Editing Frost Faeries

[[File:Winter-Fae-Return-by-Enuryn.png|thumb|Winter Fae Return by [[Fanworks/Enuryn|Enuryn]]<br/>(commissioned by [[Pirateaba]])|354x354px]]
The '''Frost Faeries''', more commonly known as '''Winter Sprites''', are an immortal race of creatures known as '''Fae''' that are not native to Innworld.

== Appearance ==
The form Frost Faeries have is not their true appearance. They take on these smaller bodies when bringing the winter.<ref name=":0">[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/12/06/9-69-pt-2/ Chapter 9.69 H (Pt. 2)]</ref>

The faeries are small enough to stand on a human's hand.<ref name="4.29">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/04/17/4-29/ Chapter 4.29]</ref> Their bodies, which have no breasts or other genitalia, look as though they are made of fluid ice and pure crystal. They have pupil-less eyes, sharp teeth, and dragonfly-like wings.<ref name="2.07" />

As winter ends the Frost Faeries' frozen crystal skin changes and it grows brighter, with the colors of spring running through their bodies, bright and green, the color of grass and sunlight and clear blue skies.<ref>{{VERef|5.11 E}}</ref>

Under the effect of their glamor, they look like fuzzy shapes in blue and white to the people, monsters, and creatures of horror and blight of the world.

== Powers and Abilities ==
Some if not all of the powers mentioned below are probably just a subset of a more general underlying power: Faerie magic affects the perceptions of reality to a point that would seem like they are altering it - for example, they can make great distances closer than they should be, and change the way people speak. To spice up drama, they may for example force mortals to speak in rhymes. They are only very rarely willing to use these abilities on the behest of mortals, however, but often to their own amusement.<ref name="2.45" /> When they discard their appearance, so too do they lose their powers as Frost Faeries in exchange for the powers of their true forms.<ref name=":0" />

They can make a small sanctuary, where the air becomes warm, snow melts, and grass and flowers grow and flourish.<ref name="2.35">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/06/11/2-29/ Chapter 2.35]</ref>

They can also move across paths beyond worlds.

When they want to get physical with mortals, they can bite off fingers.<ref name="3.04" />

=== Flight ===
Faeries are able to fly thanks to some natural affinity to wind magic - or thanks to their space-bending abilities. Their flight speed cannot be matched by mortals, and they regard even high-level [Couriers] as stupidly slow.

=== Frost Powers ===
The most obvious use of Faerie power is their ability to conjure snow, ice and avalanches out of thin air. They are also capable of dropping the temperature and freezing anything that touches them.<ref name="2.28" />

=== Glamour ===
They are regularly obscured by a glamor so that most mortals can neither hear them nor see their true forms. This appears to be a natural property of them. When inside of buildings built with iron, they become visible, which is another reason for them to avoid those structures.

Other ways to perceive the Frost Faeries are standing in the right place under the full moon, or to ingest a "secret drink", made out of many rare or disgusting ingredients, like certain bugshells ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmine E120]) and possibly parts of incense or processed fruit acids ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_benzoate E211]).<ref name="3.04" /> Humans [[Earthworlders|from Earth]] usually have eaten either the exact mixture, or just the right amount of those ingredients separately, which is why they are awakened to the activities of Frost Faeries.
<!-- totally unsourced Glamour-exceptions.
** The eyes of Gods and cats. (the word combination of "gods and cats" is nowhere in the novels)
** Great masters of magic.
** If they are struck. (Chapter 2.18 doesn't mention that they were seen after Ryoka punched one)
-->

== Limitations and Weaknesses ==
They fear cold iron, as they lose their powers around it and thus become vulnerable.<ref name="gloss">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ The Wandering Inn Glossary]</ref> As a result, they won't enter buildings that are made of it.<ref name="3.03">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/08/12/3-03/ Chapter 3.03]</ref>

