The mighty have fallen.
Helanithina has the typical devotion to the forest and it's creatures as found with most forest pixie. She covets the dark secret areas and sometimes will disappear for many joining's with no explanation. Forest Pixie vary seldom leave the forest as their strength starts to wan after several full moons. They similar to the lake pixie derive arcane powers from the forest. Sylvana shared the hidden joys of those dark secret places deep in the woods with her mother and they went on several expeditions together when she was young. One memory in particular stands out in Sylvana's mind when after being gone for several moon phases they came across a critically wounded Elk Lord who had been mortally wounded. He told them he had been poisoned by one from the underworld. The dark hunter lost it's prey however when the giant elk had run it through with it's mighty horns. As it lay dying the Elk relived it's life speaking of family and home. After it passed on Helanithina and Sylvana held each other and cried for along time. Then Helanithina did something that Sylvana had never seen done, she summoned the Goddess Shalandra who watches over the creatures of the forest. Helanithina spoke highly of the Elk Lord and pressed the Goddess to bequeath the Elk honor by giving him a place at her side in the Great Forest. The Goddess Shalandra at first refused but was eventually swayed by the persistent Helanithina. After that the two pixie mother and daughter, celebrated and danced as happy as any two children born of magic have a right to. Both Helanithina and Sylvana share that joy for all time and the love they felt for that Elk Lord they feel doubly so for each other.
Helanithina being a forest pixie was still delighted in the birthing of a beautiful daughter even though she bore a "fairy pixie". The "fairy pixie" you see is a unique race of pixie unlike the other three varieties which include the "forest", the "lake" and lastly the "brown pixie". The "fairy pixie" has the fairest of skin which only varies from the richest pearl to the creamiest of marble luster. As you may have gathered the race of "pixie" can produce any of the four types and when a birthing takes place the gender and type arrives in a random manner. One common element to all the "Pixie" is the common celebration of joining. This occurs in the 8th cycle of the full moon when the male and female races of "Pixie" pick partners and "Join" in two solid rising of the sun.
The birth of a Pixie is unique as it differs considerably from the natural birth that most creatures must endure. In a Pixie birthing the child is expelled from the mother's womb through the wall of skin and muscle as a ball of energy that hovers near the mother and slowly transforms into the full-sized "adult" pixie. You never see "baby" pixies because they start and end life the exact same size. The young Pixie has a very developed mind that recalls the last few moon cycles since the "joining". The youthful zeal is the main reason why they are born in the "grove". It allows the mother time to educate the new child Pixie in the ways of wisdom, something they lack in abundance! It also allows for any wild magical effects the new Pixie may accidentally set off without injury to others.
A Pixie's father will be known to the child even though they may not meet for quite some time or maybe never. In Sylvana's case, her father is a "Lake Pixie" and can usually be found near Forthym's Lake. His name is Skimmer-Lathani. He stands nearly 12 inches tall with black hair and skin the color of light blue and eyes that sparkle a gold tint. His wings like most of the lake pixie are of a bluish shade. Lake Pixie never travel to far from the water as it is their major source of magical energy and an extended time away could cause their death. Lake pixie are noted for the close relationship they have with the fresh water life and the creatures that visit the lake for refreshment or bathing. Sylvana's father Skimmer is a proud and serious (as serious as pixie ever are) pixie who as most lake pixie dote on the water playing with the critters, chase frogs, pester the cougar and other predators who seek the easy kill. Sylvana met her father quite by accident one day as she chased one of her close friends, a meadowlark named "chipper", through an open glade far south of the Claystine woods. Passing over a small creek she spied a small commotion. Coming closer for a better look she sees a struggle between a black bear and a lake pixie. Landing on a nearby tree branch her friend Chipper following suit next to her they settle in to see what the fuss is all about. They could over hear the heated conversation, "I say, you mustn't fish here old boy", states the indignant pixie. The bear pauses from his fishing, "Go away", splashing a bit of water at the tiny irritant. "Now you've gone and done it. I am wet and you are to blame". The bear goes back to his fishing trying to ignore the feisty pixie. Unable to refrain from comment Sylvana blurts out, "Don't let that big bad bear stop you", she cheers. As the blue skinned pixie turns to look at the source of this new voice their eyes lock and instantly they both know of the bond between them. Pixie are naturally telepathic but in this case more arcane devices are at work to acknowledge the blood link that is shared. "Father, oh this is wonderful. To finally meet you", flying from the branch Sylvana rushes to his embrace. "Child, you are more beautiful than your mother", giving her a return hug Skimmer-Lathani smiles at his daughter. "First I must deal with this meddlesome bear." "What is he doing wrong", inquires Sylvana. "First of all, he has broken the first code in lake pixie law, no fishing when the sun is high in the sky." Sylvana smiles at this, "Oh, I see father, that is pretty serious stuff." Just then the bear plucks a meaty fish, scales glinting a radiant rainbow of blue, silver and red, from the rushing brook. "That is the final straw", quips Skimmer. Drawing forth the power from the rushing brook that winds its way to Lake Forthym, the blue skinned pixie transforms the juicy fish into a sticky porcupine. "Ouch, darn you pixie", bellows the bear as he drops the bundle of needles back into the water and lumbers out of the stream, across the field putting as much distance between them as he can. Laughing hysterically Sylvana exclaims, "You are all I have heard and expected from you father." "Thank you", Skimmer replies a smug look on his face. No power on earth could shake the bond between a Father and daughter pixie. The pair shared many adventures around that lake he loves so dearly.
