Fae

The magical of inhabitants of Teutoburgerwald, known locally as the Fae, have existed in isolation, concealed from humans, for over eight hundred years since the Great Ruckzug. The Fae comprise several species, both humanoid and animal.

• The Fairies are indistinguishable from humans in all respects except for their magic. They live in constructed shelters in family groups in small villages scattered throughout Teutoburgerwald. In the Era of Innocence, Fairies interacted with humans and even formed alliances with them when it was expedient. The king of the Fae is always a Fairy.
• Gnomes are small, humanoid creatures who live underground in warrens. They prefer to keep to themselves and may take a lot of persuading if you want to get them to do something.
• Elves live in trees and are about half the height of a fairy or human. They are friendly and easy to work with, and also fiercely loyal to the point of stubbornness. They are swift and agile and can move through the forest almost undetected.
• The Eichhornen are sentient red squirrels who are able to speak humanoid languages. They can communicate with Fairies, Gnomes, and Elves, as well as humans, and are unique among Fae species in that they continue to seek out interactions with humans in the Era of Secrets.
• Most Fae woodland creatures lack the ability to speak in humanoid languages, but they are able to communicate with all other Fae creatures and are part of their community. To humans, though, they are indistinguishable from ordinary animals.
• The Fae dove is the only species of Fae that migrates out of the Teutoburgerwald region for an extended period of time each winter. Like other Fae creatures, the dove is a sentient species that can communicate without words. As it migrates beyond the bounds of the forest, doves also frequently communicate with humans and serve as the most frequent point of interaction between those inside and outside the forest since the Great Ruckzug.

Naming Traditions

Family names

The humanoid Fae all have ancient Germanic names, with the royal Fairies all having names that begin with Athal-
As squirrels, the Eichhornen have their own naming conventions with sounds based on squeaks and clicks.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

The Fae speak a fossilized version of Old Gothic that was current at the end of the Era of Innocence. Since breaking from human contact, the Fae language stopped developing alongside human languages, though they would still be still able to understand and be understood with some difficulty by speakers of contemporary Germanic languages. The Eichhornen, as squirrels, are also able to communicate with both normal and Fae squirrels in their animal language.

Shared customary codes and values

The ancient magic of the Forest is the most highly valued object in Fae society. It must be preserved and protected at all costs. Since the Great Ruckzug, concealing this magic from humans is a top priority. In more recent centuries, difficulties suppressing and containing the magic have given rise to some dissent among different groups of Fae, some who believe it is unnatural for the magic to be contained and want to find a way to release some of it, and most radically, even work with humans or at least open themselves up to human contact, and those who believe that magic must be concealed at all costs. Since the Great Ruckzug, the pent-up magic inside the Forest has become increasingly difficult to contain, leading to at least three major natural disasters in the region, and many more smaller ones. War broke out between factions containing both Gnomes and Elves over the issue of how to contain the magic in the 700s. It ended in a truce when Elves on either side of the fight tired of destroying each other, and the Council of the Twin Pines of 757, which was signed by all parties of the Fae, stated that Fae disagreements must be settled nonviolently in order to preserve the magic in general. More recently, small groups of Eichhornen have begun to get in trouble in different parts of the Forest by venturing into contact with humans. In the 860s, Fae leadership are in the process of calling another council, the first since Twin Pines, in order to address these activities of the Eichhornen.

Art & Architecture

Fae art and architecture is all rooted in nature -- literally. They are magical creatures, but first and foremost, they are creatures of the Forest.
While Gnomes inhabit the ground and Elves and Eichhornen inhabit the trees, Fairies build small structures out of fallen branches, mud, leaves, and moss. These structures are low to the ground and difficult to find if you aren't looking for them. If you know what to watch out for, though, you will find small homes arranged in a semi-circular configuration around Fae-inhabited trees. Entrances to Gnome warrens are not far off. Shared structures which could include an administrative palace and an open market are placed in the centers of the semicircular villages.
All species of Fae also enjoy unique aspects of nature that stand out, and the fine art that adorns dwellings and public spaces of all shapes and sizes celebrates these breathtaking features. They range from the tiny (magically-frozen wreaths of snowflakes) to the very large (carvings into the sides of trees and rock faces) and can be surprisingly colorful - sculptures made from bright pink flower petals, crystal-clear raindrops positioned to refract light, and furniture made from petrified autumn leaves are just a few examples of the ways that Fae art can transform the interiors of branch and mud structures into very colorful spaces.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

