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riddledeep · 4 years

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Vocabulary and Slang

A requested glossary for Fae slang, swears, or common vocabulary the Fae grow up with. I included some additional worldbuilding such as the counterpart kinship terms and ceremonial preening phrases as well.

Some terms in here are Gaelic, some are pulled from myth, some are just made up fantasy words. That’s kinda how I roll.

Related: Vatajasa For Beginners | Fae Court Cases

COMMON WORLDBUILDING VOCAB

Not the ENTIRE glossary, but these are common terms Fae would recognize that humans usually wouldn’t, though they’re not exactly “slang terms.”

Cloudlength - A unit of measurement between a mile and a kilometer.

Cloudcliff - The edge of a cloud; fall or jump from the edge and you can descend planes of existence until you hit another cloud.

Core Trait - The personality trait that a corresponding set of Faedivus, Faeumbra, and Faelumen inherently share; their “central drive.”

Core-Sync - A universal force or magic that causes Anti-Fairies to mirror their counterparts in terms of being injured and mating.

Damsel - The official term for a female Fae. Adjective form: “Damseline.”

Drake - The official term for a male Fae. Adjective form: “Drakian.”

Drone - A Seelie drake, usually small, who is highly susceptible to pheromones. They generally follow gynes around and are stereotyped as obedient to a fault. Historically they have been mistreated by Fae society, and the cloudlands are currently (as in “during my fanfics”) working to improve this. Despite the name “drones,” drones are most similar to worker bees, not drone bees.

Dysolfactya - An inability to properly read pheromone cues (Dyslexia but for smell). Rupert Roebeam and the pixie Keefe are both drones with dysolfactya, making it somewhat difficult for them to navigate Fairy society. Those with dysolfactya aren’t always treated well in Fairy society, as people tend to react to them with annoyance instead of finding ways to help them.

Faedivus - The genus of Fairies and Pixies. A baby Fairy or Pixie is called a nymph.

Faelumen - The genus of Anti-Fairies. A baby Anti-Fairy is called a pup.

Faeumbra - The genus of Refracts. A baby Refract is called a chick.

Field-Sight - Fairies or Pixies who have triggered field-sight (by briefly rolling their eyes back in their heads) are able to see the colors of magic in the world around them. Things like clothing and facial features won’t show up. Humans do not appear in the energy field unless they’ve recently come in contact with a magical item or magical being. The Unseelie lack this ability.

Gyne - A large, freckled Seelie drake who projects a lot of dominant pheromones; they’re the Fairy equivalent of queen bees. Gynes are especially territorial. They develop from Fairy children who consumed a lot of jelly in the first few months of life. The Anti-Fairy counterpart of a gyne is a pilot and is born with black facial fur resembling a mustache and goatee. The Refract counterpart of a gyne is a plume and is born with long, wiry “plumes” that curl from their head like antennae.

High Count / High Countess - High positions in Anti-Fairy World that make up the executive branch of Anti-Fairy government (the Anti-Fairy Council balance their political power). Anti-Cosmo and Anti-Wanda are the current High Count and High Countess with Foop first in line as Anti-Cosmo’s heir. The camarilla court make up their council of advisors.

Honey-Lock Instinct, The - The all-powerful magical instinct that drives Anti-Fairies to mate with the counterpart of whomever their “host” does. In preadolescents, mere feelings of attraction can incite a “mini honey-lock” of affection in their counterpart.

Imprint - A magical being’s “personal signature” in the energy field; something like the magical version of facial features, but can be picked up on from anywhere within a close radius. Anti-Fairies use a similar system called a vocal signature to identify people.

Inrita - A chemical secreted through a gland at the roof of a brownie’s mouth. It holds no effect over them per se aside from helping them break down almost anything they put in their mouth, but inrita drains the magic from objects and some magical beings; a “closed circle of inrita” will cancel all magic in the vicinity, including causing Fairies and Pixies to “drop their lines” and start asphyxiating. Vendors often keep “inrita mud” near their wares to prevent people from magically stealing it. If inrita has any effect on genies, it’s a minuscule one. Brownies fall low on the social ladder due to how easy it is for them to kill someone. See also, Brownie-Kisser.

Instar - A Seelie Courter who still has their nymphhood exoskeleton. Typically someone under one year of age (give or take a few months) is said to be “in instar.” Poof is the exception to the rule giving how his body has been messed up by the frozen timestream.

Iris - An Anti-Fairy with a sexually-transmitted disease that makes their eyes match their counterpart’s eyes, as opposed to default red. The STD is highly prized in Anti-Fairy society due to a history of being associated with success, leadership, wealth, and cleverness, and generally it’s kept out of the reach of the commoners. Anti-Fairies are overwhelmingly more attracted to Anti-Fairies with colored eyes than one with “default red” eyes; it’s part of their cultural upbringing.

>> The STD itself is known as The Iris Virus despite being a magical bacteria and not an actual virus.

>> The virus comes with additional unpleasant side-effects, such as loose-hanging skin, sores in the mouth, and sores around the inner thighs; these sores flare up for a week or two around the anniversary of the day you got the virus.

>> In Refracted society, colored eyes are a sign of shame and can cause your flock to disown you even if you were born with them through no fault of your own.

Kiff-Tie - If two Anti-Fairies in close proximity are killed, they’ll regenerate together and be fused like one creature. They do not take on a unique new form; rather, their bodies are fused together like Siamese twins. In place of the typical Valentine’s Day celebrations, it’s popular sport among Anti-Fairies to use arrows to kill snuggling couples instead.

Kiss of Frost - Will o’ the wisp saliva has the ability to paralyze the limbs; a deep enough kiss will even freeze the body to the point where it stops functioning and dies.

Luz Mala - A Fae conceived with magical assistance or through totally magical means. They tend to be very powerful and emotionally unstable, with their emotions frequently affecting the world around them. Historically luz mala are looked down upon by Fae society because of this, though some people (notably Anti-Cosmo) have made an effort to fight for their acceptance. Poof, Foop, and Juandissimo are all luz mala.

P.A.W.S. / Previously-Activated Wand System - A simple wand used to perform simple magic. This type of wand records a lot of magical information and is usually required for children doing magical homework. Parents might also want their children to use these wands so their magic usage can be tracked.

Preening - The ceremonial exchange of pheromones between two or more parties, performed by licking one another’s necks and faces. When Fairies or Pixies settle business deals, preening is often involved. In that context, preening would be professional, but it can also be an intimate (though non-sexual) gesture between two people. Preening is usually performed by drakes, though damsels are sometimes taught the gestures. Preening with someone “for fun” on a regular basis would be a sort of “bromance” relationship and a sign that you two are close, devoted friends.

>> Preening features prominently in many of my works that feature Fairy culture. Read more about the 24 preening signals HERE.

>> Notoriously, H.P. feels very close with both Anti-Cosmo and Jorgen because they preen regularly for political and friendly reasons. Jorgen sees his relationships with H.P. and Anti-Cosmo as strictly professional while Anti-Cosmo is rather touch-starved and treats preening as a relaxing way to unwind but not necessarily as an attempt to form an emotional bond. On some level, you could argue that Anti-Cosmo sees H.P. as his casual friend with benefits while H.P.’s vision is more of a bromance where they respect and support each other.

Refracted, The - The third class of Fae that make up a third of a Fae soul (each Fae soul consists of a Fairy, Anti-Fairy, and Fairy Refract counterpart). The Refracted are gold and white bird people, and the Refracted class overview can be found HERE. Properly they are called Fairy Refracts. When speaking of their culture, the term is “Refracted culture.” When speaking of people, the term is simply “Refracts.”

>> Refracts are born the opposite sex of the hosting Fairy counterpart and are always born three months after the Fairy (as opposed to Anti-Fairies who are born the first Friday the 13th after three months have passed). Their names are framed Drake Wanda and Dame Cosmo instead of Anti-Wanda and Anti-Cosmo.

Seelie Court - An umbrella term encompassing Fairies (including subspecies) and Pixies. The term “Seelie” can be used alone, such as in the phrase “I’m Seelie.” That would be an example of a slang phrase since the proper way to say it is “I’m a member of the Seelie Court.”

Sharing Magic - Fae who are near each other can pick up on one another’s attraction signals in the energy field. Sharing magic is a way of sharing signals, directing them towards one another and feeling the touch of each other’s magic. It’s sort of like cuddling (in the sense that it’s something you might do with either a romantic partner in private or a friend in public depending on your comfort level) but with magic. Sharing magic normally coincides with physical cuddling or with preening. The term might also be used if you’re giving SHAMPAX (magical CPR).

Tomte - A Fairy without the ability to channel magic. If someone tries to “go tomte,” it means they’ve injured or are considering injuring their right hand, which is the “organ” of a Fairy’s body that really channels magic. Alternatively, it may also mean that they’re trying to “go natural” and not use magic, but without injuring their hand. Refracts and Anti-Fairies are not affected by their counterparts going tomte, and injuring their hands won’t have an affect on their ability to channel magic either.

Unseelie Court - An umbrella term encompassing Anti-Fairies (including anti-pixies) as well as Refracts. The term “Unseelie” can be used alone, such as in the phrase “I’m Unseelie.” That would be an example of a slang phrase since the proper way to say it is “I’m a member of the Unseelie Court.”

LOCATIONS AND SPECIAL ITEMS

Other useful worldbuilding terms that don’t count as slang either.

Claímh Solais - One of the four treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann: a magical sword that once belonged to King Nuada and is capable of severing the soul from the body. This treasure was bestowed upon the Fairies. It’s normally in the care of the Fairy Elder, though its theft from the Pink Castle was largely responsible for kicking off the May Blossom War. Foop is widely suspected to be the thief, though he and his family deny this.

Cloudlands, The - A term that encompasses all the magical Fae worlds. The cloudlands we see in the show are known as “The Fairy World colony” (even Anti-Fairy World falls under this term). The Fairy World (Earth) colony is distinct from the Red Retreat (Jupiter) colony, the Legend Peak (Mars) colony, and the Hawthorn Haven (Delk) colony.

Coire Dagdae - One of the four treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann: the bottomless cauldron of The Dagda (also called Undry). This treasure was bestowed upon the Anti-Fairies and was in the care of the High Count and High Countess at the Blue Castle until Anti-Cosmo lost it during the War of the Angels.

Elphame - The original motherland of the Fae. Fairy World is a colony of Elphame. Many Fae search for Elphame as they travel the universe, though they have not yet found it. It exists only in stories and many people (especially Anti-Fairies) do not believe it exists. You can read more about Elphame and its colonies HERE.

Hy-Brasil - Anti-Fairy World’s official name; I named it after the mythical island said to be off the coast of Ireland, inhabited by “large black rabbits” and “a magician in a stone castle.”

Insula Solis Infintum - Anti-Pixie World’s official name; literally translated its name means “The Isle of Infinite Sunshine.” It’s an island prison and is technically part of Anti-Fairy World. Located above Rio de Janeiro.

Lia Fáil, The - One of the four treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann: a magical coronation stone found in Ireland. This treasure marks a neutral zone for the Fae, who respect the truce with their utmost honor.

Sleá Bua - One of the four treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann: Lugh’s magical peacekeeping spear. This treasure was bestowed upon the Refracts and is kept in a tower. Notably, Dame Artemis’s goal in the second half of Frayed Knots is to retrieve it.

Sprigganhame - Pixie World’s official name (shortened). Pixie World is a micronation located entirely within a single Fairy World region (the Central Star / Purple region).

Tír Ildáthach - Fairy World’s official name; “The Land of Many Colors.”

CASUAL TERMS

Other terms that are commonly used as slang.

Abra-Bats - A slang term for Abracadabrium batteries: a rare portable power source controlled mostly by the Pixies.

Ah’kas - A slang way to refer to preening (specifically the ceremonial / intimate part of preening). See the Ceremonial Preening Terms section below.

Attraction Signals - Various pulses automatically put out by magical beings that allow other magical beings to detect their presence. These signals are named such because they attract the energy field.

Cú Chulainn - Not exactly a common slang term, but Cú Chulainn is a very famous mythical demigod. H.P. commonly refers to Talon by this as an affectionate pet name, parly because Cú Chulainn was a very strong hero and partially because the hero was famously fostered by several fathers (since the hero’s actual father was a deity who didn’t stick around).

Dazzled - A slang term from around the time Cosmo, Wanda, their counterparts, and the pixies were growing up. Replaced “jazzed.” It means “Cool” or “Awesome.”

Finella Reflex - The name for a Seelie’s instinct to destroy their Unseelie counterpart. Strongest when an Unseelie is in a Seelie’s territory (as determined by the strength of pheromones). Also known as “cold shoulder syndrome.”

>> A widely accepted theory slowly being discredited as time goes on. Poof and Foop’s ability to co-exist as roommates has confused a lot of people who used to believe in this reflex and used it to defend their racist beliefs.

Going Dusty - A euphemism for death among the Seelie. The Anti-Fairy equivalent is “gone to smoke” while the Refracted equivalent is “gone to mist.”

Gootie-Goggling - An old-fashioned slang term for checking someone out. This phrase is out of date in modern times.

Ivywish - A common word in Anti-Fairy society in reference to the Anti-Firebox v. Ivywish case. Saying something like, “They pulled ol’ Ivywish on me” or “They went Ivywish” means, “They discriminated against me on the basis of my being an Anti-Fairy.”

Jazzed - A slang term from the time when H.P. was growing up; “That’s jazzed” means “That’s cool” or “That’s awesome.” This phrase is out of date in modern times; it was replaced by “Dazzled.”

Jacked - A slang term from the time when H.P. was growing up; “That’s jacked” means “That’s dumb” or “That’s messed up.” This phrase is out of date in modern times; something like “That’s ridiculous” or “That’s stupid” would be more common.

Lines - Shortened from “magic lines” or “breathing lines.” When an Anti-Fairy damsel gives birth to lifesmoke, it rushes towards the primary “host” counterpart and envelops them. Poof’s counterparts (Foop and their Refract) “bound together” and “attacked” Poof at the exact same time, hence the giant cloud and the confusion of the Fairies; normally the clouds are much, much smaller.

Mint - A slang term that will crop up during Poof and Foop’s teenage years; “I’m mint” basically replaces “I’m awesome” in the future. It is also often phrased as “That’s minty.” This slang term is not used in stories that take place before Poof and Foop enter middle school, and it’s at its peak during their high school years.

Naiad - A wingless Fairy (both those born without and those whose wings have been cut off).

Prince of Destiny - A slang term for a gyne (Usually intended to be sarcastic or insulting).

SHAMPAX - CPR for the Fairykind; stands for “Sharing Magic to Prevent Asphyxiation.” Usually administered mouth to mouth, but can also be administered by mouth to an open cut in the skin.

Sugarblind - A slang term that basically translates to “blackout drunk.” Not used very often. “Sugarloaded” is more common, but if you need to specify the difference between “drunk” and “blackout drunk,” you would use this term.

Sugarloaded - The state of being “sugar-drunk” due to consuming too much candy and/or soda. The Fae are not affected by alcohol- only sugary products.

Tingle-Fritzy - A state of arousal in the Fairykind that can result from anxiety, feelings of attraction, or from being sugarloaded, for example. This term is named after the fact that a Fairy or Pixie’s magic lines will fritz in and out of contact with the energy field in this state.

Thinningcore - “Going thinningcore” is the Unseelie equivalent of going tingle-fritzy, since the Unseelie don’t have their own magic lines. Simply put, when they begin to stress, they can have difficulty “breathing”. It’s also a common side effect of Anti-Fairies being right-side-up too much. While tingle-fritziness can sometimes be associated with pleasure (“sugar high”), going thinningcore is generally considered unpleasant.

Wishbirthed - A nymph who skipped the birthing process and was wished out of their parent, and as a result ended up with a large glob of magic stuck to them. This process can be seriously risky if you don’t know your anatomy well or can’t channel sufficient power. Often used interchangeably with luz mala even though technically they shouldn’t be.

Year of Promise - The time between when fairy courtship officially begins and when one’s wings are notched; “the honeymoon phase.” In Fairy culture (mostly seen in the common fairy subspecies but sometimes seen in others), Fairies mate on the first night of official courtship and then spend a year “hands off” from each other and all other partners. When the year is over, the couple reunite and discuss their feelings. They either marry or break up (it’s very rare to continue courting without marriage after the year is up).

>> The common fairy subspecies takes the Year of Promise tradition extremely seriously. Ironically, despite believing in a tradition that allows the couple to freely and respectfully bail out if they fear the marriage won’t work, they are stereotyped as a subspecies that rushes relationships.

>> Traditionally both partners should wear a ceremonial apron and gloves in public for that entire year and should avoid touching people with their skin.

>> Notably, Wanda and Juandissimo had a Year of Promise. When it was over, Juandissimo enthusiastically requested Wanda’s hand in marriage and was shocked when she turned him down.

PHRASES

Common casual phrases in Fae culture.

“Are you jitterlines?” - “Are you crazy?”

“As the dragonfly skims” - As the crow flies; measures distance by wing without taking the topography of the landscape into account. This term is used by Fairies; Anti-Fairies would say “As the bat soars” and Refracts would use the crow term.

“Don’t flap your wings dustless” - “Chill out”, “Calm down.”

“I’m only [Un]Seelie” - “I’m only human.”

“Lousy-lines” - A phrase that means something like “grumpy-gus” or “Debbie downer.”

“Sheathe your wand” - In this sense, it means “Hold your horses.”

“Who brushed the dust off your wings?” - “Why are you so grumpy?”

“Will a genie’s kiss fry your lines off for a week?” - Rhetorical question given as an affirmative answer; equivalent to, “Do chickens have lips?” Stemmed from the fact that genies have so much magic in them, kissing one long enough will overload the body and cause the Fairy to fritz all lines from the energy field.

“You’re fudging your wand waves” - “You’re exaggerating.”

“You’re twirling my lines” - “You can’t be serious” / “You’re making me anxious.”

“You’re yanking my wing” - “You’re pulling my leg.”

TRADITIONAL TERMS

Special terms specific to Fairy culture. These terms are always italicized since they are words from an ancient language.

Aldra mór - The dominant gyne of the local area. A very dominant gyne who visits another gyne’s territory would be visiting an aldra mór, even if the visitor is more dominant than the host.

>> Ex: The Head Pixie is aldra mór of Pixie World. No gyne can be aldra mór of Fairy World because it’s simply too big, but they could be aldra mór of a neighborhood or estate property.

Chéad grá - The aldra mór’s alpha retinue drone (the drone in charge of leading the retinue and overseeing fellow drones). Although not the aldra mór, he generally holds authority and you might ask him questions if the aldra mór wasn’t around.

>> Ex: Sanderson is chéad grá of Pixie World; he’s sort of “head butler.” The term is tied to the aldra mór’s territory; you would not greet a drone by saying “Welcome to my home, chéad grá.”

Caisleán - The main building that belongs to the aldra mór and contains his sleeping quarters. These buildings were common in hive estates, though in modern times few gynes have estates so this term might simply refer to their house. To some people, it may be taboo to enter the building if you aren’t family.

>> Technically, H.P.’s penthouse - not the entire building - would be classified as his caisleán in modern times.

Mhaisci - A special room where preening is performed, usually but not always separate from the bedroom. Since the bedroom is considered private, it’s nice to have a separate place where it’s a little less awkward to discuss business deals. A mhaisci might be decorated like a bedroom, but is commonly decorated as an office with a couch.

>> You can see a modern mhaisci in my Sims 4 build of H.P.’s penthouse HERE.

Mhalaith-chéad - Special ceremonial clothing set aside for the chéad grá and ONLY the chéad grá to wear while preening. This clothing usually resembles silver silk pajamas, though there can be some variation. It’s very taboo for a lower-ranked drone to wear this.

Tháircha - A separate living area for drones, usually containing bedrooms, bathrooms, an office space, and a living area just like any other small house. It’s traditional for all drones to share one bedroom, however, which often cuts down on rivalry (usually 4 drones max to the same bedroom). Also commonly abbreviated “tháir.”

Tekti - A guest house, separate from the caisleán. If you’re staying on a gyne’s property, this is where you would be since gynes are territorial and generally prefer not to sleep under the same roof. Modern Pixie World features the Onyx Hotel in place of a traditional tekti, which would be a more humble building.

Yidreamu - A term that means “affection site.” Traditionally, Fairies don’t mate in the same beds they sleep in and in Fairy architecture you will generally see a smaller room connected to the master bedroom. This room is also used for snuggles or simply relaxing together while reading books or watching movies (not just mating). It is also very common for a couple’s yidreamu to be some sort of cabin, boathouse, or similar vacation home instead. I built a yidreamu in Sims 4 and talked more about them in the Fairy architecture post, HERE.

CEREMONIAL PREENING TERMS

Phrases used in ceremonial preening; they appear in a few Origin of the Pixies and Frayed Knots chapters but are often glossed over elsewhere. They are usually referred to as “The ah’kas.” Some of these words also appear in Mother Nature and Father Time’s sacrificial shrine song.

These phrases should always be spoken in the correct order, in ceremonial conversation form, so they are listed in order and not alphabetically. In story, these phrases are always italicized. The use of these phrases can be seen in the Origin chapter “Senseless” and the Knots chapter “Tipping Scales.”

Again, preening is part of Seelie culture due to the fact that Fairies and Pixies share their DNA with insects; preening was specifically intended to be an anthropomorphized take on eusocial insect licking behaviors. Licking to show dominance and submission is instinctive for Seelie, particularly gynes and drones. Damsels are invited to preen for business purposes but are not usually taught the motions of the full ceremony (since damsels are based on drone bees and gynes and drones are based on queen and worker bees).

