The Autumn Prince

Notes on the Fae

There are MANY different Fae represented in the Meridian Covenant, and it can be hard to keep everything straight. Here's a quick guide in case you get lost.

Note that this is a work in progress.

An explanation of the taxonomy

There are so many different kinds of Fae that they can't possibly be named, but as common traits are identified, the labels hit closer to the mark until individuals are easily identifiable. There are large group classifications, like Elementals and Lares, standard classifications, like Nymphs and Brunaidh, and individual classifications, like Hags and Hobs. It's not always that clear-cut, but it's a good rule of thumb.

It's important to note that there is often a bit of crossover, especially within the Aes Sidhe.

SIDHE (Shee), also Fair Folk
This is a catch-all name for near-human Fae, though that can be more than a little misleading. It's often used as a root word to describe all Fae the way "man" is used to describe all of humanity, but it technically covers beings like elves and dwarves and their many offshoots.

- Elves
These are common and often pass for human, originating in tribal cultures that have nurtured a kind of harmony with their environment. They usually have a personal magic - an affinity for the nature of their home world - that has encouraged this behavior.

- Dwarves
Possibly the worst categorization among the Fae, it describes any creature that can reasonably pass as human except for their height. There are far too many subclasses to list them all, but they range form the menehune (island spirits) to the far dearig (redcaps) to the duende (a large clan located in Iberia). Each has very little in common with the rest.

GOBLINS
This word covers a wide range of small, misshapen Fae who are mischievous at best and deadly at worst. Little effort has been put into subclassifying these creatures because they're largely grouped by general malice, but some clear off-shoots include the hogboon, gremlin, and the one-legged, one-armed fachan.

ELEMENTALS
Fae that have a significant bond or attribute associated with the properties of fire, water, earth, air, or a combination, as in nature.

- Nymphs
These are typically exclusive to a single element. Water nymphs are by far the most common, since they have stronger affinity with the Veil and are more likely to slip through it. This also makes them more proficient with Veil magic. Common water nymphs are hags, naiads, alven, apsaras, rusalka, xana, and more. Selkies are often labeled as a kind of water nymph, but they're predominantly shapeshifters who more frequently fall into the Phouka category.

PHOUKA (Pooka, Pook, Puck)
Fae with recognizable traits of more than one native species, i.e. centaurs, satyrs, lamia, kitsune, etc. Shapeshifters (very uncommon) usually fall into this category as well.

Animals with these traits are called Chimera.

LARES
Fae that form a symbiotic relationship with one or more hosts. Most of these come from worlds where they're small compared to the major predators, and as such are common prey. They've adapted, forming relationships with bigger, stronger creatures, providing services in exchange for protection. They've specialized over time, offering different skills depending on their origin.

- Brunaidh
Brownies are famous for their household skills, and they cover a wide range of beings including hobs (construction and repair), bhean tighe (cooking and cleaning), sylphs and sprites (gardening), clurichauns (brewing), leprechauns (accounting, trade, and investment), and others.

ANTHOUSAI (An-thoo-sai)
Fae that share properties with flowers or plants. It typically refers to species that produce toxins, curatives, or narcotics rather than those with physical similarities, but it can be either. The gean canagh (ganconer) is one, loosely linked to brugmansia.

AES SIDHE
These are the highest order of Fae, defined by their level of observable power more than any singular characteristic. They generally have some control over the Veil, and many of them can manipulate the Will of other beings. Most vampiric Fae fall into this category, as do leanan sidhe, the bhean sidhe (banshee), djinni, caorthannach, moryana, and the dullahan - even though many of these also categorically fall into other groups.

CHTHONIANS
Also known as darklings, these are beings of pure chaos, born in the outer realms where law is so fractured that few rules apply to them. They're extremely powerful but lack control or motivation, and are associated with devastating incursions through the Veil. The most famous was the goddess of salt, Tiamat, who led the first incursion and killed both Finvarra and Alberich.

IMMORTALS
Born in the inner realms, close to the singularity. The laws that govern their existence are so immutable that they override native law. They don't age, can't be harmed, never get sick, are unaffected by spells, and rarely experience discomfort. They also rarely have "powers" other than their invulnerability, speed, and physical strength.