Fae Magic Overview

Magic System: #Fae
Color: Green/Nature tones
Tag: #Fae

What is Fae Magic?

Fae magic is power drawn from the natural world and the Fey Realm, connecting practitioners to the life force that flows through all living things. Unlike arcane magic (learned through study), divine magic (granted by gods), or infernal magic (accessed through demonic pacts), fae magic is granted through relationships with fey creatures, elemental entities, and natural forces.

Fae magic represents the organic, wild, and untamed aspects of nature. It flows with natural rhythms, responds to the needs of the living world, and connects casters to the fundamental forces of growth, change, and the cycles of life. Fae magic is intuitive rather than intellectual—it requires attunement to natural rhythms and understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things.

Characteristics and Capabilities

Fae magic is defined by its connection to nature and life: - Nature-Based: Fae spells are related to nature, animals, plants, weather, and natural forces - Healing and Growth: Core healing magic, restoration of conditions, and life magic - Transformation: Shapeshifting, Wild Shape, and transformation of forms - Elemental Forces: Control over earth, air, fire, water, and other natural elements - Communication: Speak with animals, plants, and natural entities - Weather Control: Influence weather patterns and natural phenomena - Safest System: Fae magic is the safest to use—no risk of exhaustion, burning, or corruption - Enhancement Relationships: Fae magic enhances divine magic (Fae → Divine) and is enhanced by infernal magic (Infernal → Fae)

Spell Types and Characteristics

Fae spells typically include: - Nature Magic: Spells related to plants, animals, and natural environments - Healing: Core healing spells, restoration of conditions, and life magic - Transformation: Shapeshifting, Wild Shape, and transformation abilities - Elemental Magic: Control over earth, air, fire, water, and natural elements - Weather Control: Spells that influence weather patterns and natural phenomena - Communication: Speak with animals, plants, and natural entities - Protection: Spells that protect natural areas, groves, and wild places

Note: Fae magic does NOT include teleportation-based spells under normal circumstances. The strongest fae (particularly Kitsune) can teleport, but this is not a power they offer to those they have bound.

Visual and Sensory Identification

Fae magic is immediately recognizable by its distinctive appearance: - Color: Green and nature-toned energy, often with organic, flowing patterns - Effects: Organic patterns, plant growth, animal forms, natural phenomena - Sensory: Smell of earth, flowers, or growing things; feeling of life and vitality - Manifestation: Spells appear as natural phenomena—growing plants, flowing water, animal forms, elemental energy

Source of Power

Fae magic draws power from Naiya, the Goddess of Nature—the Elder Goddess who gifted fairy magic to the world upon ascending. Just as Infernal magic comes from Scylith, Fae magic comes from Naiya herself.

Naiya and Fae Magic

Naiya is the Goddess of Nature, sometimes referred to as "the Mother" by the Huntsmen of Shaath. Her being is spread across all nature, making her essence more "diffuse" than the younger gods of the Pantheon. Despite being less able to act independently, she is more powerful than the Pantheon deities.

Naiya is the source of the fae school of magic in the Circle of Interaction. She gifted fairy magic to the world upon ascending, making fae magic flow from the natural world itself, representing Naiya's domain and power.

The Fey Realm and Natural World

Fae magic is granted through relationships with: - Fey Creatures: Fairies, dryads, pixies, sylphs, satyrs, tanuki, and other fey entities - Elemental Entities: Fire, water, air, earth, shadow, light, and plant elementals - Natural Forces: Trees, rivers, mountains, weather patterns, and natural phenomena - Ancestral Spirits: Spirits of deceased ancestors who offer guidance and protection

Different types of fae offer different combinations of spells, spell slots, abilities, and boons. See Magical Patrons/Fae/Fae Beings for complete details on fae types.

Naiya's Children

Naiya has created three generations of children, all female, who are deeply connected to fae magic: - Kitsune: Eldest daughters, created before the Elder War. Spirits of play, passion, and deceit. Primarily found in Sifan's Twilight Forest. - Valkyr (Valkyries): Second attempt, associated with death and judgment. Exist solely on the plane of the dead. - Dryads: Third and final attempt, deeply connected to trees and nature. Nigh-invulnerable and super-strong but amoral.

Dragons and Fae Magic

Green Dragons are the dragons associated with fae magic. When dragons mature to their Colored Stage, they choose one of the four magic systems. Green dragons specialize in fae magic and nature.

It is understood that green dragons could be elevated to a third form if Naiya were so inclined, but Naiya's inattentiveness and her inclination to invest in avatars who are her own children (like dryads, kitsune, and valkyries) make the elevation of a green dragon highly unlikely.

How Spellcasting Works

Fae magic uses traditional D&D 5E spell slots—the only magic system that doesn't use a mana pool. This is because fae magic is not drawn from an internal pool, but granted through relationships with fey and elemental creatures.

