Although there are countless stories and legends that attempt to explain the “fair folk,” if anyone knows the true origins of the Fae, they are unwilling—or unable—to say so. From a distance, one might mistakenly believe that their form and proportions make them similar to the Humanoid races in Mennara. This is purely a trick, however, of a mind unable to process what, exactly, it is seeing.
The Fae of the Aenlong are utterly terrifying. Their appearance varies wildly, but tales are told of distorted nostrils that lead to wide maws filled with razor-sharp teeth. Their horns and antlers are said to jut at unpredictable angles from their skull in ways none of the many monsters that wander the countryside can match. Most disturbing are the sightless visages some are claimed to posses; how they see without eyes is a mystery.
But the thing that makes the Fae truly unique, and completely terrifying, is the chaotic magical energy that burns inside them. Although there is no shortage of reasons to stay away from the Fae whenever possible, it’s ultimately their unpredictable, chaotic power that sends shivers up a being’s spine and warns the primitive, instinctive part of their brain to run whenever they are near.
Nevertheless, foolhardy mortals often seek out the Fae in places where the veil between worlds grows thin, such as the Greywood. Some beings are attracted by the promise of power that the Fae represent. Others seek to slay the Fae for their valuable organs, used to make rare tinctures and potions. Still more believe that the Fae are simply misunderstood: that the right person could become the foundation of a new relationship between the Fae and Mennara.
All are foolishly wrong, although it is those in the latter group who tend to suffer the most before their deaths.
References
- Realms of Terrinoth