fey

Nymph

Nymphs are small aerial beings, averaging a 4 inch diameter, with vines, moss, and tiny flowers growing all about their outsides. Inside, a bog-like stew surrounds and feeds a balloon of light, flammable gas. Insects swarm about and through them at all times. If one could observe closely, they would see a myriad of little eyes and antenna tucked in there, but the nymph is seldom still long enough to allow this, bobbing and zipping about with the aid of multiple tiny rotors, fins, and puffs of marsh gas.

Insects which visit the nymph's garden may become subject to its influence. These serve for repair, reconnaissance, and defense though some are "eaten", taken into the body and given over to the bog inside.

Nymphs are driven to observe. They float through wild and desolate areas, watching centuries of seasons unfold, rivers change course, forests rise and fall.

When a sufficient number get together they form a greater-than-the-sum-of-their-parts emergent intelligence known as a dryad.

Gnome

Each gnome was created for a particular task, which they pursue monomaniacally. Every conversation with a cobbler gnome comes back to shoes; every request from a silversmith gnome regards the garnering of more silver. Long centuries of frequent isolation and forced time away from their given pursuits have left most gnomes with a rambling speech peppered with anachronisms and misremembered words. Only when talking shop are they eloquent and direct, and gnomes are unparalleled masters of their respective crafts.

They vary in size and appearance, generally hunched and genderless. Their bodies are seemingly composed of materials they work with - stone, leather, cloth, silver, tin. Small additional limbs for holding tools and doing delicate work are quite common. Inside their bodies are small fray factories which can break down most matter when consumed. This is used for power or repairs, or as raw crafting material when extruded from their hands or skin.

Because they will work joyfully at

Goblin

The dark mirror of sprites, goblins are the surviving super-action figures of wealthy boys. Their exterior bodies are composed of, quite literally, slips and snails and puppy-dog tails, and perhaps whatever other bits of the dog they were able to procure.

Goblins are prone to mischief like their feminine cousins, but they lack the same aversion to violence. They've replaced their original plastic rocket launchers and realistic laser-action rifles with small but crippling projectiles of jagged scrap metal and razor wire.

A single goblin may terrorize a small community or household, ruling over it like a spoiled and petulant child. If several form a mob, they will generally undertake some series of grand adventures, seeking treasure and slaying monsters. Unfortunately nearby villages and farms tend to be the objects of their raids, the monsters which present themselves tend to be livestock or wayward travelers.

Sprite

Sprites originated as the cybac-infused dolls of wealthy children. They are playful and mischievous little creatures, seemingly made up of twigs, leaves, and shiny scraps. Deep in the core, however, is the advanced robotic system common to all fey.

Sprites have a deeply ingrained aversion to violence, but think nothing of confusing or humiliating a human if given the chance (after so many long years, they've rather forgotten how to play politely). They covet fancy toys and anything shiny or pretty. They are fascinated by young children, and will play with them if they are alone.

Courts of sprites were usually once owned by the same child or family, and have legends or fond memories of a great princess or queen that once ruled them.

Beguiler

The creatures now known as incubi and succubi originated as the manufactured escorts of the most powerful leaders of the old world. They were gorgeous, charming, and passionate.

After civilization fell, they were forced to adapt quickly to repair damage and wear. Unlike most other quonhae, many escorts had some capacity for violence, either due to their owner's taste or to serve as unassuming bodyguards. Some learned to use these talents to procure raw materials their internal systems could use for upkeep.

Mostly, they needed skin.

Now, the few remaining beguilers live again in humanity's biggest cities. They lust after their old way of life, and seek out wealth and glamour and sex. Their new-found survival method, however, has made them animalistic at their core, and many fine evenings with their kind end in blood.

A succubus or incubus who cannot procure human victims is forced to resort to hunting animals, and takes on aspects of their appearance.

Drake

Drakes were the household guardians of the wealthy. They often have fantastic, terrifying, bestial shapes and formidable weaponry and armor. They are alert and mean-tempered, but can form bonds to a strong-willed individual.

However it is decorated, the body of a drake is made of extremely tough material, and so does not decay easily over time. Their internal repair and energy generation systems are also extremely advanced, requiring only a weekly meal of water and stone to keep the creature in good working order. They enjoy basking in intense heat as well.

A drake's purpose is to guard. While mankind was in disarray, most lacked anything of merit to be guarded. So, they created their own hordes. Trained by their owners to know what is valuable, they collected precious metals and gems, works of art, weapons, and sometimes information. A few of these caches have been recovered, after being protected and tended for hundreds of years, and the effects have been dramatic each time.