Fae
The Fae, sometimes called Fair Folk or Faeries, are a group of species from the Faeria ancestry and originate from the Plane of Faerie. The Fae are usually intimately tied to Faerie and can be recognised by their iconic pointed ears, as well as their otherworldly, Magical appearance.
The Fae range from Mortals to Quasi-Deities, and are usually tied to the natural world, nature spirits, embodiments of growth, decay and the natural cycle of life, death and rebirth. The Fae are famed for being malicious tricksters, wielding their innate Magic to curse and transform creatures into strange shapes, Fae trickery is also known to lead to death or severe injury. Many Fae are also shapeshifters, able to take on both humanoid and bestial forms to serve their needs.
The Fae of Faerie tend to have a distaste for technology and industry, possessing a distinct aversion to it. It is unknown why this is, with the prominent theory being that the unnaturalness of it conflicts with their spiritual nature. This has led people in the Material Plane using iron, particularly forged iron, to ward away the Faeries from their homes and their children. It is unknown whether this is effective or not.
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Shared Characteristics
The Faeria ancestry is an incredibly broad and varied one, containing numerous Immortal, as well as Mortal species, making their shared characteristics difficult to categorise. The Faeria ancestry is split into two groups, Faeria-Fauna and Faeria-Flora. These two groups are unable to reproduce together.
General
Ears & Hair. All Fae species have long, pointed ears and their hairline usually grows in a v-like shape, often called a "Widows Peak".
Extended Lifespan. Fae that are Magically connected to the Land of Faerie, usually those born within the Plane, do not age after reaching maturity, provided that they remain within Faerie. Leaving the Land of Faerie for an extended period of time causes Fae to suffer from Faesickness, where they begin to age and decay. But even outside of Faerie, Fae tend to have long lifespans in comparison to Exorsian species, particularly Faerie-Flora.
Gender. Many Fae species are single-sex, and those living within Faerie have little to no notion of gender. Many Fae are also capable of changing their appearance at will, fluidly shifting between masculine, feminine or androgynous forms, though some will stick to a a favoured presentation.
Magic Resistance. Most Fae are naturally resistance to Magic, particularly Charm effects, with Spells and similar Magical effects having difficulty effecting them.
Nature Spirits. A majority of Fae are Immortal, but even Mortal Fae, particularly those living with Faerie, begin to lose their Mortality and Soul after a few centuries, becoming nature spirits and settling into a strict identity, becoming incapable of acting out of character or reinventing themselves.
Faeria-Fauna
Creature of Faeria-Fauna ancestry have more Mammalia traits compared to Faeria-Flora, and more closely resemble species native to Exorsia.
Ears & Nose. Faeria-Fauna have wide pointed ears, an prominent, often bulbous, hooked noses.
Hair. Faeria-Fauna are often very hairy, with a lot of body hair and the ability to grow facial hair. Many Faeria-Fauna, mostly males, experience receding hair or baldness as they age.
Mammal-like. Faeria-Fauna have many biological traits similar to Mammals, such as having two sexes, the ability to sweat and both nipples, and breasts that the female members of the species use to produce milk for raising young.
Reproduction. Faeria-Fauna birth live young. Only the female members of the species can gestate, and they usually become weakened while pregnant.
Faeria-Flora
Creature of Faeria-Flora ancestry are all related to or descended from nature spirits, with more Plantae traits compared to Faeria-Fauna. Faeria-Flora often have an otherworldly, alien appearance.
Sharp Features. Faeria-Flora have long, thin pointed ears, an arrowhead-shaped, pointed nose, and a pointed chin.
Hair. The hair upon a Faeria-Flora's head is silky and leaf-like in quality. Faeria-Flora hair also only grows if they wish it too, and it doesn't fall out naturally. Faeria-Flora do not grow body hair or facial hair.
Not Quite Human. While Faeria-Flora often resemble humanoid Mammals, their skin is smooth and hairless, and excluding Elves, Faeria-Flora don't have natural breasts, nipples, bellybuttons, or external genitalia. Even Elf nipples are a faux, with no use in nursing like those of Mammalia.
Metabolism. Faeria-Flora have very efficient metabolisms, usually requiring to eat less food and producing less waste than other species of similar size. This means that Faeria-Flora are often slim in appearance, and do not easily put on weight, but it is possible in certain circumstances.
Temperature Regulation. Faeria-Flora do not have pores on their skin, meaning they don't sweat, they also don't shiver when cold. Faeria-Flora have a complex internal temperature regulation, allowing their bodies to quickly adapt to changes in temperature. This often means that Faeria-Flora are more resilient to the cold and heat, sometimes not even feeling it, unless in extreme temperatures. In extreme temperatures Faeria-Flora can get to a point where their bodies become incapable of adapting to the cold or heat, often causing them to suffer worse than creatures with other forms of temperature regulation.
Resilience. Faeria-Flora tend be incredibly resistant to diseases that effect other species, like the common cold or the flu. They also have greater recovery qualities, naturally healing wounds faster and being able to recover from injuries that would usually kill any other species.
