Backstory:

Fionnuala’s early life was fraught with tragedy and neglect, despite her royal lineage. Born into the illustrious lineage of the High King Faolan and Queen Niamh, Fionnuala’s childhood was overshadowed by her father’s descent into madness and eventual imprisonment. Faolan’s obsessive quest to “fix” the mortal realms led to disastrous consequences, culminating in a failed invasion of the Pits of Ruin and his subsequent capture by the duke of ruin Belialon.

At the tender age of what would equate to four years old in human terms, Fionnuala’s mother, Queen Niamh, took drastic measures to shield her daughter from the grim fate that awaited her. Aware that she would be among the first chosen as a tribute to Belialon, Niamh utilized a magic knife to scar Fionnuala’s face, ensuring that she would not be deemed worthy of the duke of ruin attention.

Following Faolan’s downfall and the dismantling of the High Kingdom, Fionnuala was sent to live with her aunt, the queen of the Summer Court of the Fey. However, far from a life of warmth and acceptance, Fionnuala faced a cruel and lonely existence. Mocked and ostracized by the court for her disfigurement, she endured years of abuse and bullying at the hands of her peers. Neglected by the adults and overshadowed by her cousin Titania, Fionnuala’s sense of isolation deepened with each passing day.

The final blow came when Titania ascended to the throne of the Summer Court, relegating Fionnuala to a mere duchy, Loch Slanach, as a token gesture of pity. It was then that Fionnuala’s simmering resentment and bitterness boiled over, fueling her determination to reclaim her birthright and seize power by any means necessary. Thus began her descent into darkness and her quest for to claim her birthright as high queen of the fey and vengeance against those who had wronged her.

Current activity

In her pursuit of ultimate revenge, Fionnuala has woven herself into the fabric of countless legends and fairy tales as the ubiquitous fairy godmother. This role serves as a cloak for her two-faced nature, allowing her to approach people of authority and grant their selfish wishes in ways that ultimately lead to their downfall. She adopts various guises separate from her fairy godmother persona, ensuring her schemes remain undetected. On rare occasions, however, she will help powerful individuals if doing so would benefit her in the long run. Most notably she gave the fey enchantress Gisela the spell that she used the tear the veil between feyrealm and the mortal realm, ultimately forming the Märchenweltgrenze, in exchange for Gisela becoming her vassal. 

Simultaneously, Fionnuala leverages her position to forge fey contracts and pacts with warlocks, manipulating events behind the scenes to further her goals. However, her actions take a different turn when it comes to children facing circumstances reminiscent of her troubled upbringing. In these cases, especially for abused girls, she assumes the classic Cinderella-style fairy godmother role, bestowing great fortune upon them. This often includes arranging marriages into nobility and royalty, and strategically maneuvering those she aids into positions of influence left vacant by the downfall of authority figures she has orchestrated.

For centuries, Fionnuala has been fostering and molding dozens of merchant and noble houses throughout the mortal realm in this manner. She often becomes the doting godmother to the descendants of those she assists, building a massive support base beyond her domain in the feyrealm. Loch Slanach, under her careful guidance, emerges as the wealthiest duchy in the lands of the summer court, alongside potentially influencing three other great domains of the fey.

With her recent acquisition of King Fredrick of the one small Märchenweltgrenze kingdom of Mountainheart as one of her direct vassals and the intended spouse of her daughter Maeve, Fionnuala has started to strategically move her merchant and noble families into the realm. This expansion serves as a means to bolster her strength and influence, potentially transforming Mountainheart into a new fifth realm of the fey under her control. Despite her ultimate goal of revenge, Fionnuala perceives her actions as aligning with her late father’s ideals of doing good, even as she schemes for her own gain.

Relationships

Fionnuala’s tumultuous past has left her with very few close relationships, as she harbors deep-seated distrust and resentment towards the fey courts, particularly those associated with the Summer Court. Her experiences have shaped her worldview, causing her to view others as either manipulators or the manipulated, with little room for genuine connection or trust. However, there is one notable exception to this outlook: young children.

