Fae, Faeries

Fairies, Fae, or Fair Folk is the generalized term for the residents who reside in Elphame. There are many variants of Fae, both animal and intelligent, but any creature originating in Elphame can be considered Fae. A Fairy can be identified by their large, bright green eyes.

## Humanoid Fae

### Nøkken

Nøkken are a race of aquatic humanoids. The males of the species are called Nøk, and the females called Nix or Nixies. Nøkken and their belongings can vanish into the water and become one with it, making them undetectable, should they wish to be. When in a humanoid form, Nøkken have pale, thin skin often compared to a frog's belly. Most have mossy brown or green hair, but white and other lighter colors are not unheard of. Their hair is always wet, no matter how long they've been out of the water. They have webbed fingers and the males have long, webbed toes. Nixies typically sport the tail of a silvery fish, and are sometimes referred to as freshwater or river mermaids, though they can assume a human form more like the Nøk. They are a musical race, and their song nearly always enchants humans to madness. Most become obsessed with hearing the song again, and wail at the waterside for the Nøk to return. Children and those weaker of mind often drown themselves. Nøk typically take up an instrument, usually a stringed instrument, whereas Nixies prefer to sing. Nixies tend to say closer to the water than Nøk, who may take to the land and wander, but they must always carry water from their home river with them, or they will slowly lose their minds. Most carry water in their instruments. Nøk most typically carry violins, but lutes, mandolins, viols, and guitars are also common. Even hardy-gurdys are not unheard of. Some even favor flutes, though these Nøk must carry an alternate vessel for their river water. Cúram is a Nok.

### Mylings

Mylings are the spirits of people, typically very young children, who die before they are baptized. Their spirits wander the world and wail for someone to find them and help them. If they are old enough to be capable of speech, they will appear as a silvery apparition and beg on roadsides. They wait for people passing, then petition them to carry them to a cemetery. The Myling begins at the anticipated weight of a child, but the closer they get to a cemetery, the heavier they become. They will refuse to let go of the person carrying them, even as they sink into the ground under the weight. Eventually, the person carrying them will be crushed.

Theo is a special case: His spirit became a Myling, but he was particularly persistent and managed to sneak part of his soul back into his body. The rest of his soul continued on to Elphame. There have been other unusual cases such as Theo's, where a soul splits for any number of reasons, and results in a person who can see and interact with Elphame and the people that live there. Many holy figures and saints who receive messages from God or Angels are actually encountering Fae. St. Francis, St. Joan of Arc, and even the Virgin Mary could have been similar to Theo. God exists in-universe, but Elphame is between 'here and Heaven', so God uses the Fae to communicate to the people of the Human World.

## Bestial Fae

### Feech

A feathered creature similar to a barn owl, with incredibly large, solid silver eyes. They can be found in most forests, even in the human world, but are invisible there. They are the creatures responsible for the feeling of 'being watched'. When in Elphame, they can be seen and scared away by gazing back at them.

### Wisps

Clementine-sized creatures that give life to plants. When their plants are disturbed in Elphame, they leap into the air in surprise and gently float back down. They are typically white and fluffy, and have moth-like antennae. They have compound, insect like eyes that are usually a pale blue. They are skittish but friendly, and will land in an outstretched hand. They purr when pet on their backs.

### Sperts

Sperts are turtle-like creatures that come in two varieties: stone and moss. Both varieties have extremities and heads that appear to be stone, but moss sperts have a 'shell' that is living moss. When their head and legs are tucked away, they are indistinguishable from an ordinary patch of moss. Stone sperts are much the same, except their backs are rock and resemble pebbles so closely, sometimes people pick them up and skip them across the water!