The VALUE of Dark Fey

BufoBufo · July 13, 2025, 8:54am

Faerie is a perilous land, and in it are pitfalls for the unwary, and dungeons for the overbold.

-J.R.R Tolkien

This is a mini-campaign for VALUE, dealing with fey politics and rising through the ranks of a court. This game will drop in drop off, meaning that you can join and leave after each session, but I would prefer if you stayed . If you are interested please write me and I put you on the ping/waiting list.

Courts of the Shadow Fey

Strange happenings have been occurring in your city. Shadowy people who disappear, edicts of a strange queen and rumors of an ancient contract. Your city is doomed to fall to the shadow fey, unless you can do something about it. Play the courtly game, gain influence, and shift politics.

Styles

Intrigue
Politics
Social Maneuvering
Faction Play

Social Adventures

You will try to social climb in a society that at first dislikes you
There is much elitism among the shadow fey
The adventure mainly takes place in the palace and the surrounding grounds
Social skills are important but don’t forget combat (dueling) and other skills can be useful
Evil characters are allowed, but must be non-disruptive and party supportive
There is a status mechanic, which allows you more options the more you have.
Some characters won’t speak to you if you have low status.

Length

This will take around 9-10 sessions
The original adventure is quite a sandbox so it might be +/- 1 session
Level range starts at 5- around 14

Setting

This is not in the forgotten realms so a few things will be different
There will be a setting primer underneath
The first sessions will play in the city of Zobra, then we are in the Court of the Queen of Darkness and Magic
Sylvan is a very useful language to have
Fighting is not the main point but can prove useful, there are factions for every class to join.
Charisma is still useful

Caution

There will be heavy plotting in this campaign. if you are looking solving problems through fighting this is not for you
This campaign is about elitism and succeeding in a hostile system against the odds. You might have to work with people you don’t like
However, there is no torture, violence against children, sexual violence etc. If you have other problems with content please write me first.
Because of plot problems it would be best if you don’t play a Peace Cleric, Fiend Warlock, Watcher Paladin.
I will write below if certain subclasses get special things because of their ties to the fey wild.
Fey might behave unkind towards your character depending on status (pranks, mobbing etc). - so caution.

BufoBufo · July 13, 2025, 8:54am

The Shadow Realm

A dark part of the feywild, and home of an unseelie court, called the Court of Shadow. It is a large domain of delight, a sub plane of the feywild. The fey here are darker but still chaotic and tricky. They yearn for excitement in their endless lives and find it in memories.

The realm is surrounded by the Ebon Tides, like waves that swallow much of the land suddenly and reveal other parts. The courts and some towns in the shadow realm are warded with ward stones against these tides and the shadow corruption.

These are connected like islands by the Shadow roads. Magical paths that connect places through the Ebon Tides. Some mages use them to wander quickly from place to place. Opening a road is a mysterious and lost ritual.

Zobra, the Clockwork City

A beautiful steampunk city ruled by the Mayor Andrasius Metel, and his city council. Though recently threatening letters have appeared announcing the rule of a new queen Sarastra. Who that truly is no one knows, and fey take the claims and papers seriously.

BufoBufo · July 13, 2025, 8:55am

Pantheon

The shadow realm has its own deities. If you wish to take one feel free, you might get extra plot stuff. If you want to take another deity not on the list, then the fey will probably not know of it.

Ailuros

Ailuros is the wild and free goddess of moonlit nights and joyous hunting, a force for chaos and the patron of the alseid. With her hounds at her side, her lithe form, and her glowing moonlit arrows, she is sometimes thought of as half-fey herself, a member of the Great Hunt. She is a goddess of excellence and desire, the patron goddess of perfumers, alchemists, and those whose trade is beauty.

Domains: Nature, War, Tempest

Bengtra, the Bear Maiden

Bengta the Bear Maiden is the keeper of healthy communities and the champion who stands against all their threats. She is the ferocious aspect of Lada, the Goddess of Dawn, who takes the form of a radiant bearfolk. The Bear Maiden is much beloved in the Northlands where she is primarily worshipped. In addition to righteous wrath, Bengta presides over dawn, strength, and of course honey.

