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BY YOUR NARRATOR
Storyteller
My child, I must tell you one thing about this land that is more important than any other: Do not venture inside the Weeping Woods when it is dark.
In fact, do not venture inside them at all.
Because fairies exist in the woods. These fairies will carry you off to a land where you will never see me again. They are not the beautiful creatures you have likely heard about in happier stories. They are a hungrier sort who feed off the fear of the children they take to Never Land in order to continue their existence.
Never Land? It is a dark and lonely place.
Yes, they live in the cones of the trees inside the Weeping Woods, and if you wake them, there is no way out.
No, my child, unfortunately there is not always a way out.
And if you think the fairies are bad, well, you should see some of the other creatures in this wood.
What do these other creatures look like? Why, we do not even have the words to describe them.
How do you survive in the Weeping Woods? You do not.
So do not ever go inside them. Are we clear?
Good. Now please eat your dinner before it grows cold.
The Royal Family of Fairendale
King Willis: The current king of Fairendale. Has a deep love for sweet rolls, and it shows in his, well, wideness.
Queen Clarion: The current queen of Fairendale. Is underestimated by her husband, but we shall see just how powerful she is soon enough.
Prince Virgil: Son of King Willis and Queen Clarion, best friend of Theo. Prefers rye bread with melted butter to sweet rolls, depending on the day.
King Sebastien: Deceased king of Fairendale, exception to the line of boys who tried to steal thrones and were, upon failing at their quest, forever banished to sail the Violet Sea. Was killed by a blackbird.
The Villagers of Fairendale
Arthur: Village furniture maker and magic instructor to girls who possess the gift of magic. Is a bit reckless but always manages to come out on the other side—though one is not always assured it will be so.
Maude: Arthur’s wife. Bakes spectacular pumpkin sugar cookies. Prefers caution to reckless abandon.
Hazel: Daughter of Arthur and Maude, twin of Theo. Cares for the village sheep and can even, amazingly, understand them.
Theo: Son of Arthur and Maude, twin of Hazel. Finishes his chores early so he can sit in on magic lessons.
Mercy: Daughter of Cora, best friend of Hazel. Prefers spectacular acts of magic to “boring” ones.
Cora: Mother of Mercy, widow, shape shifter. A woman who moves.
Garron: The town gardener. Talks to plants as though they can hear him. Has three sons: 12-year-old twins and a 13-year-old.
Bertie: The town baker. Enjoys showing off his air-kneading skills for the children.
Staff of Fairendale Castle
Garth: Page for King Willis, the oldest of twelve children. Sometimes calls King Willis “Your Wideness.”
Cook: One of the few shape shifters in the land. Shape shifts into a bear. Is highly annoyed by her assistant, Calvin.
Calvin: An orphan who began working as Cook’s assistant instead of traveling to live with distant relatives in Ashvale—and so did not perish in the Fire Mountain that claimed the entire population of Ashvale many years ago. Tasked with feeding the prisoners in the dungeons beneath the dungeons.
Sir Greyson: Captain of the king’s guard. Receives medicine, which keeps his mother alive, in exchange for his service to the king. Carries a magical sword that cannot be lifted by any but him.
Sir Merrick: Second in command to Sir Greyson.
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Important Prophets
ALEEN: A prophetess who is one hundred forty-two years old, from the kingdom of White Wind. Wears ebony skin and what appears to be a collection of snakes for hair (though it is not).
Yerin: A prophet who is one hundred forty-two years old, from the wild woodland between Lincastle and Eastermoor. Has white hair that makes the dark of the dungeons where he is imprisoned a bit less dark.
Dragons of Morad
Zorag: King of the dragons of Morad. Lost his parents in the Great Battle, when King Sebastien stole the throne from the Good King Brendon. Would like nothing more than peace.
Blindell: Zorag’s cousin, raised as the dragon king’s son. Lost his parents in the Great Battle, when King Sebastien stole the throne from the Good King Brendon. Would like nothing more than revenge.
Larus: One of the elder dragons of Morad, male. Counselor to Zorag.
Malera: One of the elder dragons of Morad, female. Counselor to Zorag.
The lost 12-year-old children of Fairendale
Ursula
Chester
Charles
Thumbelina (known as Lina among the children)
Minnie
Jasper
Frederick
Ruby
Martin
Oscar
Homer
Anna
Aurora
Rose
Edgar
Harriet (known as Hattie among the children)
Isabel (known as Izzy among the children)
Ralph
Dorothy
Julian
Tom Thumb
Philip