Common Fae

**Common fae** are, as per their name, the most common species of fae and the most populous. They are also the most human-like in appearance, and in their habit of congregating in cities and townships. They can be Seelie or Unseelie. The most well-known common fae in canon is Gwyn ap Nudd.

## Physical Description

Being the most human-like of all the fae in appearance, they appear completely human in their human-form. They do not have pointed ears and there is nothing immediately eldritch about them except perhaps their dra'ocht. They can have a variety of skin colours from pale to dark, and so far possess a standard spectrum of human-colored eyes, with nothing out of the ordinary. In some cases, as with Gwyn, they may be taller than many humans.

## Abilities

Common fae tend to have an element they have a strong affinity to, which is most notable when they teleport.

* Gwyn's is his light
* Efnisien ap Wledig's is connected to fire
* Crielle ferch Fnwy's is connected to her dra'ocht

The only known Readers were both common fae, but Not-Poignant has noted on their tumblr that Readers can be any fae species, though 'they're most likely to be common fae.' Reading is an innate form of telepathy via powerful empathic abilities.

Augus Each Uisge noted that 'common fae were not the most hardy of species.'

Common fae are 'supposed to sleep once every two weeks at the outside, and it wasn’t uncommon for some to sleep every night or second night, mimicking sleep patterns similar to humans.' This requirement can seemingly be pushed by status, with higher status allowing for longer breaks between sleep.

## Characteristics (culture, habits)

Common fae are human-like manifestations of elemental spirits. Common fae have no 'true-form' because they revert to their true elements and vanish in the process (dying). As a result, they are the most locked into their forms, and even a hybrid-form common fae has never been seen.

Common fae have numerous rituals, including public trials and funereal rituals that require them to touch soil in death. They have a 'saying, a ritual common upon the death of one of their own': 'I stand here before you, as the common fae stand before the lay of their lands. I touch you in your grief, as we are all touched by it; the passing of one of us into the lands that we will – all of us – to one day return.' Although it's unclear if this refers to fae in general or common fae in particular, Gwyn noted that fae funerals had several stages, including a number of speeches immediately following the death, and weeks after the funeral, wakes would be planned. This was at least the seeming plan for Efnisien's funeral.

## Folklore/Mythology

Common fae are not named or recognised in folklore or mythology, though folk heroes / deities like Gwyn ap Nudd do exist in Welsh mythology.

## Image Gallery

Fanart of Crielle ferch Fnwy by MorbidLizard https://morbidlizard.tumblr.com/Fanart of Gwyn ap Nudd and Mafydd Brant by intheendlessbluewine https://intheendlessbluewine.tumblr.com/post/187084407249/i-dont-know-where-these-gwyn-feelings-came-fromFanart of Mikkel by Suis0u https://suis0u.tumblr.com/post/182736060518/mikkel-a-character-by-not-poignant-and-their-faeFanart of Efnisien ap Wledig by angelblaze2012 https://not-poignant.tumblr.com/post/97694130678/efnisienFanart of Gwyn ap Nudd by Nina https://fanartdrawer.tumblr.com/post/50124000638/because-of-reasons-augus-and-gwyn-from-shadows
## References

1. ↑ Not-Poignant. "I've always thought Readers were..." *Actually A Little Bit Poignant*. 14 Aug 2018, 10:44 PM. https://not-poignant.tumblr.com/post/177009101963/ive-always-thought-readers-were-really-cool-i.
2. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 25 January 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2338138. Chapter 38: Underfae.
3. ↑ not\_poignant. "Deeper into the Woods." *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 5 April 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/3652500/chapters/8152002. Chapter 2: II - The Waterhorse.
4. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 1 November 2013. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2045073. Chapter 24: Oath.
5. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 10 October 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/5386955. Chapter 13: Advice.
6. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 31 July 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/10152347. Chapter 54: Fraught.
7. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 20 June 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/3901096. Chapter 2: Orphan.
8. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 16 September 2013. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/1904254. Chapter 12: Liver.