Anti-Fairies and Refracts do not normally preen. It isn’t instinctive for them and is not part of their cultures (in fact, in Anti-Fairy culture / bat instincts, licking someone’s face or neck is used to signal desire for sex... which is DEFINITELY not what a Fairy means to communicate). However, some might be willing to preen if invited to by a Fairy. For example, Anti-Cosmo is willing to preen with others due to his rank as High Count and his (often crippling) belief that he’s expected to do so; however, many Fairies are uncomfortable preening with Anti-Fairies due to the cultural gap between the races.

“Ah’ne ah’ne ah’ka, awa krei’ish cara” - “May I have your mountain?” (Body)

“Kalra kalra keiko krei’ish cara” - “If you will have me, you have my mountain.”

“Ah’ne ah’ne ah’ka, awa krei’ish lámha” - “May I have your hands?”

“Kalra kalra keiko krei’ish lámha” - If you will have me, you have my hands.”

“Ah’ne ah’ne ah’ka, awa krei’ish taná” - “May I have your lines?” (Breath)

“Kalra kalra keiko krei’ish taná” - If you will have me, you have my lines.”

“Ah’ne ah’ne ah’ka, awa krei’ish ri’apa” - “May I have your core?” (Soul)

“Kalra kalra keiko krei’ish ri’apa” - If you will have me, you have my core.”

Preening is a mutual exchange of pheromones and, in full ceremony, is combined with gestures and physical touch. After offering someone your body, you are giving them consent to move closer to you (possibly on top of you or any other way they’re comfortable with that allows them a better angle to lick your neck).

As the ceremony advances, partners gradually share magic with one another, aligning their magical signals until their breathing is in sync. After agreeing to the fourth level - the core level - partners consent to transition to a mutual magical state where they can meld minds. This can be seen in some of my works, such as the Origin of the Pixies chapters “From Straw to Gold” and “King Unconventional.”

In business deals, you can also ask a “fifth” question and would replace the last word with the request you are asking for. For example, “utwrisa” which means “your aid and concern.”

The submissive preening partner (the drone or person seeking aid) initiates the questions and movements; only they have the authority to advance the ceremony in order to signal consent and hopefully limit the chance of abuse. The submissive partner only advances the ceremony as far as they are willing to go. It is common to stop after the first question when preening for the sake of settling a business deal (if you even ask a question at all... in modern times, many business deals are settled with a handshake or a few quick and simple licks). Some professional relationships may progress to the second question (hands), and even to the third (lines).

It is rare to advance to the fourth question (core) in a professional relationship. Much of the confusion between H.P. and Anti-Cosmo regarding the status of their relationship comes from the fact that H.P. repeatedly insisted to Anti-Cosmo that preening is “strictly professional” but did not make clear that the melding mind stage is generally treated in Fairy culture as a sign of great trust, friendship, and intimacy.

Thus, H.P. tends to see their relationship as more intimate and trusting than Anti-Cosmo does (which plays into why H.P. teases Anti-Cosmo so much, believing he and Anti-Cosmo are very close although in reality, Anti-Cosmo is often flustered or offended by his jokes). As another example, the relationship between H.P. and Jorgen constantly slides up and down, with both parties feeling comfortable with one another and happily progressing to the mind-melding stage of preening one day, but bitterly refusing to progress farther than the first stage the next. Their comfort level changes rapidly, but is at least always clear to them unlike Anti-Cosmo, who is constantly confused and hurt if H.P.’s comfort with him doesn’t remain at max at all times. Anti-Cosmo's self-esteem will take a hit if H.P. doesn’t allow him to complete the full ceremony every time they preen while H.P. believes he is simply communicating “I like you, I’m just not in the mood for going further.” Jorgen gets it because this is Seelie culture, but Anti-Cosmo is easily confused.

If you wish to stop the ceremony immediately (but respectfully), you would say “Shri'ana vi scintu.” So, if someone asked “May I have your core?” you could reply with a phrase that roughly means “No thank you, the current situation feels right and I don’t want to progress” without the harshness of a simple “No.” H.P. is notorious for flat-out saying “No” instead of the proper phrase, which often insults or confuses the people he preens with.

RUDE LANGUAGE

Swears, slurs, or otherwise unprofessional language.

Blitz - Not a particularly nice word at all and generally considered the ultimate rude term (though it can be combined with other terms to be even ruder). “Blitz” can also refer to mating, especially mating quickly or carelessly.

>> “Snatterblitz” would actually be the ULTIMATE rude term.

>> H.P. uses the word “Blitz” frequently, though he tries not to use it in professional settings. Despite his best attempts, it commonly slips out when he’s around Jorgen or Anti-Cosmo, who sometimes sit in awkward silence. H.P. becomes flustered when he hears young children (pixie children in particular) use this word. If your kid overhears him and begins repeating it, it’s one of the few things he’ll immediately and sincerely apologize for.

>> Though it’s frowned upon to use this term in Fairy World, it’s EXTREMELY frowned upon in Anti-Fairy World. Anti-Fairy culture is rooted in the idea that friendship and passion, not selfish personal pleasure, should be the reason you engage in sexual activity. “Blitz” implies very casual behavior with the goal of quick personal pleasure, and clashes harshly with Anti-Fairy values. An Anti-Fairy who states that he or she enjoys “blitzing” would be shunned.

Brownie-Kisser - A slur with its roots in the idea that brownies as a race are naturally dumb and shy and easily taken advantage of. Someone with a brownie for a significant other is often viewed as not being able to “get anyone better”; a “brownie-kisser” is often viewed as desperate, slutty, or even a rapist.

>> Despite the fact that this term is blatantly racist and cruel, it’s unfortunately still quite common in Fairy society (and so is bias against brownies in general). A more extreme term is “brownie-blitzer.”

>> This slur is practically non-existent in Anti-Fairy World. Anti-Fairies don’t mind brownies and it would only be used as an insult to a Fairy’s face, not as gossip behind anyone’s back.

Dust / Smoke / Vapor - Fae turn to either dust, smoke, or vapor when they die. These terms are sometimes used as exclamations, such as “Smoofing dust,” “Good smoke,” or “Dear vapor.” Fairies use “Dust,” Anti-Fairies “Smoke, and Refracts “Vapor.” These terms are considered very mild and are usually used in place of “Curses!” or “Drat!”

Fez - A mild exclamation in Genie culture. May also come in the variation “fezzing.” This term is rarely used by non-Genies. If you hear that word, someone nearby is probably a genie in disguise or hangs around genies often. Despite being a mild Genie word, Happy Peppy Gary considers it to be worse than it is and tends to use it if he’s frustrated and his usual “freaking-deaking” doesn’t cover it.

Fritz - The state of magic lines rapidly disconnecting and reconnecting to the energy field.

>> “Fritz” is less extreme than “Blitz�� and “Snatter” but more extreme than “Smoof.” I would say it’s equivalent to “Damn” if used as an exclamation. It can also be used in casual conversation when referring to breathing lines, since that’s the appropriate context to use it in.

Knotted-Lined - A very cruel way to call someone an idiot. Widely considered a slur that should no longer be used at all.

>> To put this into context, even H.P. (who is known to use “Blitz” regularly) avoids using this term unless he is EXTREMELY upset with someone. If I recall correctly, this term is only used in the Origin of the Pixies chapter “The Makings of Greatness.” It probably slips out when he’s drunk with his friends though.

Smoof - Mild curse word; Norm and Sanderson have both used it in canon. With smoof canonically being a reference to hemp, I’ve headcanoned it as being a plant that can be used for various things, such as making burlap sacks. Notably, Happy Peppy Gary uses this term since he’s spent so much time around Pixies, which often earns him strange looks from humans.

>> This is a very mild term and is the equivalent of “Shoot” or “Darn.” If you can catch yourself then it would still be better not to use this term in a professional environment, but most people probably wouldn’t bat an eye if they heard it. It is commonly used as an adjective to emphasize frustration with a situation (“Smoofing”).

Snatter - Not a nice name to call someone; sometimes strung together as “snattersmoof.” The exact definition falls somewhere between “brown-noser,” “cheat,” “submissive partner,” “lovable scamp,” and “female dog.”

>> Both Sanderson and Anti-Sanderson tend to use this one a lot. It’s more extreme than “Fritz” but still not as extreme as “Blitz.”

>> A similar word, vlakrina, exists in the traditional Anti-Fairy language (Vatajasa). However, Anti-Fairies view a vlakrina as “a person who humbly intends to dote on you to express genuine apology as though they were your devoted sexual servant” rather than the Fairy view of a snatter which is something like “a person who is alluring or submissive because it turns them on or because you hired them to act this way.”

>>> Calling someone “snatter” is pretty much always meant to be insulting while calling someone “vlakrina” could be a compliment akin to “You are extremely humble.”

KINSHIP TERMS

The traditional terms used to describe relationships with counterparts, from Gaelic kinship terms.

These traditional words fell out of fashion in the cloudlands during the War of the Sunset Divide (causing most Fae to use terms like “Niece” and “Nephew” to refer to their counterpart’s children) but the terms make a comeback as Poof and Foop enter adulthood. You would put a possessive word like “My,” “Our,” or “Their” in front of these terms, which are lowercase and italicized in story.

These words are very useful for Fae who regularly have contact with their counterparts’ families. Poof understands them because Wanda’s side of the family is firmly rooted in Fairy traditions, including language, though he rarely uses them because he’s still reluctant to acknowledge Foop’s family as “his” family. Foop, being a smug know-it-all, likes to use these terms but has a hard time remembering what they mean and tends to mix them up.

“My counterpart(s)” - Mhuintir

“The brother of my counterpart” - Deantháir

“The sister of my counterpart” - Deirfiúr

“The spouse / committed partner of my counterpart” - Ceathar

“The partner of my counterpart” - Muirnīn (Generally used for a boyfriend, girlfriend, or similar partner who can’t be called a spouse)

“The counterpart of my father” - Uncail

“The counterpart of my mother” - Aintin

“The son of my counterpart” - Nia [Generally implies the child was raised by them; might not apply to a blood child who was given up for adoption but definitely applies to anyone adopted into the family]

“The daughter of my counterpart” - Neacht [Same as above]

“The grandson of my counterpart” - Garmhac

“The granddaughter of my counterpart” - Gariníon

“The father of my counterpart” - Athair

“The mother of my counterpart” - Máthair

“The grandfather of my counterpart” - Seanathair

“The grandmother of my counterpart” - Seanmháthair

“My biological son raised by my counterpart” - Mac

“My biological daughter raised by my counterpart” - Iníon

“The children of me and my counterpart(s), collectively” - Leanbh

Those are the kinship terms; on some level, these people are considered your extended family even if they are a different species. Fairies believe that counterparts share a soul, making them closely related. Because of this, Fairies shun romantic relations with anyone in the above kinship list (though it is widely agreed that it’s natural to develop a crush on your counterpart’s love interest).

Anti-Fairies, however, traditionally believe themselves to be a completely separate species who were originally shapeshifters but later took on forms to resemble people they grew fond of. They believe they are not related to Fairies by blood or soul, but are akin to “guardian angels.” Because of this, most Anti-Fairies would consider it acceptable to have romantic relations with their counterpart or their counterpart’s relatives.

Click HERE for my Fairly OddParents masterpost

#RD worldbuilding #RD cloudland culture #RD Fairy stuff #RD AntiFairy stuff #RD Pixie stuff #RD Refracted stuff

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lim14black-blog · 6 years

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riddledeep · 4 years

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Fae Milestone Chart

Early life development for fae. Luz mala (fae born of magic) develop more quickly than most. Poof and Foop are luz mala.

More details below the cut.

Generally, Fae culture is good about letting you do things at your own pace without too much pressure (benefits of a million year lifespan). There are regular breaks in school, and if you want to take gap years in between, you can request them easily (as long as you’re willing to fill out packets or do projects later to cover what you missed).

Fairies are expected to complete Spellementary, middle, and high school before marriage and before pursuing a career path seriously. Further education is optional; the majority of Fairies do not go on to a school like the Fairy Academy. Godparents absolutely have to.

Anti-Fairy World has its own education program that’s basically a “come learn anything you want for as long as you want to” program. This system does not have face-to-face meetings in classrooms or daily homework. Research projects, dioramas, poster presentations, and other deliverables make up the majority of schoolwork. This system is much better suited to the nomadic colony life typical in Anti-Fairy World. The program is called the Anti-Fairy Academy, though it encompasses Anti-Fairies of all years and isn’t solely for further education (like the Fairy Academy is).

During the May Blossom War, Foop continued his education through the Anti-Fairy Academy program since he could not attend the rest of Spellementary or any middle school in Fairy World. At age 130,000, when Poof was entering high school, he decided to pursue education in Fairy World again. He dreams of being the first Anti-Fairy to graduate from the Fairy Academy and is racing against his rival, Anti-Whistle Anti-Fernfire, to do this.

Notably, Fairies are stereotyped as people who marry young but have their first kid much later in life. Historically, parents and children lived in separate houses but on the same large plot of land. Having children too soon could lead to overcrowding. Many Fairies do get to see their grandchildren, but very, very few meet their great-grandchildren.

Click HERE for my Fairly OddParents worldbuilding masterpost

#RD general #RD worldbuilding #RD cloudland culture #RD Fairy stuff #RD AntiFairy stuff #RD Pixie stuff #RD Refracted stuff

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riddledeep · 5 years

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Fae Magic

The very complicated subject of fae magic. My goal was to design a system that encompassed all the nuances of The Fairly OddParents, trying to bring them together under a single umbrella without invalidating canon, if possible.

Although it’s complex, this system has served me well as a worldbuilder and fanfic writer since it’s easy to pull it around and find a place for everything.

TOPICS IN THIS POST

Magic: A History

Spells vs. Wishes

The Energy Field

Magic-Touched Objects

Wands (Features of a Wand || Wand Varieties)

Magic and Biology

Magic Pools

Shapeshifting

Sharing Magic

Magic and Money

Risks and Inconveniences

Healing Magic

Geasa and Da Rules

The Colors of Magic (Further details)

Magic Specializations (Further details)

Magical Faux Pas

Class Overviews: Fairies || Anti-Fairies || Pixies || Refracts

The Fairy Elder and Supreme Fairy Council

The Eros Family

Nature Spirits

Witches

Magic: A History

(Compare with “7 Billion Years In Brief”)

It’s speculated that long ago, fae ancestors possessed the ability to use core magic (the core being a fae’s life-giving organ inside the forehead dome). Core magic was quite powerful and did not require a conduit (e.g. a wand). Over several generations, however, that ability seems to have faded.

For several eras, magic required chants or ingredients in order to invoke its power. Potioncraft was the dominant magic system of the time. Spellbooks also came into being (as stone carvings or wood etchings bound into a collection on the Fairy side, scrolls on the Anti-Fairy side) and magic was limited to certain spells that had been discovered. Innovation was uncommon.

Modern Magic - Spellbooks have gone out of fashion. Potions are considered complicated and unnecessary. Potions can be brewed and used by anyone, even non-magical creatures.

Finally, several generations before H.P. was born, starpiece magic entered the playing field (“Starpieces” refers to several magical conduits, including wands and Pixie technology). Starpieces allow Fairies to cast magic easily, accurately, and silently; chanting is not longer needed because the wand does all of that for you. Starpieces tune into the same frequency of the energy field that Fairies breathe, granting access to the correct frequency of magic without drawing power from a Fairy’s life force.

Although ancient spellbooks and potion recipes still exist, starpiece magic is the standard magic system throughout Fairy World today.

Spells vs. Wishes

In Fairy legal terms, a spell is magic cast by a fairy acting on their own. A wish is the result of a godchild’s will combined with their godparent’s will; thanks to this combination, wishes can lead to seriously powerful magic far above what a fairy can cast alone. Granting wishes is also less draining for a fairy than casting spells.

You must be a licensed godparent to legally grant wishes, and you may only grant wishes for your assigned godchild. You can cast spells if you wish to, but your spells should be for personal reasons; you shouldn’t bring your personal spells into a godchild’s life unless they specifically wish for it. There are often legal repercussions for doing so due to possible disruption of a godchild’s feelings of safety and stability.

The appendix is the magical organ in Fairies that allows them to sync their thoughts to other magic users’ when combining their power. Fairies also develop empathy links with their godchild through the appendix as well to help them hone in on what a godkid is asking for. Even when godparents aren’t near a child, if the appendixes are linked, a godparent can sense a child calling for them.

Coast Clear? - Under “Magic Specializations,” read about Essential Sensories and how Fairies can check if it’s safe to poof in

When godparent and godchild are permanently separated, some may request the empathy link be severed (which usually involves the removal of the appendix). Others prefer maintaining the links until each godchild dies. Godparents who become extremely distressed can accidentally rupture their godkid’s appendix.

Appendix - It’s extremely rare to be a godkid if you don’t have an appendix. No appendix means no wishes. A Fairy without an appendix will struggle to function in highly emotional Fairy society.

Spells, wishes, and appendixes are also discussed in the Pink and Gray chapter “Heroes to Goats;” as part of the agreement to let Gary, Betty, and Kenny grow up under Pixie care, the Fairy Council insisted their appendixes be removed. Pixies can cast spells around Gary and Betty but cannot sync minds or draw energy from them in order to grant wishes.

The Energy Field

Magic flows throughout the universe and different magical beings tap into different frequencies of it, like radios. As they grow, magical beings learn to tune out the static white noise put out by certain magical frequencies and tune themselves into the one that suits their people’s magic. Fairies draw their magic (and breath) from a certain energy field frequency. A Fairy can channel magic through their body, drawing on their own life force, or draw it through a conduit to avoid draining their own energy reserves.

Conduit - An object that channels magic (Usually a wand, but could be an ancient artifact or magical item)

Wands only work properly inside pockets of the energy field where magic is plentiful. Wands pick up a signal in those energy pockets the same way cell phones can; if you’re out of range, some features won’t work. If you travel any direction in the universe too far, you will eventually pass out of the energy field and it will be harder to use magic, and eventually become difficult to breathe; however, if you travel up or downstream a river of magic, you’ll be connected longer than if you run perpendicular to the river.

Magical Hotspots - Click HERE for the Fae Cosmology post, which describes these rivers of magic throughout the universe.

Fairies are connected to the energy field through invisible magic pathways called magic lines.

Magic Lines - Invisible magical pathways that connect Fairies to the energy field, allowing them to breathe and use magic. If a Fairy’s lines are disrupted, they will not be able to do either of these things. Sort of like windpipes, but they’re outside the body. Also known as breathing lines.

Fritz - If a Fairy briefly loses connection with the energy field, it’s called fritzing. Magic lines are constantly trying to reconnect with the energy field and will reattach quickly in most cases. When under something like a butterfly net or tinfoil hat, a fairy will instantly fritz and be unable to reconnect. They can still breathe and talk at first, but will steadily run out of magic (equivalent of being buried alive).

Fairies can fritz when startled, scared, if they swim too deep, or if outdoors in bad weather. If you fritz because you’re drunk or aroused, people might say you’ve gone tingle-fritzy.

For eons, the energy field has unfortunately become quite dirty. The Big Wand filters pollution from the energy field and distributes it across the nearby universe; the nearer you are to the Big Wand, the easier it is to drink from filtered parts of the field. All of Fairy World has access to filtered magic, but the flavor may differ the further you are. If you venture from Fairy World to another planet, you will go off the grid. Theoretically, the Big Anti-Wand functions the same way, but it doesn’t work as well.

When the Big Wand shuts down, so does its filter. Drinking raw magic isn’t ideal for modern-day Fairies since their bodies are accustomed to filtered magic. Flying and shapeshifting are still possible, but are more strenuous in a raw zone than a filtered zone. Starpiece magic may not be possible at all, or if it is then you only have access to dregs.

Fairy World is set to cut excess magic if the Big Wand goes down and start rationing its magic supply. Ensuring everyone can still breathe is priority number one. During “Crocker Shocker,” Crocker cut the Big Wand’s power. The field was still there, but Fairies couldn’t use it without getting sick, so their handheld wands immediately shut down to limit the amount of intake.

Near-Immortality - As long as a Fairy is in contact with the energy field (via their magic lines) they are extremely resilient and difficult to kill.

Magic resists magic (à la “Abra-Catastrophe!”) If you stab someone with a magical blade, it will pass through soft skin, potentially nick bone, and feel uncomfortable, but it won’t kill the Fairy. Fairies are weak to non-magical weapons. However, even then, they will heal quickly if in contact with the energy field unless they were struck by a significant amount of force or hit in a sensitive area of the body.

Arms heal quickly because they’re thick with magic (the hands are one of the exit points of magic, so magic travels from the core to the hands). Legs take a little longer but not by much. Wings do not have veins that carry magic, so they take much longer to heal.

Hospitals - The closer a Fairy is to the Big Wand, and the more power they can draw from the field, the faster they’ll heal even if they were badly hurt with a non-magical item. The Fairy World hospital is right next to the Big Wand because of this.

Core - The life-giving organ in a fae (equivalent to a heart, but this organ is magical and located in the hollow head chamber). Stabbing the core will kill a Fairy instantly.

Breathing - The fae don’t like going out in bad weather because it affects their ability to use magic (See also, magic lines). In particularly bad weather, they may not be able to breathe. Unlike humans, the fae get to breathe in outer space... but it comes at the cost of not being able to go outside if it’s a day you can’t breathe.