Skimmer-Lathani's father, Sylvana's grandfather named Eithian is also a "Lake Pixie" and lives near Forthym Lake as well. He looks about the same as his son Skimmer with the exception that his eyes are a clear yellow and his wings have a hint of red mixed in with the light blue. It is believed that Eithian is over 300 joinings old. Sylvana knows her grandfather quite well as he always checks up on her and teases her about her odd ball exploits. Her grandfather is a little strange and by that I mean he sees things that others don't and speaks with them as well. Sylvana remembers one time when she was at the lake looking to deliver a message to her father from one of the "Elders" when her grandfather appears in front of her. She says hello to him and starts explaining why she is looking for her father when Eithian starts talking about the "red nest". "What red nest", Sylvana replies. Then she notices that he isn't really looking at her but something over her shoulder. Turning to see what he is talking to Sylvana sees no one! "Grandfather, are you listening to me." He keeps conversing with the thin air now describing some elaborate concoction he cooked up that will feed the ducks while he sleeps. Now would be a good time to enlighten the casual reader about how it is that pixie can become invisible. They don't really go invisible at all. What they do is shift. Now shifting is pretty easy for most pixie. It sort of comes naturally. What do you mean they shift you may ask? Well, in the simplest terms they shift into the border ethereal plane. Of course they can see just fine but most creatures cannot see them. Now Sylvana is of the opinion that Grandfather is not really crazy but he just sees deeper into the ethereal plane. Or maybe, he sees even farther than that. He never explains his little episodes so there is no telling what is really going. Quite strange and peculiar Sylvana thinks.
Sylvana's grandmother on her mother's side is a "Fairy Pixie" the same as Sylvana and her name is Rilmyra. She would be hard to distinguish from Sylvana except for her stark white hair and brilliant blue eyes. Rilmyra likes to spend time away from Claystine woods and sometimes is not heard from for twenty or thirty full moons. When Sylvana has had time to visit with grandmother she is bombarded with all the problems of the world that Rilmyra likes to expound upon. She seems to blame everything on everyone. Once she blamed butterflies for being to pretty. I think she was being way to selfish. Another time she begged Sylvana to fix her hair yet when finished accused her of trying to sabotage her good name?! I mean, what gives granny? Well, you have to respect your elders so Sylvana always tried her best to get along with Rilmyra. Once she related a story to Sylvana of the world far away from the forest. It starts when Rilmyra went on one of her pilgrimages to find the "Big Lake". Well, she followed the stream along way and it led right to a large mountain. Rilmyra blamed the mountain for hiding the "Big Lake". (Shake of the head) I tell you. Anyway, she traveled vast distances and to make a long story short she found it. She hated it. "The water tasted bad", she said. "It is those confounded Humans and Elves and such", she complained, "they messed up the "Big Lake", it even smells bad". To say I spent as little time as possible with my grandmother would be an understatement. I ran screaming. No one really knows how old she is but, my mother thinks she�s old enough to know better. You were maybe wondering how my grandmother could leave the forest for such large amounts of time with no ill effects, well that is the gift we fairy pixie have. We are not tied to the trees or lakes, our arcane power resides in all nature and the sun and moon. We are blessed with the ability to roam the world and discover it's secrets.
