Glossary

Banshee—A wailing Irish spirit whose mournful cries are said to foretell imminent death.

Bendith y Mamau—Also known as the Tylwyth Teg, Bendith are known to cause mischief and steal human children, leaving behind changelings. They are widely considered to be a cross between a goblin and a Fae, often using glamours to appear lovely, hiding a hideous face.

Boggart—A shape-shifting spirit generally (but not always) considered to be malicious.

Bogle—A Celtic spirit similar in many ways to a poltergeist, Bogles enjoy terrorizing humans and spoiling their food.

Brownie—Benevolent, goblin-like Fae noted for their unique tendency to inhabit and work in a human house. They will accept gifts of food from humans, but are easily offended at the notion that they are in any way employed by them. If something is offered to them to serve as payment rather than friendship, they will become offended and abandon their home.

Changeling—Also known as a crimbil, a changeling is a Fae child left in the place of a human child for any of a number of reasons. It is said that they have powerful screams, an affinity for music, and one leg longer than the other.

Gnome—Diminutive earthen Fae ranging from a few inches to a few feet tall, they are said to be generally benevolent creatures possessing a great deal of secret knowledge. It is said that gnomes have a power all their own, which they use to reward or punish people as they see fit.

Gwragedd Annwn—Also known as the water wives, these are Welsh fairies known for living in villages underwater. They are known for being incredibly gentle, such that even a playful slap on the back can cause one to retreat back into the water for years. They are considered by some to be a type of Tylwyth Teg, but are notably separate from the Bendith y Mamau.

Gwyllion—Known as the Old Woman of the Mountain, a Gwyllion is a hag known to lead lost travelers astray. It is considered to be a close cousin to the Bendith y Mamau.

Knocker—Said to be spirits, knockers are subterranean Fae who live in mines. They seldom venture to the surface, and can most often be found by the knocking sounds they make while they work. They are said to be benevolent, even protective by some. Others say they are dangerous, with pranks ranging from annoying to lethal.

Nymph—An elemental nature spirit known to inhabit a specific area of nature, such as a tree or a river.

Phooka—An Irish shape-shifter known for causing trouble and wreaking havoc. In spite of this reputation, however, they have never been known to directly attack a human.

Pixie—A tiny, mischievous fairy who delights in playing pranks. Pixies are numerous and, generally, their behaviors are benign.

Redcap—Malicious Fae who prefer to hunt those who have strayed too far from their home. It is said that a redcap’s name comes from the hat it wears, dyed with the blood of its victims. The redcap must continuously seek out new victims to maintain the color of its hat.

Seelie—A court of Fae often associated with daylight and summer, the Seelie are considered to be the Fae most likely to treat a human with kindness. However, they are still instinctively mischievous, and do not take kindly to mistreatment of their territory.

Shadeling—A type of impish Fae known only to Bryn, these once-brownies can travel through shadows and demonstrate incredible loyalty. However, like most Fae, if for any reason that loyalty is lost, it can be impossible to regain.

Unseelie—A court of Fae often associated with night and winter, the Unseelie court is home to the truly malicious. Often, the Unseelie are openly hostile to others, especially to humans, and their mischief is known to give way to true harm.

Will-o’-the-Wisp—A dancing light often found in dark, marshy, or foggy places, will-o’-the-wisps are said to lead travelers through the dark. Sometimes, it may be a way home or to great treasure. Sometimes, they may only lead a traveler deeper into the dark, abandoning them when they are lost.