Fae

2007 by CL

Born of dreams, the fae compile the world’s best and worst features. Myths and legends live and breathe in this way, the power of the imaginations of mortals giving birth to them. Many sparks die quickly, the dream being too weak to fuel them for long. Those that blossom fully, however, can live for millennia, their deaths coming only by steel or the slow painful retirement of dreams. If the world lost hope, its people would forget their dreams, and the end would come for all fae-kind.

Opposite the Fae are the Corrupt, the nightmare-born that are often mistaken as monsters, though many have the same appearance as their cousins. The Corrupt are not welcomed by Fae society in general, though some are willing to accept them on an individual basis, provided they aren't predatorial or downright evil.

On Being Fae

Fae, like the dreams that spawn them, can take on any form imaginable. Often they are humanoid, resembling elves, fairies, satyrs, and other mythological beings. Talking animals, trees, gentle giants and little folk all spring from this race. Some can appear similar to others, but the sheer variety of appearances can be a very confusing thing for mortals to understand, as their desire to categorize leaves them without a proper description.

The Nether holds the realm the Fae call home, an ethereal world of the insubstantial that only those blessed - or cursed - with fae blood can see or interact with. Only the fullblood Fae can survive there for long, though, as prolonged exposure to the unnatural realm can cause insanity. The chemical balance of mortal bodies is also incapable of adapting to the strange gravity of the environment and the molecules slowly separate, causing them to slowly phase out and eventually fade away. The only known city is called Elyssia filled with millions of Fae, the outer edges are littered with those with little power and renegades wishing to overthrow what they consider a tyrannical king and an elitist parliament. Beyond those edges is the Wild, home to fledgling nightmares and those that prey on other Fae.

Traversing from the Nether to the mundane world is deceptively simple. Using any reflective surface -- including still water, mirrors, etc. -- the fae can either peak into the other side, or move completely into it. The mass moving through the surface, however, must be smaller than the opening itself. A human-sized fae, for example, could not step out of a mirrored medallion, but could use a large puddle. They can use the smaller surfaces for small extremities, i.e. a smaller puddle to put their arm through and trip a foe, making them seem capable of disappearing into thin air.

Due to the wide range of personalities, there is a division of fae between the Nether and the mundane world. In the Nether there is a society much like any other, with a governing body, a ruler – king or queen – and the rest simply live their lives. Those on the surface either hide, living secret lives away from mortal society, or transform into humans or elves to blend in, whether as a functioning, working member of society or as a brigand or lush, leeching from others to “survive”.

Despite the apparently obvious connections between the Fae and the Keepers, most do not subscribe to any religion. They acknowledge the existence of the deities, and will occasionally reference them in speech, but do not hold them in any higher regard than mortals.

The Power That Is

Because of the nature of their birth, the Fae are strongly connected to mortal thoughts and emotions. Because of this link, they have some power over them, but are also reliant upon them for energy. This symbiotic relationship is a delicate balance, and taking too much or too little can have disasterous effects. The type of emotion needed to feed a Fae depends upon their origins. An erotic dream would produce a fae needing sexual energies, while a dream of confusion and trickery would breed one who desires the surprise of others. Without drawing from these emotions, the fae will die a horrible death and fade to nothing; drawing too much can destroy the mind of the mortal, causing a coma, permanent brain damage, or even death.

When replenished with enough emotional fuel, a fae is capable of warping reality, either in truth or by illusion. They may shape their bodies to those of trees, chairs, or even other people. They are almost always seen in mundane form when in the mortal realm, though they try not to be seen shapeshifting or performing other tricks to prevent panic or attack. After all, magic isn't everywhere, and their style is certainly less than orthodox.

Though they are formed of dreams - or perhaps because of it - they are susceptible to allergies, particularly to unrefined ores. Iron, in particular, is deadly for them, even in weapon or armor form. A single bullet of iron can throw them into a coma, if not into toxic shock and kill them. Touching iron will cause instant first degree burns, which will quickly become second and third degree if contact isn't broken.The reason for this allergy is not known, though scholars believe it has to do with their origins, particularly that the ore is too natural and "real", causing an unpleasant spark against their dream-created bodies.