Types of Faeries

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Air Faeries:

Sylphs

Sylphs, also known as Windsingers, are elemental air spirits claiming both Greek and Egyptian ancestry. As a whole, this miniature race is very beautiful. They are long-lived, reaching hundreds of years in age, yet they never seem to become old. Like other elementals, they possess the ability to shapeshift and may assume human form. Typically residing on mountaintops, they possess a hierarchy system, with their leader Paralda occupying the highest mountain of Earth.
Kind of nature, they are most helpful with wishes involving air, though they will assist with any positive desire. In addition, they are associated with mental development and one of their functions is to inspire human creativity.

Trows

Originating in Shetland and the Orkney Islands, and possibly the Upper Hebrides they are most likely derived from legends of trolls in Scandinavia. The trows (rhyming with row) possess many traits similar to those of their northern brethren. They fear sunlight, though they are only frozen in place until dawn rather than turned to stone as are trolls. Once the sun has set, they are free to return to their underground homes.

Among their other names are creepers and nightstealers, as trows have been known to kidnap human babies from cribs, leaving a changeling in the place of the child. Fiddlers have also been nabbed to play for the trowish revels. Some fiddle tunes are even accredited to Shetland's trows. (The name sea-trow, I should note, typically denotes a selkie, rather than the trows we discuss here.)

The legends of trows typically describe them as squat, round, and misshapen faeries lacking legs. Movement is achieved by bouncing about on their bottoms like rubber balls. They are not necessarily wicked in nature, but they are mischievous and delight in hiding things from people under the cover of darkness.

Phookas

An Irish Goblin, the Phooka probably had his roots in Scandinavia before being brought to Wales and Ireland. His Nordic name is Kornbock (which prefers a goat body) and Welsh call him Bookha or Bwca (which typically has a pig or horse body).

In Ireland the Phooka typically chooses a horse body, however he is a shape shifter and sometimes becomes a goat, a bull, a dog, or an eagle (among other beasts). His head is that of a human male. They are pranksters, like most goblins, and appear to weary travelers as docile ponies. Once their victim has climbed upon aboard, the phooka takes the hapless rider on a wild ride across the wettest and most loamy country before depositing him in ditch or tossing him headlong into the mire. His eagle form has also lended itself to a similar trick.

Phookas are pack animals and frequent fights occur among the vicious creatures. The Irish believe that should the sun shine though it be raining, the Phooka will be abroad that night. In Ireland, the Phooka never enters human houses, however in Wales the Booka sneak have taken their cue from Santa Claus and sneak in through the chimney. This poses particular dangers because the species adores human babies and are always looking for one to steal.

Aside from babysnatching, they wreck havoc by destroying crops, specifically claiming any crop not harvested by Samhain. A farmer who dares to cut any crops after that date is likely to receive retribution in the form of a dead herd animals (the Irish say mysteriously dead cows have been pooked, at term which likely grew from Phooka). In particular, the Phooka loves potatoes and swipes them from untended fields at night. Between Midsummer and Samhain humans are safe from the Phooka's tricks, as they are believed to go into hibernation for a time.

 

Fachan

The Fachan, or Peg-Leg-Jack as he is sometimes known because of his single leg, originated in Scotland. Matching his single leg, all of his features are singular. He possesses one head, one eye, one arm, one leg, one toe, one finger and so forth, which are all perfectly centered on a body covered in hair and feathers. Its coloring was pitch black, aside from a dark blue mane of feathers which ruffled as a prelude to an attack. So fearsome was its appearance, that the mere sight of the Fachan was credited with causing heart-attacks.
The armament of the Fachan (sometimes spelled Fachen or Fachin) was a single spiked club. He uses this club to chase away all livings things. Indeed, he is a particularly spiteful faery and is most jealous of the gift of flight he was denied despite his feathery crown. He can be found on the highest Scottish mountains. Though why you would want to bother? I would rather not know.

Water Faeries

Undines

These are the elemental spirits of water. Their magic centers upon this element, whose course and function they can control. Undines exist within the water itself and cannot be seen with normal human vision. Their homes are typically within the coral caves in lakes or upon the banks of rivers, though smaller undines may choose to live under lily pads. Their appearance is similar to human beings in most cases, with the exception of those living in smaller streams or ponds. Undine clothing is shimmery, reflecting all the colors of water though green is typically the predominant color.