Fionnuala is instinctively drawn to the innocence of children under the age of four and feels compelled to shield them from the harsh realities of the world. This soft spot for children is exemplified in her relationship with her daughter, Maeve. Discovering the infant high fairy girl in a rose bush within her palace garden, Fionnuala interpreted the event as a sign of approval from the feyrealm for her deeds. Instantly, she adopted Maeve as her own, lavishing her with love and attention.

In her efforts to be the mother she never had, Fionnuala dotes on Maeve excessively, perhaps to the point of overcompensation. Despite her genuine affection for her daughter, Fionnuala’s misguided attempts to emulate her mother, Niamh, and avoid the influence of the Summer Court lead to questionable decisions. For instance, she creates an entire court of playmates for Maeve using abandoned infant foundlings discovered in the forests of both the mortal realm and the feyrealm within weeks of Maeve’s adoption. As a result, Maeve is a spoiled rotten brat.

Furthermore, Fionnuala’s manipulation tactics inadvertently influence Maeve, who proves to be a skilled manipulator in her own right. Despite evidence to the contrary, Fionnuala continues to view Maeve as the epitome of sweetness and perfection, demonstrating the depths of her delusion and the complexity of their relationship.

Appearance

Fionnuala’s appearance is a carefully crafted facade, meticulously maintained to conceal the scars of her past trauma. She is never seen without her glamour, which masks the disfigurement of her face, a constant reminder of the abuse she endured at the hands of the Summer Court. While she typically opts for an illusion that presents her face without its scars, she is known to adopt various guises to suit her purposes.

As a high fairy fey sovereign, Fionnuala possesses a pair of majestic wings reminiscent of monarch butterflies, adding to her ethereal presence. These wings serve as a symbol of her royal lineage and command respect among her subjects.

In her choice of attire, Fionnuala spares no expense, adorning herself in the finest fashions favored by the Summer Court. Currently, she favors Elizabethan-style clothing, exuding regal elegance and sophistication. Her wardrobe is carefully curated to accentuate her status as a fairy queen, with intricate detailing and luxurious fabrics.

To complete her fairy queen aesthetic, Fionnuala keeps her long, golden hair intricately woven in elaborate styles, adding to her majestic appearance. She often wears a tiara, a symbol of her royal authority and status, further enhancing her presence as a sovereign ruler of the fey.

Roleplaying guide

1. Manipulative Charm: Fionnuala is a master manipulator who excels at using her charm and charisma to bend others to her will. When interacting with NPCs or the player characters, she exudes an air of confidence and allure, drawing them in with her enchanting presence.
2. Duplicity: Fionnuala has a two-faced nature, capable of displaying warmth and kindness while harboring ulterior motives beneath the surface. She effortlessly switches between personas, presenting herself as a benevolent fairy godmother to some and a cunning schemer to others.
3. Sophisticated Eloquence: Fionnuala is articulate and well-spoken, possessing a silver tongue that allows her to effortlessly weave lies and half-truths into persuasive arguments. She employs elegant language and persuasive rhetoric to manipulate others to her advantage.
4. Narcissistic Tendencies: Despite her outward charm, Fionnuala harbors deep-seated insecurities stemming from her disfigured face and troubled upbringing. She craves adoration and validation, often seeking to elevate herself above others and maintain control over those around her.
5. Protective Instinct: Fionnuala has a soft spot for young children, particularly those who have suffered as she did in her childhood. She may display genuine compassion and empathy when interacting with vulnerable individuals, especially young girls in need of protection.
6. Vengeful Determination: Beneath her charming facade lies a steely determination and a thirst for revenge against those who wronged her in the past. Fionnuala is willing to go to great lengths to achieve her goals, using any means necessary to exact vengeance and reclaim what she believes is rightfully hers.
7. Scheming Mind: Fionnuala is a strategic thinker who excels at devising complex schemes and manipulating events to her advantage. She carefully plans her moves several steps ahead, anticipating the reactions of others and adjusting her tactics accordingly.
8. Emotional Vulnerability: Despite her outward confidence, Fionnuala is not immune to emotional vulnerability. She may occasionally let her guard down, revealing glimpses of her inner turmoil and insecurities to those she trusts or when faced with particularly challenging situations.

