Here is a general guide to Faeries:


Faerie types:

Domestic Faeries:  Brownies, Duende, Domovoy, these little people have always lived in the shadow of Humanity.  They are basically benevolent, though if angered or abused, they can turn into wicked, dangerous versions of themselves- Brownies become Boggarts, and Domovoy become Barabashka.   These Fey tend to enjoy Human style comforts and life in general.  They are diligent and skillful artisans, often capable of incredible feats of craftsmanship.  They are more comfortable around Humans than most Fey.  They have lived around Humans so long that Human cultural heritage has rubbed off on them.  Brownies, Duende, Domovoy, Tomtes, and Kabouters are basically the same creatures, despite being, respectively, British, Hispanic, Eastern European, Scandinavian, and Dutch.  Even the Hawaiians have Domestic Faeries of their own, the Menehune, though none of them have ever been seen in New York City.

Nature Spirits:  These beings can manifest a Human size and shape but can also be formless, blending in with a feature of nature to which they are bonded.  They are usually female- there is something about the force of nature which seems to manifest more easily as feminine.  These include the Sylphs, Nymphs, Dryads, and similar creatures.

True Fairies.  Small, very magical beings, usually winged but sometimes not.  The category includes the Leprechauns and Pixies, and various types of Nature Fairies.  Nature Fairies have a nature orientation, such as flowers, animals, birds, snow, etc, and they tend to look at this as their "job".  They have magical powers associated with their orientation- for example, an animal fairy can talk to animals.

Animal Faeries: While this includes the Japanese “Kitsune”, those creatures are almost never seen in New York.  This is probably because of the relatively small Japanese population here.  Much more common are the Gumiho and Huli Jing, identical to the Kitsune except for being Korean or Chinese, respectively.  These Fey are among the least trusted by others, because unlike most Fey, they are carnivores.   Very much so, though most of the bad reputation they have is unearned.  Stories made up by Nature Fairies upset at finding out that the local Juli Hing ate their rabbit friend.   The Animal Fey includes other types closely bonded to a specific kind of animal, such as the Selkies (Seals), and possibly, a few left over Shapeshifters from Native American times, when they were much more common.   There are also some who don’t have an Human form- they are Fey creatures, but they are animals.  Cats are the most common, though horses have been seen as well as other types, such as the very rare Duphon, a Faerie-Owl native to France.

The High Faeries:  Beings as tall as Humans or taller, with strong magic.  They are smart, and very proud.   Frequently and correctly called Elves, they were aghast at the portrayal of “Elves” in the Harry Potter movies, as some sort of corrupt Goblin-Brownie thing.  This was especially painful to them as they all know the derivation of the word Elf, which means white, a reference to their pale, almost luminous skin.  From the same ancient Human word which also is the root of Albino, Alps (mountains capped in white) Albumen (Egg White), and Albus (A poorly named character in the same stories.)  Most Humans don’t follow the long stories of their words like that, but this is because unlike Elves, they are mortal, and don’t have as much time on their hands.  Djinn fall into this category.

Some of the High Faeries are not nice, but proper Elves don’t like to talk about those.

Trolls, Goblins, and their kin:  These are Fey, but not Fairies by any stretch.  Unlike other Fey, the beauty of Faerie seems to have eluded them.  (Some female Goblins reach the conventional standards of beauty.  One of the secrets known to the Morgan Library is that Frank Zappa’s “Goblin Girl” was written for a real Goblin he knew, and he was fully aware of this. The song’s references to Halloween were intended to through other, less informed Humans off the track.   Often, when Fey are forced to “make contact”,  they’ll choose someone like Zappa, knowing that if he tries to give away the secret, other Humans won’t believe him, but instead believe it to be an effect of drug abuse.)

This class of Faerie often shows very loose regards for morality- that is, they act like Humans, and not how Humans wish to believe Humans act.  They are stronger than most Fey, especially the trolls.  But they are clannish, and don’t generally accept other Fey as easily as most do.  In turn, they tend to have a  harder time being accepted.

The Eastern European Polevik probably belongs in this class.

(Trolls are not recommended as player characters, as they are too big.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:52, Mon 16 Nov 2015.

The Veil:

A secret passed down by generations of Humans associated with the Morgans, and the Morgan Library, and some of the Fey who chose to work closely with them.  This is ancient and powerful sorcery, and disguises the Fey in the New York City region.  It is not the same as a “shape changing power”, as the Fey who are hidden by the Veil only have one disguise, and they can’t choose it.  (Somehow, it chooses them)  It also disguises the things they do, causing some magic to assume the form of natural, explainable events.

