#fey magic

[qwrite]

Trying to work on the next chapter of my Drust AU, ‘ In Pursuit’. The mix between wonder, plot, and spooky fey based horror is fun but sometimes difficult to maintain.

No updates yet, but I hadn’t posted this one to tumblr yet, so now it’s in the ether.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

And I know, I know the slow burn is killing me too- and I’m in control ( supposedly).

[wannabe-british-fangirl]

~ books read in 2023 ~

#21: The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones

The farmer had four ordinary children, which was why the magic of the fifth came as a surprise.

Rating: 5/5

[butterfly-winx]

Could you talk more about male fairies please?

Ok in all honesty I was looking for an ask that wanted me to elaborate on body issues and male fairies following my post way back about Radius, but I was having more general thoughts anyway. I hope you don't mind.

Ever since the invention of sorcery, fairy magic has been stamped off as the more emotional magic art in contrast to rational sorcery. Emotions and rationality, two sides of a whole, have become juxtaposed and in turn associated with gender roles. Emotions are a feminine thing, while being rational was overtly masculine. Fey magic became a predominantly feminine art as less and less men/ masculine people took up the trade, out of fear of being ridiculed.

In modern times still, there are more sorceresses than there are male fairies: the bias against them just doesn't offer the kind of male bias in a female dominated field that we are used to in our world.

(The extreme ties to femininity also dissuades many gender non-conforming women from pursuing fey magic.)

Men who take up fey magic often have to deal with rumors about their claimed impotence, "small dick", or have their gender speculated about, with assumptions of them being closeted trans women.

This gets even harder when you add non-conventional bodies into the mix. Transformations represent an idealised body, covering blemishes and scars unless the user wields it so that it doesn't. Idealised in connection with femininity often means thin, fair and hairless, which is antithetical to how many men like to represent.

Then there is the issue of flight. Fairies are meant to present as graceful, gentle and loving (and lovable in turn); and people get so up in arms about it when this is applied to a fat body. It becomes the bumblebee paradox of little wings on a heavy body.

The term "bumblebee" for fat/chubby fairies actually stems from parents' kind words to their children: "The others may be wasps, but you are my darling little bumblebee". Many children found strength in these words until the "in" group caught wind of it and the term was used to pester and bully fat fey magic users, ridiculing them. (Some people do refer to themselves as bumblebee in reclamation of the word, but it's a matter of personality and how serious one takes oneself bc it does come off as youthful/childish).

So if plain acceptance is not possible, what else can fat magic users do? Conform? Fat people are already forced to perform their gender at a level of perfection beyond critique to be afforded dignity. In the case of fey magic this gets even more complicated for fat men since the art is entrenched in femininity and being effeminate is almost inextricably linked to being youthful, thin and waif-ish: essentially being the quintessential twink. It is no coincidence that gender non-conforming gay men often chose fey magic. But where does that leave fat men who need to present masculine in broader society, yet feminine in connection to their art?

There are certainly men who lean into masculinity wholly and eschew any connection to femininity. Others as said above are all for embracing their feminine side, but often those people are also effeminate in general. Again others see it as a performance (think drag). Gender expression is malleable and a craft that can be formed and re-formed as one needs. It is just a matter of personality, preference and self-confidence in detangling oneself from the societal expectations. Radius, simply by existing so self-unashamedly in such a high position of power has set new standards and became a role model for many young fey magic users, regardless of gender.

[author-a-holmes]

Happy StS! What is your favourite bit of Changeling worldbuilding?

Heya lovely! Sorry for the delay, as always I'm terrible at answering asks in a timely manner.

And this is a great question! My favourite part of Changeling's Worldbuilding is actually something that, I don't think, is ever going to make it into the book and it's how the Fey Realm of Arbaon was created.

Bridget Elestov had the power to travel between locations by turning a tree into a portal. She could connect between trees of the same type so Oak-to-Oak for example.

When the kavians first emerged and began attacking the Fey, they decimated fey numbers and Bridget Elestov gathered the remaining Fey and asked them to join their power to hers via telepathy to inhance her abilites. It had never been tried before, but the fey were desperate and on the brink of extinction.

