THE FAEFOLK COMPENDIUM | VOL. 1

[sarahbarah 7105]

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

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W R I T T E N  B Y

E I R E N E  O F  M Y R I N E

&

P U B L I S H E D  B Y  T H E

N O R T H E R N  G E O G R A P H I C A L  S O C I E T Y

 

O N  T H E 

5 T H  O F  T H E D E E P C O L D ,  2 0 6 8

 

 

TO ALL SCHOLARS WHO peruse the histories of the ancient seas, it ought be known that the waters from which my own Founding Lady Myrine arose are by no means barren, but rich with ancient peoples and living myths older than any banner flown by Descendantkind.

 

This present compendium, compiled by mine own hand, seeks to gather those lesser-known legends of the fae-folk whom I believe yet dwell among our shoes and beneath the tides. Though many of these beings are known only through the uncertain testimony of sailors and children alike, I reckon that their absence from record does not equate to their absence from our realm.

 

Many such creatures remain undiscovered and unseen. It is my hope that by setting my observations, theories, and collected testimonies to parchment, additional sightings may be encouraged, and future scholars emboldened to look more closely into the unknown.

 

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MYRINE HERSELF IS RECORDED as one of the Siren-Borne, a class of mer-folk who dwell in open, distant waters. These sirens were not mere monsters enacting cruelty upon a whim as later sailors would claim. Ancient testimonies state that these beings are guardians of peace instead, ensuring that the arrogance of men did not encroach upon their sacred waves.

 

The Siren’s song was not always meant to lure. Oftentimes, they served as trials that would test the humility and intent of those who sailed their seas. Ships led astray were often those heavy with greed, whereas those guided by a pure heart would pass unscathed.

 

The Siren-Borne fae are proclaimed to bear hues akin to the very sea they dwell within. Their skin color ranges from shades of pale sea-glass to deep storm-green, often adorned with faint, pearlescent patterns that catch the light like moonlit ripples upon the approaching tide. Additionally, a siren’s hair flows freely even in still waters, and is often threaded with shells or strands of moonlight. Their eyes are described as unnervingly bright: golden, opaline, or icy turquoise.

 

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THE KELP-FOLK ARE SAID to dwell in the shallows and along the continental shelves. These are miniscule, small fae, distinguished by their mossy hair and stone-like skin. Legend states they serve as the gardeners of the sea, dutifully caring for the kelp forests and coral reefs on the ocean floor. Most stories credit these gentle beings with acts of quiet mercy, such as guiding lost sailors back to shore or catching drowning children by redirecting the water’s currents. They even seem to settle reefs that many would deem cruel or otherwise uninhabitable.

 

The Shoalkin occupy the same waters, but are known to be much more elusive. According to the testimony of several Myrnish sailors, these beings are half-fish and half-spirit, shimmering with an incandescence that transcends the mortal coil. Furthermore, it is said these fae are harbingers of prophecy. They often manifest just before great change occurs  – for instance, a fortuitous birth or tragic demise. 

 

Kelp-Folk possess muted, soft hues that allow them to blend into their environment. Their skin is usually a color akin to gray, sage, or perhaps jade, though sometimes it may resemble stone – weathered or otherwise smoothened depending upon the fae’s age. These fae also possess thick tresses of hair composed of kelp or seagrass, reportedly seen in shades of moss, bronze, or emerald green.

 

Contrarily, Shoalkin have forms that allegedly glimmer, appearing as if they're composed solely of light and water. Sailors have claimed these creatures were seen in tones of silver-blue, lavender, and white, though their colors might shift depending on how the tide and the light meet on that given day.

 

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AMONG THE MOST BELOVED of the sea-fae are the sea pixies. They are said to resemble children wrought of pearl and seafoam. Notably, legends state that the sea pixies ride bubbles as steeds and leave trails of glowing sand in their wake. Moreover, these creatures, while intensely curious, are prone to mischief and trickery. Sea pixies may trail a sailing ship at a distance, whispering the secrets of sailors to the nearby dolphins that leap above the open waters. They might also tangle the ship’s rigging or poke miniscule holes in the sails. Other times, these fae are helpful, and will polish the ship’s hull as its crew slumbers. Should the laughter of the sea pixies follow a crew, it is also alleged that the winds will favor their sails that day, lest the crew demonstrate cruelty upon the waters they frequent. 

 

Sea pixies are most well-known for their luminous appearance, resembling the nymphs once cited in Princess Elizaveta Barbanov-Bihar’s Creature Compendium.¹ Their skin gleams with an opalescent sheen, seen in varying hues of aqua, sea-green, or pink. Pearlescent, too, is a sea-pixie’s hair that grows in wisps, looking more akin to drifting plankton or threads of moonlight. The glow of their silhouette is not quite static, either; it brightens when they’re amused and dims if they grow fearful or sad. 

