"Heh heh heh heh... Did you really think that I would be some small, diminutive thing that gives people favors? Well, you certainly seem uneducated in the true ways of the fairy. Allow me to educate you."
Fairies is a type of mythical creature in European folklore, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural, or preternatural. As the Fae, it can also be treated as a classification.
Associated with so many different stories, legends, myths and fairy tales, it is easy to see why fairies are said to be truly amazing magical creatures, with many skills. Fairy tales have inspired children for generations.
There are many definitions of what a fairy is. "Fairy" can describe either a single being or multiple ones like Trolls, Banshees, and Gnomes. Some say they are spirits of the dead, elementals in alchemy, demoted angels of God, demons, Pagan Gods, a type of human, and more. They are known as the opposites and enemies of the Creatures of the Night and Demons, which also indirectly makes them the allies of the Angels.
While it is believed that fairies are sweet and innocent beings, they are in fact, far from it. Fairies of folklore were vicious, vindictive and cruel; embodying forces of nature and often appearing as monstrous figures rather than the winged pixie-like beings we associate the word with today. Fairies can be very evil, and twisted.
Fairies are known by many other names, with their primary title "fairies" taken after their homeland, the world of Faerieland. Other than faeries, fey and Fair Folk, they are also known as the Kind Ones, Little People, Good Neighbors, and some other euphemisms, partly because of their enormous variety and partly because of age-old superstitions about invoking them by name.
Fairies of folklore were blamed for all manner of mischief and ills, ranging from petty vandalism and theft to outright murder, and kidnap and they would frequently be blamed for causing livestock to grow sick or die, they would lead travelers astray at night or lure men to their doom near ponds and rivers and if sufficiently angered they would even kill.
Fairies could kidnap women, children or men as they saw fit, often at times replacing infants with Changelings. But more frequent targets of fairies were travelers and musicians as many Fairies were said to love song and dance. Legends speak of the dangers of such merriment as many mortals have been captivated by a troop of fairies dancing, although not particularly an act of malice these fairies would often spirit the captivated mortal away to the "other world" to live with them, often never to be seen again by mortal eyes.
The fairies came in several distinct types and courts, two most well known being the respected but feared Seelie Court (also known as the Summer Court) and the most feared and malicious were the Unseelie Court (also known as the Winter Court) who would often attack and harass mortals without cause or reason. They consisted of Redcaps, Goblins, Hags, Hiisi and other malicious spirits.
Out with these courts were other fairy troops and individuals, though these were more amoral in regards to mortals they were still greatly feared and ruled in a manner not unlike that of ancient gods namely with vengeance and fear.
There was also the Sluagh which is a horde of spirits and fairies of the restless dead which both Seelie Court and Unseelie Court are cautious and fearful around.
While most fairies seemed to exist in the continent of Europe, some live in Africa, such as Jengu in West Africa, Peri in the Middle East and Dokkaebi in Korea. There were also some other tribes of the fairies, like the Haltija and Haldjas.
Characteristics[]
"Yes, fairy comes in many shapes and sizes. Magical, mischievous being from the realm next door."
They are most well-known in both the mundane and supernatural worlds for their characterization as cunning and cruel sense of humor, as well as their delight in tricking others. They frequently characterized as seeking to bargain with mortal beings, offering someone their heart's desire but never mention that said desire comes with a terrible cost. They are committed to notions of honor and etiquette. While they are always exactly to the letter of any promise they have made, they deliver these results with great irony and often use clever wordplay to their advantage in order to create loopholes for them to exploit.
They are unable to lie. They might, however, tell what they believe is true, even if it is not. They may expertly weave lies into sentences by using methods such as not telling the whole truth, letting others assume things, or not correcting the people with whom they're speaking; this does not, however, apply to the half-fairies who possess the ability to lie as easily as any other being. Fairies are also capable of manipulating one another. There have apparently been times when these either playful or serious manipulations, specifically resulting from problems or conflicts between powerful fey, bleed into the world.
Fairies come in many forms, and have been described as "magical and mischievous beings from the realm next door". This realm, Avalon, is considered another dimension or reality. Fairies have been classified into two groups - one consisting of light fairies and the other dark ones. However, there have not been many details about identifying fairy classes.
Fairies, despite having different types, have some form of society and justice system called the Fairy Tribunal. This court decides on the fate of beings that break the presumably existing laws of their kind. This is not limited to fairies, as seen when a fairy named Gilda brought her former human enslaver to face their tribunal. Fairies, despite being different kinds, all seem to cooperate with each other.