Sylvana has a multitude of brothers and sisters but she is partial to Jitterbug, a male brown pixie and Simone a female forest pixie. Jitterbug is so much fun because he is always getting himself in silly situations. First let me tell you a little about "Brown Pixie". They have much smaller wings that look like dead leaves and skin as brown as the bark of the Holly tree. Jitterbug has brown eyes that are rounder than any other types of pixie and sort of a rusty red brown hair. Jitterbug is taller than me by a couple of fingers, most brown pixie are. Brown pixie usually cover themselves in hides or make outerwear of leaves and moss. Besides the brown pixie only the fairy pixie even consider putting on "clothing"! Brown pixie are a little different from forest pixie in that they like to live on the edge of the forest and spend a lot of time in the glades and pastures nearby. They to gain strength from the woods and may not be away for very long. Jitterbug is a little older than me say about 30 joinings old. Brown pixie dislike fairy pixie for some reason but Jitterbug is family and I think he put up with me. I remember one time when he was trying to fly through the hollow of a huge fallen tree that had decayed over the many moons and bugs had eaten the insides. He got stuck half way through! You know brown pixie don't fly to good anyway. I was laughing and crying at the same time watching him squirm and utter mean things at me. I decided the way to get him out would be to make his whole body slippery. I know of a substance from the bell flower that when mixed with water makes a good soap so I went off to collect the necessary items telling Jitterbug I was going to get his mother and get him in trouble. He got so mad I thought he would break out of that bad jam. Finally I returned and applied the soap as best I could telling him to wiggle around to spread it well. Then I grabbed his feet and pulled as hard as I could and he "popped" right on out of there and we both ended up in a heap. He wasn't so mad at me when I told him I really wouldn't tell mother.
Simone is one of my many sisters and being a forest pixie we spent a lot of time together with our mother. Simone is very tiny, one of the smallest pixie I ever saw. I could hold her in the palm of my hand or let her ride on my shoulder she was that tiny. Her light green skin and downy soft wings in such a small package was a sight to behold. With her soft green eyes she appeared to be the most beautiful pixie I ever knew. My cherished remembrance with Simone occurred while we were preparing for my first joining. Even though I knew what it was all about and basically knew what to expect I still needed reassurance. Simone took me on a journey of the mind. She had a gift of mind control that was just short of phenomenal. She brought me inside her mind and replayed her own memories of past joinings. The passion, ecstasy and climax were all there. Afterwards, I felt slightly shaken, yet more comfortable with my own abilities.
Sylvana has more cousins, nephews, aunts and uncles then she can recount. The three that stand out in her memory are Differ, Melanie and Roscrantes. Differ is a "Brown Pixie" who for one reason or another likes to fight. He will fight a rhino if he knew where to find one. Differ dislikes me because I don't like to fight and that drives him nuts. Melanie is a fairy pixie who distances herself from all of pixiedom. I met her once far away from our home in a rocky canyon barren of life. She let me talk to her a little bit and she admitted I had been the only one who had in a bundle of moons. She just likes being by herself. I guess you could call her a hermit. And then there is Roscrantes, a bitter pixie full of hate and spite. He was always a bully to the other pixie. Which surprises me since he is a fairy pixie. Once he punched me in the face for flying in the same general hemisphere! I don't think I hate anybody, but Roscrantes I liked least.
Many of Sylvana's ancestors have passed on including many of her closest brothers and sisters. Usually, they perished from a predator or simple foolishness. To give you an idea of a Pixie�s life expectancy, Sylvana regularly visited her great, great, great great, great, great, grandmother a famous Fairy Pixie named Minnifilla. Minnifilla was the most powerful wielder of the arcane Sylvana has known. She is as wise as she is powerful, which is why she sits on the council of Elders. The Council of Elders is the supreme body in pixiedom. They met out laws and deal out punishment when it�s deemed necessary. They really are an informal group. They've been known to discuss matters of the most dire circumstance while playing a game of hide and seek! The council consists of a handful of the oldest pixie alive. I think that's why they are called the council of Elders. Once, when we were facing one of the worst droughts and the forest was burning uncontrollably, they gathered all their power into one and dispelled the fire. It was a supreme sacrifice as one of the Elders, one called Pinifia died from being the focus.
Claystine woods has had its share of troubles. Almost twenty joinings ago we were attacked by a creature we called the "Brain Sucker". These horrifying creatures had an advantage over the pixie, they could move through and see into the boarder ethereal plane so the pixie could not hide! Several pixie turned up missing and at the council of Elders heard one pixie who had witnessed the event he retold this account. "As the pixie were attacked it appeared that this thing sucked their brains right out of their head." The council proclaimed a state of "war" on the "Brain Suckers" and soon the battle was engaged. We lost countless family members and friends in those initial battles. The "Brain Suckers" were immune to our illusions but not to our poisoned arrows and eventually we repelled their probes. The "Brain Suckers" have tentacles that protrude from their head and they are very tall, several times the size of a pixie. We have not had any trouble with them for six joinings, but we are keeping a close watch.
