A novel approach to returning from the dead

[Greenfield]

Been there, done that. How do you think he learned that his father was known in the Unseelie court?

Oddly, although the Half-Satyr is of Good alignment, he has far more friends (and lovers) in the Unseelie court than he does in the Seelie.

Equally odd, but true, is that fact that sometimes having enemies in high places is almost as good as having friends there. But that's another story.

 

[kingius]

"Step thru a faerie ring of mushrooms..."

Be careful with this. Old lore tells us that one can become trapped forever within a fairy ring...

 

[Greenfield]

But if the person was trapped forever, and never returned to tell the tale, how do we know they went through at all, and didn't simply die someplace?

The classic tale of Rip Van Winkle, who went to sleep for 30 years, wasn't a story of fairy mischief at all, no matter how some have portrayed. They were granting his wish. Or should I say, Wish?

The character had a lunch packed and a good jug, and wandered off into the woods to escape his nagging wife. There he met with some of the Little People, and shared his food and drink with them, as a matter of good manners. They approved and asked, somewhat conversationally, what was his dearest wish.

He said he' wished he could just take a nap, and not have to go home to his good wife, who he loved dearly but who was always nagging him.

The tale includes one of my favorite quotes: "The human tongue is the only known tool which grows sharper with use."

The Good Folk granted his Wish, and he slept until his wife passed away.

But yes, there are hazards in entering the Fae realm. Be careful what gifts you accept, because you may be bound to reciprocate. Even the offer of a meal can leave one indebted, hence the warnings about eating or drinking anything in that realm.

By the way, technically "Fairy" isn't a being. It's a place, as in the realm of the Fae. The people are Fae, the place is Fairie or Fairy.

The last time the Bard entered that realm, he went voluntarily, but this was preceded by him doing one of them a favor, so he entered debt free, and left the same way.

And that should be the rule for any who venture there. Be prepared to pay your bills, repay any favors, and try to pay in advance for any bargains you make. Make no promises you can't keep.

A common trait of the Fae in fiction is that they don't lie. As in, they don't say things that aren't factual. That doesn't mean, however, that they tell the truth, or try to mislead.

As Jim Butcher described it in his Dresden Files books, "They don't lie, but what they can do to the truth is something else again."

 

[kingius]

Very good, but one point of dissent: over here in england, the plural of fairy is 'fairies' and a 'fairy' is very definitely a magical being.

 

[Greenfield]

That's the modern usage, and the common one in the US as well.

I was referring to the more traditional usage, the actual origin of the terms.

The Fae were the creatures of Faerie (to use the traditional spelling).

Think of it this way: As Aerie is the home to creatures of the air, so Faerie is the home to the Fae.

Etymology (the origin of words and phrases) is a sort of a hobby of mine.

Don't ask what the origin of "Testify" is, I think the Mods would object.

And here's a bit of trivia for you: What is the origin of the word Trivia? (No Google of Wikipedia allowed, answer honestly please. )

 

[kingius]

Ah, I see. Perhaps that is a Celtic or Gaelic spelling?

Trivia? Hmmm... perhaps it is 'try'? But that wouldn't make sense with trivial (as in, easy), so I'm not sure.

 

[Greenfield]

The spelling? Middle English, actually.

Trivia? Think Latin, as in "Tri Via", meaning three roads. It was news posted at crossroads.

For in-game purposes, it also lends a reason why characters of level shouldn't just Teleport or Fly everywhere. Important news gets posted at crossroads, which you bypass with fast travel spells. Keeps people up to date for their "Knowledge - Local" skills.

 

[kingius]

Interesting stuff!

Did the Romans use this as a form of early propaganda, I wonder, or were they genuine words of caution for travelers and merchants off to the edge of the empires?

Storms, Rocs and Dragons are more reasons why characters shouldn't just fly everywhere... and spell durations might be problematic as well. Teleport moves the campaign to a more political one, when used for long distance travel, because the player is effectively saying that they want less adventure (no wilderness travel, no encounters along the way) and so the campaign begins to shift a gear to compensate.

 

[Greenfield]

Propaganda? I have no idea.

I do know that the tradition was to post news and public proclamations at crossroads, where they'd be visible to the largest number of travelers.

As for the shift in campaign aspect of Teleport: When the players want less adventure, the DM is doing something wrong. Either that, or the players should take up chess.