Not all the reported “Pit Bull” attacks are caused by Pit Bulls.  Some weren’t even caused by dogs.

Most Fey can see through the Veil easily.  So can a few Humans, at least, those with access to certain magicks, such as that maintained by the Morgan Library.

Why are they here?

Same as anyone else.  New York City is a place of immigrants.  Some Fey are here by accident, some by design, some to fulfill an oath.  Many come for the excitement, the mix of culture, the art, the food…  plus, the Veil makes it very easy for them to enjoy Human culture, while slipping back to the Faerie World whenever they wish.  Mostly.

In most of rest of the world, the Faerie population is closely connected to the Human heritage.  There are Leprechauns in Ireland and Kitsune in Japan.   New York is different.  Here, a Djinn can meet a Selkie.  Some Faeries like this variety, and New York beckons to them.

 In a way, the Morgan Library works as the “Faerie Consulate”, helping them out in what, to most Fey, is a strange, beguiling, and dazzling world.

How do they live?

Thriving in the big city requires money, even if you are a Faerie.  Many of them have jobs.  Just like people.  It’s hard for most Fey to keep a regular permanent schedule, though, so they often have “arrangements” that allow them some flexibility.  Some of them acquire “official” identities.  This is very valuable to them, as it helps them get access to jobs, homes, and services.  The Morgan Library has helped with this, and some of the older, wiser and more powerful Fey folk in the city can arrange things.  Sometimes, Fey will share an identity.  Others will be supported by friends.  This doesn’t take much for some- a Nature Fairy can live very cheaply if it wants to, and a Brownie can eat well with a fraction of the food a Human needs.  And healthcare?  They don’t age like Humans do, don’t have Human genetic disorders, and aren’t subject to Human diseases, generally.  Their own illnesses must usually be treated in their own magical ways.  New York City has some of the world’s finest hospitals but can’t treat Silverpox.  (Mandatory health care insurance annoys Faeries.  More record keeping, more writing one’s name, more exposure… and rarely any benefit to them.)

(Note:  Player Character Faeries with jobs other than “full time library employee” are strongly encouraged to have a job that gives them outlets for creativity and great personal freedom, like “free lance writer” or “street performer”, and not one which require them to keep to a schedule, and definitely not one which involves a lot of tracking and bureaucracy.  Government jobs, and jobs in big corporations are problematic.  Many other problems can be overcome, though, if we assume the character is working for a more “established” Faerie who will cover for them, when necessary.

Particularly long lived Fey can have a problem, outliving their human identities.


Where do they live?

Everywhere.  Some have the most upscale of homes, just like Humans.  Others find anything that will shelter them from the rain.  Just like Humans.  Fey that live “in nature”, though, are generally well adapted to it.  And here in a big city, it can be even easier.  Every time a little girl outgrows her dolls and throws away a doll house, a Pixie might acquire new furniture.   Every Pixie in the city has a formidable fashion wardrobe, thanks to “Barbie.”  (Some slight re-tailoring is necessary to accommodate wings).

What do they eat?

There is a wide range.  Animal-Fey often reflect the diets of the animals they resemble.  Among many Faeries, especially the domestic types, dairy products are greatly enjoyed.  Butter and cream makes a Brownie quite happy.  Fermented dairy products - yogurt - affects most Fey as alcohol does Humans.  The smaller Fey naturally eat less than Humans do.  The Elves are known for their delicate, refined tastes.  Nature spirits might not require food - a Dryad lives off of the energy of her tree, for example- but often sample food just because they find it enjoyable.  Goblins will consume rats and trash, though finer meals are often appreciated and Trolls will eat things not even remotely recognized as food by anyone else.

Are there any other types of magical creatures we should be aware of?

Yes.  Though, there’s no precise definition of what’s a Faerie and what’s not.  For example, there is a category that some call the “Stone Fey”.  These are magical creatures that, during daytime, are forced by the Veil to assume the form of a statue.  A statue of themselves.  Same pose, same place, every day.  These include the Gargoyles, Shi (Chinese Guardian Lions) and Lawn Gnomes.  And there are other beasties about, though usually, those are problems for the Morgan Library to deal with.


Faerie and Fairy, What’s Going On?  Which is it?

Faerie refers to the whole range of magical beings.  Fairies are the little folk with wings.