 

1] Princess Elizaveta Barbanov-Bihar: Creature Compendium Vol 1: Creatures of the Realm; Date unknown. Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. 

 

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DWELLING JUST AT THE water’s edge are the whimsical foam-sprites. They are rather fleeting creatures, composed solely of sea spray and pure, unbridled energy. It is said that they spend their time dancing on top of the breakers, almost as if daring the ocean to catch them, and leave little footprints of light on the ocean’s surf in their wake. Unfortunately, however,  the lifespan of the foam-sprite does not last long if the water stills. As soon as the sea quiets or the tide rescinds, these fae vanish. In their brief existence, the foam-sprite might look like a flickering orb of ethereal light – white, or sunlit silver in hue.

 

Closely related to the foam-sprites are the tidemotes, tiny fae composed of saltwater and sunlight. In fact, sailors easily mistake them for the sun’s glare on wettened stones. Although shy by nature, legend states they are enamored by music, especially a siren’s tune. These fae, most notably, are near indiscernible to the naked eye, but are claimed to glow in shades of warm gold, moonlit-white, and sunset pink when briefly glimpsed upon by a passing seafarer.

 

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THE SEAS ARE ALSO HOME to a variety of magickal fae-fish. The Glowfin, for instance, are a fabled species among seafarers. Per many accounts, they are said to swim in schools, brightening the parts of the ocean that are shrouded in un-navigable darkness. In fact, these fish are quite clever and may guide lost sailors or sirens to safety. Their scales glow, hence their name – oftentimes in hues of blues, yellows, and purples. Most fascinating is the Glowfin’s ability to discern the safety of their environment. The glow of their scales reportedly dims if they sense nearby danger, allowing them to escape undetected by predators.

 

Bell-Drifters, too, are the source of many whispers amongst sailors. Their forms are translucent, bearing a jelly-like, bulbous silhouette that drifts with the tide. Most fascinating is the noise they emit. As they navigate the currents, their tendrils seem to sing like wind-chimes, jingling softly with each shift of the ocean’s tide. Moreover, their song is said to determine the passage of time underwater and at sea alike. Sailors of yore have been said to ignore the rise of the sun and moon entirely, measuring the change in seasons solely by differentiating the melodies of the Bell-Drifters’ chorus.

 

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SO DECREED IS THE TALE of the sea-fae, and henceforth shall this volume come to a close. It should be noted that my writings are not meant to represent an unfaltering truth, but instead a collection of what knowledge I have acquired. The waters are too vast, and their peoples too many, for any one compendium to contain them fully. What I have written and published today is only a fragment of something living. It is something that evolves constantly and will endure long after the ink ‘pon my quill has dried.

 

The existence of the beings described here cannot be proven with ease. They are seen only in fleeting glimpses at twilight, or preserved in the legend of those who dwell closer to the tide than most of us ever will. Even so, I do not believe that something must be proven to bear any inkling of possibility. After all, the sea would not likely surrender her truths to those who demand certainty.

 

If these accounts accomplish anything, I hope it is this: That those who read them might begin to understand the more whimsical complexities of the world around us,  and to treat its fae-inhabitants with patience and due reverence. The fae certainly remember kindness as surely as they remember cruelty.

 

This volume of work is dedicated to one of  my most cherished tutors, Lady Manon von Volkrich of the Northern Geographical Society.

P E N N E D  B Y,

HPL, Eirene Mareno,

Lady of Myrine

 

P U B L I S H E D  U N D E R  

T H E  A U T H O R I T Y  O F  T H E  

N G S

“ A D  T E R R A S  N O V A S ”

 

THE VIEWS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS DOCUMENT ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF ITS AUTHOR(S).

THE NORTHERN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY CONTENTS

[esotericas 2674]

Manon hand-binds a copy of the publication, and stores it next to a certain Creature Compendium - First Edition from oh so long ago...

[Mamimiux 217]

Eirene finds a small slip of paper in her dorm at the NGS building. A poorly drawn smiley face and flower are etched into the paper. Attached is a copy of the compendium: faerie dust cake, both the paper and the book.

[DrFong 226]

"Auntie Foam Sprite is that you? It's been so long since we danced!" - The Good Morrow

 

Down along the rocky shore
Some make their home,
They live on crispy pancakes
Of yellow tide-foam;

Some in the reeds
Of the black mountain-lake,
With frogs for their watchdogs,
All night awake.

[Chuuwys 502]

Spoiler

i fuckin love faeries. i lvoe whimsy. +1 billion

 

[TaraJess 2848]

Aurelian Greye, beloved friend and fan of EIRENE OF MYRINE's writing, saves a copy of this publication, earning a spot on the shelf of the Greye's little library.

[zuziee 4004]

A proud mother beams for a fleeting moment in quiet acknowledgment before her attention drifts back to the rolling waves beyond the window. She has not moved from her place. Her gaze lingers there, lightless.