Don't Play By Wells

Fairy, fairy fly out of the well! We have a wish an snack for you! Fairy, fairy fly out of the well! We summon you from afar! Fairy, fairy fly out of the well!!

— naughty children leaning over the well

Through Time

Origin

Wells are a common water source in rural villages and cities across all continents. A water spirit will take those playing near, a fairy will grant wish, or summon mysterious monsters from realms far away. These tales started out as a way to keep children from felling into wells, or disappearing by other realm creatures. When the fey visit during Festival of Orbs, dragons protect cities, and gods walk the world searching of other realm portals; it is difficult to know what monsters are real to child and parent.
Civilization was beginning to take root during the Dark Era, raising and protecting children from the many dangers of other realms was a difficult task. Wells were commonly infested with creatures of other realms and it required little effort to offend, or die by one. Parents would warn children to quietly fetch water, never talk to the well, or even play nearby. As time flows like a great ocean, so has the reason for these stories for short-lived morals are ever in the shallows forgetting the past.

Adaption

Though time has washed away the history of the tales, it has kept a few monsters. Water spirits, Fairies, and Pixies are common monsters used in the tales. These monsters are well-known and possess abilities to hide. The tales are used to keep children from summoning other realm creatures, dirtying the water supply and give parents some quiet.
Creature summoning is rare. The gods keep a watch for portals and have sealed many portals from the war preventing easy crossing between realms. Most children believe a simple tune and a gift will summon a creature, however, it is unlikely unless during the Festival of Orbs when Feywild portals open in random locations allowing it's denizens to roam.

Tales + Usage by Creature

Tales

Broken Body

"...la la la.." blonde hair gently sways in time with the little girl's singing. Her song is accompanied by softly, tingling bells emitting from the nearby well. Turning she sees a small glow at the edge of the well, continuing her song till her eyes spot a person of wee height. "wwwat....you," the girl pokes small being with wings. The glow brightens as it darts into the well's depths and the girl gives chase only to stop at the edge. Leaning she peers down searching for that spot of light before......it grows, grows, grows brighter and brighter till POP! Then down, down, down she fell till to cracking of bones and ripping of flesh as her body was split in twine.

The Survivor

We were just playing......Tane, he said....something I don't remember what, then we were laughing....maybe louder than we should have. We were racing to the well then we heard something like someone had dropped the bucket but it was still hanging. Tane was scared his mother had told him stories about the wells, so I-I went instead. I....I was stupid and.....I shouted down the well daring the monster to come out. I turned to tell him it was okay, he started to scream......i...i...couldn't breath I tried to move but that didn't matter the water had me! The light faded fast!...It dropped me in the well! I couldn't swim out but I could see the top....I could still hear him screaming then not at all.........he was down there with me but his eyes were empty... They only found me because of the smell.

Usage by Creature

Water Spirits

Most common creature used to prevent a child from drowning, dirtying the water supply, or to get children to play away from the house. Though these spirits are not present in every well, it is still warned about and used for tales to children. A naughty child dirts the well water, the water spirit will become angry and wait to take its revenge on the child when it is sent to fetch water. If a mother told a child to play away from the well and the child didn't, the water spirit will awaken from it's slumber to kill the loudest child.

Fey Creatures

Fairies and Pixies are the most common of all Fey creatures used in these tales. They are used to teach child to be careful what they wish for as both creatures are mischievous. Also, they are said to steal people away on a whim whether to eat you, or make you work for eternity. There are many other ways the Fey are used for teaching lessons to children, such as a vain person will be turned into a toad then given to a witch for her brewing.

Monsters From Beyond

These monsters are most difficult to find the truth in. They can be made-up, or wished to be, as these monsters can come from any other realm. The two realms which have more monsters based from is the Shadowfell and the Elemental Planes. The Elemental Planes have monsters with elemental features; fire, water, earth, smoke, air, mud and many others. The Shadowfell monsters are typically carnivorous, but is the only similarity as many of these monsters are made-up. The reason for Shadowfell monsters being fake is the information about the realm and its denizens is limited, thus people will say any monstrous being must be from there.

Location Prime Material

If you play by the well, the water spirit will drown you! Play in the squares and dragonyards!

— mother to her running child

DnD Monster: Water Spirit

They are water spirits from the Feywild, however, the monster the mother is referencing is a creature called Water Weird. Yes, it is a stupid name. The creature is completely made of water from the Elemental Plane of Water and can be large enough to kill an adult.

DnD Monster: Fey Creatures

In my game, Fey Creatures are different in flavor sense, but their blocks will most likely be the same for ease. Fairies aren't too different, Pixies are different, Sprites are very different, and many more creatures from real lore will be included. A good example of this is, Alpe which is a typical of fey that was cursed, lost their civilization, and are dying out.