They appear to be sensitive to "energy", as one of them made the comment that "fairies are all about energy". In Clap Your Hands If You Believe, the leprechaun that appeared was able to know that Sam Winchester had no soul, as it said that human souls have a certain "perfume".
In addition, it seems they also suffer from arithmomania, a mental disorder that may be seen as an expression of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Sufferers of this disorder have the overwhelming impulse to count their actions or objects in their surroundings. Because of this (and regardless of how powerful any fairy may be), it must stop what it is doing to count every grain of sugar or salt, one by one, if someone pours it in front of them.
Humans can interact with them and ask for favors; appeasing them by leaving a bowl of cream. Cream affects fairies in the same way that alcohol affects humans, rendering them intoxicated if they eat it. They claim to possess abilities (which they consider to be "real magic") that surpass those of angels and seem unafraid of them, as inferred by the leprechaun when he claims to be undaunted by Lucifer. He claims that it is within his power to restore Sam's soul (but not pro bono, of course) a feat beyond the reckoning of both Castiel and the King of Hell. However, his claims were never proven.
Fairies can be summoned by spells to make deals with humans, often exchanging their services for a price (i.e. the rights to all of the firstborn sons in an area). Once called upon, a fairy will remain in that area until banished by a spell.
Faeries appear as beautiful creatures with pointed ears and glossy thin skin. This is however just an illusion to appeal to the dominant species of their current dimension. In reality they are much less attractive, appearing similar to wood elves or goblins. Faeries are super-humanly strong and durable. They possess longevity but are not outright immortal.
Faeries are extremely attractive to humans as well as to vampires. As fairies admire vampires attraction. Vampires have a hard time resisting faeries because of their smell and taste; fairy blood is intoxicating to vampires. This makes face to face interactions between them all but impossible. When a fairy dies a corpse is not left, just a sparkling powder (or fairy dust); the body just disintegrates. Faeries are secretive about their own race, customs, interactions, and world. They normally inhabit the fae world, named Faerie, but there are portals and doorways between it and the human world. Those who have fairy blood in them but are not full-blooded fairies have limited fae powers, while maintaining some of the attractive qualities of fairies.
Sookie and Jason seem to have inherited the beauty of the fairies but only certain creatures can tell that they are part-fairy. Sookie appears to have inherited more magical faerie powers (such as immunity against mind spells from vampires and maenads), while Jason only has the power of attraction and seduction. However, most assume this is mainly due to his physical appearance. It is also stated that bloodlines with royalty in it seem to attract vampires (Sookie's life is involved with vampires, while Jason and Jessica are attracted to each other). Faeries love attention and admiration. They also have a habit of frolicking and dancing.
Faerie godmothers and godfathers can sense when their charge is in danger, shown when Claudine magically appeared to aid Sookie when she was in mortal danger on a number of occasions. Sookie was not always aware of her fairy godmother's timely interventions.
Appearances[]
Fairies are generally described as human in appearance and having magical powers. Diminutive fairies of one kind or another have been recorded for centuries, but occur alongside the human-sized beings; these have been depicted as ranging in size from very tiny up to the size of a human child. Even with these small fairies, however, their small size may be magically assumed rather than constant. Some fairies though normally quite small were able to dilate their figures to imitate humans.
They are known for their unearthly beauty, many fairies said to be extremely attractive with delicate and regal faces. Though they mostly resemble human beings, some have extraordinary features such as wings, horns, oddly colored-eyes or skin. A common aspect among them is their pointed ears. Fairies commonly incorporate flora and multiple forms of vegetation as part of their ensemble.Types of Fairies
Oberon is the King of the Fairies. Not much is known about him except that he is respected throughout Avalon as its leader, and captured humans are sent to serve him. The limit of his powers and abilities are unknown.
Gilda, A 'Good' Fairy
More of an alignment than an actual type of fairy, 'good' fairies appear human. Unlike other fairies, they seem more akin to the fairies depicted in classical fairy tales, as they live in the woods of Avalon, are much more benevolent, and dislike harming others. They can, however, be bound and forced to kill by magic. They are quite powerful, although binding them seems easy, as even a very weak magic user can do it.
The Wicked Witch of the West, ruler of the western part of Oz.
Originating from Oz, a part of the fairy world, wicked witches are fairy magic wielders who are utterly evil, cruel, and power-hungry. Fairy witches are much more powerful creatures with very few weaknesses on Earth. The Wicked Witch of the West, like her sister of the East, was so powerful that she could only be deterred by powerful devil's traps and magic that also originated from Oz or other fairies, like the Ruby Slippers. Although never shown, it is hinted by Sam and Clive Dylan that there are much more than two wicked witches, such as weaker ones among the two sisters' minions, and an unknown coven that was murdered by The Wizard of Oz and possessed powerful magical objects, like The Inner Key Of Oz.
