Fae

Hidden in the deepest wilds and darkest corners of the continent, the elusive fae have lived alongside their mortal counterparts since time immemorial. The Shael and Geshael tribes, known colloquially as Changelings and Bogeymen, were trapped on the continent eons ago after a mysterious collision of planes. Since then, they have given rise to both the elves and eirvogr, playing a critical if overlooked role in the course of Auldenon's history.

## Description

Fae bear a passing resemblance to their descendants, with slender frames and elegant bearing.  Typically smaller in stature than other races, they are well suited to remaining hidden. Their skin encompasses a range of tones, but always carries a strange unnatural cast such as a dull green pallor, a ripple of magenta, or an indigo shimmer. This strange relationship with color is reflected in their eyes as well, with droplets of pigment forming on their sclera in place of an iris and smearing like ink across paper as they move their eyes. This abundance of color does not extend to their unnaturally long eyelashes or hair, however, which are always translucent and colorless.

## Personality

Fae are creatures of emotion first and foremost. They are passionate and often mercurial despite their impossibly long lives, possessing a natural gift for finding trouble and staving off centuries of existential boredom.

Of the two tribes dwelling on Auldenon, the Shael are thought to be the more congenial while the Geshael are seen as dour by comparison. In reality, these are only stereotypes drawn from mortality's first encounter with each tribe; a fae's ancestry has no real bearing on their personality.

Fae suffer from a unique compulsion to play tricks. While their antics are generally lighthearted, they have also been known to inflict terrible curses and misfortunes as part of their games. They are generally treated with fear and immense caution by mortals as a result, but are said to have a deep respect for anyone who manages to turn the tables and prank them instead.

## Abilities

Due to their smaller stature and reclusive nature, fae are naturally evasive and notoriously difficult to track. They are adept at creating illusions, further contributing to their near-mythical reputation as mysterious creatures hiding in the deepest shadows of Auldenon.

Besides an innate vulnerability to iron, the two tribes are each gifted with both a unique talent and a curse passed down from their forebears. As befits their name of Changelings, the Shael are able to assume the guise of an animal, haunting forests and city streets alike unseen. Their curse renders them incapable of lying, although many have become adept at bending the truth. By contrast, the Bogeymen are able to warp from one small, lightless space such as a closet or cupboard to another, earning them a reputation as thieves and monsters that lurk in doorways or beneath beds. This ability suits them well, as any direct illumination causes them terrible physical discomfort, progressing to severe illness with prolonged exposure.

## Society

Fae take pains to escape the attention of mortals, who have historically captured or killed them out of fear and mistrust. Each tribe goes about this differently, making use of their unique talents to remain unseen.

Despite the best efforts of the Shael, their inability to lie makes dwelling in populated areas a dangerous and exhausting affair, as their curse puts them at a disadvantage when discovered by mortals. As a result, most changelings prefer to exist on the fringes of civilization or entirely in the wild, keeping their dealings with mortals as limited as possible. In contrast, the Geshael have taken to the cities, dwelling in darkened alleys or cellars to avoid light and using their strange ability to step between unconnected spaces to evade the notice of mortals.

Although they were once unified in the wake of First Crossing, in modern times fae have become highly individualistic and rarely gather in groups, with encounters between members of different tribes being even more uncommon. They have little regard for their kin and generally prefer to live out their unending lives in solitude, pursuing whatever fleeting interest or adventure has drawn their attention in the moment.

## History

Fae first came into being in a parallel plane known as the Palette long before the beginning of recorded history. They built grand courts and explored their home in much the same way as the mortals of Auldenon until a disruption of the shroud between realms known as First Crossing left the two predominant tribes-- the Shael and Geshael-- stranded in the physical plane. Trapped in an unfamiliar world, the two tribes initially settled in the deep forests of Sumarfold, where they lived and worked together in order to carve out a realm of their own in their new home.

Over time, the curses borne by each tribe became more difficult to bear; the Geshael's aversion to light meant they could only emerge at night, leading the Shael to ever greater positions of power and influence in the courts of the fae. This imbalance eventually led to the dissolution of the realm as each tribe left to seek out more favorable circumstances. The Shael vanished into the caves and tunnels of ancient Leastrune, while the Geshael preferred the perpetual shade of Olheiv. The tribes lived independently for centuries with each subsequent generation becoming more adapted to the physical plane, losing the gifts and curses of their home realm. Eventually, this slow change gave rise to creatures that could no longer be called fae at all: The elves and eirvogr.

The fae lived among their mortal offspring for a time, until they became targets following their first contact with other races. Humans were particularly hostile, using their legends of trickster spirits and cursed bargains as justification in their capture and murder of fae who ventured too far from home. Reluctant to remain locked away in their castles and gardens for eternity, the fae elected instead to vanish from mortal eyes entirely, becoming reclusive and solitary. One by one, they disappeared from their homes, leaving their descendants to their own devices and pursuing their own adventures from beneath a veil of secrecy. They have largely vanished from memory in modern times, and are seen as little more than myths by most mortals.