Anti-Fairies are not connected directly to the energy field. They are fully capable of performing magic in magical dead zones as long as their host counterpart has access to the energy field.

Magic-Touched

Magic resists magic (See also, “Abra-catastrophe”).

A magical being cannot be killed by an object that has been created or changed with magic (See also, near-immortality). If you’re a Fairy, you can cut your hand off with a magical knife and nothing will happen. You won’t even bleed. If you accidentally cut your hand with a non-magical knife, you will. Magical bullets cannot kill you, but non-magical bullets can.

Fairies are magical creatures, but are also grounded to the physical world. They could kill another magical being with their bare hands (Not immune to one another).

Opaque Magic - Magic in a visible, physical state. Magical beams and Bridges are formed of this magic. May or may not magic-touch an object (depends if a beam is manipulating the composition of an object).

Transparent Magic - Magic in an invisible, nonphysical state. This magic never magic-touches objects. Shapeshifting, levitating, and poofing something from room to room are examples of transparent magic. Domestic magic (kitchen/vanity) is also transparent.

Wands

A wand’s cap is filled with sacred rosewater drawn from the magical fountain Kiiloëi. This rosewater drains over time and must be refilled so the wand can tune into the proper frequency of the energy field. A wand with an empty cap is useless for performing magic. Click HERE to see the parts of a wand.

Different types of wands exist to fit the needs of different magic users. Some types are capable of deflecting magic, but are very heavy. Some wear out easily and are sold cheaply, making them good for those who lose their wands often. Read more about wand varieties HERE.

When a wand is broken, it releases a burst of energy that can be felt by nearby magical creatures. The energy field shifts as it tries to incorporate the new explosion of magic into its usual river-like flow. Bursts can disrupt nearby magic usage for about half an hour.

Gyne Fight - Wands are snapped in a gyne fight, preventing outsiders from interfering.

Magic and Biology

Natural fae magic is also known as pink magic- the color associated with quick reactions and basic biological abilities such as flight and shapeshifting. Fae wings are small and require the support of pink magic to enable floating. When energy is cut, fae cannot channel floating or shapeshifting powers in the usual way. Internal pink magic can be used without a wand as long as a connection to the energy field is maintained through the lines; spells used against other people still require a conduit.

Pink Magic - Fae naturally have an internal store of this. As long as you can breathe, you can use some pink magic. This means you can poof very short distances without a wand and change shape. You will not have enough magic to float if the Big Wand is down for a long time.

Different fae races have race-specific abilities. Fairies and Pixies secrete oils and stale magic from their skin on a constant basis. Being ectothermic, this sweat doesn’t actually cool them down, but it serves another important function: it allows them to store accessible magic in case of emergencies. If necessary, a Fairy or Pixie has enough power to cast a small spell even if they don’t have a connection with the energy field.

Fairies and Pixies also have an ability known as field-sight. They can sense nearby magical beings and can also use their internal magic to view the energy field in its raw state, viewing concentrations of magic in physical form.

Sweat - Seelie Courters secrete magic that sticks to their skin. They can cast one, two, or maybe three small spells without access to a wand, other than the usual pink magic. Only Fairies and Pixies can do this; Anti-Fairies and Refracts can’t.

Principle of Observation - When non-magical beings glance at a Fairy or Pixie who has magical sweat and dust on their skin, they may not realize something is out of the ordinary (Ex: They will notice an animal is an odd color, but will not question it). Those who perform a double-take will begin to question it, and those who continue studying and thinking about the situation will be able to pierce this “veil.” Anti-Fairies and Refracts are not protected by the Principle.

Godkid Clause - Godkids are immune to the Principle of Observation, no double take required, once they spend time around their fairies. Fairy dust can be spread to individuals the godkid interacts with, passing on the clause temporarily (Think “No Substitute For Crazy”). Witches, who are half magical beings, are automatically immune to the Principle.

Anti-Fairies have the power to mind-meld. They can read others’ thoughts, though most Anti-Fairies must make physical contact in order to do so; very few are powerful enough to do so from a distance. Anti-Fairies can also meld minds directly with their counterparts, allowing the three to communicate (albeit awkwardly) no matter how far apart they are.

Refracts are the inventors of scry bowls and crystal balls, and hold the power to see other locations through the eyes of birds (some can even control movements of the birds as well). Refracts only have this connection with the bird species they share their wings with, but any bird of the appropriate species is fair game for scrying through.

Racial Abilities - Special magical abilities only Seelie, Anti-Fairies, or Refracts have. These are the Principle of Observation, the mind-meld, and scrying (in that order).

Additionally, Anti-Fairies and Refracts hold the power of regeneration. So long as their Fairy host lives, the two counterparts are incapable of dying and will simply regenerate if “killed.” Depending on the severity of the wound and the size of one’s share in their magic pool, regeneration may be very quick or it could take weeks. See “Magic and Money” below for more about regeneration.

Magic Pools

Counterpart trios have a pool of magic shared between them. This is their allotted share of the energy field (No one can take this resource from them and drain it).

Here is a depiction of a magic pool. The pool is part of the energy field (represented here by negative space). The braided threads are the magic lines, or breathing lines.

The hosting counterpart is directly connected to the magic pool at birth. The host has an organ that filters the raw magic and turns it into purified magic, which his counterparts breathe. Counterparts do not have their own organ to filter raw magic.

Host - In 99.9% of cases, the Fairy counterpart is the host counterpart. In extremely rare cases, the Anti-Fairy or Refract can be born the hosting counterpart. This is a major part of the plot in my ‘fic Frayed Knots.

Raw Magic - See “Sweat” described in the section above. Fairies and Pixies secrete raw magic from their system through their pores because they are hosting counterparts. Non-hosts do not have the ability to eliminate impure magic from their system. However, if an Anti-Fairy or Refract is born a host, they will be born with that ability (via drool).

When one counterpart uses a large amount of magic, they draw a large portion of the pool to them. The other counterparts will briefly be affected and may cough. If an extreme amount of magic is used, the other counterparts may briefly lose the ability to fly, may feel strangled, and could even black out.

Each pool is further divided into three parts, which are not always equal. Using a few large spells or many small spells will steadily drain the pool, and it will take time to rest and recharge. Pool sizes and individual share sizes are based on genetics, so some Fairies choose partners with large pools to ensure their children have large pools too.

Shares - How much magic you can draw from your magic pool before you start taking magic from your counterparts (which can make them sick).

When a Fairy baby is first born, they do not have counterparts, so they possess all three shares of the pool. Poof’s pool was above average size at birth, making him a tempting target for Anti-Fairies and Pixies to exploit.

Lift - The larger your share of magic, the higher your crown floats. High lifts indicate magical prowess and are considered more attractive.

Core-Sync - What happens to the host is mirrored in one or both counterparts. The closer the sync, the more damage a counterpart will take if the host is hurt. Small amounts of damage do not cross the sync chasm.

Poof’s and Foop’s shares of the magic pool are equal because they have a strong core-sync. If Poof stubs his toe or slaps himself in the face, Foop can feel it. Cosmo and Anti-Cosmo have a weak core-sync. Anti-Cosmo only feels Cosmo’s injuries if Cosmo is severely hurt.

Shapeshifting

If you understand the existence of a magic pool, understanding shapeshifting is easy. You know that a fairy is connected to this pool via magic lines. Magic lines carry magic from the magic pool to the fairy.

Usually, only one spell can be cast or wish granted at a time. If you’re skilled, you can summon different food products in the same poof cloud. You might even be able to summon an entire circus as long as you’re locking into a “default” circus model. However, it’s difficult to summon a shield and shoot a magical blast at the same time.

Shapeshifting is pink magic. Remember:

Because pink magic is internal (see the pink glow around my Wanda drawing), it can be used at the same time as magic drawn from the energy field (the blue line). This means energy field magic and pink magic do not overlap, so they can be performed at the same time.

So how does shapeshifting work? It actually doesn’t take ongoing concentration, and you can stay in a new form easily, even in your sleep. Imagine that inside your brain, you have two hooks that stand in the ground a fair distance apart. A rubber band dangles from one of them.

That band represents your ability to shapeshift. If you can stretch your energy far enough, you can hook your shapeshifting ability in the “on” position:

Your new form won’t slip off while you sleep (though it will snap if you’re caught in a butterfly net, because the “hooks” will disappear). To change back, you disconnect it. Healthy shapeshifting should be a one-time power burst, not an ongoing drain.

It takes time for fae children to learn to shapeshift. They can pull their band a little, but only through practice can they recognize the amount of force they should apply and what they’re trying to do with it. Young fae usually make the mistake of trying to hold their form with absolute concentration, making it impossible to perform other magic at the same time.

Partial Shapeshifting - Appearing in a new form only on the outside. Ex: A cow with the digestive system of a fairy (one stomach). Or a bird with the reproductive system of a fairy (cannot lay eggs in bird form). Or a car without a working engine. Startled Fairies usually take a form like this when hurrying to disguise themselves.

Full Shapeshifting - Taking on a totally new form. Ex: A cow with the digestive system of a cow (four stomachs). Or a bird with the reproductive system of a bird (ability to lay eggs in bird form). Or a car with a working engine. When a fairy needs to seem convincing, this is how they shapeshift. Full forms take more thought and energy.

For fae parents, the equivalent of “You can’t take your eyes off them for a second once they learn to crawl” would be “once they learn to hold a form.” It’s easy for babies to get lost, especially if you have no idea what they turned into while you were in the other room.

To force someone else into another form (if your target is magical), you have to override the natural pink magic of their body. This is the equivalent of one human trying to shove another off balance while they’re standing near each other. If the target is off guard, changing their form is easy. If they’re expecting you to push them, they might stumble but not fall (they’ll resist and knocking them over will take a lot more effort). Someone with a large magic pool is someone bigger than you (harder to overwhelm).

Reversal - It’s difficult for the target of a forced shift to reverse a spell on themselves. However, bystanders may be able to reverse it for them. Yellow magic can only be undone by the caster (or a Supreme Fairy Council member), but all other colors can be undone by another fae with enough patience.

Forcing non-magical beings into another form is simple since they do not have natural magic to defend themselves. You just have to get the form right.

Sharing Magic

Sharing magic is a form of intimacy for parents and children, siblings, very close friends, romantic partners, or gynes and drones (all close relationships, not just sexual ones). Spending pleasant time together can allow two fae to share magic. Sharing magic is easiest for Fairies and Pixies, though Anti-Fairies can also do it. It’s rare among Refracts.

Although Seelie and Unseelie Courters cannot physically mate, they are able to share magic to express intimacy. The exception to this rule is counterparts: counterparts cannot share magic because they already share the same magic pool by default (it would feel like normal breathing instead of a blend).

Aura Circles - Fae can sense nearby sources of magic in a circle around them. They also release signals into the energy field that other fae can detect. Your lift (height of your crown) indicates the size of your aura circle; higher crown means you can sense farther.

Range - Sharing magic requires you be close to one another, but when it comes to Seelie, it doesn’t require physical contact. It can even be done through a wall- you just have to be within one another’s aura circle.

Anti-Fairies don’t have aura circles, so they must be closer to share magic (usually the tips of their claws need to brush). Anti-Fairies are a snuggling species, so they normally share magic with friends while roosting together or intimate partners while mating.

Sharing magic literally involves opening your soul to visitors, allowing two partners to view each other on a neutral mindspace plane. Instead of a blank neutral zone, you can choose to invite someone to your core chamber: a personalized pocket dimension each fae possesses. Sharing magic is intimate because it involves blending minds in order to share thoughts and feelings that are difficult to articulate, allowing the second party to feel the brainwaves and emotions of the first (and vice versa).

When two partners come apart, it takes time for their lines to untangle back to normal, so for several minutes to a few hours, they continue sharing one another’s lines and magic pools. Partners whose lines are tangled are known as “snared.”

Snaring - Although sharing magic can be thought of as a sexual thing, it is widely viewed as a platonic equivalent: a deep and caring bond expressed between extremely close friends.

Magic and Money

Magic power itself does not cost money, but wands run on magical rosewater, and large wishes drain rosewater faster than smaller wishes. Wands sometimes need to be refilled (every few months if you use your wand regularly and every few years if you use it sparingly- possibly every few weeks if you’re a godparent).

You can refill your wand at one of many rosewater stations that exists in the cloudlands. Many Fairies keep at least one rosewater tank at home for future use; those tanks can refill a wand eighty to a hundred times and can be quite expensive.

Rosewater Station - Gas stations don’t exist in the cloudlands, but rosewater stations do. They also sell basic groceries and candy. In my ‘fic Snips and Snails, Foop mentioned you have to be an adult to refill your slushee cup.

If a wand is devoid of rosewater, a Fairy can try to draw power directly from their life force. The body usually resists this for the same reasons it’s difficult to tickle yourself- you will only be successful if your brain treats the draw as a panic response. If your brain isn’t panicking, you will probably not be successful at drawing directly from your life force. A direct draw is the final defense mechanism of the Fairy body, and because it directly damages the Fairy, the body prevents it unless you’re in an emergency situation.

Unseelie Courters (Anti-Fairies and Refracts) regenerate if they’re “killed.” If their bodies have enough natural magic, they regenerate on their own. If someone is low on magic, it may take longer. They may get caught in limbo for a while and may require a donation of magic to bring them firmly back to reality.

Too Low on Magic - Genetics, old age, sickness, or if you’ve lost a considerable amount of magic before (by using magic frivolously, excessive bleeding, multiple pregnancies, and multiple regenerations).

Friends might donate magic to a friend the same way a human might buy lunch for someone, but if your friend is constantly killing himself for the thrill of it, your patience may run thin.

Anti-Fairy doctors will heal you with magic they’ve gathered previously, but they may expect payment for their services. Payment is often made with money, though food or fancy clothing may be acceptable payments in some places.

Risks and Inconveniences

Keep in mind that shapeshifting and poofing short distances are actions performed with internal “pink” magic; those are easily performed and come with few risks attached. Besides monetary expenses and the drawbacks of pulling directly from your life force, there are other reasons fae may avoid using magic in my works as frivolously as they do in the show.

> Some people may not have a wand for personal or monetary reasons. Besides needing rosewater refills, the wand itself can break with overuse and some may not think it’s worth replacing. Kitchen wands that can perform only levitation and dish-cleaning magic exist, and vanity wands that can alter your face and hair also do. Do you really need an expensive ‘universal’ wand when specialty wands are much cheaper?

> Some fae do not have much magic to spare and consider using magic for shortcuts to be wasteful. Some have enough magic but see it weak or lazy to rely on magic as a crutch. Some limit magic usage for health reasons.

> Using magic does in fact age your body. A frivolous Fairy will have a shorter life than a frugal one (but does 20 or 30,000 years - only two or three years in human terms - really make much of a difference? That’s for the individual to decide).

> Using a lot of magic in a short time can be physically uncomfortable. The breathing lines connecting you to the energy field can feel limp and drained, and can easily get tangled. This causes discomfort for a Fairy, making them feel itchy, slimy, or flaky and dry (it may even be difficult to breathe).

> Trying to poof somewhere you can’t envision clearly can be dangerous. Most wands prevent you from trying at all, and will kick you back to where you just were if it can’t get a safe read on your destination.

>> Sometimes you literally can’t poof where you want to. At the end of Baby, You’re a Rich Man, H.P. and Sanderson were kicked back when they tried to teleport into the middle of a storm that was whipping the energy field around; it was too unstable to materialize at their original destination, so H.P. tried again and had them ping under a dry roof instead.

>> The technology preventing you from materializing inside something else is fairly new to the cloudlands and people are still getting used to it throughout Origin of the Pixies. In the past, many, many Fairies died due to jump-locking (fusing with something and being unable to revert back), contributing to Fairy World’s small population of 7,000 by the time H.P. was born. In modern Fairy World, special areas known as “teleportation pads” reroute poofing magic to a pad and allow you to materialize safely. Many Fairy World homes also have teleport pads in front yards, though that’s going out of fashion as more Fairies trust their wands won’t let them jump-lock.

> You shouldn’t try to reverse a spell if you don’t know exactly what the conditions of its casting were. Spells are still attached to their casters in the energy field, and you might hurt someone if you yank spells around. Some spells may have hexes embedded in them and may hurt you if you try to revert someone else’s spell.

>> Many curses have a “security system” of sorts attached that alerts the caster when someone is trying to undo a curse or trace it to its source. A caster who doesn’t want to be found may choose to cut ties with the curse so it can’t be traced back, or they may reveal themselves to the person they placed the curse on, ready to dish out further punishment.

> Magical backlash is a thing. Pure Fairy magic is extremely hot and pure Anti-Fairy magic is extremely cold. Casting certain spells may physically hurt a Fairy, and wands have a built-in mechanism to collapse certain wishes. In the Origin of the Pixies chapter “How Not to Bake Brownies,” H.P. received burn scars when he lay his cheek against the von Strangle staff while trying to channel magic.

>> In an early concept for Anti-Wanda, I planned for her rosewater-filled starpiece to hang on a necklace and she could shake it to use magic (the idea being that it kept her from losing it, and looked pretty too). I scrapped this idea upon realizing it would burn her throat. The fae struggle to create starpieces they can’t be easily separated from while also creating pieces that won’t burn them. It’s a vicious cycle of design. 1,000 years post-series, the Pixies do create starpiece watches that latch onto the hand and don’t burn skin, and in the far future they use starpiece earpieces.

Healing Magic

Anti-Fairies are considered great healers. In the 130 Prompt “All I Ever Wanted,” Poof cast a painkiller charm on Anti-Marigold by reading it from an Anti-Fairy spellbook. Most Fairies would chuckle at this, not believing healing charms to have much value. Stereotypically, Fairies prefer their body’s natural healing and accept any pain that comes with it. They tough it out, and admitting you use painkillers would be a social embarrassment.

Although Fairies have created simple domestic wands for simple tasks (Cleaning dishes, styling hair, dousing fires, levitating objects, and so on), healing magic is not easily performed with a wand, at least not effectively. Anti-Fairy children are taught to memorize healing charms from a young age while Fairy parents sniff and steer their kids away from them.

Geasa

A geis is a magical oath from Irish folklore. Typically, one is granted a great boon but only so long as they don’t break an oath. Some oaths may involve not eating dog meat or not refusing hospitality. Both these geasa were put upon the mythical hero Cú Chulainn. He was once tricked into a situation where these geasa came into conflict, forcing him to eat dog meat because he could not refuse hospitality. For breaking his geis, he lost his extreme strength and was killed shortly after.

Geasa do exist in the cloudlands and fae occasionally impose them upon each other, but they’re usually contained to the aristocracy. The Eros family, for instance, are under a geis to preserve every species in the universe or else they’ll lose their powers over love (and their lives). Many things godkids can’t wish for are prevented by Da Rules because they would violate a geis in some way (Ex: Only the Eros family may interfere with true love, only the Sandman is allowed to approve sleep wishes, and only the Tooth Fairies can mess with teeth).

Geasa are very serious matters in Fae culture and are not taken lightly.

The Colors of Magic

Magic beams normally come in one of five colors, with red a rare sixth color that usually appears if someone’s life is threatened. The five main colors are known as “the Fairy rainbow” and appear in decorations throughout Fairy World. Fairy World is divided into four regions, each represented by a Robe who sits on the Fairy Council. The Fairy Elder wears yellow.

Both Fairies and Anti-Fairies can see the color of magic. Fairies can also taste magic and Anti-Fairies can hear it.

>> FLAVORS AND SOUNDS <<

Yellow - Hot and peppery - Like powerful waves flowing over sand

Blue - Cool and salty - Starts with a low hum before cracking loudly

Pink - Sour - Sounds like a sharp snap and catches you off guard

Purple - Sweet and warm - Sounds like a creek flowing over stones

Green - Sharp and spicy - Sounds low and lightly bubbling

Red - Bitter - Sounds like it’s boiling and seething

Below is a quick reference of what circumstances trigger which color. For more specifics, view the magic colors post HERE. Bold, bright, solid colors (opaque magic) indicate stronger emotions. Wispy pastels (transparent magic) indicate absentmindedness.

>> BEAM COLORS <<

Yellow -> Putting others first; delight - Can only be reverted by the caster; does not revert itself with caster’s death

Blue -> Irritation; common in fights - Can be reverted by the caster or a bystander with great effort, but irritation must have subsided somewhat

Pink -> Knee-jerk response; also used in shapeshifting - Any bystander can revert it with a bit of effort

Purple -> Neutrality and rawness (Magic’s natural state) - Can only be reverted by caster; reverts itself with caster’s death

Green -> Misery and panic; can be triggered by laziness - Reverts itself within hours

Red -> Obsession and fear; survival instinct - Reverts itself within minutes

Yellow is associated with joy in Fairy World. Green means misery; if you draw an X through something you don’t like, you’ll probably draw a green X. Green is not associated with concepts such as “Go” and “Complete” but with “Avoid this.” Yellow is associated with concepts like “Great work!” and “You did it!”

The blood of magical creatures changes color the same way their beams do, with the default state being purple. Counterparts’ magic and blood reflect that of the host even if the counterpart is experiencing different emotions.

A Fairy’s life-giving organ is the core, which is found in the head chamber. All cores look white to physical eyes. However, using field-sight, core colors are revealed (meanings described below).

