The Feywild and the Domains of Delight

Take a walk on the Feywild side!

What is the Feywild?

The Feywild exists in parallel to the material plane and is in fact a reflection of the material plane. This means that geographically, the Feywild is very similar to the material plane with topographical features existing in similar locations such as seas and mountains etc.

Of course, the effects of the inhabitants of each plane on the land has been very different, where a city might have been found on the material plane, may just be untamed forests in the Feywild for example. While the land in the Feywild is similar, it is constantly shifting, meaning that mapping out exact locations can be difficult.

The Feywild is a savage, dangerous place filled with raw, primal magic and unfamiliar cultures. Its beauty can often be mistaken for peace and safety, but unwitting adventurers will likely fall prey to the threats that lie hidden within this stunning world. Brimming with impenetrable forests and deceptive creatures, the Feywild should not be underestimated. It is neither a place of good or evil (though both exist there), rather, it is a place best characterised as chaotic neutral.

Rules of Hospitality of the Feywild

The Feywild is governed by different laws and rules than the mortal plane. Civilisation is less established there but 3 rules known as the rules of hospitality are imposed in the Feywild. If not adhered to, then the breaker of these rules can meet with unforeseen consequences. These rules are:

The Rule of Hospitality – “When a friend, an enemy, or a stranger enters your home, you are expected to be gracious and accommodating to them until such time as they prove, by their words or actions, undeserving of such hospitality.“

The Rule of Ownership – “You must not steal from a friend, an enemy, or a stranger. To take something that doesn’t belong to you without the rightful owner’s permission is a crime and an unforgivable breach of etiquette.“

The Rule of Reciprocity – “When a friend, an enemy, or a stranger offers you a gift, you are obliged to accept it and offer something of comparable value (be it a gift or a service) in return. Such reciprocation need not happen immediately.” (Source: The Wild Beyond the Witchlight)

Domains of Delight

Much like the Shadowfell contains Domains of Dread in the Ravenloft setting, the Feywild, as the opposite mirror of the material plane, contains Domains of Delight. These domains are demiplanes; pockets of reality that exist within the Feywild and can be accessed through magical means (though the method depends upon the domain, its ruler and all manner of other possibilities).

Each Domain of Delight is ruled over by an Archfey, a powerful fey being who shapes the domain in his or her image and taste. While there are many Domains of Delight out there, very few have been detailed in official publications, though Wizards of the Coast have detailed how to create Domains of Delight in their DM’s Guild publication Domains of Delight: a Feywild Accessory. The few domains we know about include:

Prismeer

Prismeer is the Domain of Delight detailed in Wild Beyond the Witchlight. It is ruled by Zyblina which is an alias for the powerful archmage (and archfey) Iggwilv, also known as Tasha. Tasha was raised by the powerful witch, Baba Yaga and is also the purported writer of Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything. Her real appearance is that of an old crone, but she often takes on the appearance of a young, dark-haired and attractive woman. Prismeer was later taken over by the Hourglass Coven at which point it was split into 3 regions known as Hither, Thither and Yon each ruled by a different hag.

The Witchlight Carnival

The Witchlight Carnival is a travelling Domain of Delight and a mirror of The Carnival that is a Domain of Dread in the Shadowfell. It is a whimsical place filled with attractions to entertain all from the Big Top performances, to a hall of mirrors to a miniature circus where patrons can shrink to the size of a pixie. The Witchlight Carnival is currently owned by Mister Witch and Mr Light and can be transported wherever (pretty much) they like.

Fablerise

Fablerise is a smaller domain within the domain of Prismeer. It is a forested area ruled by the Archfey, Yarnspinner, a giant spider that loves telling stories.

Gods of the Feywild

The gods of the Feywild can be split into 2 groups; The Seelie and Unseelie Courts (or the Summer and Gloaming Courts). Each was made up of an inner and an outer circle, the inner circle including the more important deities with the outer circle including lesser deities.

The Seelie Court

The Seelie Court is ruled over by Queen Titania along with the other deities of the court that tend to represent the different groups of inhabitants in the Feywilds. The outer circle typically includes deities that either do not pay homage to Titania, or who often spend lots of time away from the Summer Court. Typically, while often mischevious, the Seelie Court tends to rule over the Feywild in goodness.

The Seelie Court is also a divine realm that can move between planes, typically spending time in Arborea, Ysgard and the Beastlands of the Outer Planes.

The members of the Seelie Inner Court include:

• Queen Titania – Leader of the Seelie Court
• King Oberon – Titania’s consort
• Damh – The son of Titania and Oberon and 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 sylphs and daughter of Titania

Members of the Seelie Outer Court include:

• Caoimhin – Patron of the killmoulis
• Emmantiensien – Patron of treants
• Fionnghuala – Patron goddess of the swanmays
• Nathair Sgiathach – Patron of faerie dragons and pseudodragons
• Skerrit – Patron of centaurs

The Unseelie Court

Also known as the Gloaming Court, the Unseelie Court is ruled by the Queen of Air and Darkness and is surrounded by equally evil minded creatures. The Unseelie Court dislikes and opposes the Seelie Court wherever it can and will seek to bring terror down on the Feywild wherever possible. Some of these activities include training and releasing displacer beasts as hunters in the Feywild and organising wild hunts against the inhabitants of the Feywild while riding nightmares.

The Unseelie Court is made up of any fey creature that has a disposition towards evil and is intellectual enough to engage in the hostile matters the Court determines upon.

How do you get to the Feywild?

Because the Feywild and the Material Plane are so closely intertwined, gateways between the 2 worlds can be found in all sorts of hidden places within the 2 realms. Permanent gateways are often carefully guarded by the inhabitants of the Feywild. They’re keen that not just anyone from the Material Plane have unfettered access to the Feywild. To gain access, deals may be struck, royalty might be persuaded, but usually, these gateways are difficult to access.

Because of the wild, unpredictable, magical nature of the Feywild, other, temporary gateways often form. These might last for a day or an hour and might only return years later or only when certain events take place. These gateways are often hidden discreetly in swamps and ruins or might even just be stumbled upon by accident by some unsuspecting individual, possibly with no way to return. Such is the unpredictable nature of the Feywild.

Inhabitants of the Feywild

The Feywild is the original home of elves and fey creatures, many of whom have made their homes in Faerun. Fey creatures include magical beings such as pixies and fairies and are often typified by their small, magical nature.

The Feywild’s inhabitants can be kind or cruel, but usually, they’re very mischevious beings who care little for the concerns of outsiders. Generally, inhabitants form geopolitical groups of either like-minded creatures, or creatures of a similar race, forming loose civilisations.

The most civilised group are known as the eladrin who are the descendants of elves that never left the Feywilds and are themselves, suffused with the land’s magic. The LeShay on the other hand are albino-elves of ancient origins. They’re themselves, immortal and some believe them to be one of the creator races. The Formorians are a cursed, giant race that rule much of the feydark (an echo of Faerun’s underdark) and the denizens there. Many other creatures also inhabit the Feywilds including hags, goblins, boggles, sprites, satyrs and dryads

If you want to have your own adventure in the Feywild, Wild Beyond the Witchlight is a ready made campaign set in the Feywild that you can buy and run.

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