The Darker Side of Fey

[TarionzCousin]

What are the darker aspects of the fey and the lands of Faerie? Throughout history, and in fables such as Grimm's Fairy Tales, the fey are not very much like Tinkerbell™ at all.

They dominate people, steal/exchange babies, make people dance until they die of exhaustion.

What else are they known for?

What are some good sources of fey stories--gaming books and others?

 

[Quickleaf]

Where are those old posts by [MENTION=18280]Raven Crowking[/MENTION] ? A lot of his stuff was genius

Right now I'm immersed in Wild Hunt lore, which is taking center stage in my 4e campaign. If you have questions about the Hunt, you could always ask me. Hate to cite a video game, but the Witcher 2 has a great take on the Wild Hunt (alas I do not read Polish so most of the books are inaccessible for me).

So, to add to your list...

They drive people crazy, compel them to join the hunt, and (maybe) return them years later.

 

[SnowleopardVK]

Also all-around jerkiness for personal amusement/giggles.

And don't forget kidnapping pretty people à la Sir Orfeo.

 

[Relique du Madde]

What are the darker aspects of the fey and the lands of Faerie? Throughout history, and in fables such as Grimm's Fairy Tales, the fey are not very much like Tinkerbell™ at all.

They dominate people, steal/exchange babies, make people dance until they die of exhaustion.

What else are they known for?

What are some good sources of fey stories--gaming books and others?

Strange food. Suposally eating faerie food: A) Causes the person to sleep for years on end (that's one interpretation of Rip Van Winkle). B) Makes the person forget about themselves. C) Makes the person unable to leave the land of faerie. D) Causes the person to die soon after leaving the realm of faerie.

I think I also heard one story where time is wonky in the realm of faerie. In that story time in the real world passes quickly so people who enter faerie think that hours passed when weeks actually passed. Other stories are that people don't age while in the land of faerie, and sometimes leaving means instant death since time catches up with the person.

 

[Aberzanzorax]

Van Richten's Guide to the Shadow Fey was a great resource.

There's some great dark (it's for Ravenloft, as you probably guessed from the title) stuff in there.


Grimm (and the older Grimm d20) does some excellent dark faerie tale stuff as well.

 

[Loonook]

What are the darker aspects of the fey and the lands of Faerie? Throughout history, and in fables such as Grimm's Fairy Tales, the fey are not very much like Tinkerbell™ at all.

They dominate people, steal/exchange babies, make people dance until they die of exhaustion.

What else are they known for?

What are some good sources of fey stories--gaming books and others?

I like Butcher's take on the Fey in the Dresden Files. I also think we need to remember to:

a.) Take no food, drink, or gifts.
b.) Never trust 'truth' from a Faerie.
c.) They have a very long view of the world. They're pretty much immortal so... They will take the long long long long long view. Your grandparents may have promised your baby teeth to them. Oops .

Slainte,

-Loonook.

 

[Serendipity]

They're alien. Fey really don't understand mortality and mortal beings living in a realm where time only flows in one direction, at one constant rate, are baffling to them. Having absolutely no context for mortal/human experience, and you have the makings of a good atrocity.
Add to them their capriciousness and a child-like mindset to taste.

 

[Quickleaf]

They're alien. Fey really don't understand mortality and mortal beings living in a realm where time only flows in one direction, at one constant rate, are baffling to them. Having absolutely no context for mortal/human experience, and you have the makings of a good atrocity.
Add to them their capriciousness and a child-like mindset to taste.

Yeah that's the essence of the (darker) fey. No conception of good & evil, no appreciation of death/finiteness, and no understanding of "No".

That said, much folklore has them bound by their word - an oath must be honored. For fey that often goes both ways, so mortal oaths are long remembered, a la Rumplestiltskin.

 

[Jhaelen]

What are some good sources of fey stories--gaming books and others?

My favorite Fey Story is this.

Regarding gaming books, I like their treatment in Ars Magica (Power Source: Faerie) and nWoD Changeling.

 

[SnowleopardVK]

Yeah that's the essence of the (darker) fey. No conception of good & evil, no appreciation of death/finiteness, and no understanding of "No".

That said, much folklore has them bound by their word - an oath must be honored. For fey that often goes both ways, so mortal oaths are long remembered, a la Rumplestiltskin.

It's often less of a lack of concept of "No" than it is a lack of care that someone is saying it.

And on being bound by word; loopholes. If there's something in an agreement that can be exploited, it probably will be.