The Fae: The Good Neighbors
The Gentry
Nomenclature is the first defense. Do not call them "Fairies." The term is considered diminishing. Refer to them as The Good Neighbors, The Gentry, or The Sidhe (pronounced Shee). They are not the winged pixies of Victorian nurseries. They are an ancient, terrifyingly powerful race of supernatural beings who inhabit the Otherworld—a dimension parallel to our own. They look like us, but sharper, more beautiful, and utterly lacking in human empathy.
The Laws of Hospitality
The Fae operate on a strict, legalistic system of etiquette. Chaos is not random. It is bound by rules.
- The Food: Never consume food or drink in the Otherworld. To do so ties your biological rhythm to their realm. A single night of feasting may equate to a hundred years in the mortal world.
- The Thanks: Never say "Thank You." Gratitude implies a debt is owed and the transaction is closed. The Fae prefer open loops of obligation. Instead, say, "You have done me a kindness."
- The Name: Names have power. Never give a Fae your full true name. Use a pseudonym.
Cold Iron
The primary weakness of the Fae is ferromagnetic material. Cold Iron (iron hammered without heat, or simply raw iron) acts as a chaotic disruptor to their magic. It burns their skin like acid and creates a null-field they cannot cross. Hanging a horseshoe over a door is not a decorative choice. It is a magnetic shield generator against careful intrusion.
The Changeling Protocol
The most notorious interaction between Fae and Human is the Changeling exchange. The Fae covet healthy human genetic stock. They may abduct a human infant and replace it with a "Changeling"—a withered fairy child, or a block of wood enchanted (glamoured) to resemble the baby. The Changeling is identified by voracious appetite, precocious intelligence, or a failure to thrive.
The Fairy Ring
The rings of mushrooms found in the morning dew are not botanical anomalies. They are portals. Scientific observation suggests they mark the boundary where the veil is thinnest. To step inside is to offer yourself as a guest to the court.
The Final Warning
There is no return ticket from the Seelie Court. If you see a perfect circle of toadstools in the meadow, walk around it clockwise. The Fae notice guests, so be polite, but be boring.