The Fey and Human Religion:

The Fey have no particular religious beliefs, they have never bothered to concern themselves with things like that.   Nor do they understand Human religious beliefs.  They recognize magic when they see it, though, and they know there is great magic bound up in the belief and ritual of religion.  Much as Humans might fear Fey magic, which is beyond their power and understanding, so do Fey fear this.  They know there is a great power there, though they never name it, beyond euphemisms like “The Old One”, “The Ancient of Days” “Master of Men” and “The One That Is.”   It is for this reason that Fey are cautious around religious institutions, and wary of them.  It is another reason why they keep themselves hidden- they know that whether Humans truly understand it or not, this is a mighty power, and it could conceivably be unleashed on the Fey.

Old folklore about the Fairies being repelled by church bells are not precisely true but have a touch of truth behind them.  Fairies have no wish to antagonize this power, its presence makes them cautious.

(Curiously,  Gargoyles can be extremely protective of churches, though still keeping their existence a secret from the Humans!)

Which Humans know about all this?

Very, very few. Oh, some think they know.  There are plenty of Humans who proclaim themselves Wiccans and decorate their walls with pictures of unicorns and flowers with a distinctive neo-Celtic motif. Most of them wouldn’t be able to accept an actual Elf speaking to them.  Even the lore they think they know tends to be grossly distorted.

Those Humans who actually know include:

Those who have been selected and taught by others with this secret lore, passed down through centuries.  Often it is through secret groups like the Morgan Library’s “Field Grant Group”, which ostensibly interviews and tracks prospective grant recipients, but also identifies candidates, initiates them, and trains them.  Sometimes, Humans might have lore handed down to them through a single family’s tales, passed father to son or more commonly, mother to daughter.  A few lucky families have permanent relations with Fey folk- some include Fey folk.  Sometimes, the Fey themselves might identify someone they need to have on their side, and teach that person that themselves. They have to be very careful about this- a few of their past failures are now among the most mentally disturbed homeless people one might find in the city.

What does the Morgan Library and Museum do?  Aha!  You mean in addition to the “public” functions which are described fully in their web site!  The Morgan Library Directors are fully aware of the existence of Fey folk, and they realize the promise and peril the magical population brings.  They also know that much of the peril results from either the actions of “bad” magical beings, or more commonly, the vast cultural and knowledge divide between the two worlds.  They try to bridge this gap, maintaining the secrecy of the Veil while helping both Fey and City cope with each other.  They will solve problems both arcane and personal, as well as track down troublesome magical beings and items.

Many of the problems are related to the difference between the Human and the Faerie thought process.  Though many refuse to admit it, the truth is, Humans and Fey Folk experience the world differently, and to a degree, think differently.  The Fey tend to experience more focused emotions.  They rarely have conflicted feelings, whatever they feel foremost, be it pride, sympathy, fear, hate or love, is what they feel.  Sometimes, this manifests as powerful compulsions that a Human might find ridiculous.  A Faerie knows how truly awful it is to be sad.  Being sad is a terrible, terrible thing!   So they might make great efforts to filling lives with joy- dancing, having fun… never reading the news.  They also differ in what why consider important.  Many Fey have a keen esthetic sense.  This often makes them superb artists and performers, but can make them seem obsessive-compulsive by Human standards, and often irrational.  Except for the Domestic Fey, Brownies and their kin, they are often baffled by Human cultural norms and especially Human technology.

And iron.

What is it with Faeries and Iron?  What’s “Cold Iron”?

There is nothing special about “cold” iron.  It’s a myth.  It’s just a Faerie term, for iron in general, because iron has no magic, and so, to a magically sensitive being, feels “cold”, in a way.  Iron is iron.  Iron doesn’t hurt them.  Unless, for example, it’s hitting them…but then iron will hurt just about anyone, right?  So let’s say it doesn’t hurt them in any unusual way. But:  iron has the peculiar property of being the element most immune to their magic.  It is almost impossible for Faerie magic to affect iron.  This might be source of the myth about Faeries being especially vulnerable to it, as perhaps, in ages past, some Human discovered that a Faerie magically protected from injury could be hurt with iron.

Strangely, Human science has confirmed something unique about Iron:  every element before iron on the periodic table can release energy during nuclear fusion.  Every element after iron can release energy during nuclear fission.  But not iron.  It can never release energy, it just absorbs it.  Iron atoms, in the strange wizard-speech of Humans that Fey don’t understand, have “the highest nuclear binding energy per nucleon”.  Iron is cold.

Maybe there is more to it.  In the After all, massive, widespread use of iron by Humans (not just weapons and armor and a few tools, but huge structures) coincided with the vanishing of many Fey from the world.  If they know something, they aren’t telling.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:31, Thu 07 May 2020.