Adventures in Arcadayn
Faerie is a parallel dimension or "otherworld" inhabited by the Sidhe (faeries). Faerie creatures are frequent visitors to Kemil, but are rare except for those places where the barriers between worlds are weakest. In Arcadayn, the influence of Faerie is strongest in Haldinibar, the Storm Isles and the Fey Isles. In these regions, the Sidhe have established more or less permanent strongholds, and have regular traffic with the mortal natives.
Travel to and from Faerie
See "Travel to and from Faerie".
The creatures of Faerie are of two major kinds:
The Sidhe (Faeries): These magical beings are the main sentient class of creatures in Faerie. Most but not all are humanoid, but few could be mistaken for human, and have a distinctly otherworldly appearance. The sidhe can be further divided into four major categories: The Seelie Court (dominated by the Tuatha families, but also including independents such as brownies, pixies and sprites), the Unseelie Courts (goblins and the clans of "The Wild Host"), Tree Spirits (faeries associated with--or even bonded to--woodlands) and Water Faeries (merfolk, naiads, and some aquatic cousins of other groups).
Otherworldly Beasts: Faerie has its share of indigenous wildlife, much of which closely resembles the related animals of Kemil. However, these Faerie creatures are usually (but not always) albinos, with white skins and hair and red eyes and ears. Wild animals tend to be larger than earthly ones (increase all stats by up to 150%), while domestic animals will be bred to match the size of the sidhe using them. Some faerie animals have innate magical powers, such as the horses some Tuatha nobles ride between Kemil and Faerie.
Many other creatures can be found in Faerie, such as giants, dragons, and many kinds of sea monsters.
The majority of Faerie has a "high" mana level. Because of this magic-rich environment, most sidhe have at least one level of Magery. Like Kemil, Faerie has areas with different mana levels (though "low" or "no" mana might be unknown) as well as areas of aspected mana.
Because the omnipresence of magic has made technology less necessary, most of Faerie is only Tech Level 2 (Iron Age), as compared to Arcadayn, most of which is TL3 (Medieval). Those realms having the most traffic with Kemil will have some access to TL3 equipment, while some isolationist faeries remain at TL 1, or even 0. (The campaign will determine whether a given faerie character is Primitive or has High Technology.)
Faerie Shamanism
See "Faerie Shamanism" under "Religions of Arcadayn."
Faerie is divided into many separate realms, most of which are kingdoms ruled by royal families of Seelie or Unseelie Court species. Few other sidhe will gather in units larger than families or clans, living either alone or in alliance with a Court realm.
The Queen of Faerie is the goddess Dananira. She has no priesthood per se, but many faeries honor her for their innate magical abilities, as do some mortals who have received the gift of Magery or Faerie-Walking from sidhe ancestors. See "Faerie Shamanism" for more about this "religion." Dananira's personal domain is the most beautiful and powerful of all sidhe kingdoms, but only the most worthy sidhe and mortals are allowed to enter it, and few return--this realm is "otherworldly," even for Faerie.
For a good source of faerie lore (and much of the inspiration for Arcadayn's faerie creatures), see Faeries, by Brian Froud and Alan Lee.
GURPS Celtic Myth has additional information on the sidhe. (See "Travel to and from Faerie" about adapting that book's travel spells to Arcadayn.)
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This page last updated 11/8/2003 by Timothy E. Emrick. | Copyright 1998-2003 Timothy E. Emrick.
