Fey

The Fey
"Fey" is the encompassing term for all the species that originally come from the Mists. There are seven primary Fey species, however, the True Fey can take on many other forms. The following are base descriptions of the main species of Fey. For more detailed descriptions, visit their respective pages.

Elf
Elves are known by all Fey to have the greatest claim of kinship with the Faerie. Because of this, many of the other Fey refer to Elves respectfully as “older siblings" in deference to their purer Fey blood. Their blood marks them as akin to Faerie, so much so that Elves are inherently magical. For Elves, Magic is as natural as breathing. Elves tend to become powerful mages.

Dwarf
Dwarves are the second eldest of the Fey species, less pure in Fey blood than the Elves, but more pure than other Fey. Since their blood marks them as different from other species, Elves and Dwarves, though frequently rivals, always treat each other with respect. All other Fey are considered so much more distant from Faeries blood that they lack this bond. Dwarves are also the greatest of smiths, and are known by their facial hair, regardless of gender.

Faun
Fauns are known as flighty forest-dwellers. Though some fauns may take a fancy to the social scene of civilized areas, they tend remain near their beloved woods. Fauns are a passionate, sensual and socially oriented species. They love nothing more than being the center of attention, especially with an admiring audience. Fauns are naturally devious; constantly playing harmless practical jokes, in an effort to make everyone else relax a little bit. Fauns have had enough experience with other species, though, to keep an eye on the possible escape routes, just in case their joke is taken the wrong way!

Halfling
Halflings are cheerful, gregarious, and curious people, they are never happier than when sitting down in comfortable surroundings to a good meal. The Halfling ideology can be summed up simply with “good food, good drink, good song, good friends ... and some more good food!” Halflings are generally peaceful people who often seem strangely ill-equipped to deal with the troubles that can be brought on by their curiosity. Halflings are some of the strongest faith casters, due to their sense of community and hopeful disposition.

Orc
Orcs are generally competitive, seeking to dominate those that they perceive as being weaker; they are also clan-oriented and seek honor in battle for their clan. Orcs are, for the most part, considered to be bloodthirsty; generally speaking they deserve this designation. However, when the need arises to defend themselves, their homes, or friends, Orcs are capable of extreme acts of self sacrifice and bravery.

Kaern
Kaern are a cat-like species which has a female dominated culture. Though they can be found in Human society, Kaern tend to congregate in areas that they mark as their territory. Trespassing into Kaern territory can be a dangerous activity, as the passionate Kaern tend to act first and ask questions later, if they ask at all! Kaern, are notably impulsive beings, relying on gut instincts, removing the need for unnecessary and tedious thought.

Arluru
Arluru are wolf-like healers and hunters, they dwell in untamed wilderness, taking up and protecting their territory with extreme vigilance. Arluru in a pack are a formidable force not to be trifled with. They are deeply connected to nature, and are quick to fight for what they believe in.

Among Humans
Since the coming of the Great Plague in the year of the Tawdonian Empire 351MC the Fey races have walked the world of humans. Their first years among humans were hard and dangerous for them - many people in the Empire and the Confederacy blamed them for the great death that stalked all peoples. Fey were killed out of hand wherever they were found until humans lost the strength to hold weapons. It was not just the fear of the unknown, for many human tales tell of nightmare creatures or eerie manlike beings who tricked and manipulated people since the dawn of time.

Gradually, humans and Fey have learned of each other, and over the last eighty years they have become more trusting of each other. However many humans are still wary of these people, so close yet so different. Humans have become more amicable with the races of Elves, Halflings and Dwarves, but are still wary of the more animalistic Fey; the Fauns, Kaern, Arluru, and Orcs. Elves and Dwarves have found the greatest acceptance amongst the peoples of the Confederacy and the Empire. In 354 the great Imperial city of Tor’Jadin was utterly decimated by the Plague and a group of Elves and Dwarves discovered the eerie city, populated only by the creatures who feed upon death; rats, crows, and vultures. Gradually this force of Elves and Dwarves, joined over the months by representatives of all the Fey races, cleared the city of the dead and claimed it as their own.

When the decimated population of the Empire began to emerge from their hiding places after the Plague, they came across the Fey. Merchant trains were amazed to find Tor’Jadin overrun with elves and the other Fey. Luckily the first Elves met there were able to sway the humans in favour of alliance and support and the city was ceded to the control of the Fey in return for their support in the Empire.

The Fey who headed east or arrived in the Confederacy joined with the peoples of the Confederacy wholeheartedly. They were treated as spirits of the forest given flesh, especially the Fauns, Arluru, and Kaern, who were easily recognized from several ancient legends. Gradually over the years the reverence has faded to admiration and acceptance. The Elves who live in the Confederacy have embraced a sylvian life, becoming one with the animals and trees of the forests.

Belief
The Fey are also not religious in the way that humans think of it. That’s not to say that an Elf set loose in the world may not choose to convert to on of the human religions, but those who do are generally look down upon by their cousins. This doesn’t mean that the Fey races don’t have a being that they sometimes worship. The main thing that separates this from Human religious worship is faith. Fey don’t need to believe in Faerie and the True Fey for them to be real. The average Prime has faith in NOS even though they have never met. The Fey lived with Faerie and the True Fey for decades, centuries or even longer. If you are Fey, you are playing someone who’s grandparents lived in God’s house (if they weren’t gods themselves). That puts a very different spin on they way you think. There’s a huge world of difference between believing “Thou shalt not kill.” and knowing that if you kill an other Elf, Faerie comes and gives you the metaphysical spanking of your life. The fact that most Fey personally know their gods does something else to them - it makes them right. Very few humans live 100% without doubt in the validity of their religion and culture, everybody has doubts from time to time. But Elves don’t. Elves and the other Fey make mistakes, sure, but the fact that they know they are right about some of the more important secrets of life (at least as far as they’re concerned) has a tendency to overshadow those mistakes. Some call it self-confidence, some call it egotism, but what ever you call it, it creates a profound schism between Elven and Human thought.

The Elven Code
The Code is more then a code of honour, it is a religious edit, with real consequences if an elf fails to follow it. This causes many elves to follow their code with great religious fervor. For more information, see 	The Elven Code