Sidhe & Fairies - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Sidhe & Fairies

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Hugin
Jun 01, 2007 20:56:38 I'm a little confused (actually a lot confused) about the relationship between the sidhe and Faeries. Are they basically the same or are they different? Any insight into these beings would be greatly appreciated as I'm planing on some of these appearing IMC shortly (in Wendar). Thanks.
#2
ripvanwormer
Jun 01, 2007 21:00:16 In Tall Tales of the Wee Folk, the sidhe were a kind of faerie. Just like leprechauns, brownies, pixies, and sprites were kinds of faeries.
#3
Cthulhudrew
Jun 01, 2007 22:08:26 Actually, the Sidhe and creatures in PC1 are Fey (Fairies), and the Faeries (from the Masters/Cyclopedia) are a different breed of creature altogether. The closest distinction that I have been able to discern is that the Faeries are creatures native to the Elemental Plane of Air (this from the article on Aeryl from VotPA, and possibly from their monster entry as well). The Fey, on the other hand, seem to be native to the Prime Plane.

Its definitely confusing, though. Doubly confusing is the relationship of the Sidhe to elves and other demihumans, IMO.
#4
Hugin
Jun 01, 2007 23:17:57 Thanks guys. I have PC1 but wasn't sure if Sidhe was just another name for the Faerie or not. The faerie seem to share similar attributes to the other fey.
#5
Cthulhudrew
Jun 02, 2007 1:56:06 PC1 does make specific mention of the Faeries, citing them as a specific race of Fey belonging to the aerial realms, and noting that their ruler has a representative in Oberon's court. It also notes there might be a relationship between the demihumans and Fey, though genealogy is not clear.

(It also says there are Fey of the underwater and underground realms- presumably referring to the Nixies and ?)

I'd have to double check that Aeryl issue of VotPA again- I was near certain it specifically tied them to the Elemental Plane of Air, but now I don't know...
#6
havard
Jun 02, 2007 9:31:01 I though the Faerie were supposed to be the fourth race of Demihumans, sharing traits of elves, halflings and dwarves, but a race of the air.

Havard
#7
olddawg
Jun 02, 2007 15:22:31
I though the Faerie were supposed to be the fourth race of Demihumans, sharing traits of elves, halflings and dwarves, but a race of the air.

When the faerie was introduced in the Masters set, this was the interpretation given there.

At the time "fairy" (which is more commonly used in English than faerie) was a non-existent term for OD&D purposes. When PC1 came along, the terms "fairy" and "fey" were adopted as a catch-all for any of a related group of races whose inspiration came from fairy-tales.

The Master Set faerie was conceptually subsumed into this larger fairy family, but since they weren't woodland-y enough, they weren't stat-ed out as PC races.

"Faerie < demihumans" and "faerie < fey" both give intriguing campaign features, but the latter option is clearly the more "Mystaran".

For hugin, the sidhe is basically the "human" race of the fairy-world. Normal person size, capable of doing different things, etc.

-OldDawg
#8
Cthulhudrew
Jun 02, 2007 17:49:51
For hugin, the sidhe is basically the "human" race of the fairy-world. Normal person size, capable of doing different things, etc.

IMO, this is the interpretation that should be the case, but from the description of the Sidhe, they actually come in all sizes (small and medium), so the line is blurry if you go strictly by the written word.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Hugin Jun 01, 2007 20:56:38	I'm a little confused (actually a lot confused) about the relationship between the sidhe and Faeries. Are they basically the same or are they different? Any insight into these beings would be greatly appreciated as I'm planing on some of these appearing IMC shortly (in Wendar). Thanks.
#2 ripvanwormer Jun 01, 2007 21:00:16	In Tall Tales of the Wee Folk, the sidhe were a kind of faerie. Just like leprechauns, brownies, pixies, and sprites were kinds of faeries.
#3 Cthulhudrew Jun 01, 2007 22:08:26	Actually, the Sidhe and creatures in PC1 are Fey (Fairies), and the Faeries (from the Masters/Cyclopedia) are a different breed of creature altogether. The closest distinction that I have been able to discern is that the Faeries are creatures native to the Elemental Plane of Air (this from the article on Aeryl from VotPA, and possibly from their monster entry as well). The Fey, on the other hand, seem to be native to the Prime Plane. Its definitely confusing, though. Doubly confusing is the relationship of the Sidhe to elves and other demihumans, IMO.
#4 Hugin Jun 01, 2007 23:17:57	Thanks guys. I have PC1 but wasn't sure if Sidhe was just another name for the Faerie or not. The faerie seem to share similar attributes to the other fey.
#5 Cthulhudrew Jun 02, 2007 1:56:06	PC1 does make specific mention of the Faeries, citing them as a specific race of Fey belonging to the aerial realms, and noting that their ruler has a representative in Oberon's court. It also notes there might be a relationship between the demihumans and Fey, though genealogy is not clear. (It also says there are Fey of the underwater and underground realms- presumably referring to the Nixies and ?) I'd have to double check that Aeryl issue of VotPA again- I was near certain it specifically tied them to the Elemental Plane of Air, but now I don't know...
#6 havard Jun 02, 2007 9:31:01	I though the Faerie were supposed to be the fourth race of Demihumans, sharing traits of elves, halflings and dwarves, but a race of the air. Havard
#7 olddawg Jun 02, 2007 15:22:31	I though the Faerie were supposed to be the fourth race of Demihumans, sharing traits of elves, halflings and dwarves, but a race of the air. When the faerie was introduced in the Masters set, this was the interpretation given there. At the time "fairy" (which is more commonly used in English than faerie) was a non-existent term for OD&D purposes. When PC1 came along, the terms "fairy" and "fey" were adopted as a catch-all for any of a related group of races whose inspiration came from fairy-tales. The Master Set faerie was conceptually subsumed into this larger fairy family, but since they weren't woodland-y enough, they weren't stat-ed out as PC races. "Faerie < demihumans" and "faerie < fey" both give intriguing campaign features, but the latter option is clearly the more "Mystaran". For hugin, the sidhe is basically the "human" race of the fairy-world. Normal person size, capable of doing different things, etc. -OldDawg
#8 Cthulhudrew Jun 02, 2007 17:49:51	For hugin, the sidhe is basically the "human" race of the fairy-world. Normal person size, capable of doing different things, etc. IMO, this is the interpretation that should be the case, but from the description of the Sidhe, they actually come in all sizes (small and medium), so the line is blurry if you go strictly by the written word.