The Royal Archives Entry No. 004

Hello Dearest readers. <3

Today I am bringing you the next entry to my Royal Archives. My goal for the Fae Chronicles is to create a series based on each realm. Once I release all of them, I plan to come back and make a massive special edition, hardback book that combines every story in one place, along with maps, the archives, special art features, recipes and letters from various citizens of the Underworld. If I pull it off, it'll probably take me a few years....but until then, this has been a very fun project. <3

The Royal Archives Entry No. 004

The Five Realms of the Underworld

"The Underworld is not one kingdom. It is five kingdoms bound together by a single crown, a single history, and more than a little stubbornness."

—Attributed to Archivist Maeve, Royal Historian, Third Age

Those who have never traveled beyond the heart of the Underworld often imagine it as a single enchanted kingdom.

They are mistaken.

The Underworld is divided into five distinct realms, each with its own landscape, traditions, temperament, and magic.

Though they share a king, a history, and protecting the King's Tree, the people of each realm have developed identities as different as the lands they call home.

Scaoilte Glas — The Southern Realm

To the south lies Scaoilte Glas, the realm of endless spring.

Warm breezes move through flowering meadows, ancient trees stretch toward perpetually gentle skies, and greenery seems determined to reclaim anything foolish enough to stand still for too long.

The people of Scaoilte Glas are known for their connection to nature and their affinity for healing magic.

Travelers are advised, however, not to mistake their warmth for weakness.

The people of the southern realm are fiercely protective of their land.

And their flowers are not always as harmless as they appear.

Talumh — The Western Realm

Travel west and the landscape changes dramatically.

The lush greenery gives way to dry earth, rocky plains, and jagged mountains that seem to rise directly from the bones of the Underworld.

This is Talumh.

The western realm is harsh, beautiful, and unforgiving. Its people are accustomed to surviving where others might struggle, and their culture reflects that resilience.

Among the Fae, Talumh is often associated with strength, endurance, earth magic and danger.

It is said that the mountains themselves remember every battle fought beneath their peaks.

Some travelers believe this is merely poetry.

The rugged and wild people of Talumh do not.

Oceana — The Ocean Realm

Beyond the shores lies Oceana, where the boundaries between land and sea become difficult to define.

Coral reefs flourish beneath clear waters. Sunken ruins rest upon the ocean floor. Strange creatures move through the depths, and the people of Oceana have developed an understanding of the sea unlike any other realm.

Beautiful though it may be, Oceana demands respect.

The sea gives generously.

It also takes without apology.

Those who travel its waters are advised to remember that not everything beneath the surface wishes to be discovered.

Oighear — The Northern Realm

To the north lies Oighear, a land of ice and snow.

Mountains of white rise beneath cold skies, and winter holds the realm in a grip that never seems to loosen.

The people of Oighear are known for their discipline, patience, and extraordinary connection to ice magic.

Visitors often describe the realm as breathtaking.

The locals tend to laugh at this.

After all, when you live somewhere beautiful enough to freeze your eyelashes, beauty becomes a matter of perspective.

Ifreann — The Forgotten Edge

And then there is Ifreann.

It lies beyond the northern reaches of Oighear, where the snow begins to fall upon a landscape of ash.

The forests are blackened.

The earth is dark.

And something about the land feels... wrong.

Few willingly travel there.

Fewer return with stories they are willing to tell.

The origins of Ifreann remain one of the great unanswered questions of the Royal Archives. Some records claim it was once a thriving realm. Others suggest it has always existed as it is now.

The Archives cannot confirm either account.

What we can confirm is this:

Ifreann is not a place for tourists.

The Heart Between Them

Despite their differences, all five realms remain connected to the heart of the Underworld.

The King's Tree stands at the center of the kingdom, its roots reaching farther than any map can measure.

Some say those roots connect every realm.

Others say they connect something much older.

The Royal Archives have spent centuries attempting to determine which is true.

We have not yet succeeded.

Perhaps that is for the best.

After all, a world without mysteries would be a terribly boring place.

Royal Archivist's Warning

Should you ever find yourself traveling through the Underworld, remember:

Do not assume that beauty means safety.

Do not assume that darkness means evil.

And above all...

Do not assume that you understand a place simply because you have seen it on a map.

The Underworld has a way of revealing itself one secret at a time.

Until next time,

May the King's Tree light your path,

Joli G. Campbell

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