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The Feywild, also known as the Plane of Faerie, stands as one of Dungeons & Dragons' most captivating and mysterious realms. As a parallel dimension to the Material Plane, this enchanted realm pulses with wild magic, unbridled emotion, and the whimsical yet dangerous nature of the Fey. 

Origins 

According to established lore, the Feywild originated through the actions of ancient Primordials. Titan-like gods with dominion over raw magical forces. During the formation of the multiverse, these entities took issue with certain aspects of creation and thought it best to separate the planes so that one would not be overwhelmed by the brightness and vividity of the other. Enter the Feywild. Created as an echo realm, the Feywild shares similar geography and topography with the Material Plane, while maintaining its own magical distinctiveness.

The Feywild emerged as a unified concept in D&D's 4th Edition, combining elements from earlier planes, including Arborea (specifically its layer Arvandor) and the original Plane of Faerie. Arborea resides in the Upper Planes and is composed of three smaller planes, one of which is the Forests of Arvandor. The Plane of Faerie is a homeworld to half-celestials and half-fiends, acting as a realm that exists in contrast to the Material Plane. In 4e, WotC combined these concepts to create the vibrant, emotionally charged realm that is the Feywild as we know it today. 

Geography and Topographical Characteristics

The Mirrored Landscape

The Feywild's geography mirrors that of the Material Plane, but with profound differences. Where cities might sprawl across the Material Plane, the Feywild features small collections of huts or seasonal clearings. The landscape prioritizes wild, untamed nature over civilization.

Key geographical features include vast, primordial forests with trees hundreds of feet tall, crystal-clear lakes reflecting the twilight skies, rolling hills covered in grass taller than most humanoids, and mountain ranges that sparkle with gems and precious stones.

Perpetual Twilight

The Feywild exists in a state of eternal twilight, bathed in the soft light of either a setting or rising sun. This haunting illumination creates an atmosphere where lanterns and fireflies provide additional ghostly lights, contributing to the plane's otherworldly ambiance.

The Feydark

Beneath the magical forests lies the Feydark, the Feywild's equivalent to the Material Plane's Underdark. While just as dangerous, this subterranean realm is more colorful and majestic than its Material counterpart. Including multicolored mushrooms that provide bioluminescent lighting and caverns lit by precious gems.

The most powerful Feydark realm is Mag Turea, ruled by the Fomorian King Bres.

The Courts of the Feywild

The Feywild's political landscape revolves around two primary courts representing the eternal conflict between opposing forces of nature. In particular, the Seelie and Unseelie Courts, which are vestiges remaining from the Feywild's progenitor, the Plane of Faeire.

The Seelie Court (Summer Court)

Led by Queen Titania, the Seelie Court represents the traditionally benevolent aspects of Fey nature. Titania, known as the Summer Queen, appears as an Eladrin of immense beauty with honey-colored skin and hair that shimmers with autumn colors. 

Her court includes:

• King Oberon - Titania's consort and co-ruler
• Damh - Patron of satyrs, korreds, and atomies
• Eachthighern - Patron of unicorns and pegasi
• Squelaiche - The court jester and patron of leprechauns
• Verenestra - Patron of nymphs, dryads, and daughter of Titania

The Seelie Court operates from magnificent locations such as Senaliesse, a city cradled within massive forest branches, and the Emerald Forest, where summer never ends.

The Unseelie Court (Winter Court/Gloaming Court)

Opposing the Seelie Court stands the Queen of Air and Darkness, ruler of the Unseelie Court. Once a sister to Titania, she was corrupted by a malevolent Black Diamond that transformed her essence and drove her to create her own shadowy realm.

The Unseelie Court welcomes creatures with Fey blood regardless of their appearance or nature, creating a more inclusive but darker hierarchy. Unlike the Seelie Court's emphasis on beauty and light, the Unseelie Court thrives on secrets, shadows, and the pursuit of power.

Fundamental Laws and Magic

Fey Laws

All inhabitants of the Feywild must adhere to ancient, unbreakable laws that govern fey behavior. Some of the language available in many of the resources involving the Feywild can be conflicting, but the gist is that citizens of the Fey should act with great honor. Lying, unpaid debts, inhospitality, and thievery are all greatly frowned upon, if not outright illegal. Naturally, these expectations differ from court to court. Where the Seelie Court values etiquette, manners, and composure, the Unseelie Court values instinct and intuition for the natural world.

Emotional Resonance

The Feywild responds directly to unfettered emotion. Flowers turn and tremble during heated arguments, malicious thoughts cause footprints to wither grass, and joyful feelings make birds chirp merrily. This emotional sensitivity makes the plane highly reactive to visitors' mental states.

