Fairies of Ghara

     Have you ever wondered why the fairy tales always have two frequent elements, the enchanted forest and an omniscient narrator? Almost no one in Ghara knows this, but it is why it mirrors the fey kings called Royal Ents. When it comes to fairies, all begins and ends with the Royal Ents. The name is because of their power of fairies: they are little more than illusions created by the Royal Ents until they find a source of prana or mana.

      Royal Ents can assume a form in that their many roots spread and manipulate the plants around. Fruits become poisonous or sweet beyond the senses; pheromones mess with the instincts of both small and big animals; roots can grab or whip or even massage; trees uproot themselves, gaining mobility and power. Besides, the entire woods becomes an extension of the senses and magical powers of the respective Ent. This allows it to use its manipulative powers called the Ent Narrative. Someone can then hear and see things that don't exist. But as one starts to believe them, they acquire substance, nourishing their physical form from the prana given by mortals and their feelings. And be careful with your name while you're inside a fey grove. All the magic regarding true naming was based off the Ent Narrative.

      The creatures of countless shapes and looks gaining solidity through one's feelings are what mortals call fairies. They are submissive to the will of the Royal Ent which may make them disappear when it wants. Prevented from living, being born or dying, they must either resignate themselves or discount their fury in intruders. It was this stasis which motivated the ancestors of the genie sultans and elves to escape Numeria, where every square centimeter is covered in vegetation under control of the Royal Ents. There, they're so mighty that even time and space follow the Ent Narrative.

      Royal Ents abhor civilization. Fairies are as diverse as the Ents can imagine, but writing has the power to crystallize the countless options into what's written. The many fey manuscripts written by the feidralin elves are not only informative, but also a way to limit the Ents' powers into creating illusions with known strengths and weaknesses: dryads, green knights, kelpies, pixies etc. Fey agents seek to destroy certain writings so that such limits are undone. The another product of a civilization that Ents hate is iron. Shovels, axes and other tools deforested most of the green carpet which once covered the continent of Sarba. Besides, the blood of the Unimaginables' descendants has a special power: mixed into iron and steel, it creates "cold iron", an enchanted material which causes terrible wounds in fairies. The fey metal "mithral" was created by the Ents so that their agents are well equipped when fighting mortals.

      There was a time when all Sarba was like Numeria, the now dominant mortals condemned to live in refuges and fearful. The Heroic Cycle was when Numeria was reduced to its current territory. Thousands of years have passed, but the Ents and the fairies remember how strong they were. Most of them, centered in Numeria, want to be strong again. They cultivate hates and resentments towards the Unimaginables, the elves, the sultans and even the mortals since then. Their reaction started long ago and may take ages to end, but they have all the time in the world.