Ail’thain

Basic Information

Alternative name(s) The First Shadows Origin Fae Lifespan Ageless Diet Primarily blood Subspecies

Physical description

Height Generally tall Distinctive features

Cultural

Organisations Languages Locations

Out-of-character information

Image source

The Ail’thain possess an ethereal and unnerving beauty, striking even among the most breathtaking of fae. In their true forms, they are tall and graceful, with lithe, sinewy builds that speak to their predatory nature. Their skin often has an otherworldly pallor, a porcelain-like smoothness that seems almost translucent in the moonlight. Eyes are a distinguishing feature, glowing in shades of violet, crimson, or deep sapphire—colours that shift with the magic they’ve absorbed, adding a supernatural glow to their gaze. Their most unsettling feature is their sharp, elongated canines, designed for the consumption of blood, giving them a predatory aura that betrays their hunger.

The Ail’thain carry themselves with a natural grace, moving like shadows, silent and predatory. Despite their often regal or noble appearance, there is an edge to them—a feral, dangerous energy that hints at the ancient, vampiric hunger beneath their composed exteriors.

When they shape-shift, their forms are always darker than night, so black it is as though light is swallowed by their presence. Whether they shift into a wolf, a raven, or any other creature, the shadowy form remains indistinguishable from the void, giving them a fearsome and eerie appearance, blending with darkness so thoroughly that they can vanish in the blink of an eye. Yet, no matter what shape they take, their eyes always remain, glowing faintly with the same haunting color, a reminder of their true nature.

The Ail’thain, if they exist today, live in complete isolation, avoiding fae society out of necessity. Their vampiric nature makes them pariahs, and their hunger would cause them to be hunted if discovered. Ancient texts speak of secret Ail’thain enclaves hidden deep within the most dangerous fae realms, where the ancient ones live in eternal night, plotting their return.

The Ail’thain sustain themselves on blood, but not just any blood—it must be magickally potent, with fae blood being the most nourishing. The more powerful the fae, the greater the boon they receive from consuming their blood. When they drink the blood of another fae, they are able to temporarily take on their magickal abilities, mimicking the powers of their victim. Some of the most ancient Ail’thain are said to have consumed enough fae over millennia to possess a nearly infinite well of abilities.

Unlike typical fae, the Ail’thain are skilled in forms of dark magic that tap into shadow and blood. They can manipulate shadows to conceal themselves and travel unseen, making them masters of ambush and assassination. The most skilled among them can even manipulate the blood of others, causing pain or controlling their movements.Physical Prowess: Beyond their magickal abilities, the Ail’thain are also physically stronger and faster than most fae, another side effect of their cursed condition.

Strengths
The Ail’thain possess unparalleled adaptability, able to gain the abilities of any fae they consume, making them nearly impossible to predict in battle. This power allows them to temporarily wield the magic, skills, and knowledge of their victims, giving them an immense edge over most opponents. Their shadow-like shape-shifting ability, unique to their kind, enables them to become any creature, their forms so dark they blend seamlessly with the night. They are incredibly resilient, with near-immortal lifespans and the ability to heal swiftly when well-fed on magical blood.

Weaknesses
The Ail’thain’s power comes with dangerous costs. Their constant need for magical blood to survive makes them vulnerable to bloodlust, a maddening hunger that can cloud their judgment and drive them to reckless behavior if they go too long without feeding. This addiction to blood leaves them forever bound to their hunger, turning even moments of triumph into a ticking clock toward their next need. Sunlight is their natural enemy, weakening them significantly and diminishing their shape-shifting abilities. Though formidable, the shadow forms they take come with risks—any injury sustained in these forms transfers to their true bodies, and iron, as with many fae, can pierce their defenses, leaving them gravely wounded. Finally, they are bound by the same fae laws regarding true names and hospitality, which can be exploited to trap or control them if one is clever enough.

To most fae, the Ail’thain are little more than a terrifying myth. Parents warn their children that they will be taken by the Ail’thain if they misbehave, while elders speak of them in hushed tones, recounting stories of ancient times when these creatures hunted their own kin. However, some scholars and adventurers believe that the Ail’thain still exist, lurking in forgotten corners of the world, waiting for an opportunity to reassert their dominion.

The Ail’thain were born from the original creation of the fae by Shaevwa and Rii’ii. Once Duanaan, the Ail’thain were among the most powerful and closest to the gods. However, in the time before Shaevwa’s sacrifice, the fae were not as they are now—they were boundless in their potential, but also vulnerable to the creeping influence of the banished gods.The Ail’thain were said to be the first to encounter the Impostors, evil forces hidden in the hearts of fae. While they were powerful and revered as demigods of their kind, this encounter forever changed them. The Ail’thain were marked by the Impostors’ dark magick, altering their very essence. The result was their insatiable hunger for blood—particularly the blood of other fae, which carried the potent essence of magick. As they fed on their kin, they could absorb and replicate the abilities of the fae they consumed, making them even more powerful. This dark curse set them apart from the rest of fae society, and soon, they were feared and hunted.In time, the Ail’thain withdrew into the shadows, disappearing from the realms of the living. Some legends say they were sealed away by the gods themselves, while others claim they went into hiding, waiting for the right moment to return. Few believe they still exist today, with their name whispered only in the darkest of faerie tales.

Though they were once Duanaan, the Ail’thain consider themselves cursed, forever separated from the gods. Their inability to reach the Summerlands has made them bitter and desperate, and they have turned to feeding on other fae to try to regain the power and connection they once had. Some believe they are searching for a way to break the curse, but to do so would require them to sacrifice everything, including the very thing that sustains them—the blood of others.