Time Distortion

One of the Feywild's most dangerous aspects is its unpredictable relationship with time. Time flows differently between the Feywild and the Material Plane. It's not uncommon for adventurers travelling to the Feywild to learn upon return that they'd lost significant time in the Material Plane. A day in the Feywild might equal a week in the Material Plane, but time ratios vary drastically by location and circumstance. The Fey relationship with time is unlike that of the Material Plane, where it can be relied upon to persist at the same rate it always does. In the Feywild, time can distort drastically from moment to moment, sometimes moving faster and other times moving slower.

Notable Locations and Landmarks

Settlements

Astrazalian - Known as the City of Starlight, this eladrin settlement operates under the governance of Lady Shandria, who serves as regent and is the niece of Titania, the Summer Queen.

Cendriane - This ancient metropolitan center fell under the control of Lord Kannoth, an eladrin vampire who seized power and now rules the once-prosperous city.

Evermeet - The cultural epicenter of elven civilization on Faerûn was relocated to the Feywild, where it remained for more than a century following the catastrophic magical event known as the Spellplague.

Mithrendain - Designated as the Autumn City, this Feywild settlement was strategically constructed above a dangerous passage that provides access to the shadowy realm of the Feydark.

Shinaelestra - This ranger stronghold, referred to as the Fading City, exists in a state of dimensional flux, shifting between the Feywild and the Howling Forest located on the world of Nerath.

Domains of Delight

Domains of Delight serve as sequestered realms governed by powerful archfey, similar to how Domains of Dread function in the Shadowfell. These domains reflect their ruler's emotional state and personality, ranging from bright and cheery to gloomy and foreboding.

Notable Domains:

Prismeer - Featured in The Wild Beyond the Witchlight fractured into three realms (Hither, Thither, and Yon).

Sildëyuir - Former demiplane of the star elves, now integrated into the Feywild.

Archfey and Lesser Lords

Numerous archfey govern smaller domains, making their mark on the Feywild. 

• Oran the Green Lord - Ruler of verdant forest domains, associated with the Spring Court
• Elias and Siobhan - Twin sea lords governing oceanic fey territories
• Nathair Sgiathach - Patron of faerie dragons and pseudodragons

Inhabitants and Creatures

The Feywild teems with magical beings closely tied to nature's forces:

Common Fey Types:

• Pixies - Tiny, mischievous creatures that remain invisible while attacking
• Satyrs - Goat-legged humanoids who prank and charm others
• Dryads - Tree spirits bound to specific groves and forests
• Sprites - Winged Fey with potent magical abilities
• Eladrin - High elves native to the Feywild with the ability to feystep.

Dangerous Inhabitants:

• Fomorians - Twisted fey echoes of titans ruling the Feydark
• Hags - Powerful spellcasters dwelling in dark corners of the realm
• Displacer Beasts - Predatory creatures used as hunters by the Unseelie Court

Travel and Access

Crossing Between Planes

Travel between the Material Plane and Feywild occurs through various methods:

Fairy Gates - Permanent or temporary portals that open at specific times (dusk, dawn, midnight, midday) or seasons (midsummer, equinoxes).

Fey Crossings - Areas where the planes blend, making it impossible to distinguish which realm you'll exit into.

Planar Paths - Direct routes allowing travel between planes, though these require specific knowledge.

Natural Phenomena - Mushroom rings, healing springs, glowing fungi, or whirlpools can serve as spontaneous crossing points.

Further Resources on the Feywild

If you'd like to explore the Feywild realm further, there are tons of resources out there to check out. From supplemental materials to adventure modules, the Feywild has plenty of official (and unofficial) materials to pull from. 

The Wild Beyond the Witchlight (Adventure Module): A 5th Edition campaign that provides an immersive look at the Domains of Delight within the Feywild, featuring rich roleplaying opportunities and iconic Feywild themes. 

Domains of Delight (Sourcebook): This accessory expands on the Feywild's various domains, archfey rulers, and provides new lore, NPCs, and encounter ideas for Dungeon Masters.

Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (2018): Contains expanded lore on the Feywild, including the eladrin, archfey, and essential conflicts like the Feywild's relationship with other planes.

Unearthed Arcana: Folk of the Feywild (Wizards of the Coast Playtest): This PDF contains playtest material expanding on fey races and mechanics

The Feywild stands as one of D&D's most richly developed alternate planes, offering endless possibilities for adventure, political intrigue, and encounters with the sublime and terrifying aspects of untamed magic. Its emphasis on emotion, ancient laws, and the consequences of bargains creates a realm where every interaction carries weight and every decision echoes through the twilight forests of this most enchanting dimension.