Wayland Smith
One of the oldest fey in existence. Unlike most, he predates the Second Wish. Known for wandering the world, creating one wondrous work in any place and then moving on. His creations surpass anything possible for other normal beings--it's as if he simply imagines them into existence.
Physical Description
Each encounter with him is with a different person. Conventionally the male pronoun is used, but many of the incarnations have been female. Not even the race is constant. The only constants are that he is always found in an out-of-the-way place, in a little cottage shrouded from casual observation. Only those of strong will and stronger desire can pierce the veil around his habitation.
Behavior
Wayland Smith is named because he crafts. Each time someone finds his house and reaches him, he asks them to imagine something new. Something not yet created. If the request is boring, already exists, or simply doesn't interest him, the person will find themselves outside and the cottage will have vanished. But if you catch his attention, he will set you a series of tasks to provide the "raw materials" (many of which may have little actual bearing on the finished product). When his requests are fulfilled, he miraculously creates the object desired, and then he and his cottage vanish. That person or people will never see him again--he's moved on.
Real Nature
The following is supposition and theory found in a tome buried in a ruin excavated by Guardians of the Forgotten. Nothing here should be taken as fact. Wayland Smith is not a fey at all. He's a fragment of the Nameless who rebelled against the rebellion and broke off before the Dawn War. As an entity of spirit, it wanders the world until it finds a crafter of consummate skill and obsession. It then offers him or her a trade--the chance to be part of a wonder and a miracle of creation in exchange for the rest of their life. If they agree (which they usually do, because it knows its targets very well), it possesses them and the cottage and veil come into existence. The wondrous works are born out of that fusion of primordial creativity and mortal skill--the host literally puts their heart into the work, vanishing soon after.
Known Works
- The core of the airship belonging to the Airship Pioneers
- The Vault of Kings and the Golden Army it creates.
Suspected Works
- The core of the Crystal Tower (and the other Towers of Trial)