Physical and magical intimacy are both required for procreation, and one’s core color reveals the type of magic one was fertilized with. Long ago, only babies fertilized with yellow or purple magic survived to term fully healthy; the other magic colors were unstable and led to birth defects (pink and blue) or didn’t survive at all (red and green). Yellow magic lasts after death, but purple magic doesn’t, causing babies fertilized with purple magic (“purple-borns”) to die following the deaths of both parents.

Nowadays, the Eros Triplets use their arrows to ensure babies receive the appropriate amount of magic. However, core colors still reveal what was and what could have been. Purple-borns aren’t supposed to exist nowadays thanks to the Eros Triplets, but on rare occasions one slips through. The Head Pixie, who reproduces asexually, lives in mortal fear that his offspring and Pixie society will collapse with his death since he did not mate to fertilize his eggs.

Fae counterparts are born of purple magic and will die when their host does.

>> CORE COLORS <<

Yellow -> The couple were extremely aroused, presumably delighted

Blue -> At least one of the couple wasn’t enthusiastic that night, or perhaps grew impatient as their partner teased them, but it wasn’t aggressive or painful

Pink -> The couple probably began the night with playfulness, not expecting it to go farther, but neither protested when it did

Purple -> The couple found that night to be relaxed and routine

Green -> Mating was perhaps aggressive or painful, but not to the point of panic; one partner may have been aggressive as a way of play

Red -> The mating was aggressive or painful to the point that one partner became fearful (for either their life or their partner’s)

(Note that these circumstances apply only to Fairies; counterparts reflect their host’s core color regardless of how their own parents felt about mating.)

A common quip in Fae society is “The firstborn gets the most magic.” A firstborn baby will receive additional magic layers around their core. The layer closest to the baby’s core will be the color of the father’s core, the outer later the mother’s.

Social status is ranked as follows: Firstborn of both parents > Firstborn of only one parent > Second-born of first mate > Second-born of second-mate > Later kids

Magic Specializations

Magic specializations rarely come up in my works by name since they’re the equivalent of college majors and it isn’t usually relevant, but they do exist and different characters have different specialties.

You can read about them HERE

Magical Faux Pas

There may be social consequences for using magic in someone’s vicinity. The 130 Prompt “Make You Proud” shows two examples. Due to previous clashes with the Pixies, Wanda (justifiably) did not feel comfortable letting H.P. control the destination they poofed to. When she said “He’s with me,” referring to Timmy, she told H.P. to back down; it was worth the cost of poofing him if it meant he wouldn’t seize control.

Immediately after they left, Anti-Cosmo and Anti-Wanda were hit with a burst of hot magic, which negatively affected them since they are Anti-Fairies with cold body temperatures. It was a bit rude of Wanda to poof away right next to someone who would have that kind of reaction to her magic (though she can be excused in this scene for having her focus on H.P.) Similarly, in the Origin of the Pixies chapter “The Art of Starting Fires,” Ambrosine carried his son from an old building before he poofed away to ensure magic usage didn’t damage the building.

Poofing into someone’s private dwelling without being invited is also considered bad form. Some may find it acceptable for children and grandchildren to poof into your house with little warning, but generally the polite thing to do is arrive outside the door (using someone’s private teleport pad if one exists).

Polite People Use Doors - It’s polite to leave someone’s house through the door, then poof away. Certain buildings (such as museums with old, rare artifacts) are not appropriate places to poof inside or out of at all.

In “Playdate of Doom,” Foop showed excellent manners when he poofed a door into existence and waited on the other side of it instead of simply appearing in the room.

It’s rude to serve yourself in someone else’s home by poofing up a plate of food or a chair. In doing so, you are implying they aren’t a good host and they may take offense. Subtle hinting is preferred if you need something, and using magic to get it for yourself will embarrass those around you.

The above faux pas are pretty consistent for all fae races; further nuances exist according to the values of each culture.

Click HERE for my Fairly OddParents worldbuilding masterpost

#RD general #RD worldbuilding #RD Fairy stuff #RD AntiFairy stuff #RD Pixie stuff #RD Refracted stuff

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riddledeep · 5 years

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Fae Hierarchy

Fairy Elder - Last of the Tuatha Dé Danann. She is not a god, but holds great authority and power in the cloudlands. She wears yellow robes and a magical diamond necklace that keeps her alive. Fairies, Anti-Fairies, and Refracts alike respect her; she is an impartial figurehead.

Wise Ancients - Extremely powerful nature spirits such as Mother Nature and Father Time. They are neutral parties, but not impartial. These deities have their own agendas and use mortals to further their goals.

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Zodiac spirits - The seven nature spirits who represent the seven elements on the Fairy zodiac. The days of the week are named after them.

Supreme Fairy Council - Four Fairies and three Anti-Fairies who are elected to sit on either the Fairy Council or Anti-Fairy Council. The seven are collectively referred to as the Supreme Fairy Council. Each member is called a Robe, and wears a robe in the color of the cloudland region (political state) they represent.

Eros family - Cupid’s bloodline. Always cherubs, always triplets, and allegedly tasked by the gods to maintain Fairy genealogies and prevent any species in the universe from truly going extinct.

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Keeper of Da Rules - The Keeper of Da Rules maintains order in the cloudlands by ensuring Da Rules are followed. Following the War of the Angels, the Keeper of Da Rules also became ambassador for the common fairy subspecies. This is Jorgen’s current position.

Lower-ranked nature spirits - The children and grandchildren of the zodiac spirits. They are certainly deities, but are lesser deities.

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Alien ambassadors - Aliens who represent other worlds, including entire planets sometimes.

High Count and High Countess - The dual leaders of the Anti-Fairies. While the titles imply separate male and female positions, they can be filled by a same-sex pair. Although equals from a political standpoint, the High Count is still considered head of the household, mirroring the creche father rank in actual bat colonies. These are Anti-Cosmo’s and Anti-Wanda’s current positions.

Head Pixie - This title is often abbreviated H.P. Only the reigning Head Pixie has the authority to make drastic changes to the Pixie social structure. He rules until his death, after which he is succeeded by the Vice President of Pixies Inc.

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Fairy subspecies ambassadors - Ambassadors of various races under the Fairy umbrella who attend Council meetings. Some are elected while others are kings and queens born and raised in royal families.

First General - The follower drake of the High Count. The First General organizes and oversees Anti-Fairy troops in war. In times of peace, he also performs ceremonies and breaks gridlock arguments among the camarilla court. This position is always filled by a male. This is Anti-Poof Anti-Everwish’s current position.

Temple acolytes - High-ranking Anti-Fairies who reside in and care for the Zodiac Temples. They are considered experts in matters of architecture; they spend decades studying such things in Zodiac Temples before they can design monuments to the nature spirits or offer their designing services to clients. They’re so renowned for their skill that hopeful Fairy architects will train beneath them instead of attending the Academy.

Head Anti-Pixie - Leader of the anti-pixie race. Generally given the cold shoulder and not taken seriously considering that anti-pixies are stereotyped as constantly-drunk party-loving lunatics. Holds very little political power. This is Anti-Sanderson’s current position.

Vice President of Pixies Inc. - The pixie intended to be the Head Pixie’s successor. Until then, he helps the Head however he is instructed to (Mostly by keeping Pixie World resources such as groceries stocked and helping with childcare duties). Only pixie gynes may hold this rank. This is Longwood’s current position.

Chief Pixie of PixieCo - The gyne who oversees pixies in the Hawthorn Haven cloudland colony. The title is also abbreviated C.P. of PixieCo. The C.P. is still subject to the Head, like a manager to a larger company. As other pixie gynes set off into the world, more C.P. positions will pop up. This is Smith’s current position.

Pixie ambassador - H.P. became Pixie ambassador to the Supreme Fairy Council by default. However, he can elect to pass the position to someone else if he wants to.

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Keepers [of Da Rules] - Not to be confused with the singular position. These government workers make up the Fairy World police force and are trained to organize as militia if necessary. They wear sky blue and white uniforms.

Camarilla court - Six Anti-Fairies selected by the High Count and six selected by the High Countess who weigh in on matters of political and social importance. While the High Count and High Countess technically hold seats on the camarilla too, the name “camarilla” is colloquially used to encompass everyone else. In total, there are two people on the camarilla court representing each of the seven elements on the Fairy zodiac.

Heir to the High Seat / “High heir” - A child of either the High Count or Countess (sometimes both) born with the iris virus. A potential heir born without the iris virus would automatically be rejected as the heir for not carrying “the sacred blessing of the nature spirits”. In times of desperation when no legitimate heir can be produced, another color-eyed child of nobility (most likely an extended family member) can be adopted into the bloodline instead. This is Foop’s current position.

H.P.’s alpha retinue drone - A gyne’s primary drone; he oversees other drones and can assist his gyne in distributing his pheromones through the ranks. An alpha drone technically has the same rights as a service animal regarding where he can and can’t go. This is Sanderson’s current position.

Vice President of PixieCo - Simply, the pixie who succeeds the Chief Pixie of PixieCo, and assists him until then. Like the Vice President of Pixies Inc., the V.P. of PixieCo should be a gyne. Again, we’ll be introduced to this position in “The Other One”.

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Other von Strangle family members - Nana Boom-Boom. Invisible Leonard. People we saw in “Cosmo Rules”. You know what I mean.

Creche fathers of other colonies - Non-nursing colonies of Anti-Fairies are naturally patriarchal; the creche father is the highest-ranking male in the colony. While leadership skills are valued, his main role consists of caring for the young pups in the colony.

Heir’s betrothed - The intended mate to the “High heir” and therefore the assumed new High Count or Countess. This person doesn’t hold real legal authority, but is treated with respect. As it stands right now, this is Anti-Coriander’s unofficial position.

Chief Sunchosen - A self-proclaimed title for the unofficial ambassador of the Refracted. The intention is that one day, this position will be for Refracts what the High Count and Countess are for Anti-Fairies. This is Dame Artemis’s current self-titled position.

C.P.’s alpha retinue drone - Same as H.P.’s alpha retinue drone, but he belongs to the Chief Pixie of PixieCo. This is Calvert’s current position.

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Other celebrities - The Tooth Fairy, famous actors like Blonda, TV show hosts like Billy Crystal Ball, successful writers, and so on.

Mates of camarilla members - Nobles who are nobility through marriage. Obviously, they lose this title if their mate is removed from the camarilla. Usually they contract the iris virus from their mate.

Other irises - Other carriers of the iris virus. Mainly nobles and former nobles who are treated with a hint more respect than commoners. This is a fuzzy area; prostitutes selling the iris virus are an actual inconvenicnce that causes headaches for the higher-ups.

Successful farmers - If you lived in a magical cloud world with limited ability to farm nutritious food, you would value farmers who provided you with high-quality crops too.

Most Refracted - An angelic, pious race of gold and white bird-based people, quite opposite of the stereotype of the evil blue and black Anti-Fairy. The Refracted manage many of the Daoist shrines and ceremonies and are generally well-liked even though they can be pompous and annoying.

Gynes - Large, freckled Fairies (always male) who ate a lot of jelly as children. In actual insect colonies, gynes are the “princesses” who take over from the queen, often by killing her in a battle to the death. Likewise, Fairy gynes are naturally very territorial and often fight each other. Gynes with more dominant pheromones have the ability to suppress the reproductive systems of subordinate gynes. Gynes with many dark freckles are considered more attractive than those with few. The actual rank of a gyne varies in regard to other social status factors, but people generally give them respect.

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Upper-class Fairy citizens - High-ranking people who aren’t considered celebrities. The Whimsifinado and Fairywinkle families fall into this category.

Kids of camarilla members and their mates - Children of nobility, often considered nobles themselves. They’re likely to carry the iris virus.

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Average Fairy citizens - Regular, non-celebrity folk. Fairy culture is still largely dominated by their caste system, although they’re starting to move away from it as time goes on.

Anti-Fairy commoners - Average Anti-Fairies who aren’t considered nobility; as a result, they’re highly unlikely to carry the iris virus and probably have red eyes. Those who live in colonies are considered more socially acceptable than rogues. Many males travel in bachelor colonies during their adolescent years. Occasionally, females may travel in nursing colonies.

Tourists (Aliens) - Cloudland foreigners. Aliens don’t typically settle in the cloudlands since there’s really nothing to do there if you aren’t magical, and the buildings tend to be very small.

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Genies - Generally looked down upon; profiled as dirty, manipulative trouble-makers who enjoy laughing at the expense of others. Technically, it’s difficult to officially rank them since there just aren’t very many in the first place, let alone genies who freely wander the cloudlands.

Drones - Stereotyped as natural-born servants (always male) and born only if their father is either a gyne or a drone. Despite the name “drone”, their natural behaviors are most similar to those of worker bees. They’re attracted to gyne pheromones, so gynes tend to form retinues of drones who take pride in serving him. A drone will be born sterile approximately 75% of the time. Pixie drones, being infected with Wolbachia pipientis, are an exception to this rule.

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Will o’ the wisps - Stereotyped as gorgeous temptresses who seduce males and keep harems. They fear floods and slip out of their underground tunnels when it rains. Goldie Goldenglow is the wisp ambassador.

Anti-will o’ the wisps - Stereotyped as prostitutes (“Mistresses” in Anti-Fairy World) and generally looked down upon for having insect wings instead of bat ones; they are also known as “mothdames.” Anti-Marigold is an anti-wisp.

Finfolk - Very similar to will o’ the wisps, although they live underwater. The stereotype is that they capture potential spouses from land and drag them underwater, forcing their captors to be their servants.

Redcaps - Stereotyped as psychotic hillbillies. They’re looked down upon because they need to coat their hats in blood regularly in order to survive, or they’ll die. They have five eyes, are immune to all poisons and venoms, and are generally considered really creepy.

Brownies - Highly shunned for their venomous saliva. Widely viewed as meek servants without much brain power. To call someone a brownie-kisser implies that they’re so incapable of wooing anyone that they took advantage of a poor, dumb, innocent creature instead. Brownies are not inherently less intelligent than other Fairies- they just keep ending up in disadvantaged situations.

Click HERE for my Fairly OddParents worldbuilding masterpost

#RD general #RD worldbuilding #RD cloudland culture #RD Fairy stuff #RD AntiFairy stuff #RD Pixie stuff #RD Refracted stuff

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riddledeep · 5 years

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Cloudland Belief Systems

Multiple beliefs exist in the cloudlands. This post discusses the four most common belief systems from my fanfics: believers in unity between three counterparts after death, believers in the elemental zodiac, believers in a blended system, and believers in the influence of fairy tales on fae biology.

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Overview

Daoism - A Fae religion based on the idea that Fairies, Anti-Fairies, and Refracts will experience metamorphosis after death and take on a united form with their counterparts (Daoine Sìth). This religion has notable influence from Celtic folklore. Most Daoists are Fairies and Refracts. This Daoism is NOT related to real-world Taoism; it is a fanmade fae religion named after the Daoine Sìth, who are nature spirits described in Scottish folklore.

Zodiism - A philosophy based on the belief that the stars and the fae zodiac influence the lives of all living creatures.Deities known as nature spirits play a role in this philosophy. The year you were born in heavily influences your personality and the animal spirit your family honors largely shape your destiny. Most Zodii are Anti-Fairies.

Integration - A blended belief system held by those who do not believe Daoism and Zodiism are mutually exclusive. It’s not very acceptable to think this way since fae society favors black and white distinctions. The residents of Twilight Point (the settlement formed in Hawthorn Haven by runaway fae youth) are required to accept the idea that they can be integrated, or else speak of no spiritual beliefs.

Woven Ones - A philosophy based on the idea that the fae and their society are products of the beliefs outsiders hold about them and the stories people share. This philosophy is strongly connected with fairy tales.

Different sects exist in the cloudlands, each with their own cherry-picked beliefs. It’s also common for fae to hold no spiritual beliefs at all.

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Daoism

Followers

Vast majority of Refracts

A large percentage of Fairies

A hefty majority of Pixies

A small handful of Anti-Fairies

The Fairywinkle family is very strongly Daoist, but Wanda turned away from those beliefs later in life. Cosmo’s uncle Harold is Daoist mostly because he married a Daoist women, but otherwise no one else in his family is strongly attached to the religion. Poof and Dusty were not raised in a Daoist home (although they are exposed to Daoist beliefs every time they visit their Fairywinkle relatives).

H.P. was raised Daoist and still considers himself to be one since he holds general Daoist beliefs. He would prefer his pixies were brought up Daoist too. However, H.P. tends to cherrypick the parts he likes and ignore the parts he doesn’t- for instance, he might page through King Nuada’s scripture but doesn’t see the point in studying it since he “already knows the stories,” and he hasn’t attended church since he was very young. One of his older pixies, McKinley, is an extremely devout follower of Daoism and visits Fairy World every Thursday to pray and sing songs.

The Eros family, blessed by Aengus, are extremely Daoist and would be killed if they ever strayed from that path.

Building Blocks

This religion revolves around achieving self-actualization- living up to your full potential and reaping the enjoyment of your full magical strength. Hard work and emotional satisfaction are highly prized in this belief system; knowingly subjecting yourself to unhappiness is not. Tales of the Tuatha Dé Danann make up the lore of this religion, though it is believed the race has died out. Stories about hundreds of deities and their intricate relationships are told to children as a way of teaching moral lessons.

Daoists believe the ancient Aos Sí race literally split apart into three separate creatures: Fairies, Anti-Fairies, and the Refracted. They believe that what has come apart will come together again, and three counterparts will become a single creature in the afterlife: Daoine Síth.

Daoism is fairly open and about making your own connection with deities; honoring the memory of these noble spirits can be done with intense worship and prayer, or through simple gestures. It’s a religion of “Whatever works for you, as long as you do it with pride.”

Customs and Rituals

There are thousands of stories related to the Tuatha Dé Danann, and it’s difficult to master them all. Nonetheless, it’s expected one will know a significant amount of them. When one feels confident in their abilities, they agree to be baptized. Baptism involves a symbolic dance and kiss with one’s Refracted counterpart (since Refracts are usually raised to be Daoist priests and priestesses). Baptism can be done in any of the Daoist shrines any time before one comes into their adult wings; once you come into your adult wings, you can only be baptized in the difficult-to-reach High Kingdom temple.

After baptism, you receive a baptism medal and can travel to certain restricted, holy locations in the cloudlands. The Eros Nest is usually restricted, though it opens to the public at certain times.

A church service is held four times a year (generally the first Thursday after the season turns). Many Daoists choose not to use magic on Thursday, though that isn’t a requirement. The religion forces very little upon its believers; it is a religion of self-actualization and coming to decisions on your own.

Deities

Daoists honor the memories of the old days and believe they’ll have the chance to embrace the old days themselves after death. When speaking of the Tuatha Dé Danann, one should place their thumb to their chest.

Prayer is not very important, as Daoists believe the Tuatha Dé Danann have moved on, so there isn’t really anyone left to pray to. One may pray to the general universe if that’s what they wish to do. The religion urges followers to find their own way to connect with the universe and feel at peace.

Prayer is done by kneeling with the right hand touching the forehead, palm facing out, thumb curled in so it touches the palm. The same sign (minus the kneeling) means “I come in peace” in Fairy culture.

Literature

The single holy book is called King Nuada’s scripture and contains many stories about the Tuatha Dé Danann. One should study this book if they intend to be baptized (though they could learn the stories orally as well and be baptized without ever turning a page).

Moral Rights and Wrongs

Reaching the afterlife is inevitable unless you majorly screw up by committing one of the Three Deep Sins, which are stated in this poem written at the beginning of Da Rules:

Tell no lies, excepting those dressed in white. Kill no one before they've engaged in fair fight. If ever in doubt, recall the Fairy Elder is sure to be right. Disobey these and you'll lose your path to the light.

Truth, honor, and total obedience to the Fairy Elder are crucial. Killing someone without giving them the chance for a fair fight will blacklist you from Fairy society. “Fair fight” means both parties should be physically capable of defending themselves; one should not kill someone who is bound, has been kidnapped and thrown into a small space, or who is praying.

Aside from these Three Deep Sins, there are a few other incidents that can cause you to die a “dustless death” and get lost on the way to heaven. These include killing a unicorn, disobeying your master if you’re a selkie, dying as an infant before you’ve had your first taste of milk, and so on. If you don’t end up on Plane 23, it’s believed the Darkness will snatch you up.

Daoists dislike coin sith (fairy dogs) because they’re said to carry souls to the afterlife. Specifically, their bodies carry souls, and swap soups with other bodies to do so. Commit one of the Three Deep Sins in front of a fairy dog and it’ll take your soul. Daoists believe fairy dogs can die, and that if you die while in the body of a fairy dog, you don’t go to heaven and simply cease to exist. Certain sins will likewise cause you to “die a dustless death” and lose your right to heaven.

In Daoism (as with most of Fairy culture), values such as honor, loyalty, and trust are integral to society (tracing back to Fairies’ adherence to geasa and Da Rules). In Zodiism (and most Anti-Fairy culture), it’s thought that promises should be broken for the “greater good”- a vague concept that makes Fairies uneasy but which community-centered Anti-Fairies soak up.

Fear of The Darkness was everywhere in Fairy World until “Wishology.” After witnessing The Darkness become the Kindness, Daoists are trying to decide how this changes their beliefs.

Social Roles and Relationships

Friends and romantic partners are expected to support one another, helping each other make good choices. Mothers and fathers are both expected to be gentle and nurturing with children (no distinction of gender in that role).

Typically, Refracts are perceived as pure and holy while Anti-Fairies are perceived as deceptive and evil (or if not evil, then certainly troubled and untrustworthy). Refracts usually work as priests and priestesses in the Daoist shrines throughout Fairy World. Fairies hold other jobs (they’re encouraged to pursue what they love) and strive to purify themselves.