Not much is known about them, but Charlie said the Good Witch of the North's kiss caused Dorothy to stay protected from the Wicked Witch of the West. As they originate from Oz like the wicked ones, it can be inferred that they also cannot be easily harmed on Earth. Additionally, Frank's story also had another Good Witch who reigned from the South.
Leprechaun
Leprechauns are an especially powerful type of fairy. They can travel great distances in the blink of an eye and overpower humans easily. They may be capable of feats even beyond the reach of angels.
Tink.
These are little beings that appear as naked, beautiful womens with wings that shine like tinkles. It seems that they can get very angry when someone notes that they are naked. They are extremely quick, and able to fly with the aid of their wings. They're also quite strong, despite their small size, able to knock an adult man around, without any sign of difficulty.
Elves
These appear as little humans about the size of a hand. Not much information was revealed about them. They are very powerfull, and their powers remain vague.
Redcap
These fairies are dangerously homicidal and are known for mercilessly killing travelers who trespass their territory. Their hats are red because they soak them in the blood of their victims, and, according to lore, redcaps have to kill regularly because if the blood dries on their hats they will die. Displayed enhanced strength and the ability to teleport.
Mark Acheson as the Tooth Fairy.
Not much is known about it although Garth claims to have killed a tooth fairy in his first case as a hunter. It is unknown if it is a unique fairy or a class or species.
According to Wayne Whittaker the leprechaun, there is a fairy devil. Its name, gender, and the powers it possesses are unknown.
The head of the Tin Man.
Little is known about the Tin Man, other than he was a freedom fighter that was turned into that form by the Wicked Witch along with two others; who were turned in to the Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow. Upon his death Dorothy Baum kept his head as a tribute to his sacrifice.
Dean tells Sam that banshees attached to fairy lore are benevolent and use their scream to warn of impending death, unlike malevolent banshees who prey on the vulnerable.
Wood Nymphs are a type of fairy. Typically, as their name suggests, they are found in wooded areas. Wood Nymphs are generally docile creatures, but when provoked by a threat to their home or family, they can become violently aggressive.
They are a race of humanoid winged fairies, hiding from Humans after being driven to near extinction.
The Dark Fey are a subspecies of Fairy, human in size and appearance however with large feathered wings and horns.
Conall tours and brings Maleficent around the cavern, describing it as their Nest of Origin. The nest is a large island, located in a remote part of the ocean far off of the coast of Ulstead.
The nest is a large landmass containing multiple 'biomes', those depicted in the movie are Tundra, Desert, Jungle and Forest. These give variety to the Fey each of differing appearances. Young Fey are usually trained to fly from a cliff's edge inside the nest.
The origins of the original Dark Fey stem from the Phoenix mother, a large skeletal structure surrounded by fire and a dark clouded aura. Conall explains that this is the origin of all Fey, who evolved from the mother. Maleficent is a direct descendant of the Phoenix, which explains why her power is so immense to begin with.
It is implied that other types of fairies include sprites, spriggans, boggarts, brownies, gnomes, and goblins. Additionally, creatures from Oz could also be considered to be fairies, such as flying monkeys.
Magic - Fairies are incredibly powerful magical beings, being apparently "all about energy."
Spell Casting - Leprechauns have been shown to make deals, like crossroads demons, to cast spells.
Dimensional Creation - It appears as though Faeries are capable of creating alternate "pocket" dimensions, as seen by the plane of Faerie and the extra-dimensional nature of Hot Wings. It can be assumed that only particularly powerful fae or a number of them working in concert can create another dimension.
Dimensional Transportation - Faeries can transport themselves and others to other dimensional planes. Mortals and fairies of lesser power require fixed portals to do so, but more powerful fairies may cross dimensions at will. Powerful fairies can banish people to other dimensions against their will, though less powerful faeries appear to require consent.
Shapeshifting - Fairies can disguise themselves as beautiful humans. While the true form of a faerie is goblin-like with pale gray skin, pointed ears, long nose, blue-green eyes, long sharp claws and rodent fangs, fairies can disguise themselves as beautiful and attractive humanoids. Though they have a certain degree of control over this ability, by default they attune themselves to whatever the ideal of beauty is on the frequency of the dominant species of a particular dimension (that is, they appear as classically attractive humans while on earth). They can also change shape from being human-sized to being as tiny as a tennis ball which glows of bright light, or more like larger fireflies. A fairy's true form can be a variety of things. They can be beautiful flower faries to dryads who are the souls of trees.
