his breath and focus once more. The tiny, winged creatures seen again as they appeared to laugh at them then disappear. Shocked by what he saw, the dedicant ran back to find his guide and the others to speak of his story. The druids guided back to the location were stunned by what they saw yet were relieved all the same. The Fae Ring it was named after the realm and creatures they loved and cherished.
Description
Fairy or ‘Fae’ Rings are naturally occurring rings of mushrooms that form in areas of pure, natural balance and peace. Most commonly found near or within druidic groves, these fungi begin to slowly sprout in the form of the strange, circular pattern while the area begins to seemingly prep itself for what is known as ‘the merging’. During this time, melodies of nature increase while emerald wisps of pure natural energy appear and float around the ring. Within a split moment, silence would be heard across the area then faint whispers would linger within the ring itself. The flora around it returning to its songs as the Fairy Ring becomes active. During certain times, such as the night of a full moon, the Fae Rings give off a mesmerising effect of emerald wisps floating about it and at times, Fae creatures suddenly appearing to venture within the Mortal Realm. To Fae creatures, these are waygates of sorts to the Fae Realm of the Aspects. Rumors however are spread that some could use the Fairy Rings to travel to the Aspects Realm yet never fully confirmed.
Properties
The effects of the Fae Rings depend upon who steps within them. For a non-attuned druid, as soon as they step within the fungi circle, their senses are instantly overwhelmed. The voices of nature a loud, constant hum within their minds, The ebb and flow of life felt upon their very skin and being, and occasionally tiny emerald specks of light could be seen about along the flora. It is very common for one to feel dizzy, nausea, even pass out from the experience. Some have seen it as a high, illusionary effect and would sit for hours on end wanting to constantly feel it. The effect however they can never truly grasp for only communion works within the confines of the Fairy Ring and even then, the non-druid can only listen, never engage back.
When a druid steps within the Fairy Ring, they feel their very connection within themselves increase. The bond with nature closer and communion easy to achieve. It is common to see a druid mediate within a Fae Ring for hours on end just to grasp and understand how the flow of natural energies work. Yet this by no means remains. Once a druid leaves the confines of the ring, their communion falls to where it was prior. When a druid uses their abilities within a Fairy Ring, it heightens its effects to a varying degree. Much like how a powershare would work yet the effects of exhaustion would still take hold.
Undead, dark, and unnatural beings generally vary on what happens when stepping into a Fae Ring. Those of undead origins such as darkstalkers, wraiths, gravens, ghosts, ghouls, liches, etc would merely feel unease when in the ring. Their past lives that of mortal origin and not something that would take notice truly within the natural world. Those that practice the darker arts or cursed, such as shades, dark shamans, mystics, etc would have the same effects as regular folk that enter if they are still mortal along with an extreme uneasy feeling with the desire to step back out. Shades especially given the chaotic nature of the shade parasite versus perfect harmonic energies from the ring. Unnatural beings that are specifically stated to be against nature or a true imbalancing creation would depending on what it was, feel the presence and hear the angry voices of nature all around them. A massive disorienting effect.
Those casting magics such as voidal or ones that harm nature within the ring would suddenly begin to experience absolute rage and anger of nature all around them, having the songs heard to a deafening degree and/or the feeling of unease increasing to where it is sickening.
Locations and Destruction Effects
The more common location of Fae Rings are within druidic groves yet they can spawn anywhere within the realm providing its a pure, natural area devoid of influence. Places commonly used or walked upon such as pathways, roads, doorways or areas where the ground is generally disturbed, the ring will not spawn there. Given the nature of the Fae Rings and its draw on the natural energies of the area for its creation, no two Fae Rings or more will be seen within the same regional area.
The destruction of a Fae Ring is quite simple. One merely needs to destroy the mushrooms to the Fae Ring for it to be destroyed. Voidal magic, fire, or just stepping on them works just fine. When the mushrooms are destroyed, all of nature around the area would fall completely silent for several minutes. The cries of nature heard to those attuned as if a great lost occurred then nothing. Eventually the melodies slowly return to that location yet the Fae Ring would be no more.
Redlines
-Fairy Rings are naturally occurring and cannot be created by anyone. MC representation of placing isn’t considered ‘creating’ a Fae Ring. -A Fae Ring must be a full ring of mushrooms and have signs stating what it is and what happens when one steps in it. OOC signs are fine to place to reference this lore. -Server rules do apply in regards to the effects of Fae Rings and uses. -Fae Rings cannot be placed in front of doorways, on roads or entrances to places/locations. -Only one Fae Ring can appear (placed) in a region at a time. -Non druids, undead, and dark beings must RP the effects when within the ring. -Casting within a Fae Ring will be rather difficult in terms of focus. Being almost impossible to regular people. To dark beings/undead, it would just be harder given the effects they have. -A druid’s power within a Fae Ring can increase by to a tier (max) yet still would suffer the same effects of exhaustion. This is merely a powersharing effect at the most and will vanish once the druid steps out of the ring. -Using these as a means to get to the Fae Realm is strictly event/lore purposes only. A very rare feat with extreme side effects.