Every body of water is home to undines, from ocean waves, to rocky pools, to marshlands, to rivers, to lakes and ponds. Even waterfalls and fountains have an undine living in their midst.

Mermaids

Bane of seamen, these half-fish half-women lured countless sailors to their deaths. Breathtakingly beautiful humans from their torso-upwards, their lower bodies where those of fish, complete with scales. Men find their songs irresistible and follow them willingly into the sea. Mermaids can be caught and held in exchange for the wishes they grant. The males of the species, Mermen, are regarded as vicious creatures who raised storms for the purpose of sinking men's ships.
Occasionally they are successfully courted by human men. The offspring of such pairings are often granted great powers in healing by their mothers.

Selkies

The shapeshifting selkies, who are also known as silkies or roane (Gaelic for seal), occupy the seas surrounding the Orkney and Shetland isles. The exact nature of their undersea world is uncertain, though some believe it to be encased in giant air bubbles. Their true forms are those of faeries or humans, though they take the form of large seals when traveling the through the oceans. In particular: great seals and grey seals are said to take human forms. Older tales tell that selkies are only able to take on human forms on certain nights of the year, such as Midsummer's Eve or All Hallows.

Occasionally they encounter humankind, sometimes becoming their mates. A human male may take a selkie female as his wife if he finds her seal skin on the beach and hides it from her. In the end she always recovers the skin and returns to the sea, though she may return occasionally to watch over her human family from the safety of the waves.

A human woman may bear the child of a selkie male if she weeps seven tears or seven drops of blood in the nighttime sea. Such relationships are rarely lasting. Seven years hence, the selkie would return for his child, offering the mother a fee for nursing her own babe.


Fir Darrig

The Fir Darrig, pronounced "fear dearg", is an Irish fairy, though its original home may have been Scotland. Translated, the name means "red man." They are also known by the name Rat Boys, largely due to their appearance; they have dark, hairy skin, long snouts, skinny tails and are rather fat. Even their clothing looks as though it might have been scrounged from a sewer, being extremely torn and shabby.

Some legends hold that the Fir Darrig is an unlucky former human who wandered into fairy land by mistake and now attempts to warn others from making the same mistake. Despite this apparently good natured move, they revel in cruel and gruesome pratical jokes, which they play upon those who have made the mistake of irritating them. Possessing a similar lack of taste in their choice of foodstuffs, Fir Darrigs consume carrion as their main staple.

Most active in winter, and found along polluted coastlines, in swamps, marshes and coastal ruins, it is best to avoid these creatures at almost any cost. Occasionally they venture into the land of humans, where they delight in startling people by knocking upon their doors in the dead of night and asking to warm themselves at the fire. Never refuse such a request, as it is exceedingly bad luck and you may wake to find a changeling in your child's crib or that your cows have come down with the pox. Should you happen to encounter a Fir Darrig, take great pains to be polite to it lest you become the victim for one of its practical jokes.

Beansidhe

One of the most dreaded and best known of the Irish faeries is the Banshee, properly named the Beansidhe literally, "woman fairy." The Irish have many names for her (perhaps they feared invocation of her true name may invoke her presence?). They included: Washer of the Shrouds, Washer at the Banks, Washer at the Ford and the Little Washer of Sorrow. The Scottish called her Cointeach, literally "one who keens." To the cornish she was Cyhiraeth and to the Welsh either Cyoerraeth or Gwrach y Rhibyn, which translates as "Hag of the Dribble" (to the Welsh she sometimes appear as a male). In Brittany her name is Eur-Cunnere Noe.

The Beansidhe is an extremely beautiful faery, possessing long, flowing hair, red eyes (due to continuous weeping) and light complexions. They typically donn green dresses with gray cloaks. Their wailing fortells of a death nearby, though it never causes such a death (which is why they are wrongly feared). Some of Ireland's oldest aristocrachy could boast of banshees dwelling nearby their ancestral homes.

