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Known in ancient texts as the Agripanes, fauns embody nature's wild, untamed spirit—the force that drives seeds to crack stone, storms to humble mountains, and rivers to carve new paths regardless of mortal plans. With an estimated population of 8,000-12,000 individuals, these beings serve as living manifestations of nature's refusal to be completely tamed, domesticated, or controlled by civilized society. They represent the wild heart that beats within all living things—the part that dreams of freedom, authenticity, and connection to forces greater than individual will.
Like nysiades, fauns emerged during the First Age of Creation from divine will and natural force, but where nysiades embody nurturing aspects, fauns represent Cernun's wilder aspects—his role as Lord of the Hunt, Breaker of Chains, ensuring nature never becomes completely subservient to mortal needs. Each represents different aspects of untamed spirit: Silvan fauns (deep forest freedom), Montane fauns (mountain defiance), Coastal fauns (sea's restless nature), and Prairie fauns (grassland horizons and unbounded space).
Fauns exist in deliberate contradiction, combining human intelligence and emotion with animal vitality and instinct. Standing 6'6" to 8'2" tall, they possess powerful human torsos and arms weathered by outdoor life, but animal legs, haunches, and hooves (most commonly deer, goat, or ram). Magnificent horns or antlers crown their heads, growing throughout their lives. Their skin ranges from deep bronze to olive, marked by sun and weather, while hair colors reflect animal aspects—browns, auburns, and striking variations.
Their eyes shift between human expressiveness and animal intensity, while voices capable of both articulate speech and animal calls. Unique abilities include perfect balance in any natural terrain, supernatural speed and endurance when running, communication with and command of wild animals, natural camouflage in woodlands, enhanced senses, immunity to normal fatigue during nature-aligned activities, and seasonal variations in strength and appearance. The degree of animal characteristics varies—younger fauns show more pronounced bestial features, while ancient fauns may appear almost human except for legs and horns.
Fauns are distributed across various environments: Silvan fauns (4,000-6,000) in forest systems with loose confederations centered around ancient Grove Lords; Montane fauns (2,000-3,000) in mountain ranges, typically solitary or small groups claiming entire peaks; Coastal fauns (1,500-2,000) on rugged coastlines with mobile ranges and small pods; and Prairie fauns (500-1,000) in vast grasslands as nomadic herds following ancient patterns.
Individual varieties include Grove Lords (ancient forest fauns with deer characteristics commanding vast domains), Hunt Masters (aggressive ram-horned fauns leading eternal chases), Song Weavers (artistic fauns mastering music and enchantments), Shadow Walkers (mysterious nocturnal specialists), Peak Wardens (solitary mountain summit claimers), Storm Dancers (extreme weather specialists), Wave Riders (coastal domain controllers), and Wind Runners (prairie nomads with unmatched speed across open terrain).
Cultural practices center around the Wild Hunt—supernatural gatherings during astronomical alignments where fauns converge for hunts transcending normal physical limitations, pursuing individuals, abstract concepts, or hunting for pure joy. These events can reshape local reality, opening paths between locations, accelerating seasonal changes, or awakening dormant magical phenomena. Mortals may become involved as quarry, volunteers, guides, or obstacles, with survival invariably changing them fundamentally.
Fauns possess supernatural abilities reflecting their role as embodiments of nature's wild spirit, emphasizing freedom, transformation, and resistance to control. Universal abilities include immortality through regeneration, animal communication and command within domains, supernatural physical capabilities, natural magic resistance, emotional projection influencing mortals, ability to inspire desire and terror, and enhanced healing in natural environments.
Nature mastery encompasses weather pattern control within territories, plant growth acceleration or inhibition, wild animal command, geological manipulation, seasonal magic reflecting natural cycles, and ability to find or create hidden paths. Transformation powers include limited shape-shifting within animal aspects, purely animal form capability, enhancing or suppressing bestial characteristics, seasonal appearance changes, and projecting intimidating or alluring presences.
Musical and artistic magic involves supernatural musical abilities entrancing or terrifying listeners, reality-altering poetry and storytelling, trance-inducing dance compelling participation, illusion creation through artistic expression, and preserving memories in artistic forms. Freedom and liberation powers include breaking magical or physical bindings, inspiring rebellion against unjust authority, helping others escape pursuit, revealing hidden truths exposing corruption, and awakening suppressed desires for freedom and authenticity.
The interaction between fauns and mortals represents one of Aethoria's most complex supernatural dynamics. Unlike nysiades who may nurture, fauns challenge—testing assumptions, exposing limitations, offering choices revealing character. The "Wild Call" creates powerful attraction to fauns, awakening desires mortals didn't know they possessed, projecting absolute freedom that appeals to suppressed longing for liberation from social constraints. However, this conflicts with existing responsibilities, offering transformation that may be irreversible.
Fauns frequently present tests revealing character and values—merchants offered wealth requiring family abandonment, soldiers choosing between duty and justice, scholars presented with knowledge costing comfortable illusions. These aren't arbitrary cruelties but expressions of fundamental nature as embodiments of natural selection, testing whether mortals possess strength, wisdom, and authenticity needed to thrive in uncontrolled worlds. Transformation and liberation represent their most dangerous aspect, fundamentally changing mortals who accept challenges through gradual physical and mental transformation.
The Wildwood Protocols (2834 PC3) established frameworks for faun-mortal relations including territorial recognition within wilderness preserves, safe passage procedures, protection against binding magic, environmental damage compensation, and neutral meeting grounds. Modern challenges include territorial pressure from expanding settlements, cultural misunderstanding viewing tests as arbitrary cruelty, religious competition treating them as demons, legal complications in addressing faun-related incidents, and environmental changes affecting territories unpredictably.
Information compiled by the Imperial Academy of Natural Studies.