by Vex
[Races Main] [General Races] [Elves] [Nymphs] [Elementals] [Spirits] [Ethereality] [Vampires] [Undead] [Fairies] [Werefolk] [Trolls & Goblins] [Angels] [Demons] [Golems]
The genus of fairies has several different races, most of which are commonly thought of as being, quite simply, fairies. However, different fairy types vary greatly, and they have different powers and attributes.
Fairies: Fairies are one of the smallest of their genus. They have insect-like wings and sometimes crests or ridges on their heads. They have magical capabilities, and will sometimes portray themselves as human-sized to further their endeavors. Of those capabilities, most of it involves simply mind games and pranks. However, they have been known to exceed in sorcery and can possess great power. Fairy colonies exist throughout the world, but mostly in secluded gardens and forested areas such as the Garden of Eden, and once dwelled in the underground kingdom of Tir Na Nog in Ireland. A male fairy is called a fair.
Pixies: Pixies are slightly larger than Fairies, and, on the most part, have butterfly-styled wings, which will begin to glow when flapped a high speed. Pixies have slightly less in the way of magical capabilities than fairies, and as a result harnessed their warrior capabilities. Although eight-foot tall warriors would laugh at a group of pixies holding tiny spears, they would soon turn tail and run. The Pixies favour small spears tipped with a very diluted venom, but still, when there are fifty stabbing you at once, it simply becomes too irritating to worry about whatever you were after. Pixie colonies dwell in constructs they build inside of clouds, as well as forests and jungles. They also shared Tir Na Nog with the Fairies.
Pookas: These quadruped fairies look like small horses, but are extremely intelligent. Pookas amused themselves by picking up drunkards and taking them for wild rides in the evening, and would shake him off in the morning. They are pranksters at heart, carry no real loyalty to anyone or anything, and are out for pretty much a good laugh, and that's about it. For some odd reason, their runs around picking up drunks are instigated by rain when the sun is shining. So if that happens, I'd advise you stay away from liquor that night. Herds of Pookas still exist in Ireland, the US, and Scandinavia.
Gorta-Men: The all-male fairy race of the Gorta resemble tall humans, who are constantly hungry. However, their size and girth can sometimes contribute to their power. They will gift those who give them food by magically summoning pots of gold or granting appropriate wishes. Gorta-Men are very playful, but adhere to strict ethics and morals. However, those who deny them food aren't usually held in favour, and may experience some bad luck for a while after.
Leanhaun Shee: An entirely female fairy race, the Leanhaun Shee wish for the company of human men, and seek them out so as to make love to them. If the man denies the Leanhaun Shee, then she is his slave, and must utilize her magical powers to grant him wishes. However, if he gives in, then he is her slave. They are very seductive, but can be found out by a small blue mark which looks something like an eye on their right thigh. If this mark is there, the human would be advised to seek out some other enjoyment for the evening. If enslaved, a golden collar with an amethyst lock will appear around her neck, if the man is enslaved, he will receive a golden collar with a garnet lock.
Sheoques: This race looks almost identical to normal Fairies, but the Sheoques are a little smaller, and dwell in thorn bushes they deem as sacred. The Sheoques are master musicians, and will attract children to their homes with their sweet music, usually played on pint-sized flutes and lutes. The children would be then taken away to become one of them, and a Sheoque would replace the child. However, the energies expended in order to hold that form constantly would eventually kill the Sheoque in disguise in about a year.
Sprites: Sprites are small but powerful creatures. They infest plants (sometimes Treemen or Dryads) and will sometimes become aggressive and attack with electrical shocks if their host is attacked. Sprites have been sometimes rumoured to infest animals as well, but the results vary greatly and sometimes result in fatalities on both the Sprites and the host. For plants, it's a symbiotic relationship. The sprites can supply magical energy to the host, while the host supplies food and shelter for the Sprites.
