The wondrous universe of Dungeons & Dragons bears a multitude of distinct planes. Each realm of existence holds a unique place in the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse. No two planes are exactly alike as they possess distinct characteristics from one another. While there are innumerable realms of existence - each astounding in its own way - by far the most vibrant and wonderfully chaotic is the Feywild.
The Feywild, or the Plane of Faerie, is a realm of existence characterized by magic, chaos, and change. This plane was first introduced in the fourth edition book The Manual of the Planes, yet it has seen little use until the release of The Wild Beyond the Witchlight module. This new Dungeons & Dragons adventure is the first to ever take place entirely in the Feywild. So, it is of the utmost importance for Dungeons Masters and players alike to learn about the mystical Plane of Faeries.
9 It Was Created By The Primordials
The Feywild was created by godlike entities known as the Primordials. These supreme entities were born from the Elemental Chaos and they exist only to leave the universe in disarray. The Primordial's desire for mayhem resulted in numerous conflicts between them and the gods. Ultimately, these universe-wide battles resulted in the deaths or exile of most godlike elemental beings.
However, before the Primordials were usurped by the gods they caused many changes in the universe. The most notable of which is the creation of the Feywild and consequently the Shadowfell. To eliminate the excess light and dark of the Material Plane, the Primordials stripped it of parts deemed too bright or gloomy. The light would birth the Feywild while the dark formed the Shadowfell.
8 Its An Echo Of The Material Plane
Both the Feywild and the Shadowfell bear striking similarities - and considerable differences - to the Material Plane. Each realm of existence was derived directly from the Material Plane and thus they "echo" it. The Feywild resembles most of the geographical locations of the Material Plane although with key variations. Nearly everything within the Feywild is far more extreme and alluring than its progenitor.
This is ultimately the result of the Feywild being formed from the Material Plane's light. This brightness is seen throughout the Feywild's similar landscape. Natural features and formations within the Material Plane are noticeably more vibrant, dramatic, and otherworldly in the Feywild. Moreover, areas of civilization in the Material Plane are almost entirely unnoticeable in the Feywild due to its sprawling flora.
7 It Is Riddled With Wild Magic
Magic within the Feywild is unhindered and free-flowing; a sharp contrast to that of the Material Plane. The Feywild's untamed arcane energy is exceedingly more accessible, powerful, and tangible. Thus, the plane's inhabitants, flora, fauna, and even the land itself are brimming with magic. This wild arcane energy has many effects on the Feywild and it is the cause of its innumerable anomalies.
Newcomers hailing from the Material Plane will immediately notice the Feywild's unusual influence. Senses and emotions - both good and bad - are heightened while spells become more powerful or enduring. So, while the Feywild grants its inhabitants numerous benefits it is not without downsides. While on this plane, it is easier for emotions to overwhelm reason and even less trivial to succumb to darkness.
6 Its Influenced By Emotions
The overbearing and all-encompassing wild magic of the Feywild empowers nearly everything, most notably emotions. Feelings such as joy or misery can have dramatic effects on this plane's surroundings, especially when they stem from powerful beings. The weather and landscape itself will shift drastically depending on the most extreme or prevalent sentiment of the region.
Areas in the Feywild can become peaceful utopias when affected by euphoria or unforgiving wastelands when influenced by agony. In fact, there are areas known as demesnes that attune to the emotions of formidable entities - who cannot consciously change the land, at least not directly. These everchanging locations are considered to be the most dangerous and unpredictable in all of the Feywild.
5 Its Time Works Differently
In the Feywild, time works much differently than it does on the Material Plane. It passes at varying rates and behaves in an erratic - considerably dangerous - manner. Although the Feywild's passage of time seems normal, it is much slower or faster than the Material Plane. So, days in the Feywild could be mere moments, weeks, or even centuries in the Material Plane.
The discrepancies in time between these realms of existence cause numerous issues. Leaving the Feywild and returning to the Material Plane has adverse effects on mortals - except those of fey descent. Lost time often takes its toll on individuals resulting in starvation, fatigue, and even death. Additionally, most experience a lapse in memory regarding their time in the Feywild.
4 It Is Untamed And Dangerous
The Feywild's striking beauty and wondrous atmosphere lead many to underestimate its dangers. In truth, this plane is among the most dangerous in the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse. Those that underestimate the Feywild and its inhabitants often meet their untimely demise. Anything and everything from the most innocent-looking fey to the most alluring forest can spell doom.
The ever-present danger of the Feywild is the result of the realm's wild magic. Even the simplest creatures and locations are infused with powerful arcane energy. The Feywild's inhabitants are more than a match for the Material Plane's most capable adventurers. Moreover, the plane's ever-changing, indiscernible, and untamed landscape can render even the most adept rangers useless.
3 Its Boundaries Are Thin
Since the Feywild is an "echo" of the Material Plane it shares a unique connection with it. Both planes are parallel to one another and in some regions, they overlap. As a result, the barrier between each realm of existence is relatively thin. Travel between the Feywild and the Material Plane is so simple that adventurers often do it on accident.
Moreover, the boundaries are constantly shifting depending on elements such as weather, time, and cosmological position. These random changes can have unnatural and catastrophic effects on the Material Plane. However, they can also lead to phenomena such as worldfall, an anomaly in which a region exists on both the Feywild and the Material Plane.
2 It Is Home To Powerful Beings
The Feywild's powerful and abundant wild magic is imbued in every one of its inhabitants. Even the simplest of creatures possess arcane energy that would astound the most capable mages. Moreover, all that inhabit the Feywild are hardened by its unforgiving and unpredictable nature. So, even the most experienced adventurers of the Material Plane pale in comparison to the Feywild's many powerful beings.
Much of the Feywild's population consists of the fey, the archfey, and the fey eladrin. The fey are the countless magical entities of the Feywild that come in various forms and natures. The archfey are godlike beings that hold much sway over the affairs of the Feywild and even the Material Plane. The fey eladrin are a subrace of elves in the Feywild that possess supernatural abilities akin to the seasons or their mood.
1 Its Inherently Neutral
While the Feywild's alignment seems ambiguous to the undiscerning eye, it is chaotic neutral. This plane's sheer unpredictability and constant change lends itself to chaos. Moreover, the Feywild is neither inherently good nor evil as it indiscriminately endangers all who walk its erratic land. So, in a sense, this realm of existence is chaos in its most pure form.
This idea is furthered by the fact that not even the Feywild's inhabitants are safe from its lethal grasp. Despite their magical and survival prowess, the fey have failed most attempts to conquer this plane. Few pockets of civilization exist in the Feywild, and none are guaranteed to last. Even prominent entities such as the archfey fall victim to this unstable realm of existence.