Fairy

**Fairies** (Faery, Fay/Fey) are a type of nature spirits native to the European continent and further West. The classification of fairy covers a wide array of beings that range from trickster that like to play harmless games, to malevolent creatures that enjoy bloodshed and death. While sometimes benevolent towards humans, fairies are often times considered pests by higher beings like gods and dragons due to their antics.

## History

The spiritual beings known as fairies emerged on the outskirts of lands under the influence of the gods, whether because they emerged there naturally, or was drawn to them are unknown. Sticking to their nature as meddlers, fairies often interacted with human settlements whenever the gods were not looking, even developing new magics to actively hide their presence from divinities. While some pantheons allowed them to interact within their territory, they were most often viewed as pests and driven away.

When the gods and other superior beings lost influence in a certain region at the time of the Church's rise to power, the fairies began to move into the territory. When Christians encountered the fairies and the old legends, they simply attributed many of them as lesser creatures instead of gods, and began to call them demons. Due to the perception of being demonic entities, they were hunted down by the hundreds and their communities were forcibly disbanded, leading many to seek refuge in other lands and affiliations

## Characteristics

As the majority of fairies observe humans in order to form their own personalities, they frequently watch the lives of children and end up becoming immature tricksters, but are known for watching adults, animals, and even other supernatural beings. A larger number of young fairies do not possess much of a moral compass, resulting in them either becoming benevolent or malevolent beings, with them sticking with their personalty latter in life even if they learn the differences between the two. Only when they are born and raised are fairies capable of choosing between the two opposing moralities without misunderstandings from what they observe.

While most did not initially view fairies as anything but sentient pests in the past, the attribution of them, instead of the gods, has left many pantheons with a sour taste in their mouths having been confused with a lesser species.

## Types of Fairy

* **Imps** are one of the most infamous of fairy types, having been known as tree spirits who often played tricks and lured humans into the forests in an effort to make friends with the outsiders. They were largely only accepted by witches and magicians, and driven away during Christianity's rise, with many of their kind having fallen into the service of the Infernal Hells as demonic beings and other factions.

* **Leprechauns** are a diminutive fairy type that once had festivals organized in their honour and were known for the culmination of wealth they received from offerings. After their festivals had ceased, they took to disguising themselves as humans and providing services in exchange for gold that they would add to their hoard.

* **Changelings** are a type of fairy that became envious of human infants or children, wishing to have a parent to coddle them. In a misguided attempt, they would kidnap a child, put them under a spell, and shapeshift into them and take their place within the family.

* **Spriggans** are a particular breed of thieving fairies, known for its tendency to steal items from the homes of humans and bringing them to their lair. While thieves, they are entirely capable of defending their hoards and increasing their size to do battle.

* **Hobgoblins** were once a domesticated type of fairy, often helping those in need whenever they can. After they were pushed away from their once gracious humans, they lost their purpose and became tricksters.

## Powers & Abilities

While the fairies themselves often varied in appearance and personality, most were known to possess powers that were similar to each other, while others had powers that were rather unique to them. Fairies, while powerful compared to humans, can be killed with basic forms of magical attacks or weapons enchantments, or kept away with harmful charms or talismans.

* **Magic**: As beings made from pure concentration of magic, fairies are all capable of performing nearly any form of spell as long as they have the required energy to do so. When not using a spell, they are able to manipulate their local elements into doing their bidding.

* **Shapeshifting**: Most fairies can alter their appearance and shape to disguise themselves from others, often to appear as humans. Although handy against common humans, they are unable to hide themselves from beings like divinities.

* **Invisibility**: Fairies can make themselves disappear to some degree, largely by altering the perception of humans and make themselves into moving blindspots. Talented humans are able to see through their invisibility trick and adapt to it.