More recently, we have had problems with the giant Wyrm that comes out of the ground in the glades and meadows where the brown pixie spend time. This wyrm borrows under the ground with amazing speed and somehow detects the presence of food above. Several pixie were lost before we noticed a way of a least avoiding them. Small yellow canary's somehow detect the wyrm and if you keep one nearby one can be alerted of an attack. Nothing much hurts the wyrm and only lightning or electrical type of attacks can drive it off. We have seen less of the wyrm recently and believe it may be moving away, broadening it's reach, or simply fed up with the bolts of magical energy scorching it�s sides. The pixie community is a varied and unstructured one but some traits extend to include them all. Pixie need sleep and they all like to sleep high up in the trees, usually in nests or hollows or crooks. Pixie are seldom effected by weather conditions. To some the nest is little more than a small flat area with bedding to make it soft and comfortable. Many pixie like to be inside something as they sleep and will build elaborate nests that almost resemble buildings. Some trees look very busy with nests and little buildings clustering its branches and crooks. A couple of moons ago one of the major nests that reside near the chamber for the council of elders was blown from it's perch in a storm and partially damaged the council building. It has been repaired since then. The poor owner of the fallen nest was severely punished for his poor nest and had to help repair the council building before rebuilding his own nest.
As you can tell by the map all of pixiedom can be measured in inches. Well, not really, you see the lake is pretty big. It would take a pixie three days just to fly over this area! Most of the problems we experienced with the "Brain Suckers" came from the northern glades and the Wyrm terror is usually in the southern regions. As you can see in the top left corner, those are hills that eventually become big mountains and the forest continues to the north but pixie rarely venture there. The northern forest that is not shown is called the "haunted" forest because all manner of undead life is known to inhabit the area. They can�t come into the "Claystine woods" for some reason, some say a magical barrier keeps evil out of the Claystine woods. In the Northeast corner you see the stream the feeds the lake and a rather marshy area we call the "bogs". Large animals stay away from the bogs because they can sink and drown in them. The brown pixie usually venture more than a league or two from the forest and they almost never venture in the glades east of the stream. Lake pixie usually stay on the west side of Lake Forthym.
Pixie eat very little and then only things provided by nature in the way of plants. Eating is more of a treat than a necessity. The innately magical nature of the pixie can be exemplified by it's mode of transportation, flying. All Pixies have wings to help in their maneuverability. The wings don�t actually carry the entire weight of the pixie that is a function of their innate ability. The wings generally help in direction shifts and course corrections especially when correcting for a nose dive where the speed can become considerable! The brown pixie has small wings and does not fly much and when they do, they fly slowly and methodically to avoid smacking into trees and such.
Innate Abilities and skills
Go border ethereal at will or 2/day per level. See ethereal objects.
Fly speed optional 12" with option to dart up to 24" Two rounds out of ten? Class A
Resistance to Cold
Infravision and Ultravision 60"
Magic Resistance 5% + 2% per level
Telepathy 60" 2/day + 1 per level
Resistant to Hunger
Detect Evil 1/day
Fairy Fire (a small light of any color placed where the caster wishes within 10", it may travel with the castor)
Know Poison (Just the concoction and knowledge to produce it that provides the sleep inducing intoxicant to be added to arrow heads)
Languages Sprite. Pixie, Nymph and rough common
Sylvana is currently 10 joinings old yet has not conceived of child. Her latest plan involves adventure to the edge of the northern mountains to seek out her cousin Melanie who leaves in seclusion in a deserted canyon. But before she starts on that journey we will back up a few weeks in time, it is early evening and things are warming up in the pixie forest Sylvana awakens to the shove of her sister Anistisia who is sweetly singing a tune. Sylvana rises from her small bed of freshly picked green leaves, rolls them up and tosses them out the window Following her sister out the they fly up to the next dwelling to find more friends rising, ready to start a night of stalking, chasing and fleeing, not to mention song and dance. Gathering and parting, up and down, fairy fire of all color flashing in the forest darkness. Sylvana gets together with several other pixie and start a chain, flying around, down and under logs and branches. Sylvana is leading the chain with a bright glowing red star she has conjured nestled in her hair. Later she joins the dancing and singing around a circle of whirling lights that trail up to the tree tops. As the moon starts to peek through the trees the celebration reaches a crescendo with all the pixie joining in the song of praise for the moon.
"Your going away", sobs Jitterbug, "I will miss you so". "I shall return to you little bug." "I know, but you will be missed Sylvana." She pulls on his wings spinning him around and dashing off hopeful for a good chase.
