Fae-Folk, Graces

From Clearing up Racial Misconceptions.

Here we shall explore the Graces, the last of four species, who have agreed to aid Thaumaturgists, mages who practice holy magic.

The Graces are perhaps the most mysterious of all species known to the Empire. For a long time, the Graces were believed to be nothing more than myth, even amongst the elite of Aelyria's academic community. It wasn't until fifty years ago, when a master Thaumaturgist communicated with a Grace in front of a gathering of church leaders, scholars, and mages at Aelyria Prime's Institute of Magical Studies that Graces were finally accepted as real. This led to a rush to find out about Graces, but the information was not forthcoming and the interest faded. Now, for the first time, hard information on the Graces has been obtained.

What is a Grace? We obtained the help of a master Thaumaturgist and a Grace to find out. Graces are emissaries sent from Aetheria to the world to aid it, in essence. Unlike the better-known Archons, Graces do not have a corporeal form. When the Graces must deal with mortals, they appear as mists or balls of shining white light. The Graces are gender-neutral, having no need of reproduction.

The matter of the Graces' creation was a matter of good will on the part of the Aetherians. The Aetherians saw much evil in the world, and decided to intervene, however, they could not spare the Archons. The Archons were needed on a celestial level, to deal with the threat of the Cyraxians and their Aeternian masters. So, the Aetherians created the Graces to be their emissaries. When Ioannes created the Graces, he decided that they would be blessed with certain abilities to combat entropy and evil on a terrestrial level. For that reason, Graces are not bound by the normal laws of physics, being able to move through objects, drift and fly, and assume various shapes and forms to suit their purposes.

Grace culture is non-existent. Each Grace is an individual, acting in their own way to further the causes of benevolence and righteousness. The Graces travel the world in various forms and disguises, actively hunting out evil and taking on whatever form is needed to root it out and destroy it wherever it is and whatever form it takes. As a result, Graces don't acknowledge any leadership but that of their Aetherian masters. In their dealings with mortals, Graces tend to be benevolent, but somewhat aloof. They never acknowledge the authority of any mortal, answering only to the deities of Aetheria. This can cause trouble with temporal authorities.

The Graces recognize that Thaumaturgists are, in a way, mortal allies of theirs, fighting for the same cause as they do. Therefore, Graces will speak with Thaumaturgists, however they will only ally with them when it suits their purposes. Graces are forever on the hunt for evil and have no set place, though their mortal disguises may settle into a place for years or centuries at a time. Graces are infinitely patient after all.

Unfortunately, it was at this point that our interviewee Grace departed, citing that it was time to resume the eternal hunt for evil. If more information should develop, it will be printed in future editions. We thank you for reading these essays and wish you good day.