Life & Culture

Beliefs daily life and the societies of Realmwood. "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna

Birth & Biology

The Wilderfae species have a unique reproduction style akin to those of certain fungi and plants! They are a genderless species but it often takes two to produce another Wilderfae! 

  • Fig.A
    All adult Wilderfae produce and spread tiny spores from their wings by flying! These spores are invisible to the naked eye, but sometimes these spores may catch the light and can be seen as a trail of sparkles behind a Wilderfae. This is a natural process all members of these species will do, whether they know it or not!

    Fig. B
    These spores will fall upon organic matter and have a chance to grow Faeblooms! These are female flowers that produce Iridiseeds within their blossoms. Sightings of Faeblooms in the wild means Wilderfae are nearby!

  • Fig.C
    An unfertilized Iridiseed will be smooth and pure white. Sometimes they’re eaten in this state by other animals. When a Wilderfae couple are ready to bring another into this world, they each place one hand on the Iridiseed and imbue their own magic into it through a conjuration ritual called Fragmentation.

    Fig.D
    While it is possible for a single Wilderfae to reproduce through Fragmentation, the process requires the transfer of a large portion of one's magic into the seed, which will ultimately weaken the individual. Parents of Wilderfae will have more translucent wings or greying antennae as a side effect of this process. 

    But it is possible to do the ritual multiple times without depleting all of one’s magic into their offspring. Having a partner definitely helps! The Iridiseed will change color and sport an iridescent sheen once the Fragmentation ritual is complete.


  • Once the Iridiseed is fertilized, it must be planted! The couple can attempt to plant it themselves in their own home, but parents often go to a Gardener to assist with monitoring the growth of their baby. 

    Fig. E
    All Fae Circles have at least one Gardener, a Wilderfae trained and dedicated to caring for young Wilderfae from seedling to the pupa. All fertilized Iridiseeds require different kinds of care. Some seeds prefer dry climates to moist climates, less sunlight to more sunlight, or lots of water or nutrients versus needing very little! The Gardener is equipped with enough resources and tools to help tend to each seed’s needs, but they can also do home visits if couples want to try raising their seedlings themselves.

    Fig.F
    It takes the Iridiseed about a few months to grow into the grub stage. Once you start hearing the sound of crying from within the soil, you can dig out your fully-formed baby grub! 

● 5 major life stages

Lifecycle & Growth

  • Childhood Age 0-10: Grub Stage

    The Grub phase lasts for about 10 years. They often have chubby bodies, short limbs, and enormous appetites. Over time, they grow from being a crawler to standing on two legs.

    It’s during this stage they start learning to talk, read, and form relationships, but their tiny bodies and short limbs can’t really help with Fae Circle duties. 

  • Pre-Teens Age 11-14: Pupa Stage

    When a Grub starts to feel tired, grouchy, and has a lack of an appetite, it may be time to enter the Pupa stage! Parents of a Pupa will often create a comfortable cocoon made of leaves and soft materials before the metamorphosis process begins. When a Grub falls asleep in its cocoon, it is considered a very special day often celebrated as a Pupa Party. It is an intimate celebration held within the family as they wish the Grub a peaceful slumber.

    It’s common to write messages on the cocoon or speak to the Pupa throughout its time sleeping within. Even if it can’t respond, the love and attention from the outside is said to help promote its growth. The average pupating process is about 3 years. When the Wilderfae within starts talking in its sleep it means it’s close to hatching!

  • Teenager Age 15-18: Young Wilderfae

    When a Wilderfae is ready to come out of its cocoon, the community will often hold a party to welcome the Wilderfae into the world! This is often called a Hatching Day, and is considered a coming of age celebration and a second birthday.

    Hatchling Wilderfae will need time to get used to their new bodies and wings. They don’t really learn to fly until a year or two after their Hatching Day. They still need plenty of time to hone their magic to grow their abilities. However, Wilderfae will test their newfound body by taking part in physical and social activities.

  • Adulthood Age 18 and up!


    By this time, Wilderfae would have learned to fly, use their magic, and have found a position within their Fae Circle where they can contribute to their environment.

    While Wilderfae at age 18 are old enough to assist with duties within their Fae Circle, they aren’t typically considered fully-developed until 20 years of age. By then, they would fully come into their magic and can take part in a Fragmentation ritual without harming themselves.

