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THE FAE
MAGICAL ALIGNMENT: Light, but not virtue following. Rather, the fae must obey the balance of nature. Straying too far from this will cause a faerie to turn to dust.
LIFESPAN: The fae are quite fragile little creatures, and their lifespans vary massively as a result of this. With luck and careful attention to their health, they are capable of living 200 or so years.
APPEARANCE: Also known as faefolk, faeries, fairies, or pixies, the fae are remarkably beautiful humanoids. They are always small in stature, ranging from 4 feet tall to around 5'5", although this is considered exceptionally tall for a fairy. Generally speaking, these creatures appear extremely similar to humans, with the addition of pointed ears, insectoid wings* and, more often than not, leaf-like antennae. Their wings are incredibly delicate, typically colourful (resembling stained glass) and range widely in shape.
Other features of a faerie may include:
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- Plant life growing across the body, similarly to nymphs. This is most common around the shoulders and ankles.
- Coloured freckles or markings across the skin.
- Unnaturally coloured eyes.
- Unnaturally coloured hair.
- Very rarely, the fae may have brightly coloured skin. This is a trait often inherited from a nymph parent.
*An extremely rare genetic mutation can cause the fae to be born missing a wing, or with an additional pair of wings.
ABILITIES: All faeries are masters of nature focused magic, as well as being well-versed in wild magic (spellcasting using objects, plants or even just setting an intention). Their powers are bountiful, such as: agrokinesis, healing, atmokinesis, specialised elemental manipulation, communication with or control of animals, shapeshifting, temperature manipulation or even a lesser form of object generation.* The fae are also notably mischievous at their core. A fairy's laughter is said to be able to lull anyone to bend to their will, should they wish.
OVERALL BIOLOGY: Aside from having slightly weaker (hollow) bones and weakened immune systems*, there is almost no difference between the biology of the fae and of humankind. They do, however, moult their wings every 2-3 months in order to repair any damage, and are easily capable of flight.
*In faefolk with plant life growing across their bodies, fungal infections are common and particularly difficult to cure.
DIET: The fae need versatile and varied diets in order to stay in good health, but this does not necessarily mean ingesting animal products. More than half of Embers Edge's fae population prefer a vegetarian or vegan diet for moral reasons, with some even ingesting flowers for their medicinal properties. In comparison to other magical beings, fairies require very little sustenance.
SLEEP/REST: To avoid damaging or creasing their paper-thin wings, the fae have become... creative, when it comes to sleeping positions. Some may sleep on their stomachs. Others sleep in hammocks, with holes to outstretch their wings. Some may even sleep upside down, although this is not a position that can be sustained for more than a few hours. Depending on age, most faefolk need 8-10 hours of sleep a night.
REPRODUCTION AND HYBRIDISATION: Unlike their nymph ancestors, the fae find it fairly difficult to reproduce and can often be totally infertile. Those who do manage to become pregnant face a difficult 6 months of gestation, having to avoid flight, or any strenuous gardening, something which the fae thoroughly enjoy. These beings give birth to live young, and multiple births (twins, triplets) are incredibly rare.
Likely due to already being a hybrid-made species, the fae are mostly unable to have hybrid offspring. There are some exceptions to this.**
*A faerie and any other elemental magic user, like nymphs, harpies, dragonborns or even magmar, can produce an elemental sprite.
*Because of these abilities, almost all faeries find work in agricultural fields, alongside nymphs and some kitsune subspecies.
CULTURE: Prior to modern day housing, the majority of the fae resided underground* in vast, maze-like formations in expansive familial groups. Though not necessarily bonded by blood, a modern day fae 'court' is incredibly close knit, headed by a single matriarch. Most fairies nowadays live by a particularly strict moral code, and are extremely spiritual beings; typical fae worship involves a ring of gathered plants or herbs, and melodic folk music passed from parent-to-child. Above all else, faeries prefer not to worship alone.
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ORIGIN: Although The Fae originated as a 'happy accident' between a dragonflyfolk mother and a nymph father, their magical prowess was quickly noted, leading many an ancient nymph to seek out an insectfolk mate. Their numbers grew rapidly, and, since The Middle Ages, faeries have been essential to preserving and restoring ecosystems worldwide. They are often viewed as an extension of nymphs or the nature gods themselves, 'blessing' The Overworld on a much smaller scale.
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CHILDHOOD AND DEVELOPMENT:
A baby faerie (a faerling) is not too dissimilar from an adult in appearance. All faerlings are born with both their wings and antennae, albeit in a much more malleable form, unable to hold their shape. For the first decade or so of the faerlings life, these attributes are floppy, inconvenient and easily injured, so may be 'tied' back for protection.* As antennae do not typically grow with age, they may appear hilariously oversized on a fae infant.
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*Faerling wings, specifically, are often tied around the shoulders and upper back, resembling a small backpack.
SEXUAL DIMORPHISM: While there isn't a huge disparity between fae sexes, there are some slight visual differences. Typically, female faeries are a little taller, and vibrant, ornate markings are far more common than in males. Conversely, male fae often possess larger antennae and warmer, darker plant-growth, like muddied autumn leaves.
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*At present, some fae choose to emulate traditional living situations by residing in purpose-built tiny houses, or homes with a cluttered basement.
Much like their dark-mana counterpart (imps), the fae are inherently very mischievous. They take great pleasure in orchestrating pranks and causing others minor discomfort.