Anti-Fairies are, sadly, frequently ignored or rejected. In general, Anti-Fairies are thought to embody the impurities of the soul. It’s best to strengthen your body, mind, and spirit so they don’t consume you in the next life.

Daoism is a religion of self-actualization. You are encouraged to do what you feel is best for you and seek the lifestyle that makes you happy, so there are no strict social roles in this religion.

Death and the Afterlife

It’s believed all three fae counterparts unite into a single being in the afterlife (Daoine Síth form). The Daoine form closely resembles depictions of the Aos Sí. The counterpart with the highest lift (crown height) in life will pass the most personality traits to the Daoine form, the lowest lift will pass the least.

It’s believed your magic cycles back through the universe after death, but that ancestors still have some ability to offer more or withhold some of their magic from living relatives. Respecting your ancestors will ensure magic stays available and easy to use, while offended ancestors may cut your supply.

If a fairy has magic in their body when they die (i.e. a connection to the energy field), they will turn to dust upon death. Those who die without a connection to the energy field will vanish without leaving any dust behind. Daoists believe it’s honorable to die a “dusty” death and shameful to die a dustless one.

At a Daoist funeral, people dress in black. Those who knew the deceased may speak about them briefly in front of a small gathering. Daoist funerals are usually short and held outside, so it’s rare to set up chairs or have a banquet. The next of kin decides what to do with the deceased’s lifedust and core- some dispose of it, others keep it in their bedroom or office space. It’s also common to eat the core, which is a symbolic gesture connected to the idea that once you die, your magic flows back into the universe for your family to use.

The second Thursday of July is the Day of Daoine on the fae calendar. This celebration honors the dead by setting a place out for them at meals and telling this empty chair about events that have occurred in the family.

Life as a Daoist

To call yourself Daoist, you should know (and believe) the major stories about the Tuatha Dé Danann and some traditional heroes, including King Nuada and Cú Chulainn. You should know the four treasures and what became of each one. You should know the three parts of the soul and believe that in the afterlife, you and your counterparts will unite as one.

When you are confident in your knowledge, you can be baptized in a Daoist shrine. There are several of these throughout Fairy World. These appointments must be made in advance and you should arrive fasting. At your baptism, you will meet your Refracted counterpart, who will walk you through a symbolic dance and end the encounter with a kiss (If you’re the Refracted counterpart, you’ll practice your dance in advance and be summoned when called upon).

Once you moult into your adult wings, Fairy and Refract counterparts come together again for a second symbolic dance, this one more detailed and intense than the first. A large coming of age ceremony is held which involves donning ceremonial clothing and dyeing hair with unicorn blood.

Most Fairy World shops close early on Wednesdays, regardless of whether the owner is Daoist or not. They stay closed on Thursday and open again on Friday, when the Fairy work week begins. Many Daoists choose not to use magic on Thursdays, though this is not required. Like the rest of Daoism, it’s a religion of personal choices and self-actualization. It’s up to the individual to decide whether “Thursday” means from sundown on Wednesday to dawn of Friday, whether it’s when you go to sleep, and whether "Thursday” means Thursday in your home time zone or current time zone.

The four season turn holidays are celebrated on the appropriate dates. A small church service is held the first Thursday following each of these holidays, resulting in four church services a year.

Daoists also believe in the three parts of the soul: the hands, the lines, and the core. When sharing magic, whether that be while preening or while mating, the three parts come into play; it’s custom to hold at least one hand palm to palm during these intimate moments. Holding hands is the first of these three stages of intimacy, followed by breathing in sync with one another, and finally sharing your emotions and mind without holding back.

Common Criticism

It’s argued that the Tuatha Dé Danann were people too, just living their lives. Why worship them as though their daily actions were holy?

There is evidence the Aos Sí existed. However, there is little evidence that the Aos Sí split into three counterparts. Perhaps the Aos Sí were ancestors of Fairies, but not Anti-Fairies or Refracts.

There is documented proof of the nature spirits, but not as much evidence for Daoine forms.

Strong evidence for reincarnation exists, but reincarnation doesn’t fit into the Daoist vision of the afterlife.

Anti-Fairies in general don’t mesh well with Daoist beliefs; in general, Fairies try to avoid Anti-Fairies and don’t even invite them to the shrines during baptism when Fairy and Refracted counterparts come together... quite rude for a religion that believes in equal unity after death.

Anti-Fairies are offended if they’re told, in essence, to grin and bear their way through this life because in the next life, they’ll be equal to Fairies.

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Zodiism

Followers

Vast majority of Anti-Fairies

A modest number of Fairies

Some Pixies

Very few Refracts

Anti-Cosmo is firmly Zodii and has tried his best to raise Foop and Smoky in a Zodii home. Anti-Wanda was indifferent to Zodiism in her youth but has accepted Zodii beliefs as an adult. However, she leans towards integration. Foop agrees the nature spirits exist and might send miracles if they feel like it, but he feels no attachment or genuine respect towards them. He believes they see mortals like pawns and don’t actually care about him, so why should he praise them for that?

The vice president of Pixies Inc., Longwood, holds Zodii beliefs even though H.P. is Daoist. He was born in a Leaves year, so he often visits the Leaves Temple on Thursdays to meditate and pray. As he’s grown, he’s struggled with Zodii beliefs and even reverted briefly to Daoism because according to Zodii beliefs, he (a Leaves year) should be submissive and shouldn’t hold leadership positions... an obvious conflict with him first in line to be the next Head Pixie.

Building Blocks

The Zodii believe that Tarrow, the cosmic jellyfish and deity of fate and destiny, selects a path and soulmate(s) for everyone. You can choose to reject his plans, but you won’t have his influence in your life anymore, and things will probably go very wrong very soon.

While there are hundreds of nature spirits, the main seven control the elements and are therefore placed on the Fairy zodiac. The days of the week are named after them. It’s said that their power is strongest on their day of the week, not to mention their year in the seven-year cycle. Similarly, the Zodii believe that the day of the week and year of the zodiac cycle affects the flow of luck that influences you. They tend to be very superstitious people, and will postpone events until the right moment- for example, marrying in a Love year.

The Zodii believe encounters are fated and you can predict how well a relationship will work out by how the first encounter goes. The more impactful the first conversation, the higher the chance you’ll meet again and grow to be good friends.

Then there are bonds. The Zodii believe in fate, and that the year of your birth has a major impact on your personality. As such, they believe in automatic compatibility between certain signs on the zodiac, and automatic incompatibility between others. It’s not unusual for a Zodii to refuse to even have a one-night stand with someone of an “incompatible” zodiac, lest it lead to negative consequences.

Customs and Rituals

Many (though not all) children of Zodii parents are betrothed shortly after birth. Colored rings are distributed to the youth and the youth search the crowd for someone with a matching ring. Those who do not find someone with a matching ring within the given time are declared not to have a soulmate attending the ceremony, and must actively seek them later in life. Non-Zodii often mock the “randomness” of Zodii betrothals, but the Zodii believe strongly in fate. This ceremony was depicted in Frayed Knots Chapter 3, “Fun With Yarn.”

Note - In Anti-Fairy culture, marriage and romance do not always go together. Instead, marriage and soulmates go together. Siblings (especially twins) are sometimes betrothed.

The fae calendar is based around the fae zodiac, with the Love year considered the first year of the new cycle (Leaves the last). The new year is always a big event in Anti-Fairy World, but the turn of the zodiac cycle (every seven years) is bigger. Most Zodii, if they choose to marry, will postpone their wedding until the year of Love. Growth milestones are celebrated in the year of Love as well.

At age 150,000, an Anti-Fairy becomes a legal adult and has a coming of age ceremony that involves watching the body with different products. Non-Anti-Fairies may also engage in this ritual, some choosing to perform it at age 150,000 and others at the appropriate age of majority for their living situation. Anti-Cosmo’s coming of age ceremony was depicted in the Frayed Knots chapter “The Bar Code.”

Deities

The Zodii honor nature spirits who watch over the universe. These include Mother Nature, Father Time, and several other powerful characters who appear in The Fairly OddParents. The Grim Reaper, for instance, is a form of the nature spirit of death. The chicken goddess from the episode “Chicken Poofs” represents the nature spirit of life. The Darkness and the Hocos Poconos are also notable figures to note.

There are seven elements on the fae zodiac (depicted above) and each is represented by a nature spirit. These elements are Love, Fire, Water, Sky, Soil, Breath, and Leaves. It’s believed the seven children were born in this order, giving rise to the seven days of the week on the fae calendar. The association between Anti-Fairies and Friday can be traced back to the Love deity, Dayfry, who represents the first year of the zodiac cycle and the first day of the fae work week.

The zodiac spirits are associated with the following:

Love - Dayfry the Leader - Balance, loyalty, duty, politeness, gentleness, sacrifice, honor

Fire - Saturn the Warrior - Energy, comfort, emotional strength, passion, family, justice

Water - Sunnie the Scholar - Focus, tact, introspection, education, logic, tranquility

Sky - Munn the Trickster - Acceptance, compassion, hope, faith, cheer, speed, safe travel

Soil - Twis the Merchant - Dedication, work, ambition, planning, harvest, physical strength

Breath - Winni the Teacher - Communication, health, teaching, sewing, rest, self-care

Leaves - Thurmondo the Scientist - Curiosity, courage, initiative, understanding, mercy, humility

If someone who is Zodii encounters a problem, they may pray to the spirit they believe would be best equipped to solve the problem (You honor all deities if you’re Zodii- you aren’t locked into honoring only one, even if that’s the one who is “in charge of you”).

Click HERE to see zodiac years from 1990 to 2023 (Google Doc).

To read more about the nature spirits, view the Nature Spirits Class Overview post HERE.

The nature spirits have no biological sex and are genderless in their own eyes. They manifest differently to different people. In the cloudlands the ancient phrase “seven children” was translated as “seven sons,” so the zodiac spirits are said to be male. The Snobulacs worship a healing deity whom they perceive as female, even though this deity (according to the Zodii) is another form of Winni. Dame Artemis explicitly refers to the zodiac spirits as female.

In my nature spirit resource collection, I noted the minor spirits by the gender they are perceived as by the narrator who will encounter them (for personal reference). In reality, they are sexless and genderless.

Literature

There are no “holy” texts per se; Zodiism is technically a philosophy, not a religion. However, mythology about the nature spirits exists and is prominent. Many stories have been compiled in collections.

Zodiism is inseparable from math. The flow of luck in the universe is always traced back to calculations and you need some schooling to understand how all that works.

Moral Rights and Wrongs

“Right” and “wrong” are much more subjective in Zodiism compared to Daoism. In Daoism (as with most of Fairy culture), ideas like honesty and obedience are always considered right while deceit and anger are considered wrong; promises should always be upheld no matter what. In Zodiism (and most Anti-Fairy culture), promises can and should be broken for the greater good, and it’s up to the individual to determine when the “greater good” distinction applies.

Those who are Zodii usually try to honor the spirit who rules the year they were born. They try to view the world through that spirit’s eyes and encourage that spirit’s values. Examples:

Someone who honors Sunnie may actively search for those who seem stressed, and try to help them find peace.

Someone who honors Munn may seek those who feel rejected and try to help them find new friends who make them feel accepted.

Someone who honors Thurmondo may seek those who want to tackle large research projects and help them network.

Zodiism is all about making an active effort to help others the way the spirits would want them to be helped. Actively seeking those in need is considered a good act. Not volunteering helpful information that could benefit someone when they explicitly state what they’re looking for is considered a failure (“going against fate”).

Acting out of turn is also frowned upon. It’s believed the order of the zodiac depicts the natural order of dominance and submissiveness (since the goal is to look to the spirits and try to live like they do). Trying to take the lead when you should be the submissive one is inappropriate.

Note - Age takes priority over zodiac. Those younger defer to those 5,000 years older than them. If you’re born within the same 5,000 year chunk, the earlier zodiac year takes priority.

In the Frayed Knots chapter “Cageflight,” Anti-Cosmo (born in the Water year) struggles with his Zodii beliefs when he decides to take the submissive role with someone born in the Leaves year. Upon realizing he enjoyed this sexual encounter, he is confused and horrified- according to Zodii teachings, he should have been offended, left the situation, and shouldn’t have enjoyed it at all.

Social Roles and Relationships

The Zodii believe in zodiac bonds. That is, the year you were born on the fae zodiac affects your relationships. Yellow bonds are considered good luck, green bonds bad luck (in the sense that even Anti-Fairies desire yellow bonds, not green). Yellow bonds lead to prosperity and happiness, green bonds to misery.

Zodiac bonds are based on the relationships of the zodiac spirits; the idea is that the year you were born gives you the same characteristics as the nature spirit who represents that year, so you too will mesh with someone of other years the same way the spirits do.

Many Zodii are betrothed young. It’s believed that fate plays a role in these betrothals, so they’re thought to lead to genuine life satisfaction even if you end up with an undesirable bond.

Zodiac Bond Colors

YELLOW - Two people usually get along very well

BLUE - Mostly the same as your counterparts get along

PINK - Mostly opposite how your counterparts get along

PURPLE - It really just depends; could go either way.

GREEN - Usually don’t get along very well at all

Those born in the same year are assumed to have a purple bond.

Foop’s parents and the majority of the Anti-Fairy public expect him to make a damsel named Anti-Coriander his High Countess someday. Foop was born in the Breath year, but is more of a scientist (associated with the Leaves year). Anti-Coriander was born in the Leaves year, but is more of a healer (associated with the Breath year). The Breath and Leaves years share a yellow bond. These two are considered an extremely balanced couple.

This idea of balance is considered a sign of a satisfying relationship; romance and passion are extra benefits, not the main points you should seek in an effective Zodii marriage.

Acolytes are expected to perform duties at their assigned temple, keeping the place clean and working. Many acolytes work on research projects in their free time. Parents do not have distinct social roles in Zodii beliefs (most Anti-Fairy families don’t consist of both parents and a child). However, the young should respect their elders and those born later on the zodiac (close to Leaves) should defer to those born earlier (close to Love).

There are three types of relationships the Zodii consider to be healthy: Relationships of Passion, relationships of Affection, and relationships of Duty. Accepting your fate and doing your duty without complaint is looked upon favorably in Anti-Fairy culture, even though most Fairies don’t consider this particular view healthy. Finding value in difficult relationships is part of the culture shock that keeps many Fairies from committing to Zodii beliefs.

A zodiac spirit pair represents each of these three relationships. You will notice that these spirits have yellow-bonded pairs. Zodii without partners may seek Dayfry, the unbonded spirit, for relationship advice or for a blessing to live a satisfying life without a bonded partner.

- Passion - Saturn and Munn embody the honeymoon phase of a relationship. Saturn is a flirt whose love language is words of affirmation. He’s a decorated war champion who considers himself a gentleman, and enjoys the traditional motions of courtship. Munn’s love language is gift giving, and he’s constantly trying to impress him with his antics. Anti-Fairies who prefer passionate intimacy may seek their blessing.

- Affection - Sunnie and Twis embody companionate love. Sunnie’s love language is physical touch, and he would snuggle all day if Twis let him. He likes having his back patted and rubbed. Twis’s love language is acts of service, and he likes getting work done with Sunnie at his side. Probably because Sunnie, being the Water spirit, waters his crops. They greatly enjoy one another’s company and conversation. Anti-Fairies who prefer affectionate, less passionate relationships may seek their blessing.

- Duty - Winni and Thurmondo represent difficult relationships. They both share the love language quality time. Winni constantly tells himself he’s doing the right thing in pursuing Thurmondo because they create oxygen for the universe when they’re together. Thurmondo struggles to break free and stand on his own. Since Anti-Fairies are forced to pair with those their counterparts do, they look to Winni and Thurmondo for strength when times are hard.

>> No one stepped in when Anti-Cosmo and his brother were smacked around by their mother, and the children weren’t sure who to talk to about their fears because relationships of duty are considered healthy in Anti-Fairy World (High Count Anti-Bryndin did occasionally scold their mother for being too harsh, but did not punish her or end her abuses).

Death and the Afterlife

Zodii funerals are longer than Daoist ones. They are normally held outside, but multiple people prepare speeches and chairs are set up; Zodii funerals are held a week or even two or three after death (unlike Daoist funerals, which are held as soon as possible). People wear white. Following the ceremony, the core is placed in a special burial chamber within the appropriate zodiac temple.

The Zodii believe in reincarnation after death. It’s anticipated that you’ll return as one of your own descendants, assuming you have the favor of the nature spirits. Because of this, it’s crucial to know your family line; Zodii children are encouraged to research their ancestors and determine who they’re a reincarnation of if possible.

Before reincarnating, a soul enters a waiting period where they serve the spirits in the afterlife. The Soil Temple (Twis’s temple) is populated by visible, glowing spirits who supposedly guard the tunnels. Anti-Cosmo firmly believes he served as a guard in the Soil Temple for centuries after his previous life and will probably serve there again after this one.

Alternatively, those who die may return as an aspect of nature (such as a tree or stream) or an animal (presumably the animal that represents your family), according to what the nature spirits task them to do.

Life as a Zodii

It is traditional for Zodii parents to present a child (born to them or adopted) to the appropriate zodiac temple as soon as possible. The child is blessed in front of witnesses and bestowed with a sacred name, called a private name. Anti-Fairies use their private names until age 150,000 when they have their coming of age ceremonies and use their adult names (which begin with “Anti-”). Non-Zodii parents also give their child a private name, as is Anti-Fairy custom, but do so outside the temples.

Foop was blessed under the name Nebula, but the name “Foop” stuck due to the news coverage surrounding his birth. His name is legally Nebula, but only his extended family call him that; most people don’t realize that’s his name.

Many Zodii are betrothed at a young age and go through life believing they’ve already found their soulmate. Soulmates generally live together (usually in whichever colony holds higher social status. Those who are not betrothed young are encouraged to study themselves and determine who they were in a previous life. Knowing who they were may help them satisfy them in this life by tying up loose ends and completing goals that were left unfinished.

Furthermore, identifying your past life may help you find your soulmate, as it’s believed soulmates reincarnate in the same time period as often as possible. It’s thought you can have multiple soulmates, but usually only one lines up per lifetime. Multiple soulmates in the same lifetime is not unheard of.

Certain Anti-Fairies who show passion and promise are encouraged to pursue lives as temple acolytes. From a young age, these Anti-Fairies study the flow of luck in the universe as well as architecture and interior design. Acolytes are highly respected in Anti-Fairy World, as the flow of energy through buildings is of the utmost importance to highly sensitive Anti-Fairy ears.

Most Anti-Fairies do not train as acolytes, and many don’t train for any job in particular. The majority of Anti-Fairies live and travel with their colony around Anti-Fairy World, constantly on the hunt for food (which is somewhat scarce in Anti-Fairy World). Zodii Anti-Fairies attempt to visit the zodiac temples on a somewhat regular basis, praying and leaving offerings to the nature spirits.

There are 12 special holidays on the fae calendar celebrated by Anti-Fairies, Zodii or not. A few have Zodii influence and are acceptable to celebrate if you happen to be Zodii but not an Anti-Fairy.

It’s believed those born in the year of Love are natural leaders while those born in the Leaves year are submissive. Those born later in the zodiac should be submissive to those born earlier, and young Anti-Fairies to older ones. Those who act in line with these stereotypes are praised by society while dissenters are scolded or even outright shunned.

Common Criticism

Zodiism suggests good and bad are subjective. Every spirit has their own perspective of good and bad and it’s impossible to be good in every person’s eyes. Some see Zodiism as a philosophy that teaches you can do whatever you want without consequences, even if your actions hurt others.

Zodiism a waste of valuable resources (for building temples, murals, monuments, etc.) and followers spend more time prettying the homes of the rich than helping those in need. Where are the morals?

There is so much variation in personality within a single year. How can it be argued that those born in that year will exhibit certain traits (or mesh well with those born under other zodiacs)?

Children are betrothed “randomly” at birth and expected to maintain those bonds for life; Zodii guilt culture is strong.

Any calculation can be invented to argue anything, so what proof is there that the afterlife will be the way mortal math and science suggest?

Where do counterparts fit in this philosophy? Why do babies physically resemble their counterparts at birth? How does the honey-lock work if counterparts don’t share a soul?

==========

Integration

Integrationists believe Daoist and Zodii beliefs are not mutually exclusive. They believe if all three counterparts agree to unite as one after death, they will. A counterpart who desires reincarnation will serve the nature spirits until they are granted another life.

It’s thought Daoine unity and reincarnation both involve the unanimous decision of all three parts of the soul; souls in disagreement must reside as separate shards on Plane 23 (probably in discontent) until they decide to either unite or reincarnate together. Balance, agreement, and consent are absolutely key.

The Tuatha Dé Danann are honored and prayed to alongside the nature spirits. Generally nature spirits are considered more powerful, but the Tuatha Dé Danann are looked to when one is honing in on a specific request (Ex: Saturn is a warrior deity in Zodii culture, but one may turn to a specific Tuathan figure to aid them in different battles depending on what that figure is known for; the same rule of general vs. specific also applies to school exams).

Integrationists are often critiqued for being disloyal. They are seen as flighty and desperate to cover all their bases without firmly believing in anything.

The majority of followers are youth (especially as of Hawthorn Haven). As a result, beliefs in integration are sometimes waved off as silly, rebellious, or a passing fad.