If one heard the wailing of the beansidhe and discovered candles burned in a winding pattern (like a shroud) later that evening, they knew the death was to occur in their household. In Scotland she squats near the door of the one doomed and in Cornwall her figure flaps her wings against the glass of the window belonging to s/he who would die.

As her other names might suggest, she frequently appears as a washerwoman at the banks of streams. In these cases, she is called the Bean Nighe (pronounced "ben-neeyah"). The clothing she washed takes different forms depending upon the legend. Sometimes it is burial shrouds, others it is the bloodstained clothing of those who will soon die. This particular version of the Bean Sidhe is Scottish in origin and unlike the Irish version, she is extremely ugly, sometimes described as having a single nostril, one large buck tooth, webbed feet and extremely long breasts, which she must throw over her shoulders to prevent them getting in the way of her washing . Her long stringy hair is partially covered with a hood and a white gown or shroud is her main wardrobe. The skin of the Beansidhe is often wet and slimy as if she had just been pulled from a moss covered lake. They are rumored to be the ghosts of women who died in childbirth and will continue to wash until the day they should have died. The keening music of Irish wakes, called caoine, is said to have been derived from the wails of the Beansidhe.


Leanan Sidhe

The Fairy Mistress or Fairy Sweetheart, Leanan Sidhe (lan-awn shee), is a Celtic muse possessing a dark unearthly beauty. Her names translates directly as My Inspiration (Leanan) Faery (Sidhe). She is sometimes called Lhiannan-Shee (lannan-shee). Legend says she resides under the Irish Sea off the eastern coast of Ireland and roams sometimes roams the Isle of Man at night as she searches for a new lover.

Her lovers are frequently artists, and all who fall under her spell suffer a keen longing in her absence. In return for the depth of emotion she receives, she inspires genius in her loves. They have been likened to candles burning at both ends: incredibly bright, but lacking the endurance of that which burns normally they expire quickly. Such is often the price of her gift, though it usual results from a great heartbreak or sorrow when she leaves, rather than a malicious intent on the part of the Leanan Sidhe.

While the artist in question typically considers her attentions a gift, the self destructive nature of the artists once she has left seems to have inspired a belief that the Leanan Sidhe is evil and dangerous. Some have even likened her to a vampire, attached to one man as she ruins his body and soul.
Radiantly beautiful to her lover, she is invisible to all other mortals. So beautiful, in fact, that all other mortals become lifeless and dull when compared to the Leanan Sidhe.

Kelpies

Kelpies have their origin in Scotland, though they are also part of northern Irish faery lore where they are called Eisges (Ech-ooshk-ya) or Fuath (Foo-ah). The Cornish call them Shoney which is derived from the Norse name Sjofn, meaning a Goddess of the Sea. Those in Iceland know them by the name Nickers, being related to the Nix (who are German water sprites). In Shetland and the Orkney Islands they are called Nuggies.

These foul-tempered denizens of the fae are rarely seen today, a fact which is a blessing as humans are among the favorite meals of these cannibalistic faeries. When other faeries or humans were unavailable for dinner, Kelpies chose deer who had wandered too close to the lochs.

Irish lore describes them as web-footed water spirts, who possess the manes and tails of horses and the bodies of women. In Scotland they appear as friendly seahorses who allow passing humans to mount them, drowning their hapless victims once they're away from the shore.

They are able to shape change, occasionally appearing as humans though they can be distinguished by their seaweed hair which they are unable to change.
Kelpies may be captured by placing a bridle over their heads, though it was a difficult and dangerous task due to the beasts strong and willful nature. However, if a person managed to accomplish this task the kelpie was forced to serve the one who bridled it.

Earth Faeries:

Goblins

The word goblin is derived from the Greek "kobalos" meaning rogue. Appropriately, goblins are known as the thieves and villians of the fae realm. The term goblin can apply either to the ugliest members of the fae, or to certain sub-races.

