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Kroashent: Marie's Bestiary - Fées-des-Houles
🕑 Added 2021-11-24 20:19:32 +0000 UTCThe Fées-des-Houles reside almost exclusively along the cold waters of the Mor Breizh in the Northeast of the Armorican Peninsula, building their homes in the seaside caves of the granite cliffs, protected by the sheer drops and surf-tossed rocks against all but the most determined invaders. Beyond the small entrances, the caves open into impossible caverns housing homes or even whole towns of great beauty. Their caverns typically resemble spheres with domes of living rock high above the developed area. A large pool of fresh water sits at the center of the sloped cave, heavily filtered by Kriores engineering. Small cottages, rarely higher than two stories, line the slopes, connected by cobbled paths and lit by phosphorescent lichen. In the twilight, they graze herds of sheep and cows on the moors high above, made invisible by glamour, while they dance beneath the moonlight to enchanting melodies. The Korrigan of the Swells also breed a variety of chicken, entirely black from head to toe, considered one of the finest breeds in the region.The Fées-des-Houles - The Korrigan of the SwellsPhysical AttributesOf all the Korrigan, the Fées-des-Houles, and their inland cousins, the raven-haired Margot, most closely resemble the Bediz, lacking even the distinctive pointed ears of the Tuatha de Danaan. They are the tallest of the Korrigan and without closer inspection, appear to merely by human women with light skin and golden hair that seems to reflect with an unseen light.Habitats
The Fées-des-Houles cohabitate with the Jetins Kriores and the Fions Boudics, assisting the latter in their construction of their golden ships that can travel both on or below the waves, and tasking the former with the defense and upkeep of their homes.
Fées-des-Houles Society
According to my sources, the Fées-des-Houles have only one biological sex, forcing them to rely on Bediz or Korrigan populations to maintain there numbers. Females born of such pairings are Fées-des-Houles themselves, while males are genetically indistinguishable from their non Fées-des-Houles parent's species. Birth rates are exceptionally low, and Bediz midwives are highly sought after, spirited away in the middle of the night and well compensated for their assistance.
The Fées-des-Houles have a close relationship with the Bediz. They spend their time baking bread, spinning wool and fabric, fishing and washing clothing, the last of which they are noteworthy for, as they are able to spin cloth so white that it blinds onlookers.
They are fond of singing and dancing beneath the moonlight, as well as playing haunting, melodies on the violin, infused with magic.
The Fées-des-Houles prize the acquisition and spread of knowledge and run schools for their children, extending this service to human children if requested politely. These schools, in addition to language, reading and geography, also teach magic, such as the use of wands and the ability to spot illusions.
Customs and Taboos
- The Fées-des-Houles do not share the fatal allergy to cold iron of many of their kin, but rather to pure salt, which is poisonous to them and burns their skin on contact. The Kriores have manufactured impressive filtration systems to purify the salt water and the Fées-des-Houles often carry Lavellan-skin waterskins, incorporating the material into bowls, cups and barrels to leech out the salt.
- A gift given by the Fées-des-Houles cannot be shared, or it will vanish. A farmer, complaining that the fae had grazed their livestock on his land, was given a loaf of bread in recompense. This bread lasted 2 years, fresh whenever it was cut, but vanished when the farmer shared some with a beggar. Sometimes this extends to even revealing the source of a gift. Attempting to steal from the Fées-des-Houles is met with harsh punishment.
- Like most Fae, the Fées-des-Houles maintain a persistent glamour, but often will use a more powerful glamour when in public. It is seen as incredibly offensive to forcefully pierce this glamour without permission and is one of the few things that will trigger a violent response from these otherwise entle beings.
- The Fées-des-Houles are exceptionally friendly and benevolent towards Bediz, aiding anyone who asks for help, providing food and magical items if requested. They are especially fond of children and often run small schools. The only exceptions are if they are intentionally disrespected or if a mortal gains the ability to pierce their glamours without permission. They may react violently (including tearing out the offender's eyes) but rarely with fatalities occurring. The Fées-des-Houles may commit petty larceny, stealing from lobster traps or grazing their invisible livestock on the pastures of others, but it is never done with malice. The exception to their benevolent nature are the Fées-des-Houles of the Grouin, near the town of Kankaven. who were corrupted by dark magic, turning them into malicious and vindictive creatures. The others do not associate with them any longer.
- The Fées-des-Houles have a special fondness for children and will often "collect" them. This can range from teaching them in schools during the day to adopting orphaned children of their own. Unlike most Fae, they do not use changelings and are open and straightforward about their intent, only taking willing volunteers.
Marie's Personal Notes:
I have not had much interaction with these Korrigan, given their limited geographic range, but I have seen them at the markets in the North. My friend, the Lady Bisclavret, has had significantly more interaction with these gentle creatures, having been tutored by them as a child, and it is from her that I learned much of this information. She speaks quite highly of them and remembers them fondly.
Numerous sources were quick to mention that the Grouin Swell had "gone rotten", mentioning that their mouths were full of worms. I was unable to verify this fact, but it was repeated numerous times by multiple sources.
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Val's Notes: The Fées-des-Houles (Swell Fairy) are a race of Fae from the folklore of High Brittany, along the English Channel, as well as the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey. Much of their "story" is taken from a wide collections of smaller stories and customs spread throughout the region. Compared to many stories of the Fae, it was interesting to learn that these creatures are almost entirely benevolent, lacking much of the malice or apathy that defines human-fae relationships in much folklore. The exception is the Grouin Swell near Saint-Cast-le-Guildo, which is associated with evil fae.
I had considered linking these creatures with the Marie-Morgane, the mermaids of Lower Brittany, as the two have many features in common, but in the end decided to present them as the separate peoples they are.
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Learn more about Kroashent on the wiki: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/alvez-kroashent
Read the full article on the Fées-des-Houles here: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/alvez-kroashent/a/fees-des-houles-species-1?preview=true
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