Wyldling

Wyldling is a general term used for any Fey who does not belong to any of the courts. These "courtless" Fey are commonly considered to be insane-- and even from childhood are said to demonstrate strange behaviors, such as speaking to the air (or to something no one else can see), wandering into forbidden and sacred places, pointing out rude and uncomfortable truths, or weeping or screaming at odd moments. There is no "typical" personality for a wyldling, beyond this association with madness; they can be calm, violent, cheerful, or reserved, sometimes even all at once. The wyldlings all have something about them that makes other Fey uneasy, though-- something strange, often abnormal. For whatever reason, this often presents as an abnormal manner of communicating, such as using odd vocabulary, talking in questions or riddles, using an irregular cadence, or sometimes not speaking at all and communicating entirely in gesture.

The wyldlings often have great magical talent, even for Fey, though no one trains them in its use. These unique gifts often present as an unusual combination of Artes, often blending abilities associated with multiple different courts. Wyldlings must either figure out their powers on their own, find a teacher amongst the other wyldlings, or-- very rarely-- forge a pact with a powerful entity. One ability common to all wyldlings is the capacity to see what others do not. This may mean seeing the invisible, looking into other realms, discerning the truth amidst lies, or knowing the past or the future. Other Fey sometimes seek out a wyldling for divinations regarding future events, asking them to throw bones or read the stars. Some wyldlings have managed to become rather famous seers in this way, but even so, they are not accepted into Arcadian society.

The wyldlings tend to either live alone or in tribes. They are reclusive and stealthy, often preferring to remain close to nature. They are rarely seen, and mostly have made their homes in the ever-shifting Wyldlands in between the settled Courts of Arcadia, sometimes even traversing and claiming neighboring pockets of The Fade as their own territory.

Wyldlings are strongly inclined towards chaos. Some philosophers say that this lawlessness is necessary to balance the structure of the courts, and to maintain the proper order of the world through an occasional leavening of disorder. The Wyldling owe no fealty to anyone, neither lord nor lady nor seasonal monarch. No one can tell them what to do or how to channel their power. Conversely, they can never hold any other rank within Arcadian society, and cannot rule in Arcadia.

Overall, wyldlings are both revered and feared in Arcadia, mostly because the laws that bind other Fey do not apply to them-- in particular, the laws regarding killing Fey. It rarely happens, but the wyldlings have been known to slay a Fey for no apparent reason. This kind of killing is considered the "Will of the Wylds", and it is not permitted to seek any kind of vengeance for this act.