Domains: Life, Light, Nature

Charun

Charun oversees the passage of souls: at birth, at death, and in the afterlife, maintaining the proper steps along the natural roads. He protects planar travelers, especially mortals, from demons and celestials alike. Charun uses the undead as tools and servants, though he sees them as the damaged shells of his charges, holding only a few scattered memories. Immortal creatures such as outsiders and the fey meet with Charun’s disapproval because all too often they trade in souls, disrupting their natural migration.

Domains. Grave, Death

Hecate

The ways of the gods are inscrutable to mortals, and the ways of Hecate are likewise inscrutable to the gods. Hecate embodies change and transformation, and her actions seem haphazard. Her worshippers believe she uses her foreknowledge to improve the world while her detractors say her visions of the future have driven her insane.

Hecate appears in three forms, depending on the aligned phases of the twin moons: some small splinter groups claim that her inner mysteries include the “light of a third moon” as a source of mystical power. Most worshippers venerate all her forms, but some favor one over the others.

Domains: Light, Knowledge, Arcana

Baccalon

Baccholon was once the Prince of Courtesies and Master of the Elves, their patron and paragon. And when the elves left the mortal world and returned to the Summer Lands, he led the procession in person, flowers in his hair and a song on his lips. His human and elfmarked followers fell into a long despair, filled with bouts of madness and drunkenness and bitter wrath.

Domains: Death, Trickery

Gytellisor

Gytellisor resembles a fey with fine garments, long hair, and delicate features. He is almost always. shown either holding a book and reading or in an orator’s pose, declaiming to his faithful or reciting elven poetry. He often wears a scholar’s robes and a deep-purple crown of stars and lights.

Domains: Knowledge, Arcana

The Old Roads

The Old Roads are gods of shadow—born in shadow and binding the land together. They are believed to be the ascended spirits of ancient road wardens and arcanists such as Hargen the Builder, and they are frequently portrayed in pairs or in multiples of three. They guide travelers, help the lost, and protect merchants, pilgrims, and shepherds.

Domains: Light, Life, Order

BufoBufo · July 13, 2025, 9:14am

Fey Based Subclasses

Some Fey based subclasses get bonuses in the adventure to balance them out. As some abilities are not good or do not work on this adventure.

Fey Warlock

Your patron is one of the shadow fey
You start with more status
You have a person who makes sure nothing too bad happens to you

Circle of Dreams Druid

You can make charisma checks with Wisdom instead of Charisma, as the fey respect your wisdom
You get a small bonus to status

Wildmagic sorcerer

You can get a custom wild magic table, if you wish to (the new 2024 one)
You get a small bonus to status

Wild Magic Barbarian

You get a small bonus to status
You get an extended wild magic table, if wanted.

Glamor Bard

You get a small bonus to status
You can charm Fey with Enthralling performance ignoring Charm immunity.

Fey Wanderer Ranger

You get additional info on the Shadow Realm
You can choose Summer or Shadow Realm, whichever you have visited in the past

Species with tie to the Shadow Fey

These species and lineages have special ties to the fey realm and thus are well suited to the campaign. Other species are possible as well, but less common. You can play them still, they will be considered outsiders though.

Elves, (Unaligned)
Eladrin (Are from the summer court)
Fairy (Summer Court)
Gnomes (Unaligned)
Goblinoids (Goblins, Bugbears, Hobgoblins) (Unaligned)
Centaur (Unaligned)
Changeling (Unaligned)
Haregon (Unaligned)
Hexblood (Special)
Reborn (Unaligned)
Satyr (Summer Court)
Shifter (often bears) (Special)
Firbolg (Unaligned)
Kenku (Special)
Shadar Kai (Shadowfell)

Species that don’t fit that well:

Autognome
Warforged
Plasmoids
Simic Hybrid
No dragon marks (example Mark of Making)