Sylvana visits with her mother before leaving, asking for advice and maybe looking for a little mothering. Helanithina warns her of the menace that lurks beyond the forest. The despicable behavior shown by the Dwarves and the race hatred dispensed by the Elves. The voracious appetites of the giant birds and the stupidity of the humans. Sleeping in protected spots and moving ethereal in crowded areas. Wary of the users of magic who hunt pixie for magical components. Finally she gives her child a hug and makes her promise to come back safe.
On the day prior to the new moon Sylvana sets off saying many good-byes to well wishers and close friends who have come to her home. Taking her bow and quiver with a dozen poison tipped arrows as her only luggage. Fighting back tears, Sylvana smiles reassurances that she will come back soon and flys off on her long journey.
A journey unbeknownst by her will change her life forever. She takes her time and finds much to keep her busy. She stops and helps a squirrel retrieve her dropped nuts. Much later she happens upon a stranded baby wren that has fallen from it's nest. Returning it to it's mother who sings a most wonderful tune of thanks. Then onward towards the northwest.
Three days later.
Flirting from tree to tree has become increasingly difficult as the young pixie nears the barren canyon of her hermit cousin Melanie. Finally, she departs the trees altogether and darts close to the ground offering as little a mark as possible. Reaching the cave where she last spoke with her cousin she finds it empty with no indication of where she went or even when she left. Thinking to herself she wouldn't be surprised if Melanie left this abode right after her visit. Sylvana decides to stay for the night and think about which way she wants to go next. The following day (actually about evening) she decides to follow the base of the northern mountains, skirting the haunted forest and find out what lies beyond.
Forest Friend
The darkened beef lay uneaten upon a stump of a once mighty oak. Starring unfocused sat the tall woodsman a haze of smoke curling around him pipe forgotten between lips covered in black beard and mustache. Clad in leather he remained motionless, legs crossed, arms hanging easily at his sides. The busy sounds of the forest did not disturb his thought nor the steady trickle of the stream nearby. Sunlight cascaded down through the tall trees to warm the floor of forest in places it could reach. Light breezes turned the leaves at the loftiest reaches of the tallest trees. Small flying insects swarmed in coveted areas then moved on. Still, the man did not move or even seem to breathe. Finally , as with all things in life, something disturbed the man. A movement so slight and sound so rare. In and out of the dark places it dashed. A blur of bright colors. The pipe fell unnoticed to the ground. In the distance danced a being of fantastical qualities. Flying and cavorting about like butterfly or humming bird. The tiny creature a mere arms length in height with the form of a woman! She danced and flitted closer. Wearing a silky semi-transparent gown covering a lithe pale body and swimming through the air on translucent wings that fluttered and beat about her back. Hair long to her waist in summer wheat colored strands of blonde floating in self made winds. A tiny bow and quiver lay strapped over her shoulder. Her features shining clean and well defined. A dazzling beauty with high cheekbones, a pertly tapering face, full and wide lips, overly large slightly almond-shaped eyes of a startling green hue, with a "creamy" complexion and slender pointy ears. A lilting sound belying a chirping voice like a whisper of wind soft and demure.
The brook teamed with fish as the sun broke through the tall trees in splashes of light and shadow. Bobbing over the clear water Sylvana hovered, straining to see the sparkle that caught her eye. Something small and silver, maybe a gem or jewel. The water bubbled it's cold wash daring the Pixie to enter. Braving the icy flow she dipped into the slight current feeling for the item then sensing its texture clasping a hand to bring it out and dash for the bank. Once there laying back on the mossy ground she lay panting. Suddenly, a shadow of movement and Sylvana darted for the sky, but to late she is smitten to the ground and pounced upon by a Jackal that slobbers gratefully for the slight meal. Counting her days ended the pixie conjures a last spell to ward off the horrid predator. Too slowly the wheels of intricate forces come to bear on the Jackal. Fate hath darkened with the knowledge that she breathes her last. A darkness comes over her the awful weight crushing down. Suddenly the Jackal moves away howling a terrible cry of surprise and death. What is this? Has her magic saved her yet again? Or on to the dark regions has her soul been sent? Slowly, sight returns to her and an arrow protrudes from the beast�s side soaking the ground with dark red blood. Towering high above stands a man with a mighty bow looking down at the pixie with a mixture of amazement and wonder. She giggles then, picking herself up testing her wings. "I am Sylvana", she chatters softly in a language foreign to those not of the forest. "Thank you", she bravely flys up to face the man. "You are to be rewarded for this gift of life", dashing forward and kissing his nose then flirting back in a fit of laughter, "saved by a man, who would think it", she muses, craven thoughts already racing in her mind, "you might be fun for awhile".
"I think not," he said. Clapping his hands twice the man disappeared. Sylvana blinked. All had gone black for an instant then she was somewhere else.
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