Using Fionnuala in your campaigns

1. Backstory Element: Players with backgrounds involving a fairy godmother, mysterious benefactor, or guardian figure could discover that Fionnuala has been intricately involved in their past and their families pasts. Whether she granted them wishes, bestowed gifts, or manipulated events from behind the scenes, her influence could have far-reaching consequences that come to light during the campaign.
2. Warlock Patron: Fionnuala can serve as an intriguing option for warlock patrons, particularly those who seek power from the fey. Characters who forge pacts with her might find themselves drawn into her intricate web of schemes and manipulations, tasked with carrying out her will in the mortal realm.
3. Quest Giver: As a powerful and manipulative figure, Fionnuala could become a recurring quest giver in your campaign. She might offer the players seemingly benevolent quests that conceal darker intentions, leading them into moral dilemmas and complex situations where they must navigate her hidden agendas.
4. String Puller: Fionnuala could also serve as the mastermind behind a smaller-scale villain or antagonist in your campaign. Through her machinations, she could manipulate events from the shadows, using unwitting pawns to further her own goals and sow chaos in the world.

Stat block

Fionnuala, the Fairy Godmother

Medium Fey, Neutral Evil

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Armor Class: 20 (Natural Armor)

Hit Points: 450 (30d8 + 300)

Speed: 30 ft., fly 60 ft.

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STR: 14 (+2)
DEX: 18 (+4)
CON: 30 (+10)
INT: 24 (+7)
WIS: 20 (+5)
CHA: 28 (+9)

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Saving Throws: Dex +14, Con +20, Wis +14, Cha +18

Skills: Arcana +18, Deception +18, Insight +14, Persuasion +18

Damage Resistances: Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from non-magical attacks

Damage Immunities: Poison

Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Poisoned

Senses: Truesight 120 ft., Passive Perception 15

Languages: Common, Sylvan, Abyssal

Challenge: 25 (75,000 XP)

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Fey Ancestry: Fionnuala has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put her to sleep.

Innate Spellcasting: Fionnuala’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 26). She can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

• At will: Charm Person, Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Eldritch Blast
• 3/day each: Dominate Person, Greater Invisibility, Plane Shift
• 1/day each: Feeblemind, Power Word Stun, Wish

Fairy Godmother’s Blessing: Once per day, Fionnuala can bestow a magical boon upon a willing creature, granting them advantage on all ability checks and saving throws for 24 hours.

Butterfly Wings: Fionnuala can use her wings to create gusts of wind, dispersing ranged attacks or spells targeting her. Once per turn as a reaction, she can impose disadvantage on a ranged attack or spell targeting her.

Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If Fionnuala fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.

Actions:

Fairy Godmother’s Wrath: Fionnuala releases a wave of magical energy, forcing all creatures of her choice within a 30-foot radius to make a DC 26 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 35 (10d6) psychic damage and is charmed by Fionnuala for 1 minute. A charmed creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

Magic Staff: Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (4d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage plus 18 (4d8) force damage.

Bonus Action:

Fairy Glamour: Fionnuala can use her bonus action to cast Disguise Self at will, altering her appearance or that of a creature within 30 feet of her.

Reaction:

Countercharm: Fionnuala can use her reaction to negate the effects of a spell or magical effect targeting her or a creature within 30 feet of her, granting advantage on the saving throw against the effect.

Legendary Actions (3/round):

Fionnuala can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Fionnuala regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn.

• Fairy Fire: Fionnuala targets a creature within 60 feet, enveloping it in shimmering light. The target must succeed on a DC 26 Dexterity saving throw or be outlined in light for 1 minute. Attacks against the affected creature have advantage, and the affected creature can’t benefit from being invisible.
• Fey Teleportation (Costs 2 Actions): Fionnuala magically teleports up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space she can see.
• Winged Escape (Costs 3 Actions): Fionnuala takes flight, using her wings to disengage from combat and move up to half her flying speed without provoking opportunity attacks.