Fuaths are a dream-species comprised of a wide variety of wild spirits and have appeared in many guises throughout the world. On Celtic tradition they include the caoineag, the urisk, the glaistig, and glashtin. They are the deives of Lithuania, the berchta or "stomach slashers" of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and the chertovka of Russia. Each fuath has one animal attribute (most frequently the lower body, but sometimes the head) which resembles that of a given animal. Unlike the pooka, they cannot change completely into that beast (unless by cantrip), but like the satyrs are stuck with that one animal trait. Often more bestial than human in their thinking, the fuath avoid large population centers, preferring natural realms such as the Forest or the animal dukedoms of Quox and Mux (though they rarely share the frenetic humor native to these lands).
Forces of nature, protectors of the wild, the fuath can be kind and nurturing or bloodthirsty and cruel. Ever capricious, fuath act unpredictably in any given situation. They don't forget slights easily, though their capacity for love is nearly as boundless as their ability to hate. One cannot find a truer friend or more implacable enemy. There are few experiences more chilling than seeing the feral eyes and glinting claws of the fuath in the forest at night. The old tales speak of fuath herding cattle for farmers and looking after sick children, but also mention their perverse delight in seducing, drowning, and devouring those who come too close to their pools.
The fuath's animal attributes have led many to speculate that they are distantly related to the satyrs. If true, the similarities end with the physical. While satyrs mix the wildness of nature with human civility, the fuath are almost fully creatures of the wild. Vicious and territorial, female fuath especially are skilled warriors, though they primarily use these abilities to defend their own territory rather than take lands belonging to another. This is true to a lesser extent of the male of the species. Whereas female fuath tend to be communal spirits and take care of such necessities as hunting and defending their tribal boundaries, males tend to be more solitary and interested in plumbing the deepest secrets of nature. This is even true in the waking world where the female fuath have created mutual support groups to help each other survive and explore the Autumn Realms, while the males prefer to survive or perish on their own. Male fuaths can be just as dangerous or nurturing, but their personality shifts do not usually swing back and forth so quickly.
Lifestyles[]
Whether in the Dreaming or the Autumn World, fuath prefer wilderness settings. To them, cities are great perversions; dead holes in the fabric of nature. Water is a major component of their lives and many of their rituals revolve around it.
Ariá[]
Every fuath represents a pairing of animal and human natures; their physical and mental characteristics strongly mirror this division. Whether they appear as goat-legged glaistigs, deer-hoofed Baobhan Sith, fishtailed ceasg, the owl-eyed deives, or dog-faced Pi Nereske, the fuath comprise the animal people banished from the human world by the Tuatha de Danaan. As extreme as their physical dichotomy appears, it is dwarfed by that of their psyche.
Dioniae[]
Fuath in Dioniae form reflect their most primal instincts. In this Ariá, they visibly manifest their animal attribute, though some may try to hide in beneath concealing clothing. Emotionally, they are almost fully animals; their instincts barely ameliorated by their human intelligence. In this form they are at their most joyous, vicious, and free.
Araminae[]
In Araminae, the fuath takes on a fully human form, though there is still something vaguely animalistic about them. The way they walk, eat, and talk reflects vestiges of their true nature. nevertheless, they may be quite attractive to humans and are frequently rumored to use this form to lure humans to there destruction. As the animal form disappears, so too recedes the animal nature and the fuath is left with an emotional state that is more truly "human." Sadly, few fuaths have the background to appreciate this portion of their psyche. This Ariá is often their least favorite. Some say they feel "caged" when in human form. Fuaths often transfer this hatred of their own human nature to humans (and the half-human changelings) as a whole.
Apolliae[]
Little different from the Dioniae form in appearance (the fuath regains their animal attributes) the Apolliae reconciles the opposing extremes of animal and human nature. Animal passions and human intellect cooperate in this form, variably expressing themselves in sophisticated codes of governance, guileful and ruthless military stratagems, or the most passionate high art.
Beast Tongue: Animals, plants, even stones... fuath are one with the spirits of nature and can communicate with them all. In the Autumn World, though, this ability is much reduced. The fuath can only speak with animals, though this ability automatically extends to mundane animals without the need to invoke the Wyrd. Of course, the creature being addressed dictates the limitations of this communication. Some may not wish to speak with the Denizen while others are not notable conversationalists. This ability also gives the fuath +1 die to all Charisma rolls involving elemental Inanimae and other naturae.
Animal Nature: The fuath enjoy the abilities of the animal to which they are most closely related. These abilities are many and varied. Aquatic fuath have strong swimming skills and the ability to breathe underwater. There are tales of winged fuath in the Deep Dreaming but none have been seen in the other Dream Realms in living memory. Fuath share the satyrs' speed and may move 25 yards + three times their Dexterity per turn in their chosen environment. They all add +1 to their Stamina, even if it brings it over the human maximum of 5. Additionally, the fuath are all predatory animals and possess sharp animal-like attributes (be they fangs, horns, claws, to hooves) capable of causing Strength +1 aggravated damage.