Fae Spell Slot System

Core Mechanics: - Relationship-Based: Fae magic comes from pacts and relationships with fey creatures, elemental entities, and natural forces - Daily Grants: Each day, your fey and elemental relationships grant you spell slots - Standard Spell Slots: Use traditional D&D 5E spell slot progression - Supplemental Slots: Relationships grant additional fixed slots based on your Bond Tier - Safest System: Fae magic is the safest to use—no risk of exhaustion, burning, or corruption - No Daily Limit: You can use all granted spell slots without risk (unlike divine or infernal magic)

Fae Spell Slot Progression

All fae casters use the half-caster spell slot progression as the default. This base progression is supplemented by specific bonus slots granted by your Fae patrons as your relationship deepens through Bond Tiers.

Fae Caster Level	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
1st-2nd	3	-	-	-	-
3rd-4th	4	2	-	-	-
5th-6th	4	3	-	-	-
7th-8th	4	3	2	-	-
9th-10th	4	3	3	-	-
11th-12	4	3	3	-	-
13th-14	4	3	3	1	-
15th-16	4	3	3	2	-
17th-18	4	3	3	3	1
19th-20	4	3	3	3	2

Note: This is the base progression. Additional spell slots are gained primarily through your Fae Bond Tiers (see Fae Bond Tiers).

Spellcasting Ability

Wisdom is the spellcasting ability for fae magic. Fae magic requires attunement to natural rhythms and intuition rather than intellectual understanding. Higher Wisdom increases: - Spell save DC (8 + proficiency bonus + Wisdom modifier) - Spell attack modifier (proficiency bonus + Wisdom modifier) - Connection to natural forces and fey entities

Spell Access

All Known Spells Available: Fae casters have access to all spells they know without preparation. No spell preparation is required—all known fae spells are available to cast at any time (subject to spell slot availability).

Spells from Relationships: Each relationship grants access to specific spells from the druid spell list. The stronger the relationship, the more powerful spells granted. Druids know all druid spells of levels they can cast, with relationships providing additional spell slots beyond the base progression.

Building Relationships

Fae casters can form new relationships through: - Extended Interaction: Spending time with fey creatures and natural entities - Protecting Natural Areas: Defending groves, forests, and wild places - Completing Quests: Performing tasks or missions for fey entities - Making Offerings: Gifts, sacrifices, or establishing shrines - Roleplay and Character Development: Demonstrating commitment to nature and the Fey Realm

Stronger relationships grant: - Higher level spell slots - Access to more powerful spells - Additional spell slots per day - Special abilities or boons - Unique magical benefits

Fae Spell Slot Recovery

Spell slots granted by fey relationships recover: - Short Rest: Recover spell slots equal to half your Fae caster level (rounded up) - Long Rest: Recover all spell slots

Fae Mana Pool (Martial Subclasses)

Some martial subclasses gain Fae magic but cannot cast spells. Instead of spell slots, their daily boons from fey relationships are converted into a Fae Mana pool — a single resource that powers class abilities such as Rage-Like Abilities, Bending Techniques, and Mutations. This includes:

Barbarian: Path of the Wild Wrath (1/3 caster progression)
Monk: Way of the Wild Walker (half-caster progression)
Artificer: Biomancer / Mutagenist (half-caster progression)

For full details on conversion formulas, progression tables, and restrictions, see Mana#Fae Mana (Pool).

Magic System Interactions

Fae magic has specific relationships with the other three magic systems according to the Circle of Interaction. See Magic System Interactions for complete details.

Opposite Actions: Fae ↔ Arcane

Fae and Arcane magic are diametrically opposed in the most brutal fashion. When these systems clash, they attempt to snuff each other out violently. - Energy-Based Contests: Victory determined by quantity of raw energy (spell slot level vs. mana cost) - Higher Energy Wins: Compare spell slot levels to mana costs—higher automatically triumphs - Area Effects: Fae-saturated areas (deep wilderness, fey groves, ancient forests) give arcane magic Disadvantage on spell attack rolls and -2 to spell save DCs - Arcane-Enchanted Areas: Wizard towers, magical laboratories, enchanted cities give fae magic Disadvantage on spell attack rolls and -2 to spell save DCs - Modern Impact: Widespread arcane enchantment in Imperial territory makes fairies rarer sightings—fairies avoid arcane-enchanted locations

Circle of Enhancement: Infernal → Fae

Infernal magic reinforces fae magic, and this is one of the only safe ways to use infernal mana. - Fae Enhancement: Fae casters can use Infernal mana to empower fae spells - Safe Conversion: Fae casters do NOT suffer infernal corruption, tolerance checks, or mutations when using infernal mana to enhance fae spells - Unstable Results: Roll on enhancement unstable results table - Special Rule: This is one of the only safe ways to channel infernal power without risk

Circle of Enhancement: Fae → Divine

Fae magic reinforces divine magic, allowing safe conversion of fae spell slots. - Divine Enhancement: Divine casters can use Fae mana (from unused spell slots) to empower divine spells - Reduced Cost: For each fae spell slot level converted, reduce the divine mana cost by 1 (minimum 0) - Benefit: Helps stay within divine daily/instant limits without counting against divine limit

