The Magic of Faerie

In the faerie realm, magic is everywhere. It's available to anyone (even visiting humans) and can be harnessed as a power source for specific uses, rather like electricity is used in the human realm. More than just a mindless force of energy, the magic of Faerie has opinions and can give access to more power for those it feels will help the realm thrive, and cut off individuals who are causing damage to the land and it's inhabitants.

Preservation and Aging

One of the most notable effects of the magic of Faerie is that it's inhabitents enjoy a much longer lifespan than those in the human realm. Initially, faeries age like we do, but when they reach maturity, the magic has a preservation effect that keeps cells from breaking down and greatly slows the aging process. This is due to the magic itself, not the biology of faeries, so a human will age just as slowing in Faerie, and a faerie will age as quickly as a human if they spend time in the human realm. In faerie, people live on average to be about a thousand before age catches up with them. Perhaps Faerie doesn't believe that immortality is healthy for most of it's inhabitants. There are individuals who seem to be much older, and in at least one case, Faerie has rescinded it's blessing and caused old age to rapidly catch up with someone.

Channeling Magic

While in an extreme situation someone can use some of their own energy to power a spell, generally, they channel the exisiting magic around them. Some races have a natural aptitude for this. Cait Sith, for example, seem to be able to channel a great deal of magic, and unicorns (aonbheannachs) are natural conduits for magic, with the power spilling out around them without concious effort.

Individuals can have differing abilities to channel magic, which may, in part, be the result of Faerie itself choosing to let them have more access to power.

There are magical objects that can help the user channel more power, such as the Unseelie crown. But this may have more to do with it being a sign of Faerie's favour, than anything magical about the crown itself.

Small Magic

Everyone in Faerie can channel enough power to do small magic. This includes lighting candles, heating up a cup of tea, healing a minor injury, or even keeping a hairpin in place. Because of this, innovations like light bulbs, microwaves, or velco have never really taken off in Faerie even though they have access to the human realm and all it's technology. There's just no need when a little magic will do the trick. Small magic requires focus and intention, the more power required, the more will you need. It's easier to light a candle than it is to heal a wound, but both are still considered small magic.

The Sight

While everyone in Faerie can use magic and sense it's presence (often as a hum or vibration that grows or fades based off the amount of power around them), only a few people can actually see the magic, which is required for more complex work like spellcrafting. This is an ability you are born with, or not, it can't be learned. Anyone can have the Sight, including, very occasionally, a human. Individuals who are known to have the Sight include: Clíodhna, Estrid, Jac, Liadan, Moriath, Niamh, Bronach, and Audrey.

Crafting Magic

Some individuals with the Sight become spellcrafters, creating objects or inking tattoos that can be used by anyone, regardless of their ability to channel see magic. For more on this, see Spellcrafting.

Dverger Magic

The dwarves in Tír na nÓg seem to use magic differently than it's native inhabitents, relying less on small magic and more on crafted technology, runes, and stored power sources. Perhaps the magic of Faerie behaves differently in Álfheimr, their homeland?

Blood Magic

A way to bypass the magic of Faerie as a power source is blood magic. Blood magic channels the lifeforce of the user or (in most cases) a victim, as a power source. Some spells are only possible with blood magic, and it can be a way to use magic that Faerie would not approve of or lend power to.

Vows

Faerie takes vows very seriously and if you make a vow it will bind you to your word with magic. Breaking a vow will result in a magical backlash that will cause damage and can even been harnassed by someone else as power against you. Don't make a promise unless you intend to keep it.

Article by Hanna Sandvig