OTHER CREATURES

Songs of the Sidhe by David Ross

In addition to fey and countless beasts and plants, Faerie is home to a wide variety of other beings, including hags, giants, dragons, merfolk, spriggans, and many others.

Dragons: The most commonly-encountered dragons in the Otherworld are the faerie dragons and pseudodragons that originated there and the linnorms that have carved out their own domains there since before the gods arose, although nearly any type of draconic creature is to be found somewhere here. Perhaps most infamously, the devastatingly powerful and utterly puzzling dragon known as the jabberwock is found almost 
exclusively in Faerie, appearing most often on battlefields in service to the Demesne Courts.

The minor pseudodragons and faerie dragons generally choose to lair near the relative safety of Seelie realms such as Cucaña and Hyperborea or ancient strongholds such as the Gardens of the Hesperides (where dwells their adored father, Nathair Sgiathach). Both species are more numerous in Faerie near their father’s realm, although pseudodragons are also common in the Fleeting Realm. linnorms, in contrast, may show up almost anywhere. In some ways contained by their patron Gottenrvnr Two-Tongues and by an ancient pact, linnorms are most frequently found near Unseelie realms such as Andomhain and sparsely-inhabited hinterlands such as the Badlands of Annwn. However, they often spread into the realms of other beings, especially giants and Demesne Court fey, which can spark violent conflicts.

Giants: Although giants of all kinds are occasionally found in Annwn, the most numerous giants of Ladinion and Faerie in general are either Fomorians or fibolgan. These formidable races often fight fiercely with dragons and fey of the Demesne Courts to found and keep their vast kingdoms, generally near sites of ancient civilization such as the Cities of Danu and Andomhain. Stone, cloud, taiga, and forest giants are also more common here than elsewhere; they lair apart from other powerful creatures.

Visitors: Most of the non-native creatures that often dwell in Faerie (goblins, elves, etc.) find themselves subtly infused with the realm’s magic if they stay for long. They may sometimes acquire fey qualities, gain some limited spell-like abilities, or even become effectively half-fey.