Invisibility - They can only be seen if they want to be or by people who have traveled to their realm and returned. This ability continues to work, even after the fairy in question's death, meaning humans who haven't been to the fairy realm can't see their remains.
Telekinesis - Some fairies, such as leprechauns, can move objects with their minds.
Healing - Fairies have the ability to cure broken or withered plants; wounds, broken bones, low vitality, and even diseases and restore the emotions and spirits of others.
Sookie using photokinesis
Photokinesis - Fairies have the ability to project and control light and nature. Fairies and witches are the only species shown to possess this power. A Fae with this ability can channel nature through their body and project it in a concentrated and powerful blast of light which seems to manifest as kinetic force, conclusively throwing or repelling objects a considerable distance. Most fairies use this ability to attack an enemy. They can even turn the energy into an explosive ball that they can throw at their enemies, somewhat like a grenade. The light varies in color, from blue to golden, usually depending on the time of day; blue seems to be more common at night whereas gold appears in daylight. The ability has been described as "nature itself". Photokinesis is the central feature of the magic of some species of fairies and can be used for a variety of purposes beyond offensive explosions. Fairies can use their light abilities to sense things about other fairies and apparently render beings unconscious and bring a person back to consciousness.
Mesmerization - Fairies can make humans do their bidding. The fairy only needs to have eye contact in order to seize your mind with a simple phrase or change in tone of voice.
Electrokinesis - Often confused with Photokinesis, the ability to produce light, this is the power to conjure lightning and electrical currents. A highly dangerous power.
Chlorokinesis - Fairies can manipulate vegetation. Fairies can grow plants to enormous proportions in nearly any environment, and use them as weapons that can grab and attack with vines and roots, grow or retract thorns.
Superhuman Strength - The strength of a fairy depends on the type of fairy. Leprechauns can launch humans across rooms with their bare hands easily, tinks can knock humans around by ramming into them, and redcaps and the Wicked Witch can throw humans around. Fairies are much stronger than any human. They're strong enough to toss a fully grown human across a room with great force possibly killing the human.
Superhuman Durability - Fairies can take far more trauma than humans can without much discomfort or injury.
Supernatural Knowledge - Fairies are much older and wiser than humans and even other supernatural creatures like vampires, werewolves, and witches.
Flight - Tinks and dark faes can fly.
Psychometry - Fairies can tap into the power of the past by connecting with the energy that exists in the universe. Through a connection to an object they can then enter the minds of those who were present in these areas.
Telepathy - Fairies have the ability to read each others' minds and can read other peoples' minds as well. Faeries are able to read the thoughts of any sentient creature that gives off brain waves (which means it excludes vampires). They can receive images or sentences, depending on the person. If they concentrate, they can "turn off" this ability. If they focus hard enough, they can "enter" another person's mind and "reset" memories that have been tampered with, such as through mind control.
Sookie threatening Warlow
"Super Nova" - A power unique certain bloodline of Faeries, this enables a faerie to channel their light into a "super nova" like ball of energy. Upon explosion the energy will kill any vampire within range.
Glamour - Able to cast vivid and convincing illusions in order to trick others, as demonstrated with the illusion on the fae world, making it appear more appealing and beautiful. This ability is very similar to their shapeshifting ability if not the same.
Magic Reversal - It has also been shown that powerful fairies can break and reverse some weak magic spells cast by others.
Oneirokinesis - They are shown to be able to enter peoples dreams and converse with that person when fairies both entered their slumber. For a vampire, drinking large amounts of fairy blood might trigger oneirokinesis. Fairy hybrids seem to receive dreams while they are in a coma.
Immortality - Fairies are immortal beings.
Oath - When Faeries make an oath or promise the fairy and other person must touch fingers and a photokinetic light will come through the promiser's arm. If the oath is broken, great dishonor is brought upon the faerie and their clan and is thus considered an act of war. Faeries also make pacts signing the contract with their blood. This is called "blood on vellum." This is said to be the most sacred of contracts.
Teleportation - Some fairies, such as leprechauns, can teleport from any location to another in the blink of an eye. Good fairies can take people with them. It is not known whether or not that he teleports to a different dimension for a short period of time and teleports back to the location that he desires.
Apportation - Good fairies can teleport people to places, as with Gilda where she able to send Gerry to Avalon.
Translation - Some Fae possess the ability to decode and translate elaborate ciphers in an ancient form of fae script. This may be a photokinetic technique rather than a separate ability, as Fae refers to it as a "lost art".
Soul Reading - A leprechaun showed the ability to tell if a person has a soul or not, just by looking at them.