  • Seniors Age 150 and up!

    Wilderfae live to be about 200 years old. After emerging from their cocoons, they start aging very slowly and they end up looking young for a very long time!

    But elderly Wilderfae do exist, and they certainly look old! Most fae over the age of 150 are considered senior citizens and have very aged features like white hairs, wrinkles, and droopy antennae. They also lose the ability to fly at around 180 years. This flightless late stage life of is considered “The Return to Soil” as the Wilderfae prepares for death.

● Programs

Beliefs & Magic

● Beliefs & Magic

Verdemera, the Goddess of Life

  • Verdemera is the Inochean deity who was said to have been a giant humanoid that stood as tall as a mountain and had long flowing hair. She was revered as a goddess of benevolence who promoted growth, good harvest, and healing. The Wilderfae were subjects made by her magic, used to help spread her abilities across a wider scope. She loved them all dearly.

  • Wilderfae modeled their livelihoods after their faith in her. While generally considered the Mother of life, Verdemera was known for taking the form of both a man or a woman. The male form represented the strength of nature, stones, heat, and harshness of weather, while the female form represented the nurturing of nature through wind, water, and growth. Wilderfae would often choose their gender identity based on which form of Verdemera they connected with, or use gender neutral identification if they felt connected to both or neither.

  • She was known to be kind to all creatures and oversaw balance among the continent. However, after The Dread War, she completely vanished. It’s unclear whether she died or simply left this plane. Her remaining Wilderfae subjects grieved her disappearance, and struggled to survive, until they found remnants of her magic across the plane in the form of Arcane Founts. 

Behavior & Customs

Small but formidable

Per the design of Verdermera, Wilderfae are adaptable creatures who alter their appearances depending on the natural environment they reside in. Despite their small statures, they are formidable and possess strong magic within themselves.

A predisposition to fun

It is said that they were beings born from the Goddess’s heart, so they are naturally inclined to seek merriment and excitement in all activities.

Value variety & creativity

A Wilderfae does not enjoy mundanity in their daily life, so most important tasks and chores are made amusing through games and competition. They are lovers of art and beauty and are encouraged to exercise creativity to keep their magic capabilities sharp. 

Naming Conventions

Wilderfae also have unique naming conventions that follow a surname first, given name second format.

  • Surnames are often derived by common elements found in their natural environment or are evocative of magical forces. They would often represent the Wilderfae’s place of residence, occupation, or other notable features that signify their family’s uniqueness.


    Common Surnames:

    Pebble

    Birch

    Mire

    Autumn

    Woodscraft

    Everglade

    Moonbeam

  • Given names are also commonly associated with elements of nature, but can also be a combination of short syllables and sounds. They are often known for having short names ranging from 4-5 letters maximum. While longer names do exist, they are often associated with the Goddess and symbolize the families’ connection to their faith and beliefs. Adding components like “verde” or “mera” to a name can give it a holy meaning, and are common for those who are devoted to the Goddess to bless their young with her protection. 


    Common Given names:

    Lake

    Rosy

    Moth

    Carna

    Verdelin

    Tiamera

    Rai

    Gael

● Magic & Beliefs

A Divide in Faith

Due to Verdemera’s disappearance, Wilderfae have become more divided in their faith in their goddess. Some subsects felt abandoned, hatred, and disdain for being left behind by their god. Others felt lost, and found it in their mission to uncover the mystery of her disappearance through total devotion. Some choose to accept her passing, and carry on her purpose and magic for the sake of honoring her.

These differing attitudes on the goddess have created divides among Wilderfae society. Circles would split off due to beliefs and motivations. Very rarely, they will even clash with other Wilderfae.  

● 5 Major Life Stages

Arcane Founts

Arcane Founts are circular runes engraved onto the earth that were said to have been made by Verdemera centuries ago. These used to be active, magical waypoints that provided healing and rejuvenation if one were to step within the circle, but now their magical abilities lie dormant due to Verdemera’s absence. 

  • Active Fount

    An Active Fount awakened by Wilderfae will harness flame shining from within the runic circle into a lantern made of roots. The roots spread across the entire forest and provide the environment with life and magic as its beating heart.

    Despite Verdermer’s absence, some of these Arcane Founts still thrive thanks to her children, the Wilderfae. The fae care for these fonts across the land and harness their energy to rebuild and rejuvenate the earth she left behind.