==========

The Woven Ones

The Woven Ones believe fae biology, society, and behaviors are influenced by the stories told about their people via fairy tales. The more often stories are told, the more influential they become; fae are only what mortal species believe them to be.

Those who hold such beliefs point to evidence like cherubs (Cupid in particular) gaining and losing power according to the amount of love in the universe.

This belief system is often critiqued for passing responsibility for one’s actions not on the fae who performs those actions, but upon those who tell their stories.

Certainly one of the less popular belief systems, but vocal nonetheless.

Click HERE for my Fairly OddParents worldbuilding masterpost

#RD worldbuilding #RD cloudland culture #RD Fairy stuff #RD AntiFairy stuff #RD Pixie stuff #RD Refracted stuff #RD nature spirits

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riddledeep · 5 years

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CLASS OVERVIEW: THE REFRACTED

An in-depth look at Refracts and Refracted culture.

Fairy Class Overview || Anti-Fairy Class Overview || Pixie Class Overview

WHAT IS A FAIRY REFRACT?

Small, cautious spirits capable of flight, teleportation, and other magic

Tend to be reserved; rarely interact outside their species

As a society, they tend towards the ENTJ personality stereotype- Strategic, efficient, dedicated, and emotionally distant.

Most subspecies have bird wings, although a few do not

Average lifespan: 1,000,000 years; can live ~125,000 years longer

TAXONOMY

Kingdom: Fantastica

Phylum: Ljósálfar

Class: Ellyllon

Order: Tylwyth Teg

Family: Fae

Genus: Faelumen

Species: Fairy Refract

Anti-Fairies and Fairy Refracts are collectively known as Unseelie Courters, or members of the Unseelie Court (as opposed to Fairies and Pixies, known collectively as Seelie Courters, or members of the Seelie Court).

In the past and among Alien races, Refracts have also been known as Trooping Fae, Guidance counterparts, the Sluagh, Silly Frit, and Buttery Spirits.

FAIRY REFRACT SUBSPECIES

Read about Fae subspecies HERE.

BASICS

Body Type: Plump; they eat healthy foods and don’t have predators

Body Heat: Cool; the only endothermic Fae race

Body Notes: They have feathers, scaly hands / feet, and large talons

Chromosomes: 112

Sex Chromosomes: Male - ZZ; Female - ZW

Teeth: Small and nubby teeth; chewing meat is difficult for many

Average Height: 3′4″ (≤ 3′0″ is short for fae; ≥ 3′8″ is tall)

Average Weight: 4 - 7 pounds (4 is underweight, 10 is overweight)

IDENTITY

Devotion and Zeal - “Remember your worth and live up to your full potential. Always nurture a healthy desire to improve.”

Traits Seen as Most Desirable: Gentleness and Curiosity

Traits Seen as Most Shameful: Duplicity and Hesitation

Stereotype: Bossy religious folk who openly criticize everyone they meet, dress in modest robes, live nomadic lives, and love canines

Known For: Withdrawing from the rest of Fae society, mating for necessity instead of pleasure, living in same-sex flocks, kissing cheeks in greeting, studying ancient languages, wearing pink and blue, and being pacifist

HISTORY

The most commonly accepted version of history among the Refracted is that Primary, Anti-Fairy, and Refract counterparts were once a single united being known as an ao, of the Aos Sí people. They had furry bodies, six arms like an insect, bat-like ears, and colorful feathers. They were hermaphrodite, so either sexual partner was capable of becoming pregnant. They could perform a type of magic known as core magic.

Modern Fae consider the Aos Sí to have had the intelligence and technology level of cavemen. They’re portrayed in art as having loincloths and bare chests, and are sometimes depicted as centaurs who wielded tridents. Like the Fae of modern times, they’re thought to have been marsupials.

Many Fairies believe that when the Sealing War broke out among several of the ancient races of the universe, the Aos Sí were involved, but the stress of war eventually shattered their minds- and their bodies. When placed under high stress, overwhelmed Aos Sí coped by splitting into three separate beings: One insect-based, one bat-based, and one bird-based. Eventually, these three counterparts developed into the Fairies, Anti-Fairies, and Refracts we know today. Daoist Fae believe that three counterparts naturally long to reunite into a single being, and will indeed become one in the afterlife (a form is known as the Daoine Sìth form, which resembles the Aos Si body type but is thought to be a more sentient creature).

Another theory, much less common among Refracts than the splitting theory, is the theory suggesting that modern Fairies evolved from the Aos Sí, and that Anti-Fairies and Refracts evolved from the smoke and mist (respectively) that mixed with leftover Aos Sí magic until they took on solid form.

This theory suggests that Fairies settled down and learned to farm, thus earning them the nickname Domestic Fae. Sentient conglomerations of smoke latched onto them emotionally and took on animal forms, acting as spirit guides for generations until they eventually began adopting the physical appearance of the Fairy they’d bonded with. These smoky forms were known as Solitary Fae. Solitary Fae acted as guides and protectors to the Domestic Fae, and most Anti-Fairies would be offended if you referred to them as pets. The sentient conglomerations of mist gathered together in “flocks” and were known as Trooping Fae.

Those who hold Daoist beliefs (i.e. the majority of Refracts) favor the former interpretation of history, whereas those who hold Zodii beliefs favor the latter. Either way, both sides agree that their ancestors were mischievous troublemakers until Da Rules came along, and that eventually, their people settled in the cloudlands around Planet Earth and have thrived ever since.

LIFE CYCLE

Chick: Chicks are born following a three-month pregnancy. Babies are born as “shapes.” These shapes are essentially a layer of “blubber” that helps protect the soft baby as they adjust to the world and their ability to fly and use magic. They shed it about the time they wean; around a year on average (Poof and Foop are a special case due to the freezing of the timestream, because Poof only aged while away from Earth). All Refract chicks have pyramid exoskeletons. During their Terrific Twos, they briefly become overwhelmingly wild, loud, and reckless. Chicks are called chicks until age 50. Fairy nymphs and Anti-Fairy pups can fly almost immediately after birth, but it takes Refracts months to develop their wing feathers.

Juvenile: The juvenile stage of the life cycle begins at age 50. Refracts are born with a 6- or 7-year-old mindset, and develop rapidly before their mindset stabilizes to the equivalent of a human twelve-year-old. They remain mentally 12-16 throughout most of their juvenile life, developing gradually. They undergo puberty shortly after their hosting counterpart does, sometime between the ages of 140,000 - 180,000. Those who come into their adult wings earlier are generally more emotionally stable than those who come into them later.

Adult: Regardless of when they get their adult wings, a Refract is considered a legal adult when they reach age of majority at 250,000 (Mentally 22). As this stage continues, a Refract is in the prime of their life. Their agility and magic are at their peaks. Most Refracts will continue living with their same-sex parent. When they themselves prepare to raise chicks, they might stay with their parent’s flock, form a flock with same-sex siblings, or look for another flock to join. Damsels are more likely to form new flocks while drakes tend to stay with fathers. This contributes to the perception of Refract damsels being more dominant- more of them tend to be leaders, while drakes often stick together in cautious groups.

Senescent: The senescent stage is characterized by a final growth spurt, the graying of hair, difficulty channeling magic, wrinkled faces, and weakening wings. Elders are highly respected in Refracted culture, though are expected to defer to their flock’s matriarch / patriarch when it comes to decision making. Elders who constantly put out their own ideas are viewed as criticizing the flock’s leader, and are likely to lose favor with the rest of the flock. Though caring for the elders is technically the duty of all members of the flock, it’s officially the responsibility of the matriarch / patriarch.

HOW REFRACTS BREATHE

Counterparts cannot die so long as their host lives, and they don’t take in magic directly from the energy field. Rather, their host filters magic through their own core, and this magic is then metaphysically distributed to the other two counterparts.

If one of the counterparts attempts to “drink” more than their fair share, the other counterpart may struggle to breathe a bit. This commonly occurs when two counterparts both exhaust their energy at the same time and begin panting and gulping for breath. If their host is in a location where their breathing lines have completely lost contact with the energy field, counterparts lose their ability to do much magic (They may still be able to hover for a short while, or poof very short distances by relying on their internal stores of magic).

Counterparts have some ability to sense their host’s mood. When their host is relaxed, magic flows to them easily. When their host becomes agitated, the flow of magic is slightly disrupted. If their host shares magic with an intimate partner and two magic pools meld together, most counterparts will sense that instantly. They may not always correctly identify the feeling (some describe it as feeling warm, others as getting chills, and others say it trickles in so slowly it’s barely noticeable), but generally speaking, Refracts will jolt when they feel the pool meld, because they can tell something’s going on over there.

It’s common for counterparts to gripe when they feel their host act amorously, as they themselves are likely to become turned on as a result, and some consider that a nuisance. Some find it embarrassing to “eavesdrop” on a relative’s intimate life that way, while others might become envious and mopey. Anti-Fairies are the most likely to complain while Refracts tend to be horrified and drift slightly away from the rest of the flock, suffering in silence.

HEALING AND HEALTH

The Fae are resilient creatures built to last for hundreds of thousands of years. Refracts rarely get sick, as the extra energy required to fly also boosts their immune response. Refracts naturally heal quickly, and their wings, being full of blood vessels, heal especially fast. However, some large wounds will only heal with time and sleep.

A Refract’s life-sustaining organ, the core, is kept in their head. The core does not normally pump and beat like a heart does, but instead “wafts” magic through the body like the scent of a candle. Sometimes characters I write acknowledge that their core is beating. It only beats when it’s necessary to push a burst of magic through the body (such as when aroused or injured). Technically, fae don’t have blood- they have liquid magic that “hovers” around set points in their bodies. I use the term “blood” for reader convenience.

Magic resists magic. A Refract who gets stabbed with a magical blade will feel no pain; the blade will pass through the skin very easily, and although the Refract can feel it, it doesn’t hurt and won’t damage the body. The wound will seal within seconds after the blade is removed.

Refracts are linked to their Fairy counterparts and can’t be killed while their host still lives. Anything that would normally kill a Refract simply causes them to poof into mist and regenerate. Regeneration may take as few as three seconds, or as long as several hours, depending on the severity of the wound and the strength of the Refract’s magic. They have a tiny amount of control regarding how soon they reform, but not a lot.

Refracts who have regenerated often describe the experience as “floating,” “bubbly” and “lost”. Most find themselves wandering a field of white grass or a series of red canyons until their consciousness reorients to the physical world.

WING ANATOMY

Refract wings are much smaller than they should be for their body weight; they are unable to fly if their access to magic from the energy field is cut off. Their clothing is specially designed to fit around their wings. Refracts pull in their wings and tuck them through the slits in their robes. They only undress if it’s an absolute necessity.

Refracts cannot fly backwards, and need to land on the ground if they intend to back up.

MINDSETS

Plume: A female Refract with many freckles, with a gyne for a Primary counterpart. A plume can be identified by her facial spots, wider shoulders, wider hips, and (most notably) the blue plumes curling from her forehead (they’re designed after the saxony bird of paradise’s plumes). Plumes are thought to exhibit more natural bird behaviors than their kabouter peers. They can produce either plume or kabouter offspring, depending on what their host counterpart produces.

Kabouter: Not a plume. Kabouters function more like humans than like birds; they tend to be less ingrained in any social traditions that can be traced back to bird biology. Refracts with drone counterparts are still considered kabouters, as there is no equivalent of drones in Refracted society. Kabouters can produce either plume or kabouter offspring, depending on what their host counterpart produces. All male and most female Refracts are kabouters.

THE GUILDED SOCIETY AND TOWN

The closest thing to a government in Avalon (or “Fairy Refract World”) is a small localized society known as the Guilded Society, who manage a small market, healing facility, a “spa,” a post office, and similar shops. The Guilded Society is well-known among Refracts and they all make their way to the plaza eventually to socialize. A flock typically remains at the plaza for no longer than a week each year, and new flocks are constantly arriving after them. Visitors take up temporary residence in visitor nesting houses- very simple structures that allow them a soft, secluded place to rest from their travels. Society members do not have individual homes, but sleep in a communal two-roomed nesting house called “the Guild” (one entrance for male Refracts, one on the opposite side for females, with no connecting door).

Traditionally, the Guilded Society was known as a non-traveling flock for those who had no other flock to turn to- usually stubborn plumes who refused to submit to their matriarch and left to form a flock of their own, only to realize that the only way to form their own flock was to face the difficult task of drawing followers from another. Today any Refract who wishes can join the Society, living permanently at the plaza. The Society exist to serve, not profit, and humility is strictly enforced upon all members. Rules and traditions were set in place by the early members, so even though no one officially leads the Society, senior members educate the newer members in their ways and the cycle continues.

While Refracts look upon anger and war as sins, the Society is one place where sharp talons are used to put others in their place if need be. If you are a member of the Guilded Society, it is your protected right to approach another member you have a concern with and explain what the concern is in private. They are expected to humbly submit themselves, allowing the one who approached to make a single nick across their arm with a talon. Though the skin heals quickly, the dark mark remains. These “marks of correction” must never be made in plain sight, for this would shame the offender publicly and injure feelings. Quiet correction offered by a concerned friend is the goal. Thus, the Society is self-governing and together they serve the other Refracts while avoiding the sin of becoming conceited.

Refracted society widely proclaims certain behaviors as sinful; however, not all Refracts agree. Dame Artemis Cairo is the most notable example of a deviant from the norm; this young nix refract named herself Chief Sunchosen and has been amassing followers with the goal of combining them into a single flock who live by their own rules. Dame Artemis is currently the founder of “Town,” the first official town in Avalon (since the Guilded Society Plaza isn’t really counted). Town is currently under construction as a safehaven for Chief Sunchosen and her followers to live as they choose; Poof’s and Foop’s refract counterpart, Poppy, is part of Chief Sunchosen’s following in Town, along with Goldie’s and Anti-Marigold’s counterpart. Avalon’s only source of electricity is also located in Town and harvesting it is a special passion project of Dame Artemis’. Town is seen in-story during the 130 Prompt “Prisoner.”

Most Refracts do not recognize Dame Artemis by the title Chief Sunchosen, and many don’t know who she is at all. She generally isn’t taken seriously, especially with her quirky sense of humor. However, she has already begun networking with the leaders of the Fairies, Pixies, and Anti-Fairies, and at the rate she’s going it’s possible she’ll be officially recognized one day after all. Eventually.

PROGRESSION OF REFRACTED SOCIETY

(You may be interested in “7 Billion Years In Brief” HERE)

Past: Eons ago, early Refracts roamed Fairy World as elusive, watchful flocks of a dozen or so individuals at a time. Easily startled, they never stayed near early Fairies for long if it could be avoided, and few Fairies ever spoke to them in person. Flocks of Refracts once patrolled the outskirts of Fairy World, often alerting Fairy settlers to the arrivals of strangers with their startled squeals and flapping. Eventually, the Refracted relocated to Avalon and made themselves at home on the plains and moors.

The flock structure currently found throughout Avalon was not always the most common lifestyle for Refracts. Once upon a time, the traditional structure was a Fairy, Anti-Fairy, and Refract counterpart living together beneath the same roof, raising their respective offspring together. Sexual relationships were viewed as inferior to the tender relationship of three counterparts, who were widely believed to unite into a single being in the afterlife. Even if one of the counterparts married someone, husbands and wives rarely lived together, and instead lived with their own counterparts.

The “trio” lifestyle fell apart long before H.P.’s grandfather was born, however. Gradually, living with and being affectionate with your counterparts became viewed as incestuous rather than as a familial expression of love. When social disapproval increased, skittish Refracts began to leave for the High Kingdom, and eventually the rest of their kind followed in search of safety and acceptance among their own kind. In those days, Anti-Fairy World did not exist. All the cloudlands around this planet were known as “the Fairy World colony” and the fae flourished beneath a united purple sky.

Present: Refracts today still don’t believe romance to be the more important form of affection. Though married pairs of Refracts exist and reside in flocks with other married individuals, most Refracts aren’t married and don’t hold a large amount of affection for their honey-lock partner. In fact, few Refracts even see or speak with their partner outside of expressing intimacy.

The traditional family structure in Avalon consists of a matriarch, her sisters, her daughters, and their daughters, or a patriarch, his brothers, his sons, and their sons. Refracts live in same-sex flocks of family members (or, on occasion, unrelated same-sex individuals) and eschew romance entirely since it’s just a leap closer to sin. Though drakes and damsels are thought to be equals in Refracted society, females are often seen as more dominant than males.

There are no real towns or cities in Avalon since Refracts are a very nomadic people. Many flocks plant farms and leave the farms on their own to survive while the Refracts themselves hunt nearby for the next few weeks. The flock may check in with their farm after that, care for it if needed, then fly off in search of food once again. Other flocks may not plant farms at all, and may simply forage for wild nuts and fruit. When they stop to rest for several days at a time, Refracts may build simple comfy nests they can rest in; since bad weather is rare in Avalon, these nests often hold up for many years. Refract flocks that pass by in the future may stop and rest if the nests are available. The Guilded Society Plaza and Town are stable locations in Avalon where some Refracts remain for long periods of time; these places are exceptions to the typical nomadic lifestyle.

Refract society is full of rules and expectations. Matriarchs and patriarchs typically hold their flock members to high standards, whether the member in question is an adult or small child. Those are adhere to society’s expectations are permitted to stay in the flock as long as they wish, while those who break rules may be bullied until they are cast out on their own. Most flocks escort the shunned member to the Guilded Society Plaza before dumping them off, though some may abandon the traitor on the spot and leave them to fend for themselves.

At the Plaza, members of the Guilded Society will converse with the offended flock before taking the shunned individual out of the crowd. Privately, behind closed doors, Society members will attempt to “talk sense into the offender” and encourage them to repent of their sins. If they refuse, they remain in solitary confinement (though in reasonable comfort) unless they can escape. If they agree to humble themselves and not commit their error again, they have been “corrected” and are free to join a new flock (since their old one likely won’t take them back) or remain at the Plaza and become a member of the Guilded Society themselves. Although anyone can try to become a member of the Society, one must work hard to be truly accepted in their ranks- if they aren’t an “accepted” member, their time at the Plaza will not be an enjoyable one. Dame Artemis, who was raised in Fairy World, never quite fit in with the Avalon Refracts. She was presented to the Society for correction multiple times before she finally split and went rogue.

Currently, the Refracts are still without a real government. They frown at the idea of giving some people political standing over others and do not have an officially recognized head of state like the other fae races do. Legally they hold three seats on the Fairy Council - the Peach, Rose, and Lilac Robes for the three regions of Avalon - but no Refract has ever ascended to claim those positions.

Future: Not much changes up in secluded Avalon. While the cloudland’s counterculture period flares across Fairy and Anti-Fairy World, Refracts are still living the same old nomadic, hunter-gatherer lifestyle they’re used to while the Guilded Society continue correcting deviants and Dame Artemis fights for acceptance among her people. Her town grows and co-ed flock of Refracts who want to live by their own rules gradually expand over time.

With the Barrier between the Upper and Lower Planes of Existence removed, travel increases between the Deep Kingdom and the High Kingdom, allowing more visitors into Avalon (though since Refracts don’t trust them, they tend to be bullied by passing flocks). My ‘fics Hawthorn Haven and Devil’s Backbone will look at this general time period in more detail, though Refracted society isn’t the focus of those stories.

SOCIAL

Leadership: Flocks are headed by a matriarch or patriarch. Since flocks are usually family-oriented, a parent or oldest sibling typically takes command. Plumes are generally more dominant than kabouters and are likely to leave their birth flock and start their own if a parent or older sibling refuses to give them the leadership position.

The closest thing Refracts have to an official government is the Guilded Society (See above), although it’s possible the Chief Sunchosen position may be officially recognized someday. If it is, the position will not be passed on via inheritance since Dame Artemis’ primary counterpart has sworn off having kids; most likely, it will be traditional for the Chief to travel Avalon in search of a chick who seems to “call” to them as though “sunchosen” themselves, and whom the Chief can raise as their heir. If many generations of Chiefs turn out to be damsels, it may become tradition that the Chief is always female.

Honoraries: Dame for females, Drake for males. The abbreviations Dm. and Drk. are not used among Refracts as they are with Fairies and Anti-Fairies, as those abbreviations simply denote respect while the Dame and Drake titles are an integral part of a Refract’s identity. See the “Names” section under the Customs topic for more.

Greetings: Refracts greet with bows and curtsies (casual acquaintances) as well as kisses on the cheeks (closer acquaintances). It would be proper to stretch your hand out to a Refract so you may kiss theirs, if they allow you to.

The Refracted are widely considered a noble race above Fairies and Pixies. When greeting a Refract of the opposite sex, it’s customary for Seelie to use their fingers to trace the symbol for I am most honored across their own neck, and then either bow or curtsy to the Refract. The symbol looks like this:

It consists of three lines. The first is the long S-shaped line drawn down to the collar. This is followed by the higher slice along the neck from left to right, and then the third line from top to bottom.

Most Anti-Fairies, however, will not make this sign as they believe themselves and Refracts to be equals. Furthermore, the sign is ingrained in Fairy culture and not in the Anti-Fairy one; Anti-Fairies are rarely taught it exists at all.

Groups: Refract flocks are single-sex and tend to be family-oriented. Typically, sisters and female cousins raise their daughters together; likewise, brothers and male cousins will form flocks and raise their sons together. This arrangement is considered the standard, and the eldest family member is traditionally the matriarch / patriarch of the flock, though they may choose to pass that title to a younger sibling.

