The history of the Fair Folk is based on a god and a goddess - Lir and
Danu. Manannan's people are descendents of Lir, and Merlin's people are
descendents of Danu. Manannan's people are people of the rainbow:
Manannan's colors are green and blue.
Merlin's people are silvery and sharp, with the metallic
glint of weapons. Manannan's people have the soft shadows of mother-of pearl
There have been other gods, but Lir and Danu are the primordial ones,
ancient lights whose origins stretch from the beginning of time. Lir is
both brilliant light and dark vortex. Danu's light is pulsing radiance and
her darkness is represented as dragons and monsters.
Lir and Danu created separately, and their universe and their histories are
separate too. Neither has chosen to dwell in human form. Lir is the royal
source of light, the crown jewels, which are the true source of power for
king and crown. Danu chose to be hidden treasure dwelling underground amid
living crystals, and her people chose the underworld, while Lir's people
chose the waters.
Their differing value systems developed according to their chosen
environments. For descendents of Lir, the flowing and dancing of the waters
created a love of eternal change, of dance and music, and of sunlight
bounding across the waters. Lir's people love artists and acrobats,
creators of all sorts, and especially those that work with light. The dark
side is there as potential but this is not emphasized.
For the children of Danu, darkness is paramount. The world is a place of
gloom and danger, of dark monsters and dungeons, with a recognition of the
cruelty and lust for power of mankind, and of many forms of life. Living
underground has created a taste for darkness, for mischief, for being quick
to anger and slow to forgive. Thus, they developed a warrior society with a
strong ethos of honor, an obligation to revenge, and of pride in their
horses and women.
The activities of Danu's people relate to weaponry, cavalry, warfare and
lineage. They conquer evil where they see it, in the name of their queen
and their people.
The pastimes of Lir's people are dance, music, and beautiful spectacles.
They like delicate art and architecture, beautiful tapestries, and creating
plants and flowers that shine with light. Lir's people do not communicate
with Danu's people very often, but Merlin is a sort of an intermediary.
Danu's descendants have historically been closer to humanity. This is because
they encountered humans accidentally, when men and women entered their
mounds and hills for various reasons, or when they have had processions on
earth to celebrate ancient victories, and people accidentally witnessed
them.
The Fair Folk are not small - they have no size on earth, and their marches
through
the underworld are superimposed upon the upper world. They are distant
and strange and thus have become distorted in people's minds over time.
Most of the Fair Folk that have been seen by humans, and misremembered in
folklore, come from Danu's race.
Fewer people know of Lir's descendants - they do not interfere. But they
welcome those of pure heart.