It has been implied that Faeries can't enter private dwellings without an invitation<!-- where exactly does it state that?-->, while public places are technically under the same restriction, by the nature of them being public they give an open invitation to all comers.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/29/2-18/ Chapter 2.18]</ref>

Frost Faeries are bound by the laws of their King, that prohibit interference with this world. Once they make a promise they can't break it without dire consequences for themselves. However, the fae can cheat and lie.<ref>{{VERef|8.41}}</ref>

The Fairyfolk is easily flattered.<ref name="gloss" />

Frost Faeries love all kind of sugary foods<ref name="gloss" /> and once Erin realized that she started bribing them with free food or distracting them in that way.<ref name="3.03" />

== Background ==
The Frost Faeries are not from the same plane of existence than Innworld. They travel between worlds, and so they have different perceptions. In some places the will of the world and fate can conspire against interference and punish those who would dare such folly. In the same way, Gods guard their demesnes jealously. Even the fae would not tempt the wrath of such beings lightly, when in their worlds. Hence, their rules are kept and enforced among their kind.<ref name="2.46" /> The Frost Faeries (or at least some of them) are members of the ''Winter Court''.<ref name="3.04">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/08/15/3-04/ Chapter 3.04]</ref>

Their superstitions and internal laws are meant to protect, but sometimes become redundant, like in Innworld where the [[Dead Gods|Gods are dead]]. They have more authority there, hence their control over the weather. But the fae seem to dislike attachments and debt in any case, which is why they would refuse to help. Since they love tradition, they would demand a gift for any great aid freely given.<ref name="2.46">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/07/22/2-39/ Chapter 2.46]</ref>

Winter Sprites appear at the beginning of every winter, as they are responsible for bringing the snow to the world, which was entrusted to them by their king.<ref name="2.21">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/03/2-19/ Chapter 2.21]</ref> They are presumed to be quite ancient, as they were friends of the Elves. They are immortal.

They can travel between worlds, and were on Earth in the past. When asked about their relationship to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuatha_D%C3%A9_Danann Tuatha Dé Danann], Ivolethe denied that they were related to either the Tuatha or the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fomorians Fomorians], and suggested that these mythical people as well as the hero [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%BA_Chulainn Cú Chulainn] walked ''other'' worlds which they visited. They left the Earth, apparently for environmental reasons, as Ivolethe put it: <span style="color:#8ae8ff;">“We left your crumbling, dying world centuries ago. The earth dies, and death fills the air. We want nothing of it.”</span> For that reason, the Faeries never heard of modern-times myths, like superheroes.<ref name="2.28">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/24/2-23/ Chapter 2.28]</ref>

The Frost Faeries vehemently denied finding delight in harming children and innocents, and are proud to not resemble [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sluagh Sluagh], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finfolk Finfolk] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redcap Redcaps] in that respect.<ref name="2.34" />

They indicated that they knew [[King Arthur]], but made misleading statements about him and the sword ''Caliburn'' or ''Excalibur'', calling Erin a fool for believing that it was the ''Sword in the Stone''<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/04/2-08/ Chapter 2.07]</ref> but later not denying that when Ryoka made the same assumption.<ref name="2.20" /> Other references they made about Earth are the names [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%BA_Chulainn Culann],<ref name="3.03" /> [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Con Lugaid], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrddin_Wyllt Myrddin].<ref name="3.04" />
{{quote
|quote=Faeries can’t be trusted. Never go near a faerie mound, never thank a faerie, never eat their food or tell them of your child. They fear cold iron, though, and I don’t believe you can enter a place without invitation.
|speaker=Ryoka Griffin{{ref|2.20}}
}}

== Chronology ==
Frost Faeries were first mentioned in The Wandering Inn when Relc was giving Erin a rundown of the local dangers.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2016/10/23/1-23/ Chapter 1.23]</ref>

