Stephanie Fowers
Author
"Big Bad Wolves? Girls getting stuck in towers? Gold spinning Faeries stealing firstborns? What if I told you Faerytales were real, they just haven't happened yet?"
"You're next in the books..."
Detailed studies conducted by C.O.T.T.A.G.E. Inc. have shown that Faeries have a connection with the Sidhe when in our world, and actually depend on it for their survival. Their powers are comprised of Core, Fringe, and Vital powers that somehow feed and recharge on this link. Without it, Fae become weak and eventually die from magic deprivation.
As Faery Hunters, we’ll break this connection any way possible. The secret to the destruction of these pests isn’t magical or mystical. We only have to look at the make-up of the Sidhe that they rely on to know that their power source comes directly from the four corners of their kingdom, which are the four elements and treasures: Air, Water, Fire, and Earth (or the Sidhe as in the Fae’s case).
The best news of all? Our team geologists have discovered that these same four elements that nourish them on their world are the most successful way to fight Faeries on our turf. After hearing this, the Faery Hunters went to Celtic legends and Faerytales to get more answers, and the following is what we discovered:
FIRST ELEMENT: EARTH
In the Sidhe, lying to the north is the City of Falias. This is the Kingdom that rules over the Stone of Fal; these Fae are the guardians over their lands where all power originates. Its counterpart here is earth, which will do the opposite of what the kingdom of Falias and its stone do for the Fae’s magic. Instead of feeding and building the Fae’s powers, our earth will cut it off from its source to the Sidhe. Make no mistake, we will use whatever it takes to fight the Fae with the very thing they think to steal from us. Earth is the most powerful thing we have against them.
Iron
In early versions of Cinderella, her evil stepmother is punished with iron shoes strapped to her feet. It didn’t take us to long to wade through the symbolism of a mortal girl fighting against an evil Faery. Iron is Faery’s kryptonite. Convenient, since the core of the earth is made up of iron. C.O.T.T.A.G.E. Inc. found that iron grounds the Faery to the earth and breaks their connection to their powers. We’re not exactly sure how it works, but iron breaks that connection. It sparks and heats up when it touches the Fae. Results vary, of course, depending on the species of Faery and how long and how hard we hit them with it, but iron hurts like the devil and will eventually kill the Faery if it persists in its attack against us.
Useful items to pack against raids:
Iron bullets: (though some Faeries have a hard outer shell coating).
Iron caltrops: Like jacks in shape. When scattered across the ground, they stick into the Fae’s feet making it impossible to come closer.
Extras: Scissors, fish hooks, whips, knives, swords (in more medieval type situations)
When in a pinch, never underestimate the power of the skillet.
For sleeping: Iron nails under the bed (though not as effective as actual contact, Faeries sense its presence and are wary).
For homes: Iron nails pounded into the inside frame of a door over the threshold will stop Faeries from entering the house. Also great for raiding Faery dwellings and putting Fae under house arrest; they can’t leave once you nail it in.
C.O.T.T.A.G.E. Inc. Prototypes:
Iron magnets (ferromagnetism): Still in its testing stage, but results seem more powerful than only using iron in its crudest form, especially when a Faery gets caught in the magnetic field. It knocks out certain species of Fae, and works as an excellent force field.
Ferrofluid: Latest breakthrough. Our prototype looks like a gun and works like pepper spray by squirting out fluid against unsuspecting attackers. It has to be washed off to wear off (if it isn’t too late). This same ferrofluid can be used to design crude booby traps.
Special note:
Blood: It also has iron in it. For some time, we believed that human blood had magical qualities in it. Wizards and witches often used them in their spells. Besides being a little creepy (what I say), using your own blood does have practical purposes. C.O.T.T.A.G.E. Inc. found the iron in your blood is not enough to hurt a Faery, but can get in the way of curses and enchantments, and if you should choose, be the means to start your own curse (through stolen spells, which we’ll talk about later under *Air).
Species affected by iron: All Faeries are susceptible, except Leprechauns, dragons, vampires, and certain subspecies of wolves. This is due to their body make-up; they are part-Faery and do not rely on their connection to the Sidhe for survival.
Treasures:
Have you heard the idiom; he’s like a bad penny; he always turns up? What’s a bad penny? Besides a Faery Hunter (as we are known to Faeries from their first tangles with us), gems, money, silver, etc. (also from the earth’s core) are considered to be unlucky by the Fae. Faerytales warn against these treasures coming directly from our earth, with their heroes’ downfall directly related to it. Other legends talk of dragons and leprechauns hoarding gold coins. It’s not too much of a stretch that these treasures will prove the Faery’s undoing.