  • Dormant Fount

    A dormant font will have a flame flickering from within the runic circle, but it will remain stationary and not spread.

    This bright flame can be seen from a distance and cannot go out.

  • Dead Fount

    A dead font will have its flame completely burned out and the light from the runic circle will no longer be glowing.

    A dead font drained of resources will have its rune faded away and the ground turned to tainted soil. Unfortunately, most Arcane Founts across Inoche are like this.

Spawning Ritual

In order for Wilderfae to establish a colony from an Arcane Fount, a fae experienced in higher magic must perform the Spawning Ritual. This conjuration ritual will summon Sporite Towers in a circle around the font and pull the magic from within to wake it from its dormant status. The Wilderfae that conducts this ritual and establishes the colony is considered the leader and will wear an ornate Mushroom Cap to signify their status.

● 5 magical abilities

Magic & Abilities

Common Magical Abilities

All Wilderfae possess inherent magic abilities that can be honed to perfection. The following abilities are able to be depicted freely in your artwork and stories:

  • Flight

    COMMON

    No matter the size of the wings, Wilderfae can fly up to 25 ft off the ground. However, flying at high speeds takes great practice and wing care. 

  • Telepathy

    COMMON

    Wilderfae can telepathically communicate to each other with their antennae. When someone is trying to talk to you telepathically, it feels like a subtle ringing in the back of your mind. You can choose to ignore it though if you’d rather be alone with your thoughts.

  • Camouflage

    COMMON

    Wilderfae can manipulate light and blend into their surroundings for a short period of time, it’s not full invisibility, and can take a great amount of concentration. It feels like holding your breath to a Wilderfae, and eventually they’ll need to stop to breathe again.

Advanced Magical Abilities

More advanced abilities for Wilderfae magic do exist and are still being discovered! The following skills are meant for experienced magic users and should be depicted by your Wilderfae sparingly.

  • Conjuration Rituals

    ADVANCED

    This is an advanced level of magic which takes time, preparation, and concentration. Use this magic to summon creatures, elements, or illusions. Wilderfae typically need to practice before successfully conducting a conjuration ritual, but archives of scrolls that teach this magic do exist!

  • Plant & Animal Speak

    ADVANCED

    Wilderfae are typically able to translate the thoughts, feelings, or energies emitted from plants and animals using their antennae. It takes practice to understand and rarely do they ever form full, complete sentences.

Government & Societies

Wilderfae have a very democratic government made up of the Faction Leaders that oversee every aspect of the Realmwood Forest and the Sporeguard, the elected leader of the Wilderfae colony and overseer of Sporites. Here, we will go over these roles.

● The Founder

The Sporegaurd

The Wilderfae who first conducts the ritual to summon the Sporite Towers around the Arcane Fount is known as the Sporeguard. They are often elected among their group of Wilderfae and share a special psychic connection with the environment they help cultivate. Qualities of a Sporeguard often include being perceptive, kind, courageous, and humble. 

The Sporeguard is often identifiable by wearing an ornate mushroom cap upon their heads. This cap also prevents any Wilderfae from communicating with them through telepathy. The Sporeguard also has the honor to name the circle after conducting the ritual.

While the Sporeguard may take a leadership role among their Fae Circle, many decisions are made democratically as a community. The Realmwood Circle’s Sporeguard is Holly Flandres, often addressed as just Sporeguard Flandres. 


● Overseers of the Circle

Faction Leaders

The three factions of the Realmwood Forest are run by a group of nine leaders, each representing one of the many vocations within the factions.

Together, they report their findings directly to the Sporeguard and democratically discuss and vote upon rulings of the forest.

Customs & Festivals

As a species who loves fun, games, and stimulating activities, Wilderfae have a number of customs and festivals. Life is celebrated and seasons are enjoyed to the fullest. 

  • Pupa Parties

    These are momentous parties often held by a Wilderfae’s close family and friends when they are about to enter metamorphosis and slumber in their pupa. After a grand feast with games and music, the grub then goes to sleep in their crafted pupa with cozy gifts and offerings from their loved ones.

  • Hatching Days

    The second birthday for a Wilderfae is the day they emerged from their pupa as a fully grown Wilderfae! This day is a quiet, more intimate celebration as the Wilderfae gets accustomed to their new form and catch up with their family.