The Sidhe name for their home roughly translates to ‘The Realms Between’. Early scholars believed this was a reference to Zenith and Penumbra, but more enlightened discovery puts their realms at the precipace between reality and oblivion itself. It is said that if one knows the path, one can travel to any place and any time by traversing the landscape of the Realms. Expansive beyond the understanding of mortals, more dangerous than the Nether Realms, the land of the fey is hauntingly alien despite its somewhat familiar appearance.
Landscape – The land of the Fey sprawls out in a manner that confounds anyone accustomed to natural geography. Salty desert seas lie next to frigid tundra. Hills and valleys litter the landscape in a chaotic mess. The peaks of the mountain ranges can alternate between verdant vales and frigid wastelands on a whim. The land becomes somewhat more predictable when in the realms of the Seelie or Unseelie courts, though. The Seelie court lands are bathed in a perpetual midsummer’s day, with sometimes oppressive feat strangling the life out of whatever tries to live there. The Unseelie territory, likewise, is shrouded in an eternal dark winter’s night.
Culture – The fey and other creatures of the Realms Between do not develop and advance as mortal races or even outsiders do. They have existed since ancient times, and will continue to exist long after the worlds of mankind fall to dust. Their ultimate role in the cosmos is uncertain, but it is known that they carry a heavy sense of gravity when it comes to their duties. The last time the fey courts became even passively involved in mortal affairs was the Battle of the Fall, where the Nameless Dark perished. Six Sidhe lords each carry a single letter of the Dark’s truename, and they are as serious as ten-thousand heart attacks about guarding it. Otherwise their roles seem to be limited to the passing of the seasons, the passage of time, and the balance of the natural world (of which mortal races are included).
Access – The barriers to the Realms Between are notably more permeable than most. Spontaneous tears can appear nearly anywhere given the right conditions. Fortunately these portals often only last for a few mere seconds. Some Sidhe Lords are known to keep permanent portals to certain areas of Zenith or Penumbra and a spellcaster with enough moxie can easily plane shift their way into the Realms. There is nothing in particular that prevents travel away from the Realms, but the Sidhe lords are said to immediately know the identity of any foreign interloper into their lands. One does not wander through the Realms Between lightly.
Reception – Mortals traversing to the Realms Between do so at their own risk unless invited by the Courts or a Sidhe Lord (and even so, safety is not assured). Most benign denizens are blithely curious of any mortal interloper, much like how one may view a neighbor’s child playing in their yard. Iron and steel implements are viewed with wariness and contempt, thus most adventurers find themselves unwelcome in a hurry. Bringing Cold Iron into the Realms Between is sure to draw the ire of the nearest Sidhe Lord and their allies. Travelers can earn dispensation to travel through the lands that belong to either court, but these are rarely given without cause.
Laws Concerning the Fey: Due to their immutable nature, the Sidhe must abide by a certain amount of seemingly draconic tenets. These laws, known to many a mortal scholar, are the most potent weapon when dealing with the Sidhe.
- The Sidhe cannot speak untruths to mortals. Many of them speak in vague terms and become annoyed if forced to be specific. Sidhe can lie freely to one another.
- Sidhe are creatures of balance and pacts, any kindness given or received must be repaid in kind.
- Sidhe highly value customs of propriety and respect. Though the customs vary widely depending on the individual, if a mortal knows the proper etiquette for the Sidhe they are dealing with, the Sidhe will afford them similar courtesy.