Fae (Fay)
Fae, or Fey, are as much of a race as they are a phenomena. They are the fundamental building blocks of the world that help perpetuate how it functions and forms. They do not have a distinct culture, but are known to be scattered across folk tales due to their hesitance to directly influence or interact with the other common races outside of worship or tribute.
Impressionable Sprites
An important thing to note about Fae is that all of them begin as a Sprite; a miniscule, invisible, and unseen fleck of energy that silently learns and grows from the environment around them. These sprites remain unseen, and spontaneously appear over time, but are typically made manifest with the initial intention to develop into a specific Fae. Sprites are manifested sporadically and without warning; thus, there is no distinct way or how they're created, and due to their invisible nature, Fae are most known for simply appearing at random. This isn't entirely true, however. A Fae can tell you a lot about the environment that they're currently within; they are best described as a 'symptom' of the locale. These Sprites gather and record all the occurrences that happen within their environment. Much like how a toddler would learn from its parent, the Sprite learns how to act and grow depending on where it manifested. When the time comes, they come out fully developed as a creature grown from their surroundings. Yokai are known to hunt sprites with the sole intention to create more of their kind, detailed below.Yokai
A Yokai is a corrupted Fae spirit, manifest from questionable events or happenings that slowly twisted the sprite towards a darker path. While not many Yokai are necessarily evil in their own right, they are often considered hostile and dangerous due to their nature leading them to perpetuate what created them. Redcaps are among the most notorious of the bunch; a race of unstable, bloodthirsty Yokai that manifest from murder. Hags also remain as a dangerous example; being sowers of misery and sorrow.Perpetual Nature
When a Fae (or Yokai) is born, they are born with the instinct to help perpetuate what causes them. This isn't just an urge, but a necessity for a Fae's continued existence. In order to live, they must help nurture and foster the very thing that created them. Much like how we eat, they continue their existence through following the same cycle that created them. Dryads, for example, are notoriously defensive over trees and are known to attempt spreading the reaches of forests in order to not only help create more of their kind, but to also survive and flourish themselves. Nixies are always inspired to keep rivers clean and ensure they continue flowing clear and crystal, so's to prevent pollution from sickening their kind or fostering the creation of the Nuckelavee; a very dangerous Yokai. From a Yokai's perspective, they perpetuate what they create as well, which is why they're often dangerous. Redcaps seek nothing more than wholesale slaughter, viciously murdering and bloodying whatever they come across. Hags, though very complex in their own right, embody Misery, and thus seek to sow that same suffering that created them through any means necessary. They are physically incapable of comprehending beauty and happiness, finding such things abhorrent, but eagerly seek to find the misfortune of others. Tragedy is a beauty in its own right to them.Worship
Worship of the Fae is a very common practice throughout the world. It most well known for being the center of worship for Elves and Fianni. This worship is often seen as more of a common system of keeping the world safe through aiding the Fae in granting them tribute that helps keep their lifecycle perpetuated; in exchange for this, the Fae grant boons and blessings towards their worshipers. Of all the Fae, the most well known are the Norns. Elves and Fianni view the Norns as important seers that help guide their path safely throughout the world, and are often considered the most powerful of their kind. Similarly, Crann are the penultimate version of a Fae; they're made manifest when enough faith and tribute leads to them developing deific powers, and in turn, allows them to use these powers to bestow favors upon those that would continue worshiping them. Crann are unique in that they do not expect worship to be wholly dedicated to them, but instead offer assistance to those that would call upon their favor whenever they require their aid. Gaine, for example, is the Crann or Riverways, and is often called upon whenever irrigation is needed for farmers. He is also associated with fishing; Fish and the bounty of the waters are bestowed upon those that would request the aid of the great eel. Geala is another common Crann worshiped, and is often associated with travelling the ocean. She is often spoken to when navigators wish to find their home from overseas. There are many other Crann across the world with their own distinct boons and methods of worship, some greater than others. Disturbingly; Yokai are also known to foster worship from time to time, leading to the creation of a dangerous Asura, which are malicious creatures that seek to sway the world into whatever depraved cycle that birthed them.Basic Information
Ecology and Habitats
Fae are found worldwide and can technically manifest anywhere depending on the interactions or functions caused within the world. Different Fae are found in different habitats; Nixies for example are typically found close towards the river, whereas Dryads are more often located in areas dense with arboreal life.
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