#fey lore

[dept-of-monster-affairs]

Trans Day of Visibility

Today, on Trans Day of Visibility, the Department of Monster Affairs would like to celebrate by discussing some of the ways that monster species culturally view gender, sex, and human transness.

(image source)

Dragon culture has an interesting view of transness in that Dragons put no stock in the idea of gender, viewing it as a strange mortal concept. Male, female, and other all sex Dragons are treated equally based on their power and their power is - almost always - based on their age. Being highly vain creatures Dragons also tend to see themselves as perfect as they are and any perceived imperfections are self-addressed with their own magic.

Appearance wise, Dragons of all sexes look identical in their true Dragon and half-dragon forms - that is to say they have no secondary sex characteristics that are measurable by the humanoid eye. Dragon research does indicate that Dragons report slight color variations, horn length, and scent based on sex when they chose to be fertile. However, it is in their humanoid form that Dragons perhaps demonstrate their disregard for the gender and sex norms of mortals. Dragons can take on a humanoid form of any mortal sex with any combination of secondary sex characteristics. In fact, most Dragons often change what kind of humanoid presentation they take depending on their feelings that day.

As for human transness, Dragons are extremely accepting. Dragons view themselves as perfect but they understand that others are not; so, when trans-people assert their identity a Dragon interprets that as a demonstration of their inner power to know themselves. Dragons have been reported using their magic to change humans’ bodies to the opposite sex as a boon if requested. 

Additionally, Dragons seem to have a great admiration for drag culture as the glittery, colorful, and exaggerated gender presentation of drag royalty is similar to how many Dragons’ humanoid forms appear. After all, if they are going to take on the form of a weak humanoid they might as well look fabulous.

Elves may appear on the side of appearance and presentation towards the feminine by human standards but they do have cultural gender norms and sex differences. Because elves are highly tied to nature their gender norms often reflect the nature around them. However, there are a few consistences that are observable. Elven men, like most males of various species, tend to be more flamboyant and colorful compared to elven women. In elven culture the men are the ones that must dress up in order to attract a partner. Elven women are often the ones that are providers and protectors, being most of the hunters and usually having the more powerful natural magic. 

Now even with these general gender norm differences elven culture is, on the whole, very egalitarian compared to human cultures regarding gender. Trans-elves exist and are a welcome part of elven society, being viewed as just another facet of nature. Often when trans-elves come of age they will officially transition by taking on a new name and undergoing the correct coming of age ceremony in their adult role. When adult elves discover their trans-identity they will undergo a second coming of age ceremony.

When elves live in human societies they tend to take on more of the gender norms of the humans that they live with, viewing human gender performance as a game or type of theatre. However, they are very aware of how seriously humans can take their gender. This unfortunately can lead to elves cursing humans who upset them into forms not aligned with their gender identity. Alternatively, they can reward humans with the boon of a body that matches their gender identity - sometimes this can even be a surprise to the human themselves upon experiencing gender euphoria in their new body. Elves accept trans-humans as easily as they accept trans-elves as being a perfectly normal part of nature.

Naga culture recognizes three different genders: man (cis-gendered), woman (cis-gendered), and dhany or blessed (transgender, non-binary, and intersex). Naga culture is a patriarchal caste system. The strictest division of masculine and feminine gender norms are found in the higher castes, with lower castes being fairly equal between men and women.

The dhany are in a caste by themselves, regardless of their parentage, and considered on par with the clerical caste, one of the highest in rank. Dhany seems to be similar to the concept of hijra in the Hindu religion and are considered sacred among the Naga as they see the world from a perspective no one else can. Due to their sacred status dhany see many privileges in Naga society such as being able to have romantic and sexual relationships with Naga of any caste. Whereas, other Naga can only have romantic and sexual relations with those of their own caste or a caste below. However, most dhany will develop relationships with other dhany due to proximity and shared experiences.

Regarding Naga’s interpretation of human transness. They generally are surprised and confused about how trans-humans are not uplifted in society like the dhany are. Some Naga will even turn hostile towards humans that are disrespectful of trans-humans. However, Naga can have a harder time understanding the differences for humans between being binary transgender, non-binary, and intersex due to their cultural bias of considering all of those identities a singular category.

Thank you for learning about these monsters. Monster species are numerous, and we cannot address all of them in this celebratory post but you can see some other monsters addressed in last year's post. If you have questions about the monsters in your area, please contact the Department of Monster Affairs through our social media, and our representatives will respond as quickly as possible.

Comments and reblogs are appreciated. Asks are always open!

I have a tag list. Message me or leave a comment telling me if you want your blog to be tagged in: all posts (lore and stories) or just stories.

Find more stories in this setting in my Masterlist

[lime-ether]

THE WOLF

Oc lore- ohoooho , what do you think? Have theories??)))

