The Fae are a race of magical creatures from the realm of Nature, a realm they call the Green. It is a copy of our world but as it would have been without the interference of Humans. Covered in thick forests and rolling planes, it is a monument to all things natural. They long ago mastered the ability to open portals to Earth, called Fae Doors, and spent generations interacting with early humans.
The Fae's perceptions, motivations and actions are alien to us. They seem to understand the world through relatives rather than absolutes; many are bound by obscure and bizarre oaths and rules; others act seemingly at random, obeying a logic opaque to all humans.
As beings so powerfully tied to magic and to belief and stories, much of their life, including the lifespan, can be difficult to pin down. There are fae who have lived for a thousand years or more, and there are some who live and die with the speed of the mayfly. The two extremes are more rare, as many find more to do than could fit within such a short lifespan, and once they age past a thousand years, if they do not find things to keep their interest and passions going, they generally realise it is time, and allow their magic and life to return to the Green for the next generation.
Human have a plethora of nicknames for the Fae: The Keepers, the Cousins, the Fair Folk, the Good Folk, the Gentry, the Lords and Ladies, the Furies, etc. However, Fae have not been seen in the world for thousands of years, having retreated back to the Green during the Dark Ages. This is when humanity started overtaking the Fae in numbers and technology and an uprising from their slave race, the Trolls, made the Fae wary of our world. So they closed the doors and forgot about humanity in the same way humanity forgot about the Fae.
Trolls and Goblins were once slave races to the Fae, but both were abandoned when the Gentry fled to the Green. Until recently, they only remained as myths and legends of these two races, as monsters to the Trolls and gods for the Goblins. They tend to have shorter lifespans than the Fae who live in the Green, but can easily live for 200 years or so, more so if they have access to a source of sustaining nature magic.
Pixies
Pixies are the most common of the Fae and are characterized by their wings, which they believe give them status over the other Fae. It’s true that most ruling Fae are Pixies. They are haughty and uptight individuals, assured that everything they do is correct (even when it isn't!). Pixies that have joined the Guild do so out of an interest in humanity and our realm.
Sirens
Sirens make up a lesser proportion of the Fae than Pixies. They lack wings, but possess the most beautiful and alluring of voices and have a affinity to water. Sirens have been know to hold their breath for hours on end and populate the great lakes that liter the Green.
Trolls
Until 2019, Trolls were considered their own race along side Goblins. Now however, evidence points that they originated in the Green as with the other Fae. They are large, humanoid creatures ranging from 5ft – 7ft in height, with powerful builds. The have ice white skin from years of living underground, with pointed teeth and ears. They are a deeply spiritual race and hold places of spiritual significant in high regard, often acting aggressively to any trespassers (a trait they share with Goblins).
Goblins
Goblins range from size between around 4ft and 6ft, with large ears and noses and blue skin. Unlike their cousins the Trolls, Goblins are not amphibious but still live underground. Their communities are split into tribes which have their own territory within the boundaries of Svalbard. The tribes trade between each other and sometimes the human settlements above ground. Some Goblin tribes even set up stalls for tourists in the human towns but no humans are allowed in Goblin caves unless invited.
Costume Requirements
Fae society is made up of four Courts – Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. These are political and philosophical ideals that spread throughout Fae life, each Fae raised in the Green following one of the four Courts (see linked page for additional information). However, due to the magical nature of the Fae and the Green, these ideals can also spread to physical differences between a Fae of one court and a Fae of another. All Fae from the Green must be dedicated to one of these courts and each have costume requirements referencing them. Fae such as Goblins and Trolls who have lived in their own cultures do not have to dedicate to a court, but they might have ancient traditions surrounding those colours and attitudes.
· Spring – Green. Life, Family and Growth. Fae of the Spring Court are usually quite Liberal in thinking. They throw the best parties and make the best entertainers. Spring Sirens are amongst the most celebrated musicians in the entire Green.
· Summer – Yellow. Heat, War and Strength. Fae of the Summer Court make up the best fighters of the Fae. They are loud, confident and excel at physical activities. Their passions run at the surface of their skin.
· Autumn – Brown. Thought, Faith and Art. Autumn Fae are the thinkers. They can debate philosophy deep into the night and are excellent in the magical arts. However, they are also prone to melancholy.
· Winter – White. Memory, Death and Future. The Fae of Winter are a strange breed. They don’t live in the present, but are constantly looking at the past and future. They see that death is necessary to bring new life. They make great librarians and advisers.