Flocks of unrelated individuals are fairly common as well, especially among those who have no same-sex siblings or known cousins to turn to. Co-ed flocks of married couples are semi-common, but not favored. Dame Artemis Cairo, the self-proclaimed Chief Sunchosen, spends a lot of time encouraging Refracts to come together in co-ed flocks of non-married individuals.

Friendships: Many Refracts close themselves off for friendship, either because they fear having close friendships will be seen as the first step towards romance and potential sin, or they simply don’t want to open themselves up to trusting others with their emotions. Most flocks of Refracts contain family members, so Refracts befriend same-sex siblings and cousins but do not often consider unrelated Refracts their friends. Flock members interact with each other, watch one another’s backs, and take turns caring for each other’s offspring, but Refracted society focuses on individuals. It’s nice to have people who help you, but you should still provide for yourself as best as you can. Trust your own beliefs, and be wary of trusting others who might lead you astray.

When flocks meet, children mingle. However, playmates do not meet often or for long periods of time since Refracts prefer to keep traveling, so lasting friendships are uncommon. Friendships are most likely to form between those who stay in the same small area for long periods of time (like farmers).

Dame Artemis believes in the value of friendship. Town is founded on the idea that you don’t have to keep yourself closed-off; you should be free to socialize with others and make friends with unrelated individuals. In Town, Refracts mingle with many people for long periods of time, which has been unusual in their society up until now. In modern day, Refracts are cautiously opening themselves up to friendship. It’s a new learning experience for them to be less guarded and more open to looking after one another.

Expectations: Refracts expect respect; maintaining dignity in social situations is extremely important to them. They expect all other Refracts to hold Daoist values, and may turn busybody if they suspect someone isn’t adhering to all the proper rules. The Guilded Society may keep grievances and correction private, but traveling flocks tend to use public shame as punishment to keep subordinate members in line.

Refracts strive to be “above the temptations of dull minds and mortal flesh.” Many things that Fairies and Anti-Fairies consider perfectly normal, such as removing one’s clothing to change into different clothing, are considered sin in Refract culture. Rolling sleeves up too high and exposing the arms is sin (with the exception of doing so to receive a correction mark in the Guilded Society). Reading anything besides a holy text is sin. Having impure thoughts is sin. Don’t expect to hold a conversation with a Refract and not have them explain why your casual behavior is extremely sinful.

Earning a Refract’s trust is difficult, and rarely rewarding. Refracts are strict and high-maintenance even around their friends. They’re good people, mostly, but few non-Refracts can stand to be around them for long periods of time.

Refracts are famous for their affiliation with dogs. They commonly hunt alongside wild wolves or trained hounds. Furthermore, canines are associated with truth and honesty- it’s said that if you sin in front of a cù sith (a fairy dog), the mutt will steal your soul and take it to the afterlife. Thus, if you keep a cù sith around you regularly, it implies you do not fear having your soul stolen because you aren’t a sinner and are proud of it. While fairy dogs are scorned in Fairy culture and are neither good nor bad in Anti-Fairy culture, they are highly praised in Refract culture.

Intimacy and Partnership: As a general rule, Refracts consider any sexual relationships outside the bonds of the honey-lock to be scandalous. However, within the bonds of the honey-lock, sexual intimacy is sacred and beautiful. For the sake of saving face you can expect at least one of the pair to feign resisting, but it’s all for show; Refracts are taught that most likely, they will be swept up by the honey-lock someday and that playing their part is one of their sacred duties in this world.

Where Anti-Fairy sexual activity is generally raucous and thrilling, Refract intimacy is rather somber. Refracts bathe with their robes on, removing their clothing only for upgrading to a new size or mating during the honey-lock. This is a very vulnerable time for them; lack of experience and education can make it especially scary. It’s appropriate to withdraw from public when the tug to mate begins. Sexual intimacy is very private for Refracts and witnessing these tender moments would be shameful and inappropriate. Even so, the occasional troublesome, over-curious youth may tail a departing couple and be heard giggling from the shadows if they aren’t careful.

See also, Courtship and Marriage (Under “Customs”).

Power Dynamics: Refracts are expected to respect their elders, especially their flock’s matriarch or patriarch. Fairies treat Refracts as priests and priestesses above themselves, while Anti-Fairies consider Refracts their equals.

Gender Dynamics: The Refract population is massively skewed towards drakes, with 75% of the population born drakes and 25% born damsels. For most of fae history, Fairy damsels (and by extension Refract drakes) were doomed to die after mating; only recently has magical technology developed to allow them to survive. Dying after mating panicked Refracts to the point where most of them believe you’re at risk for death most of the times you mate.

Drakes and damsels consider each other equals for the most part. However, their society leans towards females being respected above males, as Refracts have a history of damsels being dominant (for instance, in the creation of the Guilded Society, the maintaining of famous farms, and Dame Artemis naming herself the first Chief Sunchosen). Females are often considered “more pure” than males; damsels are not permitted to sit in the presence of drakes, though drakes may sit in the presence of damsels.

Refracts tend to be antsy around those of the opposite sex. Chicks will play together, children and teens might sneak out to be adventurous, but young adults often fidget and avoid eye contact (Some damsels may shield their faces behind scarves, veils, or paper fans). Adults do their best to remain respectful and dignified in each other’s company.

Rules of Speaking: Interrupting another Refract is extremely rude, and everyone present is likely to shush the offender. Children are not supposed to speak in the presence of elders who are considerably older than them, even to accept a compliment. They are expected to smile and bow their heads, avoiding eye contact even when asked a direct question. When they answer, it’s expected they’ll be polite. Sanderson’s refract is famous for stubbornly locking eyes with her elders, which tends to get her shunned.

Personal Space: Refracts like their personal space, and rarely engage in physical touch even with spouses or offspring. At social gatherings, Refracts are usually quiet and aloof. Due to the pressures of their culture, they tend to become flustered by attention from the opposite sex.

Refracts find it absolutely unacceptable to suddenly be poofed away from whatever they were doing without warning. Furthermore, it is also unacceptable to pop yourself away without bidding a proper farewell. If your friend suddenly disappears, feel free to be alarmed. If they don’t return to you within ten minutes, be even more concerned. Even Fairies who are unhappy you poofed them without warning will hang around for an explanation. A Refract will give you a minute max to explain, but will probably demand to be sent back. Although most Refracts are nomadic, they don’t have a good mental map of their entire world and have a hard time figuring out where they were before you summoned them. It’s polite to be the one to return them.

Refracts cannot be poofed to the lower planes of existence (If they could, it’s likely Fairies would pull them down there often) except by Fairy Council members or the Fairy Elder, who can summon anyone from anywhere. and can only be moved around.

Social Faux Pas: Showing any interest in “sin,” including romantic or sexual feelings towards a spouse. Refracts should not show signs of greed, wrath, lust, or envy, and should never show nakedness even when bathing (They rarely bathe anyway).

Pixie Refracts: Pixie refracts are socially shunned in Refract society. They are not locked away or banned from traveling like the anti-pixies are in Anti-Fairy World, but they are considered much more likely to fall into temptation than the other Refracted subspecies are.

Pixie refracts are based on purple-crowned fairywrens. Fairywrens in general are infamous for being sexually promiscuous- however, the purple-crowned subspecies is very faithful. Pixie refracts are similar; they are often expected to be “sinful,” yet in truth show loyal behavior by helping their mother raise her chicks. Pixie refracts can freely wander Avalon, but others generally assume they’re impure and give them dirty looks.

Admittedly, pixie refracts are more likely than any other refract to have a romantic partner. Like purple-crowned fairywrens, they show high rates of fidelity. Pixie refracts are stereotyped as falling in love very easily. They tend to run off with their “one true love” and join a flock of other committed couples; thus, pixie refracts are far more scattered across their world than either primary pixies or anti-pixies are across theirs.

The Dame Head looks the other way when her offspring elope the same way H.P. does when his offspring drink soda underage, or Anti-Fergus does when his anti-pixies destroy public property.

Relations With Fairies: Fairies are typically viewed in a positive light, at least comparatively speaking. They are considered cheerful and good, but sinful. Daoist Fairies are viewed more positively than non-Daoist ones.

Relations With Anti-Fairies: Anti-Fairies are widely considered to be chaotic, evil demons and Refracts generally look down on them. If they saw an Anti-Fairy, they’d likely steer clear, even if the Anti-Fairy is alone and seems to be searching for help.

Relations With Pixies: Refracts typically favor Pixies over Fairies, since Pixies are thought to be calm, organized, and uninterested in sex. However, Refracts do judge them for their sugar indulgences. Vice President Longwood of Pixies Inc. has expressed interest in making Pixies a strictly neutral race when he becomes Head Pixie, refusing to allow Pixies to take sides in war. It’s possible relations between Pixies and Refracts will improve at this time.

Relations With Alien Races: Refracts as a whole generally don’t interact with Alien races, since Alien merchants only interact with those on the lower Planes of Existence. However, many Alien races consider Refracts an exotic, beautiful, possibly mythical prize and will kidnap any they find (Think of it as them seeking out rare birds they can present to their leader). Generally, Aliens are unable to scale the Planes of Existence since only magical beings and official godkids can see and touch the Bridges that span between them, so only Refracts who stray down to the lower planes are at risk of being captured.

CUSTOMS

Art: Refracts have little interest in art. They have few writing utensils, no cameras, and no paints, and most of the berries they find are eaten instead of used as dye. Fine jewelry can easily lead to envy, greed, and pride. Fiction stories are viewed as pointless. There are no chisels for carving stone. They have excellent clay, but see it as a useful tool for building temporary shelters, not long-lasting sculptures. Even though they have magic, their race does not value art. Depicting someone in art implies they are being placed above the rest of society, which is not very acceptable in their culture.

That said, Refracts do value cloth. While you shouldn’t adorn yourself in anything sparkly or elaborate, simple scarves are welcome in their culture. They’re one of few things Refracts can use to identify themselves as an individual in Refract society, so colored scarves are quite popular. In fact, Sanderson’s pixie refract counterpart has a pink and white striped scarf, simple blue earrings too, and decorative glasses. As long as these things do not become elaborate (and as long as others can obtain them fairly easily, technically), it’s acceptable for her to wear them.

The Dame Head loves weaving, and working with cloth in general. She and H.P. have been stylus siblings throughout their lives and she often sends homemade hats and scarves to him by mail. She’s also responsible for making pointy pink hats for her daughters and pointy blue hats for the anti-pixies (Though not the gray hats the primary pixies wear).

Calendar: The Refracted don’t follow a regular calendar, though they do divide the two halves of the year into “Bright Stars” and “Dim Stars” periods.

Child-Rearing: When pregnancy occurs in Refracts, it’s expected that both parents will remain near each other until the chick is born. After birth, it will be handed off to its same-sex parent and raised in a same-sex flock. Opposite-sex siblings rarely see one another, and may not even know each other unless their flocks cross paths and someone introduces them as siblings. The risk of accidental incest may be one reason why Refracted society cracks down so hard on expressions of romance outside the honey-lock.

Refracted parents tend towards the “It takes a village to raise a child” mindset. Care of chicks is shared by all members of the flock. Same-sex cousins are frequently raised together, and while they may identify one of their parental figures as Mom or Dad, they hold affection towards all those who raise them.

Coming of Age: Female Refracts have a small ceremony honoring a young damsel who is getting older, which involves taking on more duties in the flock and receiving advice from older damsels. Male Refracts may give a new adult more duties, such as scouting or hunting alone rather than with a mentor.

Courtship and Marriage: Refracts may publicly denounce romantic and sexual relationships, but there’s no denying their courtship rituals are intricate and beautiful. These days, they are almost never witnessed outside the command of the honey-lock. When courtship begins, one partner attempts to impress the other with elaborate acrobatics, such as swift loops, steep drops, and sharp turns while the other weaves between their drives. When Anti-Fairies honey-lock, their fur changes color; however, Refracts glow gold and leave sparkling golden ribbons behind them in the air. It’s these complex, glowing, incredibly rare rituals that fascinate the Alien races most of all, and witnessing their courtship is said to ensure a lifetime of health and prosperity for you and your offspring.

These dramatic courtship displays are considered the main and most arousing form of foreplay among Refracts, which is one reason why it’s difficult for them to have secret affairs. Traditionally, the more submissive partner engages in the main acrobatic display while the more dominant one pursues if interested (Among Anti-Fairies the more dominant partner traditionally displays for a potential mate, and among Fairies both partners display).

Marriage between Refracts is uncommon. When it does happen, it’s usually to secure land (Good hunting grounds or quality farmland), and is almost always between a couple who honey-lock regularly as a result of their host counterpart’s life choices. When marriage occurs, a Refract couple usually leave their old flocks and join a co-ed flock of other married couples, whom they raise their offspring with together. Marriage proposals are not elaborate and mostly consist of one partner asking the other if they would be interested in forming a committed bond.

In married flocks, the rules of intimacy expression are slightly more relaxed. Passionate kisses and sexual intimacy, when engaged in outside the honey-lock, are still looked upon with horror even when it’s with one’s spouse. However, small kisses on the hand, forehead, or briefly on the lips are considered acceptable. Damsels may sit with their mate, though if they sit they must sit away from the rest of the group (married flocks tend to have scattered pairs at mealtimes instead of one large picnic gathering). Expressing interest in anyone besides your own partner is extremely frowned upon, and worthy of exile from the flock.

See also, Intimacy and Partnership (Under “Social”).

Death and Mourning: Refracts turn to golden mist when they die. They take their clothes and anything in their pockets with them, the same way they do when they change shape. While Refracts may openly mourn their dead, usually by weeping, flockmates comfort one another and remind them of their religious beliefs: That their lost flockmate is now reunited with their Fairy and Anti-Fairy counterparts and peacefully living on in Daoine form. Large funerals are not held, and the core left behind when a Refract dies is typically buried by the rest of the flock.

Friends and family members are informed of someone’s passing when paths happen to cross next; Refracts don’t rush to find them and spread the word.

Disagreements: Refracts tend to sit on their anger, afraid to speak up when they disagree with each other. From a young age they’re taught that pride and wrath are dangerous sins; as a result, when Refracts do disagree with something, they’ll usually reflect for a time before speaking in a calm, collected way. They are not a violent race and don’t spar like Fairies, and they certainly don’t engage in sociosexual conflict de-escalations like Anti-Fairies do. Internally they may not be as mild-mannered as they appear, but they try to pretend they are anyway.

Family Relations: Refracted families stick close, often for life. Or rather, blood-related members stay in a same-sex flock their whole lives. Children are not expected to leave the flock to form their own, but stay together to look after the old and young. They thrive as a group, rarely apart. Occasionally a Refract may meet their opposite-sex parent or opposite-sex siblings, though interactions are fleeting.

See the Child-Rearing section for more about Refract families.

Homes: Very, very few Refracts have permanent homes- those who do are either members of the Guilded Society, pixie refracts, or live in Town. A few nesting locations exist and are scattered throughout Avalon, used by whichever tribe happens to be passing through at the time. Nests are built from branches and grass, and are usually on the ground instead of in tree branches. If Refracts build nests in tree branches, they lock themselves into their bird forms to sleep for the night- they don’t sleep in trees if in their full, large forms.

Hygiene: Refracts arguably have the worst hygiene of the four fae classes, to the point that they’re considered less clean than anti-pixies. They strictly do not bathe in rivers, though they may draw up water with basins and rinse their faces, hands, and feet. Every now and again, Refracts take a day to clean their entire flock by drawing many basins of water and pouring them over everyone.

Refracts do not remove their robes to wash except during rare ceremonies, which are held when they are obviously too big for their old robes and new ones need to be bestowed on them. When this happens, flocks travel to the Guilded Society plaza so their growing members can be ceremonially washed and given new robes.

Despite this lack of washing in water, many Refracts do carry colorful, decorative soaps with them. Personal possessions are usually frowned on in Refract society, but these sweet-smelling hygiene products are usually excused. Since Anti-Fairies have hair and scales, and Fairies and Pixies belong to cultures that rely on pheromones, Refracts are the most likely to disguise their natural scents with artificial ones.

Inheritance: Refracts have very little to inherit, as they are majorly a hunter-gathering society with a few farmers thrown in. Anything they do own at the time of death is simply turned over to the rest of their flock, who do with it what they see fit.

Leisure: As a hunter-gatherer or farming people, Refracts generally keep busy. In their limited free time, however, they enjoy gathering around to share stories, reciting them orally rather than reading from books.

Meals: Grains and fruits are the staples of the Refract diet since many Refracts are farmers or hunter-gatherers. Depending on their subspecies, some Refracts also eat meat (including birds). Refracts will eat meat in front of strangers without concern, unlike Fairies who are often hesitant to eat meat with others nearby.

Restaurants do not exist in Avalon, though food is offered at the Guilded Society’s plaza. Refract culture encourages you to obtain and prepare your own food rather than having someone else do it for you. Refracts are expected to hunt in the forms of birds and cook their food themselves.

Refracts who share their bird genetics with herbivorous birds will be healthiest on a vegetarian diet; they can eat meat on occasion, but too much of it will make them sick. Some Refracts share their bird genetics with obligate carnivores (Ex: Common refracts = Peregrine falcons). They must eat at least some meat every other day to function healthily, and even then they will not be at their best unless they eat some meat every day. Pixie refracts are strictly vegetarian.

Social norms prohibit damsels from sitting or lying down in the presence of drakes. When drakes and damsels dine together, food consists of light snacks such as yogurt or muffins that can easily be eaten while standing. Drakes and damsels would never dine together if the food was an entire meal, such as steak.

Media: Refracts don’t produce media of their own; they don’t publish fiction in any way. They tell stories through oral tradition, with most of these stories revolving around the ancient days (Religious stories and tales of the Aos Sí mainly). They rarely represent themselves in their stories. When they do they represent Refracts as people who strive towards perfection even if they struggle along the way. They see their lifestyle as better than that of Fairy World and Anti-Fairy World and believe they're in the right.

Many Fairies consider Refracts to be an angelic sort of people; they view Refracts as priests and priestesses who are very familiar with Daoist traditions and stories. In general, Fairies respect Refracts and portray them as good, pure figures in their media. Even in media, Refracts are reclusive and spend their time in the High Kingdom; Fairy media doesn’t portray them as peers you’ll find at school or grocery stores.

Anti-Fairies don’t have strong opinions towards Refracts; they consider them extremely reclusive people and know they each have their own Refracted counterpart, but that’s about the limit for most. Refracts and Anti-Fairies rarely interact. When they do, they’ll probably gawk at each other a bit before remembering that it’s impolite to stare in both their cultures. Anti-Fairies are much more concerned with improving the way they’re viewed in Fairy society than they are with changing how Refracts are viewed.

Names: Because Refracts have largely withdrawn from the rest of Fae society, many Refracts never learn the name of their Fairy counterpart, or only learn it later in life. As a result, names are not very important in Refracted society. Rather, Refracts refer to one another by terms, such as Brother, Mother, Daughter, Cousin, and Friend. If a counterpart’s name is known, some Refracts may choose to go by that name. Notably, Poof’s and Foop’s Refracted counterpart, Dame Poof, goes by Poppy. Dusty’s and Smoky’s counterpart goes by Misty.

A Refract may introduce themselves as, “I am your cousin,” or “I am your friend.” Spouses may refer to one another as “Dear Husband” or “Dear Wife.” Legal documents are very few and far between, but if it’s crucial for a specific Refract to be identified, a DNA test can be performed and one’s counterparts can be tracked down (Some Fairies have entire careers based around locating wandering counterparts).

Surnames do not connect families. They are used instead to denote the year on the Fae zodiac one was born (Love, Fire, Water, Sky, Soil, Breath, or Leaves) and the closest major landmark to their birthplace (Looming Peak, Rough River, Moon Drop, Star Lake, or Garden Stretch). If several brothers are together, they might refer to one another as “Brother Water” and “Brother Breath” simply to make a distinction between them, especially in conversation when discussing someone who isn’t present. Dame Artemis Cairo is an exception to the usual name rules since she was raised in Fairy World; she uses her Deep Kingdom name. Another way Refracts distinguish each other is with terms such as “Older Sister” and “Youngest Daughter.”

Refracts consider it inappropriate to call a peer by their Deep Kingdom name (Ex: Saying “Dame Cosmo Cosma” instead of “Dame Water of Black Lake and Rough River”). In this example, Dame indicates gender, Water the zodiac, Black Lake the year, and Rough River the location she was born.

Starpieces: Refracts typically keep their wands in their sleeves when not in use, making them quick on the draw and difficult to disarm. Wands are white, standardized, and crafted of ivory. Though Refracts don’t normally own property besides their robes, wands are considered a necessity. They are needed for shapeshifting as well as cooking food. Refracts are stereotyped as not knowing they can do more with their magic besides these two things, and are often seen as silly for not poofing up comforts like houses, blankets, bathtubs, or electricity.

Technology: A wand is a Refract’s most important piece of technology since these wands allow a Refract to change shape, pop, and start fires to cook their food. Refracts are also famous for inventing scry bowl and crystal ball technology. People do wear robes and a small handful of them are skilled cloth weavers who provide to the masses. Farmers can irrigate crops by manipulating canals. A few scattered buildings (including mills) exist in their world, with the most advanced ones being located in the Guilded Society Plaza. Advanced technologies in the plaza include ovens made of cloudstone bricks and thick gloves for handling hot dishes. Their post office, which can receive mail from the lower Planes of Existence very quickly, is also considered advanced. Indoor plumbing isn’t a thing in their world, and wells are practically non-existent. Fetching water from rivers is the most common way to get it. Sometimes Refracts must travel long distances to fetch water, so it is fortunate they can’t die of dehydration in the process.