The Fae practice an antiquated form of Germanic paganism that was popular throughout the region at the end of the Era of Innocence. They worship a variety of deities, the most important being Ostara, goddess of Dawn and the Hunt, Mena the Moon god, and the Horse Twins, whom they worship at the most sacred site in Teutoburgerwald, the Twin Pines. Worship practice includes sacrifice of grain and libations, and animal sacrifice is used at major feasts. The Fae also worship through song, prayer, and incantations. Fae priestesses are chosen among the most gifted in magic and they lead the festivals and liturgies and are responsible for all instances of civic spellwork, which take place in the context of religious ceremony.
As far as holidays go, the Fae of Teutoburgerwald celebrate the familiar pagan festivals of Solstice and Yule, which could still be recognizable by ninth-century humans in Francia in the Christian festivals of St. John's Day and Christmastide. The highest holiday for the Fae is a springtime festival for the goddess Ostara, whom they honor as the patroness of the Forest. The Ostara festival is celebrated on a different day in the spring each year, which they calculate according to the solar calendar. The celebration takes the form of an all-night Vigil culminating in a mass sacrifice to Ostara at dawn.

Historical figures

Two major historical figures stand out from the Era of Secrets.
The first is King Athalabert, hero of the Great Ruckzug in the first year of the current era. A Fairy king who had better-than-average interactions with humans prior to the Ruckzug, Athalabert was righteously offended when the human Ariminius led three Roman legions through Teutoburgerwald without asking his permission. He immediately called Fae troops into battle against the Germans where they fought hard for a full day before a truce was called.
Athalabert continued to reign for twelve years and he personally oversaw the withdrawal of Teutobergerwald from the realm of the humans. A gifted warrior, diplomat, and civic leader, Athalabert is celebrated every year at the Vigil of Ostara where one member of the community who exhibits qualities similar to this ancient king is given his talisman to hold for the forthcoming year.
The second major historical figure is Councilwoman Ethelreda who convened the Council of the Twin Pines in August, 757. This was the first council called in the Era of Secrets that included representatives from all Fae species. The council was first called following a battle between supporters of re-opening Teutoburgerwald and their opponents, with Elves and Gnomes fighting on both sides. Ethelreda, the lead Elvish councilmember at the time, invited Fairies and Eichhornen as well as Gnomes and Elves to the council in order to come up with a more comprehensive solution to the issue of infighting among the Fae. The Council met under her expert leadership for three weeks and the resulting agreement was signed unanimously. Hailed as a bringer of peace, Ethelreda's Treaty, as it is affectionately known, has kept the Forest free of bloodshed for over a century.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

The Fae prize colors that blend with the gods' creation -- and let them go undetected in the Forest. Darker, redder hair and skin tones can signify upper status, as these traits have characterized the ruling Fairy families for centuries. It is not uncommon, especially among Gnomes, for fairer-hared people to dye their hair a darker color.
All species turn to nature for personal adornment. Bits of tree branch, flowers, seeds, moss, and even dirt can all be found decorating the hair of Fae of both genders. Male Elves keep their long hair twisted with sprouting vines which they replace regularly. Gnomes, similarly, hold their hair in place with mud-based mixtures. Only the Fairies cut their hair, but even when it is short they still decorate it with ornaments from nature.
Clothing, too is made from nature - mostly animal skins and natural spun linen. Linens can be dyed darker colors, which are favored by the Fae, but usually skins are left as they are. If anyone is able to slay a white rabbit, they wear its pristine white fur as a badge of honor.

Gender Ideals

Magic is strongest with the women while men are stronger in physical labor and hunting. Gender parity is the norm among Fae species in social settings. Male and female Fae children receive the same education in magic and lore and are expected to help with the same duties around the household, village, and forest.
Adult Fae specialize according to their abilities. Traditionally female jobs are those that assist in childbirth and those that focus on advanced magical expertise; traditionally male jobs are those that require strenuous physical labor and organization, though there are no formal barriers to entry. Fae are traditional folk who are usually content to follow in the trades practiced by their families.

by Hakanneu, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Related Locations

• Teutoburgerwald