Some reside in mines where they search for the earth's treasures (though not all goblins are adept at this pratice, Kobolds and Wichtlein mime the act by stricking pickaxes and hammers against the stones). Human miners take the resulting sounds as a sign of good luck, believing the present ore to be of high value. Other goblins choose human residences where their mischief includes the banging of pots and pans, rearranging furnitrue, removing the clothes from sleeping humans and knocking on doors and walls. Still others of the family prefer grottos, often residing in the same one for their entire life.

Those fae numbered among the goblin subraces, include: Scottish Trows, Scandinavian Trolls, English Spriggans, Welsh Knockers, Cornish Knockers, German Kobolds, the Irish Phooka and even Shakespeare's infamous Puck are all considered goblins.

Spriggans

Among the most ugly and wicked of the fae, Spriggans are typically only seen around old ruins, barrows, castles and other places where treasure might be buried. Their skill as guardians of buried riches unfortunately translates in the reverse, as they are accomplished and therefore notorious child snatchers. Parents unfortunate enough to be their victims would return to their child's crib only to discover a hideous Spriggan babe left in the place of their babe. Along with their baby-stealing, they are blamed for bringing bad weather to blight crops, causing whirlwinds amongst cut corn and other general mischief.

Their appearance is short and goblin-like, they develop long beards and have spindly limbs and large feet. A Spriggan costume is usually ornamented with bits of stone. It is believed the race devolved from a greater fae; a race of giants responsible for such wonders as England's stone circles. Some say that they retain a portion of this heritage, being able to swell to an enormous size. Their historic range is Cornwall in Southeast England.

Dwarves

The origin of these beings is typically traced to the legends of Nordic mythology. Later, the Gaelic and Norman peoples carried their traditions to the British Isles.
Mystical metal workers, dwarfs are at home amid their mountain forges. Their knowledge of metal's properties, both physical and magical, is legendary. Their work sells for astounding prices; their payment is almost always made in gold or other magical treasures. The dwarves' wealth is best left untouched by humans. Those foolhardy enough to steal it usually meet with great misfortune and are left with little in return for their troubles when the gold turns into dead leaves, cow dung or worthless stone.

Those who reside in mines are more foul of temper than their mountain brethren. Unless they receive offerings from their human counterparts, they are known to sabotage efforts to extract earth's valuable minerals. Their interference includes the breaking of tools and pulling down mine roofs.

The race is short of stature, yet they possess incredible strength. On the whole, dwarfs prefer residing in communities to solitary lives. Mountain dwarfs are typically organized in tribes or kingdoms, having chieftans or kings, as well as dwarven armies. They are typically called by the name Sidhe or Shee (Gaelic for "people of the hills"). One of their favorite indulgences in life is mead, of which they were master brewers.

Dwarfs are never seen during daytime (at least not as dwarves, though they may appear as toads). However, they often appear during the twilight hours. Those that appear during night tend to belong to the Unseelie Court.

J.R.R Tolkien's The Hobbit is the source of a good deal of current dwarfish lore. It is from the animated movie based on his book that the graphic seen here originates.

Trolls

One of the largest of faery kin is the Troll, who originated in Germany and Scandinavia (the Swedish use the name Trolds and the Dannish prefer Hill Men or Berg People). They are also found in Scotland and Italy.

As a whole, they are a vulgar race. They are bipedal (though in some cases, just barely), hairy, and typically grotesque in appearance. Most of all, they harbor hatred for all faeries and humankind as well. Luckily, this hatred has a happy byproduct in that Trolls never steal human mates or children for they find humankind to be worthless, ugly and smelly. The same factors keep them away from human dwellings. Of course, they're notoriously stupid, so their judgement isn't to be trusted.

Trolls are carnivous creatues who love mutton and goat best. (They'd very rarely deign to eat a smelly human.)

Legend places them as guardians of bridges and byways, despite their often lacking judgement. Their decisions resemble most closely, those of neighborhood bullies. And like bullies, they tend to run in packs. One of their favored acts is to throw stones at creatures unfortunate enough to have passed them.

Pixies

Pixies are the pranksters of Cornwall. Some sources attribute their origin to the Irish saints, while others claim they are souls of virtous pagans. The most prevalent theory regards them as the gods of pre-Christian Cornwall.

