Anniversary of Birth

It is tradition that on the day of an anniversary of birth, the one celebrating is expected to give gifts rather than receive. Celebrations typically play out in much the same way as other celebratory days – a party, drinking, dancing, and overall being merry.

Beast

Believed to be the essence or “soul” of a skinwalker, and manifests physically in that form when a skinwalker shifts. Mates of skinwalkers who are not skinwalkers themselves often possess an internal magic that mimics the feeling of a beast even without physically shifting.

Bee Maiden

Bee Maidens are tasked with the job of taking care of the bees, and overseeing the process of honey creation. They live in their own closed of communities, and is the only entirely acceptable self-governed group within both the Seelie and Unseelie court. Bee Maidens in the Seelie court are women only, and there is unaddressed controversy of what happens to the men born within the community. The Unseelie court is welcoming to Bee Maidens of both genders, though the majority is yet women.

Broken Heart

A broken heart to a fae very rarely may be reversed – once it has happened, it’s typically too late. There are many causes of a broken heart, and it is fatal.

Consort

A consort may either be a long time romantic partner or a sexual partner, but once named consort there is no such thing as ceasing to be consorts even when the physical and/or emotional attachment ends.

Deformity

A physical disconfiguration that sets an Unseelie fae apart from other fae. Deformities may be very beautiful, but most are regarded to be strange, ugly, or even frightening, and one is expected to keep their deformity hidden beneath glamour at all times.

Destined

Largely considered to be nothing more than a story from the teachings, to be destined is much like the human concept of soulmates. To each individual, somewhere out there is a being with whom together a beautiful light will emit upon first physical contact.

First Knight

The First Knight position was created shortly after the fae were banished to the Unseelie court, and were building their hierarchy. The main responsibility of the First Knight is to guard the queen, but is also the leading head of the knight, and responsible for overseeing training and recruiting. L’Arc was named First Knight to Queen Fire and held the position until Night bested him in a spar for the title. It was spoken that Star could have potentially one day overcome Night.

Frolicking

A type of dance performed by all fae, that may be with or without a partner, and is mostly done outdoors.

Glamor

The sort of magic that all fae possess, though the manner in which it manifests differs between the courts. Seelie fae typically draw their glamor from the earth or air around them; Unseelie fae are the opposite, drawing their own power from within. Glamor is typically used to change one’s appearance (see “deformity”), but may also be used for other purposes (spells or otherwise).

Joined

A union of a pair of consorts, with similarities to the human tradition of marriage, and is celebrated with a joining ceremony. To be joined may mean not taking another person as consort without express permission of the other party, and it’s not uncommon for those joined to be monogamous. Joining with a member of a higher social status (royalty, noblity, or otherwise), regardless of prior lineage, will mean gaining that upper status.

King Consort

While a king may never take another queen, a queen may take additional kings by name of King Consort if a child is born. There is no limit to the amount of King Consorts a queen may take, but there have only been a few in recorded history.

Mate

One who is specifically designated by a skinwalker to be theirs and theirs alone; it is taboo to take more than one mate. There have been several recorded instances in which a skinwalker has taken a non-skinwalker mate, but there much exist at least something resembling the magic within that person (see “beast”).

Mirror (to speak or transport by mirror)

Mirrors act as tools of communication and quick transport between Faerie.

Most Senior Knight

As the title may suggest, the position of Most Senior Knight is given to the knight with the greatest amount of service to the crown, and it does not often turn hands. It originates from the Seelie court, and was adopted by the Unseelie court during the start of Queen Lune’s reign.

Royal Advisor

A group of people in the Seelie court who act as advisors to the royal family in courtly matters. It typically requires an invitation by a member of the royal family in order to become an advisor.

Teachings

The Teachings are the most prevalent form of religion within Fae society. They speak of a fourth court, The Beyond, which is inhabited by Goddesses and Gods. The Teachings explain things otherwise inexplicable by magic or science such as the creation of Faerie, Soulmates, and the origin of life along with offering stories that guide Fae on how to live their lives. Most Fae are familiar with the Teachings and while not all are deeply pious, very few dismiss them entirely.

Thanking

In the Seelie and Unseelie courts, it is considered very rude to thank another Fae. It is believed that when one Fae does a kind thing for another, be it a present or a favor, that the other Fae should return the present or the favor to show gratitude. To say “thank you” is to imply that all the gift deserved was words in return and therefore devalues the action. In the Between, it is very dangerous to thank a Fae, for it is an unspoken consent that you now owe them a favor whenever they wish it and for whatever they wish.

Twin(s)

It is considered a curse to be born as a set of twins, though the second born twin by far has the worse stigma. Twins are hypothesized as being created from one’s paternal lineage, and typically twins will be born to a twin, and so on.