Explanation

Summer Court: You have ties to the Summer Court of the Fey. You start with slightly more points in status but will have difficulty joining factions, as many see you as already part of a faction. This might bring difficulties
Unaligned: You have no fey ties but are known as common in the shadow realm. You have a slight bonus to Status
Special - Hexblood: Your fey “patron” is from the shadow court and might have ideas for you
Special - Kenku: You are part of the Ravenfolk, and well liked in the Shadow realm as messengers of the queen. You have easier time accessing some places and can take jobs running messages.
Special - Shifter: You belong to the native Bearfolk and have a place among them. The Circle of Shadow, will allow you to join their faction, without any problems.
Shadowfell: You come from the shadowfell, the other side to the feywild. Fey will see you as weird and strange and not “cultured”.

BufoBufo · July 13, 2025, 4:11pm

I will start Friday the 1st if you are interested please write here or write me a pm and I put you on the pinglist

Darthbinks · July 13, 2025, 4:12pm

awesome! I’m hooked

Jackfruitchilli · July 14, 2025, 6:32pm

Omg this sounds amazing! I can’t say if I’ll be able to join all the sessions but I would definitely love to! Do you plan on running it weekly or bi-weekly?

Stracci · July 14, 2025, 6:38pm

I wanted to come to VALUE more often anyways and Ive always wanted to play in the feywild. Id love to join if I may

zozitak · July 14, 2025, 6:59pm

We would like to join on this advanture. ( 2 ppl )

BufoBufo · July 14, 2025, 7:30pm

Current pinglist:

BufoBufo · July 15, 2025, 7:29am

Biweekly

BufoBufo · August 2, 2025, 7:27am

Reputation Stats

Daisy Cinnabun: 10 @Darthbinks Rank (Road Wardens): Minor Guardian
Phineas : 5 @driow123 Rank (Ravens): Messenger
Seraphin: 8 @Jackfruitchilli Rank (Courtiers): Hanger-on
Elaris Lunehart: 4 @zozitak
Talryn Semriel: 2 @zozitak
Cree: 5 @Stracci Rank (Duelists): Knave
Safron: 5 @dreamowl Rank (Musicians): Third Flute

Changes:

+1 To all for a good meeting with the Ambassador
+1 for saving the kenku
+3 for joining a faction.

driow123 · August 2, 2025, 7:39am

well now I know I’m getting a lvl up and courtesy lessons.

Darthbinks · August 2, 2025, 7:48am

plan to do the portal investigation

Istariel · August 10, 2025, 11:54pm

Hey too bad I missed this one in the forum Fey were always my favs. My first character was in fact a hexblood archfey warlock. Hope you’re having a wonderful time in the land of the fey

BufoBufo · August 30, 2025, 9:41am

Minor Factions

These are factions you can join. Some might require a proof of competence first before a person can join. A faction gives protection and reputation. The people within a faction are friendly towards you, and you can rise within a faction.

Circle of Shadows

Druidic Circle concerned with the natural cycles in between the Seelie and Unseelie courts
Leader: Gorvalk Orsamsson
Will allow druids and rangers of wisdom and status to join, or shifters can join
Has no big allies and no big enemies, very neutral

Grey Ladies

Weavers of magical items and scryers of fate
Have access to many rumors and gossip
Leader: The Grey Lady
Allies: The Ravens who share information with them
Enemies: The Court musicians, who interrupt their gossip sessions
To join them they need to be impressed by intelligence, knowledge or gossip

The Hunters

Hunters who hunt prey for the feasts of the royal fey
Have access to the princes hounds and horses
Seen as a minor faction, but still some power
Leader: Koyla
People who wish to join must prove their mettle in a hunt or animal caring
Enemies: The Courtiers see them as dirty
Allies: Duelists

The Court Musicians

Musicians of the Court, leading entertainment
Have access to balls and parties
Leader: Ulara of the Seven Veils
Must be able to perform either by instrument or dance and challenge one other of the orchestra
Enemies: They Grey Ladies who see them as loud nuisances
Allies: The Courtiers who see them as assets