Bridget theorised that she could use her enhanced power to create a portal to a realm of her own imagination, as long as the realm contained a tree of the type she was travelling through.

It succeeded, but when they arrived it was a formless, shapeless, realm. White and grey fog that went on endlessly. But as the Fey arrived, the sheer strain that the journey had put Bridget through caused her to bleed from the nose and eyes and as it fell into the formless smoke beneath their feet, the realm took the knowledge of the mortal realm from Bridget Elestov's very blood and created a mimicry of the natural world around them.

The Elestov Line was given the title of Queen of the Fey, and is intricately connected to control of the realm. Arbaon doesn't have natural seasons, but the weather changes at the whim of the Fey Queen in power. Plants grow perfectly healthy, gemstones form without flaws, and the realm expands to support the number of fey living within it.

But once you reach the edges of the realm, the land drops off into an endless shroud of nothing, like staring at a sea of clouds without end.

Disclaimer: Answered August 10th. Scheduled for September 4th

[arrogantshrew]

✨finding loopholes in fey magic to promote your terrorist agenda✨

i know we all hate jkr but JUST LISTEN because i’ve just had what must be the most galaxy brain thought of my scholarly career.

everyone was too afraid to say voldemort’s name, right? and it’s well established that that’s fuckin’ stupid, but what if it’s not just stupid? what if it’s actively detrimental? by fey rules giving someone your name gives them power over you. everyone in the wizarding world refuse to claim his name, and therefore forfeit that power.

but it goes deeper. voldemort is not his real name. his real name is tom riddle. so consider this: he not only created a freaky ass name to spark fear, but also to protect himself from the ancient magic associated with giving someone your name. he refuses to give anyone else the ability to name him, and therefore ensures that he enters every fight beholden to no one. 

words are magic. and, by magic rules, it’s true that the more people claim that word the more power they give it. but everyone got it wrong. saying his name wouldn’t have given voldemort power, it would have given them power. 

P.S. it’s worth noting that everyone who had the courage to say voldemort made a major difference in the war effort. additionally, everyone who knew his true name (and sincerely identified him with it) didn’t just make a difference, they fucked shit up.

P.P.S. this gives extra meaning to his dramatic name reveal in chamber of secrets. he’s basically saying, “i’m so confident that i’m gonna win, i’ll even give you my name.”

P.P.P.S. it also gives extra meaning to voldemort’s disdain for his father’s muggle last name. voldemort’s name holds his history, it identifies every aspect of who he is. His father’s name encapsulated that reality, the reality of his “impure blood,” and that’s why he tried to kill it. he wanted to kill that part of himself and absolve himself of his blood status. otherwise he could never be a god in his own eyes--only a bastard and a mudblood. 

[meohme-thedorklord]

Bonnie and Clyde: Cursed edition

[dnd-homebrew5e]

So, about 13 attempts later Tumblr is graciously allowing me to post this. This was something desired I saw and I am a huge fan of the feywild. Can’t believe I didn’t think of this before. So, here you go. However, I don’t take requests for free. 

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[danddfan-madeconcepts]

Antagonized boot (enemy idea)

Here’s one for you Dm’s that need a tiny enemy, & wants it to be weird.

 This enemy is a boot that was given life via fey magic (& is considered a type of fey) It has a mouth at the toe of it's body & can only get around by hoping. It is an ambush predator & usually waits for it's prey (small bugs, small animals ect) get within range before it attacks. Please note, attempting to put this boot on before properly gutting it, will cause the wearer acid damage Stats

Cr: 1/12

AC: 9 (10 + dex)

HP: 10

Str: 14

Dex: 8

Con: 18

Int: 6

Wis: 6

Cha: 4

Movement: 25

Attacks: 

Bite: |hit bonus +2| Damage roll 1d4 +2

Acid Spit: |hit bonus -2| Damage roll 1d6 -1

Attribute

Mimicry: Has advantage on stealth rolls

Acidic innards: If any guts of this creature are touched, it will do 1d4+4 damage (putting it on will count as its guts being touched)