They delight in leading people astray from their paths and leaving them to wander aimlessly for hours until dropping into a deep sleep, a practice which spawned the term pixie-led. While pranksters, Pixies were also known to led helpful hands to humans in need. The elderly might find household tasks mysteriously complemented, the worthy farmer may discover his grain has been mysteriously threshed and maidens searching for their true love may beseech his name by going to a well and pleading with the Pixie folk.

Typically they appear as wisened old men no taller than a hand's span. (In fact, there is only one reference to a female pixie, Joan the Wad, who is regarded as their Queen.)


Leprechauns

Originally coined by Thomas Keightley in The Fairy Mythology (1850) from the Irish "Leith bhroyan" or "Leith phroyan" meaning "one shoemaker," comes the name Leprechaun. They are also known by the name Gentry. In addition, Jewish folklore tells of a similar creature, the Sheedem or Shedim. It is now demonized and the name used derogatorily in reference to pagan deities. Their typical habitat is wild areas with large grassy hills.

Leprechauns are a race of cobblers whose craftsmanship is beyond compare. As a result, their wares go for astonishing sums which makes most of them exceedingly wealthy and is likely the source of the tales of their pots of gold. Infamous hoarders, they are loathe to spend a single penny, which probably explains their poor appearance in spite of their great wealth. Some legends says that once a leprachaun begins dancing to a human's song, he cannot stop until the tune ceases. His exhausted state may cause him to make outlandish offers, including his crock of gold, if you will please only allow him to stop dancing. Other means of finding his gold include looking at the end of a rainbow, which may lead him offer 3 wishes in exchange for his treasure. His promises of gold alway proves hollow, as the Leprechaun always employs clever tricks in his granting of wishes, often resulting in the embarrassment or injury to the one who expected a bounteous reward.

Green is the color of choice among this race, though their clothing is never extravagant. Their footwear, however, is a source of pride and every Leprechaun posses the very finest he can make. Their clientele is exclusively faery and legend holds that they only make one shoe at a time, never pairs.

Apparently, the race is exclusively male as no female Leprechaun have ever been seen. Some Leprechauns belong to the unseelie court; they are raiders of wine cellars who revel drunkenly after dark riding the backs of sheep or shepherd's dogs. The name cluricauns (kloor-a-kawns) is applied to the dark members of the family. Cluricauns often favor red clothing to set themselves apart from the seelie Leprechauns.

Brownies

The origin of this race is traced to Scotland. Brownies currently residing in the United States and Canada most likely arrived with Scottish immigrants. Among their names from other human cultures are: Nis from Denmark, Domonvoi from Russia (where they cry like Banshees when death is appraching a member of their chosen family, and to warn of fires), Yumboes from North Africa, Choa Phum Phi from China and Hobs from the English. They are still common to the Scottish Highlands and on the Hebrides Islands, but are rarely heard of elsewhere.

Brownies are domestic faeries, offering aid to mortals who are churning butter or grinding meal. For their service, they expect rewards of milk and bread. (Brownies who are displeased with their gifts often turn into the nasty Boggarts who harass the inhabitants of their domicile.) As with other faeries, should a human mistakenly offer them clothes in return for their labors, brownies will cease their efforts and disappear forever. In addition to their labors in the home, some brownies also guarded the corn yard during winter. Because of their industrious and beneficial nature, the Girl Scouts have adopted the name Brownies for their youngest members.

Resulting from their generous nature, a hatred of misers and cheats is characteristic among the race. Brownies will not tolerate lying and utterly detest pretentiousness.

They are nocturnal, although most are able to appear in the sunlight should they wish. However, there are a few non-Scottish House brownies who will perish if exposed to sunlight. Legends holds that it is for this reason that the brownies' familar, the rooster, crows in the morning, warning his friends that it is time for bed. (Some Scots even held that brownies could take the form of roosters.)

Small and usually male, brownies tend towards the hairy side and have slightly pointed ears, long fingers and dress in blue, green or the most typical brown. Their size makes them extremely cautious of cats and the humans they assist must not harbor the beasts within their homes. Most are keenly intelligent, except the Dobie who is a dull witt. He wishes to help, but always flubs the job because of his lack of intelligence.