Circle of Interference: Fae → Infernal

Fae magic disrupts infernal magic through one-way interference. - Concentration Checks: Fae magic can force concentration checks to disrupt infernal spells being cast - DC: 10 + fae spell level (minimum DC 10) - On Failure: Infernal spell fails and resource is expended - Gentler: More subtle than opposite actions—no violent explosions

Circle of Interference: Divine → Fae

Divine magic disrupts fae magic through one-way interference. - Concentration Checks: Divine magic can force concentration checks to disrupt fae spells being cast - DC: 10 + divine spell level (minimum DC 10) - On Failure: Fae spell fails and resource is expended - Effective: Particularly effective at breaking down standing fae enchantments

Species That Use Fae Magic

Fae Beings

All fae beings use fae magic naturally, as it flows from their connection to Naiya and the natural world. Different fae types have different levels of fae power and magical abilities: - Kitsune: Eldest daughters of Naiya, powerful fae magic users - Valkyr: Associated with death and judgment, use battle and death magic - Dryads: Deeply connected to trees and nature, powerful nature magic - Pixies: Elemental energy manipulation, flight, mischief magic - Sylphs: Air magic, wind control, weather influence - Satyr: Music magic, charm, nature magic, revelry - Tanuki: Shapeshifting, illusion, trickery, playful magic - Elementals: Elemental magic (fire, water, air, earth, shadow, light, plant) - Ancestral Spirits: Guidance magic, protection, wisdom, death-related magic - Naiads: Water magic, healing, aquatic communication - Sprites: Nature guardianship, plant magic, protection - Giants: Mountain magic, earth manipulation, territorial protection, weather control

Dragons

Green Dragons are the dragons associated with fae magic. When dragons mature to their Colored Stage, they choose one of the four magic systems. Green dragons specialize in fae magic and nature.

Races

While any race can access fae magic through relationships with fey entities, certain races have cultural or natural advantages: - Wood Elves: Deep connection to Fae power sites, eschew arcane magic, long view of vocation - Plains Elves: Rarer, Golden Sea nomads, live in moment, Shamans - Goliath: Fae Affinity trait—advantage on Persuasion with fae, Insight for fae behavior - Humans: Some human cultures (particularly in N'Jendo and other nature-focused regions) have strong connections to fae magic

Classes That Use Fae Magic

Full Casters

Druids - The primary practitioners of fae magic. Druids channel the power of nature through relationships with fey creatures, elemental entities, and natural forces. They use Wisdom as their spellcasting ability and gain spell slots through relationships. Druids know all druid spells of levels they can cast, with relationships providing additional spell slots beyond the base half-caster progression.

Half-Casters

Rangers - Most ranger subclasses use fae magic, forming relationships with specific animal spirits, plant spirits, or natural forces. Rangers use Wisdom as their spellcasting ability and use the half-caster spell slot progression.

Variant Classes

Bards (Some Subclasses) - Bards with certain subclasses (particularly Glamour bards) can use fae magic, forming relationships with fey through music or stories. However, in The Gods Are Bastards setting, most Bards are Divine casters.

Monks (Way of the Astral Self) - Monks who follow the Way of the Astral Self use Fae Mana (not Divine Mana) to power their abilities. They tap into Naiya's domain (the natural world) rather than acting through a divinity. All "Ki" references are changed to "Fae Mana" for this tradition.

Knowledge Skills

Intelligence (Nature)

Primary Use: Understanding Fae magic, natural phenomena, fey creatures, and nature-based magic.

With Detect Magic: - DC 10: Identify that magic is fae in nature - DC 15: Identify the specific fae spell or natural source - DC 20: Determine the fey entity or natural force providing the magic - DC 25: Understand the specific relationship or pact with the fey source - DC 30: Identify subtle nuances, fey modifications, or unique natural manifestations

Special Uses: - Fey Relationship Identification: Can identify which fey entities are involved in a spell - Natural Magic Sources: Understanding how natural forces contribute to fae magic - Safe Infernal Conversion: Can identify when fae magic is safely channeling infernal mana - Relationship Building: Knowledge helps in forming relationships with fey creatures

See Magic Skills for complete details on knowledge skills.

Fae Magic in Society

Fae magic is respected in natural and rural areas, but less common in urban centers: - Wilderness Areas: Deep wilderness, fey groves, ancient forests, natural springs—fae magic is strongest here - Rural Communities: Many rural communities have Shamans or Druids who maintain relationships with local fey entities - Elven Cultures: Wood Elves and Plains Elves have deep connections to fae magic, with many Shamans - Imperial Territory: Widespread arcane enchantment makes fairies rarer sightings in urban areas - Fairy Rarity: Fairies are becoming rarer in areas with widespread arcane enchantment, as arcane and fae magic are diametrically opposed

The prevalence of fae magic is limited by: - Arcane Opposition: Strong arcane enchantment suppresses fae magic - Urban Limitations: Fae magic works best in natural environments - Relationship Requirements: Requires forming and maintaining relationships with fey entities