The Fae are a paranormal humanoid species originating from and mainly residing in Faerie. An infinitely-large (and thus heavy) realm of sprawling woodlands, mountain ranges and lakes, Faerie metaphysically borders Otherworld, and is also known as Fairlyland, Underhill (due to the penchant of Fae seemingly coming up from and disappearing under hills during the Middle Ages), Fairie (somewhat of a corruption of the name, resulting from humans being more familiar and comfortable with those small, winged Fae most often referred to as fairies, much like how England's name derives from that of the Angles; used interchangeably with the original) and Elfhame (not to be confused with Alfheim on the Yggdrasil). Yet, despite its boundless geography, the realm does not collapse or worse. This is not an actual effort on the part of the Fae or other inhabitants: much like zmeu country, Faerie simply ignores physics in order to behave like a far larger Earth. Gravity exists and functions as it does on mankind's homeworld, for example, though the differences become striking the more one looks.
The ground continues endlessly downwards, as does the sky extend infinitely upwards - there is no void of space in Faerie, only an unending atmosphere. Faerie's sun spreads light across the whole realm, but not heat; not at a distance. Its infinite heat only becomes dangerous from a few trillion kilometres away, or when someone threatens it. Nor does its light blind or destroy anything it comes in contact with, unless the sun actively wishes to destroy said object or being. Much like Faerie's flora and fauna, its celestial bodies are very much capable of looking after themselves. The moon is a white sphere of something that behaves like light, though it only exists metaphysically, and functions at night the way the sun does at day, disappearing at dawn like the sun does at dusk. Faerie's stars resemble those of the mundane universe, though none of the worlds orbiting them are populated by anything except Fae explorers. Earth's scientists argue that these planets cannot truly be said to have atmospheres of their own, because they exist in Faerie's sky, as it were. Faerie's stars can also be observed at night, and form uncountable constellations, despite the moon's all-reaching light.
The first Fae, descended from the Tuatha De Danann, appeared twelve billion years ago, and were what would be called Wild Fae in modern times. An extensive breeding and grooming program organised by Oberon's mother resulted in him rallying enough Fae around him to be seen as a would-be ruler and conqueror, rather than an alchemical experiment turned mad and let loose by a woman who wanted to crush enough of her peers to live comfortably, the Fae having been organised in conflicting tribes until then. Following his coronation, demanded by his people and performed by his peers, Oberon disposed of his mother and various fathers (few of whom he had ever seen as such), driving those who would not accept his rule ever past the borders of his growing kingdom.
Taking Titania as his bride, Oberon declared himself King Seelie, and harnessed the powers of his subjects to carve out a domain, with his Seelie Court at the centre. Following this expansion, Wild Fae became more elusive and standoffish, with both their fellow Fae and others. A section of them, who grew to despise civilisation as much as Oberon and his Seelie loved it, laid down the foundation of the modern Unseelie Court.
Physiologically-speaking, most Fae resemble humans, though many are taller and lither, with no blemishes. They often had pointed ears and almond-shaped ears. Seelie are fair-skinned, usually blonde, with blue or green eyes. The Unseelie tend to have ash-grey skin and milky, white or black eyes, as well as pointed and serrated teeth. The Wild Fae vary more often than their Courtly counterparts in terms of both appearance and behaviour, though an affection for and resemblance of the element they are most closely aligned with is common.
The Fae do not feel fatigue, hunger or thirst, though many eat, drink and sleep for pleasure. While capable of feeling pain, they cannot be driven insane by it, to the frustration of torturers and the resigned weariness of Fae prisoners everywhere. They can experience mental fatigue and mood swings, though only as a result of their own mindset, since Fae cannot be altered by esoteric means. Iron is to them as silver is to weres, leaving permanent wounds, regardless of attempts at shapeshifting or healing. Even direct skin contact causes a painful sensation, similar to burning, although this deals no physical damage.
All Fae can control, move and shape matter (including iron), energy, minds souls, spacetime and the laws of creation, on a local scale, although this varies by alignemnt: the Seelie have a relatively easier time shaping metal and stone into buildings than the Wild Fae, for example, due to their ties to the concept of civilisation. The Unseelie, in addition to these abilities, can manipulate nothingness, shaping voids or erasing things from existence - likely a manifestaton of their nature as agents of anarchy. This paranormal ability is neither psychic nor magical, as the Fae have no issue warping reality in antimagical, psilent zones. It is only limited by the power of a Fae: one who can punch buildings to pieces is unlikely to be able to reshape mountains with their will.