They appeared on the same day Erin and Ryoka rescued [[Ceria]] from the [[Ruins of Liscor]], after [[Gazi]] had returned to Chandrar being wounded by Erin. After decending from the [[High Passes]], they pestered and insulted everyone present.<ref name="2.05" /> They soon found that both Ryoka and Erin could see and hear them, and struck a deal with Erin not to disturb the rebuilding of Erin's inn in exchange for a permanent invitation to the place, including a restriction to copper instead of iron as the building's material.<ref name="2.11" /> Using that invitation, they later invaded the inn and brutalized Ceria as well as chasing away Ryoka and Relc.<ref name="2.20" />

To gain their favor, Erin prepared a banquet for them the next day, and was rewarded with the [[Faerie Flowers]].<ref name="2.21" /> Meanwhile, Ryoka was chased by the Frost Faeries for almost two weeks before they finally relented and claimed that they would stop hounding her. Ryoka then endeared them with superhero stories from Earth.<ref name="2.28">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/24/2-23/ Chapter 2.28]</ref> As the Fae learned that Ryoka had never accepted a level, this gained her their snarky companionship. However, shortly afterwards she strained that friendship by asking their help to find [[Mrsha]].<ref name="2.34" />

The Frost Faeries helped not only in finding the lost Gnoll child, but also changed the fate of [[Izril]] when Ryoka and the [[Stone Spears Tribe|Stone Spears]] Chieftain [[Urksh]] begged them to save Mrsha. By drawing [[Zel Shivertail|Zel's]] attention to the fighting Gnolls, they prevented the death of the [[Reiss|Goblin Lord]] as well as the death of Ryoka and Mrsha. They even hastened up Ryoka and created her a sanctuary in order to save her from the [[Goblins]].<ref name="2.35" />

The next fateful appearance of Frost Faeries was when they helped Ryoka to get to her third meeting with [[Teriarch]], and then stayed in his cave to comment on the drama.<ref name="2.45" /> When not much drama was to be had, the Frost Faeries were largely disappointed. They stuck around for some longer time around Ryoka, but eventually lost all interest, except for [[Ivolethe]] who became Ryoka's friend.<ref name="3.03">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/08/12/3-03/ Chapter 3.03]</ref>

== Culture ==
Frost Faeries pride themselves on being ancient and not to interfere with mortal affairs (although Ryoka proved that they do so regularly), and they love stories,<ref name="2.28" /> mysteries, riddles and drama<ref name="2.45" /> - especially when ''they'' are the mystery themselves.

Faeries love to strike dubious bargains,<ref name="gloss" /> but rarely on matters they take serious, usually tricking their victims with loopholes or unclear statements. When they make serious deals, they like to remind the mortals of the danger involved.

== Relations ==
Frost faeries are known to call other races by mostly insulting nicknames.

=== [[Half-Elves]] ===
For reasons not yet clearly stated, they strongly hate Half-Elves and will torment them whenever they can. The most common assertions they make about Half-elves is that they are ''filthy'' and the ''sons/daughters/spawn'' of ''whores/bastards/sluts/cravens''. This extends to female Half-Elves themselves who are similarly called ''whores''. Less insulting names include ''half-breed'', ''halfling'' or ''half-spawn''.<ref name="2.05">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/03/28/2-06/ Chapter 2.05]</ref><ref name="2.20">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/29/2-18/ Chapter 2.20]</ref>

Ivolethe implied that the ''existence'' of Half-Elves is what insults them, and alluded to the ''sin'' of the Half-Elf people. While Ceria had no idea which sin was meant, she understood the general meaning well enough.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/09/02/3-09/ Chapter 3.09]</ref>

=== [[Goblins]] ===
For reasons not yet stated, Frost Faeries call them ''the children'' or ''the youngest'',<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/09/05/3-10/ Chapter 3.10]</ref> and they never watch and listen to them, as they might cry if they did, and the fae did not like to weep for the past.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/04/28/4-32-g/ Chapter 4.32 G]</ref> They also never bothered them with any pranks.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/06/10/7-28/ Chapter 7.28]</ref>