Hate when it happens

[lilzodiac]

OKAY IM AT WORK AND I HAD A THOUGHT

If a Fey needs your name, can you use your dead name to give them no power? CAN YOU?! ARE FEY TRANSPHOBIC?! DO THEY SUPPORT TRANS RIGHTS?!?! DO THEY CARE?!?!?!

I DONT NEED TO ANYTHING BUT THIS QUESTIONED ANSWERED RIGHT NOW.

[dept-of-monster-affairs]

What is known about the fey courts? Have any people managed to come back from being trapped in the fey lands? Have there ever been reports of humans or monsters being subjugated as servants to the fey—has anyone ever escaped this? I have so many questions.

Thank you for contacting the Department of Monster Affairs. There are no known Fey Courts in the Federation of American States, though there are some across the Veil in woods aligning with our country. Therefore, most of our knowledge at DOMA comes from across the Veil and our sister agencies in Europe.

Across the Veil in the Federal States there are two known large Fey Courts, they call themselves the Court of Renewal and the Court of Old Growth. As far as we know these two courts are fairly new by the standards of Fey Courts as they were created as European settlers colonized North America, bringing with them their stories and thus their associated monsters. Fey Courts themselves are the ruling bodies of Fey and preside over elements of nature, often associated with the seasons such as the famous Court of Summer and Court of Winter. Thus, the Court of Old Growth presides over the old growth forests of the Northeast and Appalachian mountains and the Court of Renewal focuses on new growth and reclaiming land.

The elves and other monsters of these Courts do come to our realm though the ruling elves of the Court themselves do not. With the Court of Old Growth the elves and monsters there are more dangerous to humans and are what in common parlance people would call unseelie. The elves and monsters of the Court of Renewal are much friendlier, though can still be dangerous if you upset them; they have even worked alongside the Forest Amelioration Engineers (FAE) to help rebuild forests in the Federal States. However, friendly or not, do remember that the Federation of American States does not have any treaties with either of these Courts to aid an individual who becomes trapped in their lands.

Along those lines there are known stories of people being trapped or tricked by Fey in the area currently known as the Federal States. In fact, the historic story of Rip Van Winkle does seem to align with a real event from early colonial days where recently imported Fey tricked a man into slumbering for decades. More recently there have been reports of people who disappeared in the northern woods during the Great Incursion returning the same age and claiming to have been trapped by beautiful creatures on the other side. These individuals were either treated like amusing pets or servants but managed to bargain or trick their captors into releasing them. However, it is believed that most people who do fall into the Courts' grasp, if they do escape, maybe still stuck in the realm of myth.

It should be noted that if you come across elves or other fae creatures in the Federal States the vast majority are safe to interact and engage with. Elves from both Courts and other places across the Veil are known to bind their powers to walk and learn among the mortal races. Creatures like fauns, brownies, kobolds, goblins, and other friendly fae creatures are also known to willingly interact with mortals and integrate into our daily lives. For example, you may be familiar with the indie music artist Puck, who is a faun that performs regularly across the Federal States and Great Lakes Union.

Hopefully, this answered some of your questions, if you have any more please contact us again. Thank you for contacting the Department of Monster Affairs.

[dept-of-monster-affairs]

Hello DoMA, I would like to report an incident. I think there might be a rift in my area, there is a type of flora that suddenly sprang out of my garden. Never seen anything like it! They have these eyes that keep looking at me gross!

Take it nice and easy during recovery Nic. And is it alright if I submit multiple asks?

Thank you for reporting the incident in your area. We have contacted the Wardens in your location and are dispatching agents to investigate. Until our agents arrive, please do not approach the plants and warn others to keep away. If people have already approached the plants and left the area, please write down any descriptive information you can in case these plants are infectious or corruptive. Keep any people who have approached the plants with you and quarantine yourselves from others.

The possible causes of these strange plants may be that they have been influenced by fey magics. However, given the eyes, it is more likely they have been corrupted by demonic energy. Do NOT look at the plants in the "eyes" as they may try to hypnotize you into approaching them so they may infect you to spread their seeds or corrupt you to bring seed carriers. Additionally, please close all windows to avoid any pollen these plants may give off, ignore any delicious smells, as it will be plants attempting to charm you closer. If you have sensations of arousal, relieve yourself by yourself, do not approach the plants, no matter how enticing any vines or stems are.

Thank you! I will be! It was a minor surgery (tubal ligation), so I was in and out of the hospital in 3 hours. I should be good to go in a few days! And please send as many as you like. I will get to them all as I can between resting!

[gloura]

“An eladrin woman— one, perhaps two pregnancies, each lasting several years. We give birth in pain, you understand. We live a long time, and because of it, it is the youngest who inherits. Always the youngest.”

Ordalf explaining fey pregnancy and leShay inheritance rights in ch 1 of The Rose of Sarifal.

[kahran042]

If Cook knew her brownie lore, she would know that that's a bad idea… ;)