Gnomes

Orginiating in Scandinavia (though Scotland is the source for most North Ameridcan lore), Gnomes later migrated to the 'low lands' some 1,500 years ago. As a species, they are 7 times stronger than humans. Another of their unique characteristics, Gnomes are always born as a set of twins. Leading nocturnal lives, they rarely come into contact with humankind.

Gnomes are very widespread species, known to a number of human races. Germans name them Erdmanleins, except in the Alpine areas, where they are called Heinzemannchens. In Denmark and Norway the are Nisse; Nissen is Swedish variation. In Brittany they are called Nains. Tontti to the Finns and Foddenskkmaend is their name in Iceland. The Polish call they by the familar Gnom. Bulgaria and Albania, however, use Dudje. In Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia, Gnomes are called Mano. The Dutch use Kabouter and the Belgian, Skritek. Switzerland and Luxembourg use the same name, Kleinmanneken, which means "littlemen." Domovoi Djedoes is used in western Russia, translated it roughly means "earth faery."

Largely due to the her choice of garb, the domain of the female gnome is the home and thus it is with the male that almost all human contact occurs. Females wear either gray or khaki colored clothing consisiting of a blouse, an ankle length skirt, knee socks and high shoes or slippers. (The color combination results in a possibility that she may be mistaken for a mouse or other small forest animal and be captured by an owl before he realized his mistake.) Prior to marriage, the outfit is complemented by a green cap and braids which later disappear under a scarf while the green cap is replaced by more somber tones after she marries.

Male Gnomes wear red caps and blue smocks complemented by green pants and footwear. They are fair of face, though the boast rosy red cheeks. Long beards adorn their faces and turn gray far sooner than their hair. Males are the guardians of animal kind and show little preference for their animal friends, not withstanding their aversion to cats both wild and domesticated. They are known for freeing wildlife from man's traps and for operating on farm animals whose owners have neglected them or who are simply to poor to afford a vetrinarian.

Gnomes consist of a number of different types. The most common is the Forest Gnome who rarely comes into contact with man. The Garden Gnome lives in old gardens and enjoys telling melancoly tales. Dune Gnomes are slightly larger than their woodland breathren and choose remarkably drab clothing. House Gnomes have the most knowledge of man, often speaking his language. It is from this family that Gnome Kings are chosen. Farm Gnomes resemble their House brethen, but are more conservative in manner and dress. Siberian Gnomes have been more interbred than other Gnomes and associate freely with trolls. They are much larger than the other types and have an infinately more nasty nature. It is best never to evoke the ire of such Gnomes for they delight in revenge.

Will'o'Wisp

The Will-o-wisp is among the most named faeries, travelling with countless aliases. Among the Cornish names are Faery lights, St. Elmo's Fire, Jack-o-Lantern, Bob-A-Longs and Jenny Burnt-Tail. The Shetland and Orkeny Islands use Teine Sith (meaning Fire Faery), the Germans 'Huckpoten,' the Swedish Irrbloss, the French Eclaireux, the Italians Candelas and the Russians Ruskaly.

They typically appear as a grouping of tiny flickering lights, almost like fire flies. Flickering and wavering, the glowing orbs move through marshes, meadows and grassy hills at the hours just after sundown.

Some believe the lights to be the glow of actual faeries, while others argue they are merely torches and lamps carried by the fae as they revel. Whatever they are, humans who glimpse and follow the lights experience something likened to a game of tag as they disappear everytime the distance between the pair closes too much. Those who follow them successfully, though, have claimed to witness gatherings of faeries as they hold their nightly celebrations.


Green Man

Hordes of information has been written on the Green Man, yet he still remains somewhat of a mystery. The name typically applies to an ancient deity whose likeness has been carved into older churches across much of the British Isles. Typically it is a composite image of a face formed for a mask of leaves or a face devouring vines and leaves. The image's meaning is typically one of life, renewal and rebirth, and inspiration. He is a personification of the union between mankind and nature. His association with churches is likely an instance of pagan gods being absorbed into Christianity to entice converts or to make their worship safe.
The Green Lady is sometimes named as female counterpart of the Green Man. Some consider her a pagan worship form of the Virgin Mary. Others dispute her existence. At the very least, the image is not as old as that of the Green Man.