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The Seelie Court, aside from the literal courtiers that fill Oberon's throne room, is used to refer to the Seelie when they are acting in concert (Seelie being used for the Fae subspecies, generally without political connotations), much like the Fae themselves might use "the Global Gathering" when referring to humans. "Seelie" is the name of both Oberon's kingdom and his subjects, and the Fae King's realm, whose surface area spans over sixty-one billion square kilometres, similarly to Jupiter's, is organised, at the smallest level, in baronies.
A Fae Baron or Baroness rules over all they can see from the top of their castle's highest point (enhancement of their eyes notwithstanding, since Fae who would use their powers to cheat at this level of politics are unlikely to pursue this career, or get far if they did), and are elected by the inhabitants of said area. Though theoretically ruler for life, a Baron or Baroness can be voted out of office by their subjects, and is implicitly expected to meet and discuss with them about their grievances as often as possible, if only to hold onto power.
The Barons elect a Viscount or Viscountess, who can reign over a handful to dozens of Baronies, depending on their subordinates' approval, and can be deposed by them like a Baron's subjects can strip them of their rank; in turn, they elect a Count or Countess to rule over a county, which is often as large as many of Earth's countries, sometimes lager than any. The Counts and Countesses gather to choose a Duke or Duchess from among them, who rules over one of Seelie's quadrants. Currently, the Duke and three Duchesses each rule over more than sixty trillion Seelie. Oberon theoretically keeps his throne thanks to the Duke and Duchesses' approval, although, despite recent upheavals, no one has outright challenged King Seelie on whether he is fit to lead the Seelie, in either debate or combat.
Seelie titles are not inheritable, though a former noble's family will often receive both greater respect and expectations from their fellow citizens. Any Fae can become a noble, should they impress enough of their peers. Due to a quirk of Fae metaphysics, a newly-elected noble's power improves dramatically upon being chosen, and the threat of losing such power has produced as many mindful as it has produced petty despots. \
The Unseelie Court follows a similar system of titles, and their nobles rule over lands roughly as vast as those of their Seelie counterparts, though the Unseelie, due to their anarchic tendencies, rarely build anything permanent, and almost never anything besides workshops or specialised areas to focus their powers in specific manners, such as carved circles where enchantments might be laid on war gear or lands. The Unseelie are not considered by outsiders to have a monarch, due to the billions of claimants. Their adoption of Seelie ranks is seen with cynical amusement by their more organised rivals.
The Wild Fae are those who belong to neither court, but are too close to nature to be considered unaligned. Living in small communities fairly isolated from each other, the Wild (as they are referred to by the Courts when said Courts are feeling polite) do not hold election, but rather, "let nature take its course". Should a Wild Fae display an unusual affinity to an aspect of Faerie, the realm will reach out to them, offering power and wisdom, in exchange for said Wild Fae acting as its champion and voice. The Sages of Soil, Sea and Sky are considered the greatest among these, with more specific aspects of nature being represented by Elders, such as the Elder of Caves or the Elder of Storms. These chosen of Faerie are referred to as the Wild Parliament when they gather to pass make decisions that could affect the Wild as a whole.
The Wild Hunt is the name given to the occasional gathering of Fae and undead aligned with them. Their travels through the mundane universe often herald war or plague, and not always one caused by them. The Hunt is primarily composed of Wild Fae, although unaligned Fae, the Unseelie and, less often, the Seelie, might join. The Hunt might aim to abduct or kill people who harm nature or the Fae, but is also used as a way for Fae to vent and come together, even briefly, as well as get rid of troublesome members of their and other societies.
Unaligned Fae are those who have been cast out by the Wild or their Court, for various reasons. Living mostly as lonely pariahs, the unaligned are the most likely Fae to make contact with foreign people or realms, either to find a place to belong or one where they can wreak havoc out of spite at their fate.
Changelings are those Fae who, having grown old in spirit, choose to leave Faerie behind and live comfortably among humans for as long as possible. The Seelie's habit of stealing children likely to become dangerous in the future gives changelings a way to indulge themselves (less often, adult humans living on the fringes of society might also be kidnapped and replaced with logs enchanted to resemble them, then appear to sicken and die, resulting in them being buried while the apparently-departed person is among the Fae). Though they can appear as a normal human child, changelings might possess unusual skin colours or patterns, pointy teeth or unnaturally-long and thick hair, as well as uncanny insight or physical prowess. Due to their preference of being coddled by humans (which might result in death by cold iron, should the parents grow tired of and paranoid about the strange, ravenous child) and the loss of power that takes place upon becoming a changeling, many Fae see them as desperate weaklings, expecting comfort from those even weaker than themselves, and obtaining it through trickery at that. Inverted coats and open iron shears left where the changeling sleeps can ward them off or reveal their true nature, and technological progress, coupled with integration of other paranormals into Earth's society, has made changelings scarce in recent decades.