Frailty[]
Maenad's Madness: Born of animal instincts and the human predilection for vengeance, fuaths are all too vulnerable to fits of violent madness. These most frequently occur when the fuath is in a life and death struggle, though other provocations may also kick it off. During these episodes, the fuath may be angry, frightened, or filled with feral joy. they enter a blood-maddened trance state and cannot stop fighting until they either defeat or rout al their enemies or become Incapacitated. Unfortunately, the fuath has a hard time telling friend from foe in this state (Perception + Empathy difficulty 8 to tell friend from foe for any given combat). A fuath will never attack another of their kind in their madness. To resist this frenzy the fuath may make a Willpower roll every turn after the first (difficulty 8). When the fuath has accumulated as many successes as they have permanent Glamour, they may break off the attack.
Stereotypes[]
Acheri: Avatars of sickness and corruption, they claim they are a natural force like any other. Do not be fooled. They take pleasure in there work and, unlike the forces they claim to personify, can by torn by our claws.
Aonides: Creatures of passion, there is much to be admired in the muses. Beware, though, lest they seek to manipulate you to their own ends.
Fir-bholg: Cruel and treacherous beast. They betrayed our trust in the early years of the Miririm and raid our lands even now.
Keremet: Foul and unnatural, these shades are corpses who walk the Dreaming. Harry them from our forests for their presence is an ill omen.
Moirae: The moirae are to be respected, even if their pronouncements are annoyingly cryptic at times.
Naraka: Clearly dangerous, especially in their current incarnation. We know little of these creatures as yet.
Changelings: Changelings are the children of those who were our adversaries in the Tessarakonta, but not necessarily our enemies. Despite our old animosities, they are not all bad. If one keeps faith with you, do the same in return.
Humankind: Hateful and loving; callous, kind, and indifferent. It is perhaps fitting that so many kinds of fae spring from their contradictory dreams. And they call us capricious!
C20[]
These Denizens share the animalistic touches pooka carry, but cannot change their form; instead, like satyrs, they have a permanent animal feature. Fuath are creatures of nature, and along with the fir-bholg are the least human of the Denizens. They have little respect for human civilization, but generally get along well amongst themselves. While female fuath are fierce warriors, they would rather defend than conquer, and are willing to work with others. Males are more solitary, though no less fearsome to face.
Ariá[]
Be it their lower halves or, less commonly, their heads, fuath possess an unchanging animal feature. This animal/human divide is apparent not only in their bodies, but their minds as well; many say the difference is more pronounced in personality than physiology.
Dioniae: The primal instincts of the fuath rule here, and her animal features are obvious, though they may be hidden beneath clothing. Most animalistic here, human intellect only tinges the animal impulses that most fuath live by. It is in this mindset that the emotions and desires of the Denizen in question are embraced with reckless abandon.
Araminae: While the most “human” form for a fuath, Araminae is also the least favored of the Ariá for this adhene. Her animal features notably absent, an Araminae fuath also suppresses most of her animal desire. For this reason, most fuath feel trapped by this Ariá, cut off from their wilder nature. However, their mannerisms usually betray some animalistic tendencies.
Apolliae: The happy medium between animal and human, Apolliae fuath can reconcile their animal appearance and desires with human reason and restraint. Able to embrace both her natures, a fuath in this Ariá retains her animal features and can at the same time engage in sophisticated social occasions more comfortably than any other Ariá.
Animal Nature: Fuath share some abilities with the animals they relate to. They can move at (25 + [Dexterity x 3]) yards per turn in their chosen environment, and add 1 dot to their Stamina. Predatory in nature, Fuath also have features like claws, horns, or fangs that allow them to inflict Strength +1 aggravated damage.
Nature’s Kin: Fuath are deeply connected to nature, and share a bond with all manner of animals and chimera. No beast or feral chimera willingly attacks a fuath without being attacked by them first, and any handler attempting to command an animal to attack must succeed at a Manipulation + Kenning roll, where the difficulty is equal to the fuath’s Willpower.
Frailties[]
Maenad’s Madness: Given their animalistic natures, fuath are prone to violent outbursts and periods of madness. In life-or-death struggles, the fuath will fly into a blood-maddened trance. Unfortunately, when pushed so far, a fuath has difficulty discerning friend from foe, and will continue to attack until Incapacitated or until all her perceived enemies have fled or been defeated. To resist this frenzy, the Storyteller can make a Willpower roll every turn after the first (difficulty 8) to end the frenzy, or a Perception + Empathy roll at the same difficulty to determine if a target is friend or foe. Fuath never attack their own kind, even in this madness.