Robin Hood is considered by some scholars to be one of the many incarnations of the Green Man. In this case, it is the ancient legend of the King of the Wood whose lady was named Marion. It was to this older and more powerful figure that the story of Robin of Locksley was eventually grafted. The Green Man is also connected to Robin Goodfellow and Puck, as well as Jack the Green who dances ahead of the May Queen in May Day parades.


Ballybogs

The Irish Ballybogs, known as bogles among the Cornish and Welsh and Boggans among those residing in Northern England, are also called Peat Faeries, Mudbogs, Boggies and Bog-a-boos. The reoccurrence of the word bog in their name harkens to their typical habitat: peat bogs and mudholes. They were most typically encountered in Ireland, where people uesd peat as a main source of fuel because Ireland lacks natural coal and oil deposits.

Their appearance of the very small creatures was decidedly odd. Mud-covered, almost completely round bodies, supporting heads without the benefit of a neck. Their arms and legs were long and spindly; apparently too much so to support their weight. Ballybogs possess no language, but rather communicate with grunts and slobbering.

While the Irish Ballybog was merely unpleasant, the English Bogle possesses a nasty temper. The Bogle focuses the majority of its ill will upon those who are lazy, incontinent, or guilty of crimes. Like many of the fae kind, both manifestations enjoy leading unwary travelers astray.

It is believed that at one time, they were they guardian spirits of bogs. Some have suggested that the preserved human remains found in the peat bogs of northern Europe are evidence of ritual human sacrifices made to placate the fae who dwelled within the bogs.

Boggart

Some legends say Boggarts are brownies that have gone bad. Either because they are mischevious in nature or because they were wronged through some interaction with humans. Others tell that they are merely small dwarfish cousins of the brownies. Their origin is traced to Scotland where they are also known as Hobgoblins, the Boogey Man, Boogies, Padfoot, Boggans, Hobbers, Gobs and Blobs. The root of the name, 'bog' may indicate a relation to the ballybogs as well.
They are always of the male persuasion (apparently female brownies have better sense than to turn bad). Whatever their relation to the gentle brownies, boggarts have vastly different intentions.They delight in playing tricks on humans. Rather than adopting a home to help its human inhabitants, boggarts will enter a home with one thing on their minds: destruction.

The favorite food of a boggart is smooth wood and a home they have chosen as their residence provides not only shelter, but also their sustenance! Boggarts also pose a threat to children, as they love to steal their food and try to smother the young humans as they sleep at night. Should your home be infected with a boggart a complete exorcism may be necessary to rid your abode of the pest. Others are completely dim-witted and can be tricked into leaving a home. One of the best ways to do this is to ask the boggart to leave the house and stay out as long as 'the hollies are green'. It will mostly likely take at least two seasons for him to remember that hollies are always green and that he's been tricked. His resulting anger most likely needn't be feared as he will never be able to enter the house again.

The moral here is that it is best to stop boggarts at their source: never anger a brownie!

Fire Faeries

Salamanders

The strongest and most powerful of the elementals, Salamanders are the spirit of fire. Without them, fire cannot exist. Their assistance is required for creating even the smallest bit of flame, even that on a match. Their help can be invited, but they can be mischevious. A slighted Salamander may cause fires to burn out of control, especially since they don't fully comprehend the results of their actions.

Typically they are represented as lizards, though they are sometimes pictured in a more typical fairy fashion or as small balls of light. Salamanders are reported to possess the ability to change their size at will, either extending or diminishing as they please.


Fire Drakes

Drakes are typically described as smallish cousins to dragons. Like some of the bigger animals, they breathe fire. This trait, in turn, results in their odiforous quality which has been described as a cross between a chicken coop and rotten eggs.

They are benevolent creatures, who, when residing in a human domicile, will keep the firewood dry and bless the hearth. Drakes expect their kindness to be returned and react negatively to human mistreatment. When not residing with a human, they are usually found in wood piles or deep in an ancient forest. Typically they are nocturnal, being most active from nightfall until shortly after dawn.

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