Faerie facts

I'll be posting some fun facts here about Faerie Folk that are used in the Faerie Wood Role-playing Game. Many are influenced by folklore and myths and have been adapted for use in the game.

FACT 01: Faerie Folk come in all shapes and sizes

All faeries are magical in one-way or another and have special powers. The term ‘faerie’ or ‘faerie folk’ is used to refer to all intelligent enchanted creatures including giant trolls and ogres as well as the small player character races such as Tree Elves, Sprites, Nymphs, Kobolds and Gnomes. Many other names are often used by humans to describe them including ‘little people’, ‘little blessings’, Sidhe (Irish Faeries), ‘fair folk’ or even ‘little devils'. All Faeries are essentially ‘Elves’ and ‘Elf’ is a generic term for all races, however, some races include the word ‘Elf’ in their title or descriptions while others do not. Some Elves can also transform them selves into a much larger form, such as a Leshy (or Leshiye) that can grow bigger than a house.

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FACT 02: Faeries are spirits that inhabit animal, plant and elemental forms

The majority of Faeries, including all player character races in Faerie Wood fall into one of three types: Elemental, Plant and Creature. The Faeries are spirits of nature, like a kind of psychic fauna, and they inhabit forms that are relevant to their type and this gives them their unique appearance as well as their magic abilities.

Element-based Elves are split into four kinds (Earth, Air, Fire and Water) and usually dwell in places where their element is in abundance (e.g. Water Nymphs live in streams and rivers). The appearance of these Elves sometimes takes on aspects of their element, for example: Gnomes are Earth spirits and their skin colour and texture varies depending on where they come from. Gnomes from clay areas will have dark reddish or brown skin, while others may have pinkish, grey or even very pale skin in places where there is a lot of chalk or limestone. 

Apple Tree Elf

Plant-based Elves are grouped into three broad types: Tree Elves, Flower Elves and Root Elves, however there are other variations such as those that come from fruit, berries or fungi. These vary in appearance according to what type of tree, flower or root their spirit has inhabited. For example, a Tree Elf that comes from an Oak tree will be strong and will look like it is carved from wood and part of its head or face may resemble an acorn. It may also have small oak leaves for hair or there may be leaves growing from its arms or legs 

A male Deerfolk (Buck)

Creature-based Elves fall broadly into three groups: animal, insect/invertebrate and amphibians. These have physical characteristics that resemble creatures and their abilities are also related to these types. For example: The Deerfolk are miniature sized deer, about two feet tall but have a torso, arms and head of an Elf with deer-like features. Grasshoppers, as their name suggests, have the hind legs of a grasshopper but the body, arms and head of an Elf.

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Faerie Fact 03: Many faeries are not friendly or kind  

In the Faerie Wood game there are many evil as well as good Faeries and those of a good nature are referred to as ‘Light Elves’, evil Faeries are known as ‘Dark Elves’ and those that are neither altogether good nor evil are known as ‘Dusky Elves’. The terms ‘light’ and ‘dark’ do not necessarily mean the Faeries are light skinned or dark skinned, but in some cases this is true. These terms refer mainly to their nature and not their appearance, but sometimes it also indicates when they are most likely to be seen: Dark Elves are mostly active at night (such as Dwarves), where as Light Elves are more active during the daytime or associated with the light. 

Dark Tree Elf

The Faerie Sparkle: 
All Faerie player characters have something called a 'Faerie Sparkle'. This is a bit like a faerie’s soul and during the game it can become lighter or darker depending how mischievous they are. If a Faerie’s ‘sparkle’ becomes too dark they may start to change into a Dusky or Dark Elf, and if they are really mischievous they will physically change into their ‘Evil Counterpart’. However, if an Elf becomes more light, they may gain more magic. 

Here is a list of the core 10 Faerie Wood player character races with their corresponding ‘Evil Counterpart’: 

Faerie Race:      Evil Counterpart:

Kobold...............Changeling

Root Elf.............Moss Creature

Sprite................Will ‘o’ Wisp

Grasshopper.......Spyder

Tree Elf..............Dark Tree Elf

Nymph...............Hag/Witch

Deerfolk.............Stag/Doevin

Faun..................Korred

Flower Elf...........Dark Flower Elf

Gnome...............Dwarf

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Faerie Fact 04: Faeries don't fight fair, especially against humans

In Faerie Wood, humans and other large or ‘giant’ creatures get penalties when fighting faerie folk because elves are often small and move very quickly. So player character faeries should use their diminutive size and hiding skills to maximise the effects of a surprise attack. Some faerie player characters can be almost as strong as an average human despite only being two feet tall and humans do not expect this, so this too can be used to surprise them and gain further advantages.

Humans are also afraid of faerie folk and therefore their reactions can be unpredictable and possibly dangerous, so where possible faerie folk should remain invisible or at least well hidden. Player characters in Faerie Wood are invisible to most humans but some humans such as young children, Witches, Priests, Scholars and humans under the influence of hallucinogenic substances or alcohol can see faerie folk.

However, if all else fails, then a quick and well-executed surprise attack will be enough to deal with most humans, as this example illustrates:

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Faerie Fact 05: Faerie Wood exists in a separate dimension to the human world

In the Faerie Wood game, the world of faerie folk is hidden from humans as it exists in a different time and space, sometimes referred to as a spirit world. But just like the land of humans, in Faerie Wood there are various types of terrain and geology such as hills, mountains, rivers and woodland. The map below is a rough illustration of the known areas of Faerie Wood. 