Other than the things listed above, Refracts do not use particularly advanced technology and are considered the least technologically advanced of the four Fae classes. Dame Artemis owns a laptop, but can pretty much only use it during visits to the Deep Kingdom. Allegedly the Gold Castle, which guards Lugh’s Spear, is trapped with a variety of advanced traps, but most Refracts don’t have any reason to poke around in there...

The recent founding of Town has begun to change things in Refracted society. Slowly but surely, Dame Artemis is bringing electricity to Avalon... but that’s a story for another day.

REPRODUCTION

Attraction: As a society, Refracts typically consider themselves to be above feelings of attraction. Their culture attempts to deny the existence of it. Romantic or sexual activity, apart from that which is required during honey-lock periods, is widely frowned upon. H.P.’s counterpart, the Dame Head, is notable for being a Refract who once engaged in intimacy by choice and was driven from her flock as a result.

Though they shun attraction itself as a gross and impure feeling, Refracts favor those who share their personal views. They are stereotyped as an argumentative species, but get along well with those who are patient with them. Most Refracts who choose partners choose older ones who are good hunters and are experienced in navigating the world. Young Refracts are not considered good partners; it’s very rare for a Refract to marry young since marriage rarely benefits a couple unless they can easily provide for each other and their children better than they can alone. Affection is not considered a good reason to marry someone- the ability to provide for your mate and offspring frequently and with quality is far more attractive.

It can sometimes be difficult for Refracts to identify another’s age since they do not live in the scent-based world of Fairies. Wing size is a good indicator of adulthood, but does not differentiate young adults from aged adults, and wrinkles are often hidden beneath facial feathers. Since Refracts rarely cut their hair, however, long hair is an excellent way to display your life experience; not only are you considered more attractive with long hair, but wiser too. Changing your appearance with magic is heavily frowned upon, especially if it’s done for the purpose of winning over a mate you can’t provide for as well as you led them to believe. After you’ve already bonded, it’s more acceptable to magically change your appearance to the way you like (though some people might still judge you for it).

Cutting off another Refract’s hair is an offense. It is sometimes done as punishment for misbehavior since the implication is you are immature for having sinned- for example, the Dame Head’s matriarch cut her hair very short before she was thrown from her birth flock. Being the stubborn dame she is, she accepted it and tells herself she’s beautiful even with short hair; now it’s tradition for pixie refracts to keep their hair short as well (in a style called a pixie cut). Cutting the hair of your flock’s matriarch or patriarch is very disrespectful and seen as an immediate challenge- the flock must take sides and some members will be forced to leave. Very long hair suggests you have never been challenged and that you are a good leader.

Anatomy: Refract anatomy is fairly straightforward. Their reproductive system is similar to the human one, with a few slight tweaks to mirror bird anatomy and fit the marsupial pouch in there.

Unlike Fairies, Refracts do not have heat cycles; the majority have no interest in mating any time during the year. This appears to be because they cannot become pregnant unless mating during the honey-lock period (During the honey-lock, all the hormones of a full heat cycle crash on the Refract at once and fill them with incredible drive to mate with a specific person, no matter how far away that person is or how much they may dislike each other in day-to-day life). In incredibly rare circumstances, it is possible for an Anti-Fairy or Refract to be born the hosting counterpart of the trio instead of the Fairy. If one is born the hosting counterpart, they will never experience the honey-lock and will instead experience heat cycles like Fairies do.

When pregnancy occurs (via honey-lock), the mother Refract will begin developing the chick inside her pouch. Her pouch seals shut at this time. The chick will be born three to four months later. Unlike Anti-Fairies, Refracts are not tied to a day like Friday the 13th, so Anti-Fairy and Refract counterparts can either be born close together or many months apart depending on how close Friday the 13th is to the 3-month mark.

Physical: Both the physical and magical aspects of sexual intimacy are required for fertilization. Male Refracts have the sperm, and females have the eggs. The most common euphemism for mating in Refracted culture is “bumping.”

Magical: Because they are so far removed from Fairy and Anti-Fairy culture, Refracts don’t make a distinction between the physical and magical intimacies. If you explained the concept of sharing magic with a Refract, odds are they’d either be confused, horrified, or grossed out. Passionate kissing is almost unheard of in their culture even with the honey-lock simply because kisses aren’t a thing they’ve explored very much. Their courtship displays stand in for cuddling and passionate kisses as a form of foreplay.

Birth: In Refracted society, a male chick is transferred to the father shortly after birth and is raised on water and soft foods until it’s old enough for solids. Female chicks remain with the mother. Some flocks may permit mothers to provide milk for their chicks in private while others may consider that amount of bodily exposure indecent and insist that daughters be raised on water and soft foods too.

If a Refract’s hosting counterpart dies, they’ll die with it, and everything on their person will turn to smoke with them- including their baby. Should this happen to a baby, the Fairy and Anti-Fairy counterparts will suffer magical back-up and die as well; this type of situation is the only time the hosting counterpart can die due to the death of a counterpart.

Crossbreeding: Refracts can produce offspring with any species under the Refracted umbrella. Children take their mother’s species, but their father’s crown.

CHARACTER DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Wings mimic the patron bird’s shape; color may range from gold to brown.

Natural hair colors: Gold, brown, rose, peach, and silver.

Having long hair is considered attractive since it suggests you’ve lived a long time and gathered great life experience; cutting someone else’s hair is either a punishment or a challenge depending on your rank.

Refracts often have the most magic between the three counterparts, so their white crowns tend to float high above their heads.

Refracts have feathered faces, pointed ears, scaly hands, and scaly feet. Anti-Fairies have claws at the tips of their fingers, but in Refracts the majority of the finger is talon.

Refracts are widely considered the most elegant and beautiful race of fae (There are many tales of Refracts being stolen away by Aliens and brought to another planet to entertain the nobility with their grace).

Though Refracts are stereotyped as a dainty, delicate race, they are quite powerful and fierce. They have strong muscles from hunting and flying and high endurance which allows them to pursue a target for a long time.

Among the three counterparts, Refracts are the least likely to look like their hosting counterpart simply because they have nowhere to go to cut their hair and would have to do it themselves; most Refracts let their hair grow long and tie it back. Braids are the most common hairstyle among Refracts and different braid styles mean different things.

Plumes have freckles and long plumes twirling from their heads; most braid their plumes in with their hair and wear a single long, thick braid down their back.

About 98% of Refracts hold to the Daoist teachings.

Refracts wear robes and any Refract who chose not to would be shunned by the majority of society. Pink and purple are typical of damsels, while light and dark blue are typical of drakes. Dame Artemis wears silver robes to mark herself as the self-proclaimed Chief, and many Refracts dislike her for going against the standard.

Refracts do not wear undergarments; they simply have their robes.

WRITING REFRACTS

Refract magic makes a pop sound. Poof’s and Foop’s counterpart goes by Poppy for this reason. Pixie refract magic make a zing sound.

Hygiene: Refracts are thought to have the worst hygiene of the four fae classes since they rarely bathe with water. When they do bathe, they do it briefly and leave their robes on. However, many Refracts carry colorful, decorative soaps with them and may scrub them on their body. Among the fae, Refracts are the most likely to disguise their natural scent.

Fae get drunk on sugar; candy and soda are drugs and alcohol, but wine and beer have no notable effects on them. Refracts are only exposed to candy and soda on rare occasion.

When a Refract feels threatened, their crown will lower itself closer to their head, protecting their sensitive core with sharp spikes.

Most Refracts have red eyes. Some of them carry the iris virus (the color-eye STD) and show their counterpart’s eye color. In Anti-Fairy World colored eyes are a major status symbol. However, colored eyes are seen as shameful in Refracted society since they suggest you succumbed to sin. Very, very few Refracts have colored eyes and those who do are typically outcasts.

Refracts perceive the world through sight and have the keenest eyesight of the three Fae races. They invented the scrying bowls and crystal balls that are used throughout the cloudlands.

Their race-specific ability allows them to tune into the minds of birds and see through their eyes. A Refract may only do this with the patron bird of their species, but it allows them to witness the goings-on of Earth, Fairy World, and Anti-Fairy World from afar.

As a society, Refracts respect those with long hair more than those with short hair.

Refracts cannot sense the shapes, movement, body language, or facial expressions of magical beings around them the way Fairies can. They also cannot detect “magic spread,” or traces of magic left on objects.

However, magical beings do give off a certain glow that Refracts can see even without the use of field-sight. They can see this glow even through objects (unless the object is particularly dense) and find nearby magical creatures easily. This ability is particularly useful since there are several large magical predators in the upper planes.

Refracts generally back away if you get too close to them (unlike Fairies and Pixies who stay close together because they communicate through scent cues and Anti-Fairies who approach when attempting to de-escalate conflict).

Pixie refracts are vegetarian as a species.

If their counterpart can’t use magic due to being separated from their wand, the Refract still can. If their counterpart can’t use magic due to their counterpart losing contact with the energy field, they can’t either.

Always keep your head held high and strive to improve in the future!

#RD Refracted stuff #RD worldbuilding #RD cloudland culture #RD species ref

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riddledeep · 5 years

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7 Billion Years In Brief

This timeline recounts the general history of the fae, from the time their ancestor species (the Aos Sí) lived in Elphame to a possible society after Poof and Foop’s generation are long gone. You are currently viewing a TL;DR version of my full “Changes In Fae Society and Culture” notes.

Fae History Flashcards - 7 super quick “What happened when?” cards

“7 Billion Years In 15,000 Words” - The full page of notes that deeply delves into changes of Fae society and culture over time. In comparison, this post is 2,000 words

Full Event Timeline - Identifies where major events fell in time compared to other events; does not go into detail about changes in society and culture

Time in Elphame

7 to 4.6 billion years ago

Aos Sí, the earliest known fae ancestor species, lived in a range of land called Elphame on a planet named Elrue, where they ruled a section of forest and mountains. It’s believed they were large hermaphrodite marsupials with six arms and six eyes. Modern fae consider them to have had the intelligence and technology levels of cavemen and depict them as bipeds who resembled sugar gliders and wielded tridents and loincloths.

They left almost no evidence of their existence, but other alien races recorded encounters with them. The dominant breeding pair of Aos Sí were named Queen Ercel and King Christsonday in alien records. Other intelligent races settled other areas of the planet, keeping a wary distance until the Sealing War, when the Snobulacs kidnapped many Aos Sí with the plan to unleash these powerful beings on their enemies.

Some modern fae believe the Aos Sí physically split apart into three separate beings (Fairy, Anti-Fairy, Refract) due to war stress while others believe the Aos Sí evolved into Fairies over time, and that Anti-Fairies and Refracts do not share a common ancestor with them. Before Fairies, Anti-Fairies, and Refracts were given those names by the researcher Jay Rhoswen, they were known as Domestic Fae, Solitary Fae, and Trooping Fae, and were collectively called the Sluagh.

Early Fae Society

~4.6 billion to ??? million years ago

Though records are hazy, it’s believed the Sluagh settled into a natural order: Fairies kept orchards and farms, Anti-Fairies protected land from pillagers, and Refracts killed pests that ate the crops. Most Anti-Fairies believe their ancestors were shapeshifters made of smoke who walked in animal forms at this time. They believe their ancestors did not become mirror images of Fairies until generations later, after deep emotional bonds were formed and the smoky shapeshifters chose to mimic the looks of those they guarded.

Fairies were easily the dominant people, being the ones to have farms, homes, and notable culture. Refracts commonly traveled the land in flocks, rarely interacting with Fairies or Anti-Fairies. Anti-Fairies did not have language as Fairies understood it; they were a sociosexual people even then, communicating through physical touch instead of verbal speech. Refracts generally kept their distance from Fairies and it was unknown whether they had a complex language. Anti-Fairies were seen as guardian spirits who protected homes from intruders while Refracts hunted pests that tried to eat crops.

~45 million years ago

Jay Rhoswen’s research was a major turning point in fae society, as he proved Anti-Fairies were an intelligent species. It would still take centuries for Fairies to accept them as another people instead of cute pets, but Fairies did acknowledge them as intelligent. Following Rhoswen’s death, Anti-Shylinda became first High Countess of the Anti-Fairies; she’s an ancestor of Anti-Wanda. Fairies, Anti-Fairies, and sometimes Refracted counterparts lived together on the same property.

Rhoswen had taught Anti-Shylinda Snobbish (the Snobulac language Snobulacs that was passed to the Sluagh), but she struggled with it and created her own verbal language (Vatajasa) that was easier for Anti-Fairies to learn. She and her long-term partner, Anti-Kahnii, turned the Blue Castle into a library and began attracting scholars from far and wide. Anti-Shylinda was succeeded by her twin children, a male and a female; the High Count and High Countess positions are considered legally equal because the twins ruled together and were both respected. The brother was the more assertive twin, leading to a cultural preference for dominant males and passive females.

Medieval Fae Society

~40 to 20 million years ago

Fairy, Anti-Fairy, and Refracted counterparts lived beneath the same roof for over 100 generations (roaming between their fathers’ house and mothers’ house, which stood on the same property but were distinctly separate buildings). They were raised like cousins - even soulmates - and were inseparable. Spouses would interact every day if they wanted to, but respectfully retired to their own house to sleep- it would be inappropriate to invade the space of your spouse and their counterparts. All offspring were raised together on that property.

Parents helped their children find mates and obtain their own property when they were older; during the highest point of this era, it was crucial that counterparts discussed potential mates with care and came to an agreement. If counterparts were clearly out of sync, parents would refuse to permit the marriage. Harmony between counterparts, not the desires of a single one of them, was essential to a happy life.

Gynes also had drones living nearby in their own house on the property. Note that Canterbury v. Oakwing wasn’t yet a thing, so drone rights were limited; drones were required by law to wear muted grays or browns, wore bracelets that matched one worn by their gyne, weren’t to hold eye contact or speak much in public, and couldn’t hold jobs beyond cleaning and retinue duties unless they were assisting their gyne in a business he personally owned.

Fairies wore dress in the episode “Cosmo Con” that’s seen as medieval by human standards; however, Fairy World was in its early modern period at that time. Dress does not define the era, and the term Medieval Fae Society refers to what is described in this section, not to what society was like during the European middle ages.

Click HERE to read about the Fairy aristocracy that thrived during this era; everyone knew the names and connotations of these families.

Year 0 in the Fairy calendar is set approximately 40,000 years pre-series.

~20 million to 750,000 years ago

As time passed, society grew increasingly reckless and punished deviations from its norm. Society beat the values of strength, dominance, and honor into the minds of Fairies (often in toxic, harmful ways). Nervous Fairies sought protection from stronger individuals; the Fairywinkle family capitalized on these cries for help and rose to power.

Meanwhile the Anti-Fairies living near the Blue Castle prized brains over brawn and scorned the Fairies for their violent ways. Only a small handful of Refracts remain with their counterparts during this period, as most had migrated to Avalon.

Canterbury v. Oakwing granted drones additional rights during this time (though others like legal marriage wouldn’t be gained for a million more years). As the era drew on, tensions increased between counterparts. Fairy World balanced on the cusp of its first civil war, the War of the Sunset Divide.

Industrial Fae Society

~750,000 to 385,000 years ago (H.P.’s birth to Cosmo’s)

A few counterpart trios still lived together when H.P. (Fergus Whimsifinado) was born, though it was obvious a shift had occurred in Fairy society from previous times. As the idea of true, romantic love grew in popularity, it became common for fae to spend more time with their spouse than with their own counterparts. Romance in general became priority over family relations; some Fairies even married Anti-Fairies, and others even married their own counterparts. These relationships were a major factor in the War of the Sunset Divide.

Following the war, Fairies and Anti-Fairies were divided into Fairy World and Anti-Fairy World, separated by a physical barrier.

Year 0 in the Anti-Fairy calendar is set when the Barrier went up.

Deep preening traditions shifted to shallow preening since more intimate preening sessions fell out of style while people were crowded in the barracks. Big Daddy was born with Cosmo’s parents born soon after him. Anti-Bryndin, the High Count before Anti-Cosmo, follows. Big Daddy’s counterpart was separated from his twin daughters.

Fergus grew up in this world of separated Fairies and Anti-Fairies. The archetypal Fairy parents raised their offspring together in a single house, Anti-Fairies lived in colonies headed by a creche father, and Refracts in single-sex flocks. Many fae had lived this way during the latter part of the medieval era, but with the erection of the Barrier, they now had no other choice; traditional multi-counterpart set-ups were outlawed.

Many factories and large companies were built during this era; by Cosmo’s birth they were common sights. Small towns still existed, but were less common; towns continued getting larger and larger. Fairy World’s corner stores and outdoor markets were largely replaced by grocery stores (though the meat-swapping market mentioned in the Season 9 episode “Country Clubbed” still exists, and markets remained more common than grocery stores in Anti-Fairy World).

Post-Industrial Fae Society

~380,000 to 90,000 years ago (Cosmo’s birth to the War of the Angels)

Anti-Cosmo was born and raised in the Blue Castle as a low-status noble. Fergus became infected with Wolbachia pipientis and gained the ability to reproduce asexually at the cost of being able to reproduce with a partner. He was later recognized as the first of a new race and coronated as Head Pixie. This time period saw new and interesting architecture. Skyscrapers grew in popularity, with the Pixies best known for building them.

Fairies valued brawn, Anti-Fairies valued brains, and both scoffed at what the other culture favored. 90,000 years prior the episode “Balance of Flour,” the second cloudland civil war - the War of the Angels - broke out over the rights to human godkids.

~90,000 years ago to modern times: the year 2002

Anti-Cosmo took over as High Count in the time period Anti-Fairies were hated more than ever before. Tensions ran high between Fairies and Anti-Fairies, but a tentative alliance formed between the Pixies and Anti-Fairies (albeit in an on-and-off cycle). Fairies were viewed as “good,” Anti-Fairies “bad,” and Pixie loyalties fluctuated according to who makes H.P. less mad.

The Pixie population, wealth, and status continues to grow. The Fairies and Anti-Fairies both look to the Pixies as potential allies, playing tug o’ war. Fae often look to celebrity magazines as a semi-reliable way to determine the state of interracial politics; H.P. always seems to be hanging out with either Jorgen or Anti-Cosmo, and the wealth and safety of each nation swings depending on which of them holds the pixie’s interest at the time.

Modern Fae Society

Year 2002 and early years following (Poof’s early childhood)

In modern fae society, Fairies, Anti-Fairies, and Refracts still live mostly separate lives, but with the removal of the Barrier just before Poof’s birth, they are no longer forcibly kept apart. Fairies live in homes with their parents, Anti-Fairies in colonies, and Refracts in flocks just as described above. Relations with Anti-Fairies steadily improve (for the most part) during this time period.

Foop becomes the first Anti-Fairy to enter school since his father. He and Poof forge a bond during their years in the Spellementary dorms as roommates struggling to meet the expectations of a certain demanding teacher. Relations between Fairies and Anti-Fairies remain tense, especially when the May Blossom War begins. Until he withdraws to support his injured mother, Foop attends school and is bullied regularly by the Fairy kids (which is all fine and dandy because he does his share of bullying too).

Shortly after the war starts, Anti-Cosmo disappears for nearly 80,000 years, forcing an injured Anti-Wanda and panicked Foop to manage Anti-Fairy World alone.

Up to 162,000 years post-series (Generation Poof’s youth)

Foop enters high school at age 100,000, having returned political authority to his father. He and Poof tolerate one another, but don’t consider one another close friends; physical separation and cultural differences have torn apart the bond they formed in Spellementary. More about Poof, Foop, and their friends during this period can be read about in 130 Reasons Why I’m Fairy Trash and Hawthorn Haven.

[HERE is a Wikipedia page outlining future events that are expected to affect Earth during this time period and beyond.]

Future Fae Society

163,000+ years post-series (Poof is a young adult)

The ‘fic Devil’s Backbone examines this time period in more detail.

Fae culture moves towards becoming more accepting. Fairies and Anti-Fairies strive to set apart their differences and live in harmony (albeit uneasily). The terms Fairy World and Anti-Fairy World are no longer politically correct, and are replaced by their old names: Tír Ildáthach and Hy-Brasil. In keeping with this theme, Pixie World retires its name as well and rebrands itself with its shortened legal name, Sprigganhame.

A major discovery about gynes is made, and moral dilemmas ensue. Parents gain the ability to select for gyne offspring, and many do. The number of gynes in the fae population immediately spikes and unbalances the ratio of gynes to drones, since drones have traditionally been the least favored offspring. Faced with a future of too many Fairy gynes and not enough Fairy drones (and with the exponentially-reproducing Pixie race overflowing with drones and lacking a strong leader to defend them), trouble is just around the bend.

In the far future, Fairy and Anti-Fairy families become blended as respect and communication between counterparts improve. It becomes common for Fairies to raise their counterpart’s offspring and vis versa. Honor is once again promoted as a desirable pursuit in life; an honorable fae communicates openly with their counterparts and they work together to enjoy their lives.

This was the shortened version of my “7 Billion Years In 15,000 Words” notes. To read the full notes for additional social/cultural depth, click HERE.

Click HERE for my Fairly OddParents worldbuilding masterpost

#RD worldbuilding #RD cloudland culture #RD Fairy stuff #RD AntiFairy stuff #RD Pixie stuff #RD Refracted stuff

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