=== Relations with other Races ===
Known faery-expressions for other races include...
* For all leveling races: ''playthings''<ref name="2.34" />
* For Gnolls: ''dogs'',<ref name="2.05" /> ''dog people'',<ref name="2.28" /> ''walking dogs''.<ref name="2.34" />
* For Drakes: ''once-Dragons'',<ref name="2.05" /> ''children of Dragons''<ref name="2.34" />
** For Relc: ''hot-headed oaf''<ref name="2.20" />
* For Humans: ''humans''<ref name="2.05" />
** For Erin: ''stripling''<ref name="2.07">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/04/2-08/ Chapter 2.07]</ref> ''frail thing'',<ref name="2.10">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/12/2-00-t/ Chapter 2.10]</ref> ''foolish human'', ''silly wench'', ''daft cunt'',<ref name="2.11">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/13/2-11/ Chapter 2.11]</ref> ''stupid wanker'', ''slow thing''<ref name="2.20" />
** For Pisces: ''fool who revels in death''<ref name="2.07" />
** For Ryoka: ''foolish wench'', ''smelly human'',<ref name="2.15" /> ''bratling'', ''short-sighted fool''.<ref name="2.20" /> After Ryoka gained their general respect, she upgraded to be called ''mortal''<ref name="2.45" />
* For Antinium: ''the slaves''<ref name="2.05" /><ref name="2.11" />
* For Teriarch: ''old smoker'', ''old grumpy one'',<ref name="2.15">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/18/2-14/ Chapter 2.15]</ref> ''bag of scales'', ''old fool'', ''oafen clod!'', ''foul breath'' ''stupid snake-with-legs'', ''fat old one'',<ref name="2.45">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/07/18/2-38/ Chapter 2.45]</ref> ''wyrm'', ''lazy oaf''<ref name="3.03" />
* For Undead: 
** For Toren: ''dead thing'',<ref name="2.05" /> ''bag of bones'', ''foolish thing''<ref name="2.10" />

== Trivia ==
* Time and distance affect them differently, allowing them to travel at what seems to be impossible speeds to onlookers. At the same time, they can't perceive how Val and Ryoka run at different speeds.
* They first met Teriarch when he was still a whelp, though just in passing.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/26/2-24/ Chapter 2.24]</ref>
* People from Earth can see their true forms and hear them, because, unknown to them, they have eaten all the ingredients for the '''faerie’s drink.'''
* Once someone kills a Fae they will be killed before the next moon rises.<ref name="3.04" />
* In [https://wanderinginn.com/2017/09/09/3-11-e/ Ch 3.11 E] [[Laken Godart|Laken]] gave some of them noble titles, such as Comtesse of the Soup Spoon, Herzogin<em>, </em>Reichsgräfin<em>, </em>Duchess, Viscount, Baron, a score of them Blumenritter<em>, </em>and several Ladies.
* Frost Faeries tend to call those that level "playthings", as they are playthings of greater powers. The Fearies think little of them, given that they put willingly chains around their necks, not realizing what they've given up.<ref name="2.34">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/06/09/2-28/ Chapter 2.34]</ref>

