After the primary races had been created, Faenella, who had been interested but not captivated in the process of the creation, turned her eyes back to the species she had been the most fascinated with: Elves.

From the base of the Elven kind, Faenella developed another, more wild species for Elanthia; the Fae.

The Fae -- created by Faenella -- are beautiful (but mischevious) tiny folk who inhabit some parts of Elanthia. Similar to Elves in shape and figure, the Fae rarely exceed one foot. They come in a variety of shapes and colors, listed below.

Types of Fae:

Sprites - the tiniest (three to five inches) of the Fae, Sprites have long wings of several vivid jewel colors and come in a variety of shapes (fat, thin, slender, scrawny, muscular). All possess magic, and are excellent crafters of wine and candy. Sprites love milk, bread and sugar. They hate salt and garlic, and often run away at the sight of it. A few rare Sprites exceed the normal height and reach upwards to the size of Halflings. These are usually "outcasts" from the Fae community, and tend to be bent on destruction.

Welkin - about two feet high, the welkin are, from one source, covered in brown fur and have bright brown eyes, or, from another source, dressed in dapper suits and carry polished walnut canes, or, from still another source, are just foot-tall Sprites. Due to their clandestine and nocturnal habits, no one has really ever seen a welkin, and those who have have never seen one again. Welkin -- whatever they look like -- are very helpful creatures who like to aid those who are in need. They, too, love bread and milk.

Alfar - Fair and pale, almost angelic, the alfar are tall and willowy creatures that greatly resemble nyads and dryads. The alfar are as mischevious as the rest of their ilk, and alternately aid and hurt mortals, as pleases their current mood. A few alfar are servants to the gods, although these are few and far between from the others of their crafty race.

Nyads and Dryads - Dryads are spirits of the trees, while nyads are the spirits of the water. Depending on how well the tree or stream they dwell in currently depends on what they look like. If their tree is a healthy aspen, the dryad's skin will be a pale silvery color and her hair and eyes light green. If his stream has been polluted, the nyad will be a weeping, wrecked construction and most probably in a foul mood. Untrue to common belief, nyads and dryads can be of either gender.

Will o' Wisps - Small balls of glowing light that float on air, the will o' wisps are mysterious creatures that do not seem to have a language or need for food -- as far as anyone knows, their only purpose is to multiply by dividing into new versions of themselves.

Gremlins, Changelings, Faenrae Reavers, and Banesidhes - These black- hearted creatures -- with the exception of the Faenrae Reavers -- are the offspring of Idon's work, and are frequently involved in evil schemes. While all the Fae are mischevious, they can also do good -- not true with these creatures. Their presence can only mean ill. Created by Huldah, the Faenrae Reavers do fall under the classification of Fae due to their ethereal and other-worldly nature.

Heralds -- Stange, unearthling creatures, even the gods bow down when a Herald commands. Varying from indescribably beautiful to hideously dreadful in visage, the Heralds most commonly appear as a tall (seven to eight foot) humanoid who falls somewhere between Elf and Human in appearance. Wielding great swords and awesome power, their main purpose is to curtail the use of magic. No one is quite sure why they do this, although many scholars have theorized that it is because of magic's unstable tendencies, and the chance that too much spellcraft in one place could dangerously drain that area of life and power, leaving it blasted and ruined. Or perhaps too much magical use by a mortal would alter them or harm them in ways mortalken cannot even begin to imagine....

Many believe that the Heralds fled from a world where magic had become used too much, destroying the dimension the Heralds dwelled on. Others think that the Heralds are the creator of the gods themselves, and still more think the gods created the Heralds to keep themselves in check.

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Last Revised 2/12/2000