Reality Warping - Powerful fairies, such as Gilda, and leprechauns can manipulate reality, doing things such as manipulating space to imprison a person or making a person mimic death, with no actual stimulus. The fairy being known as the Wicked Witch was able to transform three freedom fighters into a tin man, a scarecrow, and a cowardly lion. Also, Gilda was able to transform a fake-sword into a real sword and two guns into feathers.
It is speculated that they all have a number of common abilities within them, like magical knowledge (being able to cast magic thanks to their knowledge and nature), invisibility (as they can hide from humans who have not been to the Fairy Realm), enhanced strength, possibly immortality, and telekinesis (the ability to move objects with their minds). However, special abilities could also be limited to some kind of fairies, like flying (as tinks have wings).
Weaknesses[]
As with many other supernatural creatures, fairies have weaknesses that can be used to defeat them. However, none of these methods were proven to be able to completely kill them; the only way to stop them is banishing them to their realm through a spell. However the above isn't completely true: if a fairy is exposed to a very strong electromagnetic field for enough time they will lose control of themselves and explode, as Dean was able to kill one by trapping the fairy into a microwave oven, however as the fairy in question was very weak, its unknown what affect it would have on a more powerful fairy.
The Microwave after the Fairy was killed
Lemons and Limes - Lemons and limes are poisonous to fairies.
Silver - This can be used against dark fairies--as they burn when they are touched with silver. It can cause dark fairies pain and can kill them
Grained Substances - If someone pours any substance that has a lot of grains in front of them, they have to stop to count each grain one by one. They remain fully aware while doing so, and are very reluctant about that weakness.
Salt - Used against a Leprechaun, Wayne Whittaker. American lead writer Peter Goudanis noted that salt is especially deadly when rubbed into enemy wounds, and that even magical creatures can be hurt by words.
Iron - The slightest contact could burn her skin, and prolonged exposure could weaken her dramatically.
Sunglasses - The only way to combat fairy Mesmer is to wear reflective sunglasses or not look them in the eye.
Cream - They also love cream, which, like alcohol, intoxicates them.
Magic - Fairies are susceptible to the powers of magic. Fairies can be summoned, bound and banished by magic, once banished they are unable to return unless summoned again.
Radiation - If a fairy (at least Tinks due to their small size) is exposed to microwave radiation for a sufficient amount of time, they will explode.
Poisonious Bugs - Fairies are seen to be very close with nature but if something as small as a bug comes in their way and attacks them, they could face a serious illness and die.
Poppy Extract - The Wicked Witch could be harmed by poppy extract.
Ruby Slippers - The Wicked Witch could be killed by the Ruby Slippers.
Devil's Trap - The traps and protective enchantments were so powerful, they could deter even the Wicked Witch.
Fire - Setting a changeling on fire will cause its body to rapidly burn to ashes.
Family - Killing a mother changeling will cause its children to die instantly.
Mirrors - A changeling's true form is revealed in a mirror.
Mythology[]
"Trust a fairy and she will never betray you."
— Tinkerbell
In Western European folklore, a fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, whose habitats are woodlands and gardens. Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term fairy offers many definitions. Sometimes the term describes any magical creature, including goblins or gnomes; at other times, the term only describes a specific type of more ethereal creature.
Trivia[]
The Tuatha Dé Danann have been interpreted as fairies by Christian interpreters despite them being deities.
However, this is also ironic as after the Celtic Pantheon became a faded pantheon, they joined up with the Fae and began to serve Oberon.
According to Oberon, he and the Tuatha Dé Danann's ancestors were brothers, whether this mean a familia connection or simply brothers-in-arms is unknown.
Along being that joined with the Fae is the minor god Pan.
The Fae preside in the Fairyland, a realm created by Life for them, that is connected with the Otherworld.
Some sectors of the Fairyland include; Avalon, Elfhelm, Fairy Forest, Neverland, Ringford (which resides in the realm of Erion) and many others.
Fairies have also presided in the realms; Alfheim, Vanaheim, Svartalfheim, Nidavellir, Tir Na Nog, Fólkvangr, Moors, the Nevernever, some Underworlds and other places.
A lot of fairies reside on a planet in the Human Realm called Ripple Star.
While it is closer to the Creatures of the Night, the Wild Hunt is also treated as apart of the Fae Folk.
Fairies often choose objects from the natural world to send their messages in—acorns, leaves, flowers.
Fairies secrets are sometimes encoded and told in ballads by human musicians, an example of which is the tales of Thomas the Rhymer — being both a story and instructions on how to break someone out of Fairyland.
Gallery[]
A Popular Depiction of a Fairy
Gothic image of a Fairy
(Art from Devil Children Black Book & Red Book)
Classic representation of a small fairy with butterfly wings commonly used in modern times