== Quotes ==
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/04/2-08/ To] [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]]) <span style="color:#8ae8ff;">“We grace your filthy ears with words. Answer back!”</span>
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/04/2-08/ To each other]) <span style="color:#8ae8ff;">“If she’s used the ointment of our kind, we should blind her now. Take her eyes, one or both and let’s have done with it!”</span>
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/13/2-11/ To] [[Erin Solstice|Erin]]) <span style="color:#8ae8ff;">“We don’t hate ye, fool! You mortals are nothing to us but pests. Tis<em> iron</em> we hate! If ye’d take away the iron in the building, we might, <em>might </em>reconsider.”</span>
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/13/2-11/ To] [[Erin Solstice|Erin]]) <span style="color:#8ae8ff;">“Copper! Make them of copper, you daft cunt!”</span>
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/03/2-19/ To]  [[Erin Solstice|Erin]]) <span style="color:#8ae8ff;">“Ye aren’t that smart, are ye? The fey answer to no one, mortal! We speak and bestow our gifts as we please, and none may command us! No god, no king, no lord or master. Have ye not heard the words? The fey obey no one, and we bow to none either. So what if we offended your honor? We do as we please. So long as the worthless child was not a guest we could do as we wished. Now she is your guest.”</span>
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/24/2-23/ To] [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]]) <span style="color:#8ae8ff;">“[[Erin Solstice|She]] did what few mortals remember to do in any day and age. She honored us. She followed the traditions. But most wondrous of all: she made food fit for the fey.”</span>
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/24/2-23/ To] [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]]) <span style="color:#8ae8ff;">“Anyone can fly for a few seconds if we push them off a cliff!”</span>
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/26/2-24/ To] [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]]) <span style="color:#8ae8ff;">“Worry not, pathetic human. All you mortals do is disappointing and sad.”</span>
*([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/06/11/2-29/ To] The World System) <span style="color:#8ae8ff;">“Nae, she will not be learning anything. Not from you at least. Leave the fool alone, ye thing of dead gods. She is different.”</span>
*([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/07/01/2-33/ To] [[Erin Solstice|Erin]])<span style="color:#8ae8ff;"> “Innkeep! A mug of your finest swill!”</span>
*([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/07/08/2-35/ To] <span style="color:#8ae8ff;">[[Erin Solstice|Erin]]) “Who is Santa Claus? Does he eat children?”</span>
*([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/07/08/2-35/ To] [[Ashfire Bees]]) <span style="color:#8ae8ff;">“Wretched insect! Know your place! Begone!”</span>
*([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/07/08/2-35/ To] [[Ashfire Bees]]) <span style="color:#8ae8ff;">“Bring out your Queen! We’ll duel her!”</span>
*([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/09/09/3-11-e/ To] [[Laken Godart|Laken]]) <span style="color:#8ae8ff;">“Can you not hear us, oh Emperor? We are here, Frost Faeries of the Winter Court to meet you! Are you not honored?”</span>
*([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/08/14/5-11-e/ To] [[Bevia Veniford|Bevia]])<span style="color:#96be50;"> “I am a Baron, foolish mortal! Kneel before me!”
*([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/08/14/5-11-e/ To] [[Bevia Veniford|Bevia]])<span style="color:#96be50;"> “Why would I be a Baroness? I asked to be Baron and so I am! Will ye not kneel?”
*([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/08/14/5-11-e/ To] [[Durene]]) <span style="color:#96be50;">“Come, daughter of Trolls! Dance with us!”
*([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/08/14/5-11-e/ To] Tourant)<span style="color:#96be50;"> “Steel? Hah! If you’d duel us, bring cold iron and star metal! Bring blades forged of magic and legend! And if you thrust, do it with your heart in your hands for we’ll pluck it out if you miss!”
*([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/08/14/5-11-e/ To] Tourant)<span style="color:#96be50;"> “Bare your sword, lordling of men! Shed blood and life like wine on this night!”
*([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/08/14/5-11-e/ To each other])<span style="color:#96be50;"> “Find them! Hound them! Tear them apart!”
*([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/08/14/5-11-e/ To] [[Laken Godart|Laken]])<span style="color:#96be50;"> “So long as hospitality is not broken entirely and the host agrees, we abide. But a second breach and we will hunt. Honor demands it!”
*([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/08/14/5-11-e/ To] Nobles) <span style="color:#96be50;">“To the Emperor of Eyes! To the Ruler of the Unseen! To the Protector of the Cottage!”
*([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/09/14/6-44-e/ To] [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]]) <span style="color:#96be50;">“Tell me. Why should I tell you? Now, <em>begone</em>. We are trying to see.”

==References==
{{Refbox}}
[[Category:Frost Faeries]]
[[Category:Fae]]
[[Category:Avalon]]
[[Category:Races]]