Fey Fey were creatures from the Feywild , a parallel plane to the Prime . Many were typified as having supernatural abilities and a connection to nature or to some other force or place . The language of the fey was called Sylvan . Fae , or faeries , as many liked to be called , were creatures of any size , shape , texture , or smell , that exemplified and inhabited natural wonder . They went by many names , like " Green Folk " , " Fair Folk " , " People of Peace " , sometimes " Wee folk " . They were ruled by noble eladrin s and other archfey . Legends . There were many unsubstantiated legends about fey on Toril , especially in the forested areas of the Dalelands , and the like . Faeries , in good and friendly lands , with warm lush forests and babbling brooks , were said to be short friendly folk , with a twinkle in their eye , pronouncing wealth and good luck on those deserving , who often happened to be the mortals who found them . In other places , blasted lands and choking swamps , fey were seen to be mad redcap s , devouring infants , corrupting youth , and bringing bad luck to any in whom they happened to take interest . The truly uninformed would see the elves , dwarves , gnome s , and even goblin s as a form of fey . As with any legend , there was a taste of truth within . Many fairies were tiny , and many of the legends about fey were quite true . Many fey , pixie s , for example , could only be seen by those to whom they choose to reveal themselves , though powerful wizards could often make them out . Elves and fey were united by common belief , by their connection to natural purity , and for the fey , this was enough to create a connection of appearance . Gnomes enjoyed making light of supposedly serious things , and this united them with fey as well , though only in attitude . Fey and goblins might be connected more closely , by age - old blood lines , but this was conjecture . As for whether fairies desired weal and woe , both were the case . Fey were creatures connected closely to nature , and just as rain from clouds saved farmers and troubled travelers , so did fey help some and injure others . Fey were a people of many different alignments and interests , like humans were , and just as most of humans , dwarves , and elves concern themselves little with the fair folk , so the fair folk , by and large , concern themselves very little with the mortal races . The darkest and most powerful legend about fey went back eons , to the creator races . Some sages claimed that fey creatures known as the leShay were one of the four , possibly five , creator races . Others passed this off as pure nonsense . Going to the source , asking ancient fairies , proved only to be a headache , alas , as none seemed interested in providing a straight answer . It was said that to protect oneself from fey one should carry iron , wear the color red , turn their clothing inside out , or be near running water . Iron was said to be detrimental to the skin of faeries , the color red and inside - out clothing a sort of camouflage because the Fair folk couldn ' t see it , and running water a source for disrupting magic spells or bad luck . Species of Fey . There were many , many different species of fey and the term " fey " seemed to simply mean any creature whose origins were tied to the Feywild . Fomorian s , gnome s , hag s , faerie dragon s , and mirage dragon s were all examples of fey , though less commonly identified as such than sprite s , sylph s , nymph s , or dryad s . However , perhaps the best - known examples of fey were the Tel - quessir .