Crafting Creatures: Fae

Fair folk are among the oldest of legends. In some lore, they are wise women skilled in the magic of the natural world. They have been associated with the elements of earth, fire, air, and water. In others they take the shape of winged sprites, elves, etc.

There are several well-known elements of fae tales: Shakespeare's Oberon, Queen Mab, and Tatania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, the summer and winter courts, seelie and unseelie courts.

Little people, or fair folk, include: fairies, pixies, imps, goblins, elves, gnomes, brownies, elementals, and other mystical people. Faery is sometimes an alternative realm existing separate from the mortal world.

Here is a list of questions to consider when crafting your Fae world.

1. Where did their powers originate? Have they been around since time began or was there a point of origin? Are they the children of Eve, a demon, or other god? Is there more than one type?

2. What is your construct of the fairy world? Are you basing it on the summer and winter courts, the seelie and unseelie courts, an alternative realm, or a place on earth hidden from humans?

3. Are you basing your fae on a specific folklore? What are the elements you wish to include?

4. Is one born a fae or can a fae be made? What happens when fae and humans reproduce, if they can? Can fae species reproduce with each other?

4. Are the fae immortal? If so, at what point do they stop aging or how do they age? Do they need spells or potions to prevent physical aging?

5. Can the immortal fae be killed? If so, how and what happens when they die?

6. Do they have vulnerabilities such as iron?

7. Are there costs associated with their powers? Is their energy drained? Do they need to "recharge" by drinking nectar or feeding off the energy, emotions, or dreams of humans?

8. What can your fae do?

Control the elements of fire, air, water, earth
Grow or wither people, plants, or nature
Move things with the mind, wave of the hand, or incantation
Transport/teleport things or people
Telepathy
Mind control
Move through time and space 
Kill, maim, or make others ill with their bite
Heal wounds, regenerate, or reanimate
Enhance senses sight, smell, taste, hearing, touch
Superhuman powers such as excessive strength, speed, agility, intelligence
Shape shift
Fly
Powers of seduction

9. Do they reside only in Faery and visit or do they live in the human realm?

10. Are there objects that repel them or draw them in?

11. Are they reliant on food, nectar, or other nourishment to live?

12. Is there a hierarchy or controlling body such as a court, queen, king, etc.?

13. Do they have a religion or worship a god or demon?

14. If born a fae, especially in the human realm, do they live like normal human children and adolescents or are they sent to special schools or universities or have tutors?

15. Who knows about them? Everyone everywhere? Certain groups or places? Are they hiding in plain sight?

16. Do they have paranormal allies or enemies?

17. Are they an accepted part of society or must they hide in the shadows? Are they persecuted or the rulers? Have they infiltrated power positions?

18. What do they look like? Do they have a supernatural appearance that is hidden by spells or glamours? Do they have pointed ears, wings, tails, birthmarks, skin lesions, or tattoos? Are they short or tall? Beautiful or hideous? Are their wings retractable or always out?

19. Do they have specific clothing, ceremonial robes, jewelry items, etc.? What happens to their clothes if they shape shift?

20. Do they have familiars or control animals such as deer, birds, butterflies, or other animals?

21. Do they live and work like normal humans or do they have vast stores of wealth? If so, how did they come by it - magic or amassing human fortunes? Or can they simply summon everything at will including food, clothing, housing, etc.?

Next week, we look at crafting angels and demons.

Further reading:

Worldbuilding: Myths and Legends

The Fantasy Skeleton

The Horror Skeleton

The Thriller and Suspense Skeleton

Fairies

Celtic Fairies

Gods and Monsters: Fairy and The Fae

You might also be interested in: 
Story Building Blocks Build A World Workbook in print and ebook, 
Story Building Blocks Build A Plot Workbook Fantasy in print and ebook
Story Building Blocks Build A Plot Workbook Horror in print and ebook
Story Building Blocks Build A Plot Workbook Thriller & Suspense in print and ebook