Reproduction. A majority of Faeria-Flora are born, fully formed from nature, and are incapable of reproduction. Those that can reproduce are often single-sex species, with all members of the species capable of gestating. Faeria-Flora that carry live young experience little to no negative determents from pregnancy, they also don't nurse their young, instead feeding them small portions of food which they can digest normally.
Morality & Codes
The Fae are a species of highly emotional and carefree beings, acting on a chaotic whim and pursuing joy and pleasure above all else. Because of this the Fae tend to be very difficult for Exorsians to truly understand, they seem to be incredibly amoral beings, working on a completely different moral framework than the rest of the Universe. What may seem to be a fun prank to a Fae is seen as a crime to an Exorsian, with many Fae tricks being deadly and malicious.
Keeping promises and sticking to personal codes seems to be incredibly morally important to the Fae, with those that break these codes being shunned by the greater Faerie community. These codes to range from protecting a certain area, to being a humorous person. One of the most common Fae codes is promising not to tell a lie, but this means that many Fae are very adept at twisting the truth to avoid directly lying.
The nature of Fae morality has been studied by many a scholar, and we have yet to come to an understanding, and maybe we never will.
Faesickness
While within the Land of Faerie, many species of Fae ancestry cease to age after reaching maturity, only able die from wounds, injury or other afflictions. But these Fae begin to age if they ever spend an extended period of time away from Faerie, where they become disconnected from it's Magic. This affliction is often called Faesickness. Fae that are not connected to the Land of Faerie, usually Mortal Fae that are born outside of Faerie, do not suffer from Faesickness.
The duration a Fae can spend outside of Faerie without suffering from Faesickness varies, with more powerful Fae being able to survive for over a century, while lesser Fae can only survive for a few years. The only way to prevent Faesickness is to return to the Land of Faerie and reconnect with the land and it's Magic. This process can take years.
Once a creature is afflicted with Faesickness, they very quickly begin to age and decay over a period of a few weeks to a few months. If a creature suffering from Faesickness is returned to Faerie before they die, they are able to recover, but once they do so, if they were to ever leave the Land of Faerie again, the Faesickness would quickly take hold once more.
Hierarchy
Unlike other Extraplanar species, the Fae don't have a strict hierarchy, and while many Fae, that reside within Faerie, are members of one of the two Courts of Faerie, the Seelie and Unseelie, many more are unaligned, known as Wildfae.
Courts of Faerie
The Land of Faerie is primarily ruled by two Courts, the Seelie and Unseelie have the four regions of Faerie split between them. The Seelie Court, ruled by Queen Titania, presides over the regions of Spring and Summer, and is associated with life and growth. The Unseelie Court, ruled Queen Mab, presides over the regions of Autumn and Winter, and is associated with death and decay.
The Queens Mab and Titania are sisters and have an intense rivalry, which translates to their Courts also having the same intense rivalry, seeing the other as lesser, either frivolous or dull.
The Fae Courts operate around a complex social system, still not fully understood. It seems to be structured around an individual's reputation and social standing, with a person's public image being incredibly important to maintain, and the breaking of promises or personal codes seeming to be the most damning thing a Fae can do.
The Fae Courts are structured into three ranks, with those outside of it being peasants. The ranks are, in descending order:
- Royalty. This rank incudes the Queen, their primary consort, and their family. All members of the Court serve at the behest of their Queen. Royals are usually called "your highness".
- Nobility. This rank incudes the most influential and popular Fae of the Courts. Nobles are usually called "Lord" or "Lady" (Approximate translation of the genderless Sylvan “Arglwydd”).
- Knights. This rank incudes the sworn soldiers of the Courts, trained combatants that defend the interests of the Courts and serve at the behest of the Royals or Nobles. Knights are often sworn in service to a specific person. Knights are usually called "Ser".
Archfae
The most powerful of Fae are known as the Archfae, ancient and Immortal Fae that have a powerful connection to the Land of Faerie. Unlike with other Extraplanar species, Archfae aren't limited in number, with it estimated that there might be thousands of Archfae spread all across Faerie, their exact number a mystery, with many of them being unrecorded and unnamed, residing within the deep forests, subterranean caves and far off mountains of Faerie, perfectly content to remain undisturbed and unrecognised.
The grand majority of Archfae are Greater Idols, with only a smaller number of Archfae being Quasi-Deities. The most notable Archfae are the following:
Seelie Court
- Blodeuwedd - Lady of Flowers
- Nimue - Lady of Lakes
- Oberon - Prince of the Seelie
- Titania - The Summer Queen
Unseelie Court
Wildfae
Faeria-Fauna Species
Beastfolk
Bugbear
Centaur
Gnomes
Goblins
Half-Elves
Harpies
Hobgoblins
Redcaps
Sea-Siren
Satyr
Faeria-Flora Species
Banshees
Changelings
Elves
Fairies
Hags (Hexblood)
Nymphs
Vespians
Will-o'-Wisps
Patron Deity
Mab - The Winter Queen
Titania - The Summer Queen
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