The map is copied from one originally made by Gnomes who created it by piecing together many ancient faerie folk stories and legends. Much of their ancient history has been lost to faerie folk and this map is all that remains of common faerie knowledge on the geography of Faerie Wood.

The Dragon featured in the map is a symbolic representation of The Great Dragon – a powerful faerie spirit that is believed by faerie folk to encompass all of Faerie Wood, but more on that another time… 

Gateways to the land of Faerie Wood

In the Faerie Wood game there are 13 powerful Faerie Spirits: the most powerful is the The Dragon Spirit and represents the balance between all things – good and evil, night and day, the world of magic and the world of humans and so on (but more about the Dragon later…).

The other 12 are archetypes (e.g. Hero, Ruler, Caregiver etc.) and eight of them represent the spirit of a particular time of year, such as Spring or the Summer Solstice etc. The remaining four are personifications of other important aspects of the world and magic, such as Jack Frost and The Green Man.

All of these have been interpreted by humans differently over thousands of years and are known by many other names, but the names shown in the calendar wheel below are the ones they are most commonly known by in the realm of Faerie Wood.

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Faerie Fact 06: The Patron Faerie Spirits 

In the Faerie Wood game there are 13 powerful Faerie Spirits: the most powerful is the The Dragon Spirit and represents the balance between all things – good and evil, night and day, the world of magic and the world of humans and so on (but more about the Dragon later…).


The other 12 are archetypes (e.g. Hero, Ruler, Caregiver etc.) and eight of them represent the spirit of a particular time of year, such as Spring or the Summer Solstice etc. The remaining four are personifications of other important aspects of the world and magic, such as Jack Frost and The Green Man.
 
All of these have been interpreted by humans differently over thousands of years and are known by many other names, but the names shown in the calendar wheel below are the ones they are most commonly known by in the realm of Faerie Wood.

All faerie folk, including the player characters are aligned to one of the 12 archetype spirits based on their nature – they serve as a kind of guardian spirit. Player characters can draw on their chosen spirit’s power in the game at certain times when they need help or inspiration. However, this power should be used wisely and not taken for granted - if a faerie calls on their guardian spirit’s power too often the spirit will no longer help them.
 
Also, some humans in the game also follow one of these spirits, such as witches, mediums and fortune tellers or other people with ‘the gift’, as well as druids and other faith leaders or occultists. However, only Dark fearie folk and their human followers (such as Dark Withches) follow the Spirit of Samhain.

Yule: 20th – 23rd December
Other incarnations in folklore: Old man Winter (Old English), Santa Claus (Western), Ded Moroz (Russian/Slavic wizard of winter)
Symbol: Holly

Jack Frost: 1st January
Other incarnations in folklore: Jokil Frosti (Norse/Viking)
Symbol: Snowflake

Imbolc: 2nd Februry
Other incarnations in folklore: The Maiden (Greek), Brigid/Bridgit
(Gaelic), Diana (Greek), Artemis (Greek)
Symbol: Crescent moon

Ēostre: 20th – 23rd March
Other incarnations in folklore: Ostara (Pagan), Freya (Norse), Kore (the Maiden) and Persephone (Greek)
Symbol: Egg

Beltane: 30th April – 1st May
Other incarnations in folklore: Belenus (also Belenos, Belinus, Bel, Beli Mawr – Gaelic), The May King and Queen (Old English)
Symbol: Fire

The Green Man: 1st May
Other incarnations in folklore: The Jack-in-the-green (Old English), Puck (Old English), Robin Goodfellow (Old English)
Symbol: Leaf

Litha: 20th – 1st June
Other incarnations in folklore: Sulis (Gaelic), Sulis Minerva (Gaelic-Roman), Sól (Norse Goddess of the Sun)
Symbol: Sun

Myrddin: 1st July
Other incarnations in folklore: Merlin (Old English), Mímir (Norse), Chiron (Greek), Mentor (Greek)
Symbol: Star

Lammas: 1st August
Other incarnations in folklore: Lughnasadh (Old Irish), Lúnasa (modern Irish), Demeter and Ceres (Greek)
Symbol: Wheat

Hærfest: 25th September
Other incarnations in folklore: Mabon (Neopagan/Wicca), Matrona (Gaulish), Harvest Moon (Old English), Demeter and Ceres (Greek)
Symbol: Acorn

Samhain: 31st October
Other incarnations in folklore: The Devil, (Western/Christian), Hern the Hunter (Old English), Cernuous (Gaelic),
Symbol: Horned beast

Wolf Spirit: 1st November
Other incarnations in folklore: Capitoline Wolf (Roman), Leto (Greek goddess), Medeina (Lithuanian goddess), Shuck (Old English)
Symbol: Wolf's paw

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FACT 07: Faeries should be careful when dealing with humans

 

In the Faerie Wood game, most faeries under three feet tall are invisible to humans. However, they can make themselves visible if they wish to do so but this should be done with caution as humans can react in all kinds of very unpredictable ways and this can be dangerous.

Some humans can see faeries, such as Witches, Priests, young children and humans under the influence of alcohol or hallucinogenic substances. Some of these can be helpful but others will choose to do harm to faerie folk and all elves must be on their guard against such humans. Generally it is best for faeries not to trust any humans at all unless they have very good reason to do so.

When entering a human's home for instance, faeries should be very cautious indeed. Some humans keep large dogs or other potentially dangerous animals that can pose a problem for faerie folk. And on no account should faeries openly challenge or attack humans in their homes unless they are sure they have the advantage. Humans can be ferociously territorial and will defend their homes violently if necessary.

A good example of how dangerous it can be for faeries to deal with a territorial and violent human is shown in this video: