Noarth Withanay
A Day in the Fey
A gilded cage chafes just as much as one made of cold forged iron.
Who is Noarth? A simple question, with a complex answer…
Many years ago, a worried father made a bargain with an Archfey for the life of his ailing son.
The terms are not known to me, but they have taken my name, my story and my freedom.
For a hundred and one seasons they tried to control me, much like a beloved pet.
“Sit pretty, Sing. Good Boy!”
In Queen of Fairies, Titania's Summer Court I sat, on a silver stool if I acted at their whim, in a golden cage if I did not play my parts to perfection.
Now, Time works differently in the Realms of the Fey.
More of a geographical arrangement in a direction perpendicular to your intended destination… Never you mind about all that.
Suffice to say it that I spent a small eternity in that place, a lot if it in that thrice damned cage.
But I have learned their tricks, and now I roam the worlds once more.
Sort of… Noarth is still in that cage, trapped and bound by the Bargain struck.
Something was able to slip out through the bars however, and that thing has taken my shape.
It’s a bit more complicated than that though, but that’s all I am willing to share for now.
A few chapters pass, the wilds are wandered and Noarth has been able to keep ahead of the Hunt that follows him.
I have fallen in with a group of wanderers in this wondrous world, for it is clear to me that there is a potent Story here.
It is difficult to adjust to my new circumstances, their ways make little sense.
They barter trash as treasure and seem perilously unaware of their surroundings, not to mention they tend to be a tad sedentary?
They do seem well equipped to deal with this Darkness I have encountered, perhaps even familiar with it.
We’ve slain a Demon and taken its heart, but its breath has become a poisonous air in this town.
This Saltmarch is doomed and we should all leave. Shame about the Crustinis deal though, I’ll still uphold my end of course.
One thing that worries me is that I fear this Darkness has seen my heart and touched my heart.
In the waking world it spoke a vile thing to me; “Stop”, it said. But I can not. Must not.
In the dreaming world it taunted me, a nightmare dredged from my core but corrupted… mocking.
For now, I will remain with this group. There is a story here, I can feel it…