Merrows: Merrow fairies are an odd phenomenon. They have an alternate form, which is a hornless cow. However, in their natural form, they resemble humans with scaled legs which they use for excellent swimming. The men have green teeth and hair, the women have purple fangs, but hair colour varies. An obsessive compulsive behaviour in these fairies demands that they endlessly wear some kind of hat, or anything that they can wear on their head, but it must be red. Why? No one is quite sure. However, the Merrows hate each other with a passion, and a mating between two Merrows have never occurred. Instead, they look for human mates to reproduce.
Sherie Soullh (Lake and Light Fairies): Once thought to be two separate races, the Sherie Soullh are actually one. They come out on foggy nights and make lights over lakes. Sherie Soullh like to dwell in lanterns or inside clocks, and will sometimes use magics to grant wishes to people who find them. Sherie Soullh are cryptic and mysterious, and although not entirely personable, they still bear no direct animosity to others.
Dulluhan: The headless Dulluhan fairies would sometimes carry their heads at their side, wear dark clothes, and ride black coaches known as "Dreads" which are drawn by a pair of horses will horse-skulls for heads. The Dulluhan were sometimes credited with taking the dead to wherever the dead go, but the Dulluhan themselves have said they don't. They can, however, tell if someone is going to die, and would go to their houses and knock on their doors. If the door was answered, a bucket of blood as thrown on the person as a death omen, but if they didn't answer the door, their death was averted for the time being.
Sidhe
: These Sidhe (basically pronounced "seed") are an evil race of fairies who use their powers to disrupt other races and wars between them and other fairy races were not uncommon. The Sidhe Battle of 849 is now famous for having nearly destroyed Tir Na Nog. The Sidhe are wingless fairies with long nails and dark hair. Not under any circumstances are they to be trusted, and be wary, for they can assume other forms. They have powerful magics, and will sometimes ally with other races to fulfill their own ends, but once those ends are met, all bets are off.Cluricaun: Commonly mistaken for dwarves, the Cluricaun are a race of midget fairies who are alcoholics. They are known to rob people's wine cellars and then ride big dogs and sheep after they're drunk. They usually are found face down, muddy and tired, in ditches in the morning. Sometimes they'll grant favours with their sorcery to people who help them out of the messy bogs during a hangover.
Darrig-Red Men: The powerful Darrig-Red fairies are entirely male and weave magic which chills the bones of mortals. Hiding their true intentions under ceaseless jokes and entertainment, the Darrig-Reds will then give mortals nightmares, going into their minds and warping them to their will. Many have been known not to survive encounters with the Darrig Reds. Fortunately, because of their deceitful nature even unto each other, they have become very rare. They resemble tall, gaunt and pale humans, usually wearing a red coat, sash, or shirt.
Gonconers (Ganconagh): Called the Pimps of the Fairies, Gonconers are known to some as the male counterparts of the Leanhaun Shee. Gonconers seduce female humans, but instead of being out for slavery, they just do it for fun. Constantly smoking a pipe, (when not engaged in other activities) the Gonconer was known to be seen making love to shepherdesses and milkmaids while they were on duty in olden times. Although they're players and addicted to sex, they still are nice enough people.
Kelpie: The lake-dwelling fairies are commonly mistaken for merpeople, but this is a dangerous misconception. Kelpie have fish-like tails extending from their waist instead of legs, and have seaweed instead of hair. However, the Kelpie are malevolent, and would usually lure their victims into the water, reach up to kiss them, and then pull them under the water and hold them until they drowned. The Kelpie received the blame for many deaths during the middle ages, and with good reason. Their victims are usually marked by horrible gashes in their backs, which, in Kelpie language, is the creature's signature. They rarely speak, so why they do all this in unknown.
Sylphs: The Sylphs are a corrupted race of evil fairies. They are mortal, and soulless, and so enact any means they can muster to make sure they stay alive, as, with no soul, death is the most feared thing for them. Sylphs are generally female, and are slender and graceful. They float in the air, and murder with almost envy, as they know that their victims' souls travel to a higher plane, but they are eternally terrified of their own ends.