Faerie is a world of magic and wonder... but also danger to the uninitiated. Here are the top 5 things that any brave mortal needs to know before they head out.
1. The Terrain of Each Court Reflects the Type of Fae That Live There
This one should be obvious, but some brave mortals are too brave for their own good.
The Summer Court is home to mostly sidhe, Fae who look human but are definitely not to be underestimated. The courtiers live for dancing and political intrigue, but the peasants are mostly just looking to make their tithes to Titania.
The Winter Court is much more diverse, as Maeve will take on anyone who is strong and resilient enough to withstand the cold and harsh weather of the Winterland mountains. This can include anything from banshees to redcaps, and everything terrifying in between.
The Storm Court is the last major Court in Faerie, and is home to the water-loving Fae, like selkies, merrows and kelpies. Ava Storm Queen is an enterprising ruler, however, and will take any faerie that could potentially be of use to her.
2. Never Enter Into an Open-Ended Bargain
While none of the pure-blooded Fae can lie, they can and will mislead a traveler to suit their own ends. If you're ever caught in a tough spot and need the help of one of the Fae, make sure to define the terms of your bargain very clearly. A safe bargain should sound something like the following: "If you pull me out of this quicksand right now, I'll help you harvest your apples for a total of 5 hours." It might sound clunky, but you can never be too careful. Besides, do you really want to be harvesting apples for the rest of your life?
3. The Food in Faerie is Intoxicating to Mortals
Don't let the visual similarities fool you: food grown in Faerie isn't safe for mortals to eat.
Oh, it'll sustain you alright. It might even be the best thing that you've ever tasted. But resist the temptation, because eating Faerie food makes you a part of Faerie. If you're a part of Faerie, you may never be able to leave.
4. Never Say "Thank You"
Humans express their gratitude all the time, and think nothing of it. This will cause you some problems in Faerie, however, where one must have performed a huge act of service in order to merit an expression of thanks. Think an epic Herculean style quest huge. Anything less is seen as rude, and a poor bargain to boot.
5. Mortal Technology Might Not Work
Hoping to keep in touch with friends and relatives back home, listen to music while you explore or even snap some keepsake photos while you're adventuring? Think again!
This may come as a surprise, but there are no cell towers in Faerie, so you probably won't have service unless you're near a portal to the Mortal Realm. In addition, iron and steel are poisonous to all Fae, so they have spurned all modern advancements (even if some may admire the cleverness of humans). Most time saving measures in Faerie are accomplished with magic.
Learn to send a fire message and you should be able to communicate no problem.
Maybe warn your recipient before you leave, though.
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Have you got all that? Do you think you have what it takes to survive in Faerie?
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