The Fae

The Courts & The Sidhe:

There are four Courts of Fae hailing from the Fae's ancestral home, Alfheimr, or Elfame. These Courts are named for the seasons. Winter and Summer are the largest, most powerful and most well known. Respectively, these two Courts are also referred to as the Unseelie and Seelie Courts. Traditionally these terms are not strictly equivalent, but the vernacular is accepted these days. Until recently, both Winter and Summer existed in harmony, maintaining peace and balance on Le Chemin Noir. Both the Spring and Autumn Court were conspicuously absent.

As a generalization (though a quite accurate one) the Winter Court's subjects resemble their season; they are cold, calculating, brutal and more openly malicious towards mortals, and shorter-lived supernaturals. It's important to note that the Winter Court is not evil, only a part of the balance of seasons. The Summer Court, though bright, superficially sweeter and more welcoming to humans and mortal ilk, are just as likely to be devious, mercurial and sometimes cruel. They're just better at hiding it.

All Court members and nobility of note are classified as High Sidhe (pronounced 'shee'), who claim themselves the descendants of the storied Tuatha de Danaan. These Fae are tall, statuesque, peerlessly elegant and boast lifespans almost incomprehensible to the human mind. (Note: No strictly formal Sidhe, or Court nobles are playable in the game at this time.) They disdain being called 'faeries', which is a term used to describe the lesser Fae, and wilder, less civilized subspecies of the race. Think of it as calling a wolf a chihuahua--the two share a genus, but are otherwise almost unreconcilable as a related species.

Other Fae:

Firstly, there are some subspecies of Fae who still consider themselves Sidhe, although this is untrue. Normally, this includes but is limited to species with 'sidhe' in the name. IE. Leanan Sidhe, Bean Sidhe (banshees), etc. These species share many of the physical attributes belonging to the Sidhe, but feature different magical proficiencies and shorter lifespans. Every so often you'll come across a particularly self-satisfied tall pixie or megalomaniac leprechaun who'll also claim themselves one of the Sidhe. Delusions and inflated self-importance aren't exclusive to humanity, after all.

See this listing for a more comprehensive glossary of the highly varied species who qualify as Lesser Fae.

All Fae, regardless of court affiliation, involvement in the recent coup, or subspecies, are currently widely distrusted and generally viewed as a public enemy to those of a supernatural nature.

General Abilities & Weaknesses:

Iron:
Iron and iron alloys are extreme allergens to all variants of Fae. In close proximity, it causes sneezing, tearing eyes, and itchy skin. If skin contact is made, iron will burn a Fae, and disrupt all ongoing glamours. Iron shackles may be used to weaken, immobilize and render a Fae inability to use any of their magics. Prolonged exposure will sicken, weaken, and potentially kill. The wearing of iron accessories also confers protection from Fae magics, and permits a wearer a degree of immunity to glamours.

Rowan Wands:
Wands, sceptres and magical artifacts made from rowan will extinguish all ongoing Fae glamours and magics in proximity to the object, dependant on the strength of the artifact. This is not permanent. If a Fae removes themselves from proximity to the object, their magic and ability to cast and maintain glamours will return in approximately five minutes, respective to strength of the individual Fae.

Glamour:
All Fae are capable of limited 'glamour', the ability to disguise one's physical attributes via magical illusions. Generally, they do so in order to pass as human, so that they may safely walk the mundane world, or in order to appear more physically appealing (according to their definition or wishes) to attract mates, benefactors, to beguile or for any assorted personal reasons. Normally, personal glamours may be maintained indefinitely unless interrupted by combative magic, or iron. Stronger and older Fae may also disguise their immediate surrounds for short durations. It is important to note that glamour is a visual illusion, not a physical disguise. Those with true sight, wearing iron, or those who touch a casting Fae will be able to see through the charm (IE: If a Fae glamours their wings to disguise them, they can still be touched, even if invisible.)

Conduct:
As a rule, a non-Fae should never give their full or true name to a Fae whom they do not trust. To the Fae, there is magic in a name. While the effect of this is lessened in the mortal world, should a human or shorter-lived supernatural be taken across the veil to the world of the Fae, a Fae in possession of a mortal's name would be able to entrance, enthrall, and essentially enslave that mortal. Similarly, do not accept favors, food, or gifts from a Fae. A mortal who consumes food across the veil will never be able to return to the human world, unless granted leave by the Fae who holds sway over them. In the mortal world, food accepted from a Fae with ill-intent conveys a mild form of hypnosis or enchantment--the Fae who provided the food will become irresistable, and near impossible to defy, regardless of what they request of the victim. This effect lasts for 24 hours in game. Favors are a matter of greater longevity. The Fae neither forget the favors owed them, nor do they forgive those who fail to repay. Remember Rumpelstilskin? Well, you know how this goes. The degree of violence or viciousness visited upon the dealbreaker varies from Fae to Fae.

Cream and Offerings:
Traditionally, the Fae are easily flattered. Those who might have been malevolent may be appeased with gifts and offerings, particularly bread, sweets, berries, gold and cream. Fae can get drunk off of cream and heavy milk. Old Irish tales tell of how bowls of cream were often left on window sills as offerings for this reason. For the Fae, it's an extremely effective intoxicant minus the buzzkill experience of hangovers. Faeries were often described as jolly, mischevious or childish in old stories--entirely as a result of their frequent intoxication.