More useful items to put in your anti-Faery pack:
Lucky pennies: “E Pluribus Unum” is the seal inscribed in American pennies and other coins; it’s a phrase suggested by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson to put on our money and it works as a powerful deterrent against Faeries (Latin phrases strangely are). This phrase means that there are many of us, and that we are united and powerful. Against the back of the coin are the pillars of the Lincoln Memorial, an exact replica of runes shaped like Stonehenge (not a coincidence), which acts like a code to ward off Faeries. Coins are notorious for taking on this function. This leads to the belief that coin makers (inside and outside of America) are aware of Faeries.
When forming a barricade against Faeries, place these coins on either side of you in a ritualistic fashion. Lucky pennies (especially those found on the pavement outside) work the best.
Jewelry: The more glittery, the better. Dragons are easily distracted by it—a good thing, since they are the most frustrating to hunt out, and nothing else seems to work.
Gold coins: Not easily attainable, especially the ones I’m talking about. If you find a Leprechaun’s pot of gold at the end of the Rainbow (all nonsensical jargon), you can control the Leprechaun through his coins. We are not sure the details yet, since we haven’t been able to capture a Leprechaun for C.O.T.T.A.G.E. Inc.’s studies, but Leprechauns are the most terrifying breed that I’ve ever seen and claims like these beg for us to catch one.
Crystals
Deep from the belly of the earth, crystals form. They are the means of insulating magic.
Useful items to carry in your Faery pack:
Crystal Vials: Hollowed out crystals can safely hold Fae curses, enchantments, spells, potions, and Fae essence (discussed later when we talk about spindles under the category of *Fire). If you keep these vials with you, you can use the Fae’s own spells, etc. against them.
Crystal Charms: Wards off curses, enchantments, spells, potions, etc., but only when in direct contact to said magic, so it’s only useful after great practice.
Salt
Salt of the earth and all that; it also cuts off the Fae’s connection to the Sidhe. It stings when it hits the Fae. Enough said. It also works as a conductor and sucks up their power. For other subspecies (very primitive ones), it’s actually an OCD thing where they will have to pick up each grain if you throw it on the ground or behind your shoulder. It’s kind of a hit or miss because we don’t know in what way salt affects each Faery, but it’s a safe bet that most of them cannot pass a straight line of thick salt poured over the ground.
C.O.T.T.A.G.E. Inc. Prototypes:
Booby traps with balls of running salt (similar to snow globes) are placed in front of problem areas where more primitive species can be found. These creatures get caught by staring at it, unable to look away.
Circles
Imitates the cycles of the earth; the earth revolves around the sun, the moon circles the earth, the earth rotates on an axis. Therefore a circle is powerful magic, powerful spells occur in a circle, and Faeries cannot trespass a circle once it is prepared against them.
Chain of daisies: Thrown over the Fae’s head. Chokes them.
Circle of Salt: The properties of salt is potent (as discussed above), and spreading it in a circle around you makes the deed that more powerful. You’re safe inside of it, though watch for sudden winds.
Circle of fire: Same as above, only never get caught inside a circle of fire (for obvious and not so obvious reasons). We’ll discuss *Fire later.
Moats: A favorite during medieval times, it still works. Faeries cannot cross it, especially when it holds running water (discussed under the category of water).
Important to note:
Faeries will also use circles for their most powerful spells. Therefore avoid circles made by Fae and destroy as many as you come across (when possible). They can be used against you.
Faery Rings: Means of Faery transportation, it serves as a portal between our world and theirs. Don’t walk into one. Mow it through or throw lots of weed killer onto it. Get rid of it.
Other spell interrupters: Horseshoes are not a full circle, so yeah, they are lucky. They ruin spells and break the connection between the Sidhe and the Faery. When thrown at the knees, it stuns the magic right out of them and throws them into the dirt so you can tackle.
Crosses: A broken circle; though in the case of Celtic Crosses (a broken circle within a circle), they are really the best at keeping back the Fae.
C.O.T.T.A.G.E. Inc. Prototypes:
• Our inventors have created a shield, shaped much like a hula hoop with runes on the frame of it. As it unfolds from a smaller compact, it pricks the blood on the Faery Hunter’s thumb to finish the spell (see *blood above in the category about iron). Magic cannot pass through the shield; therefore it acts like a vacuum when spells are thrown at the Faery Hunter. Also similar to a butterfly net; it is perfect for catching Faeries through it. If they fly through, they pass out on the other side. I never go anywhere without it.
Breadcrumbs
We read in the Faerytales that Hansel and Gretel left a trail of breadcrumbs. It isn’t so confusing when you understand the nature of bread. It is associated with home and the hearth. It is the symbol of life, and it grounds you to our world. In other words, Faeries won’t be able to pick you up and take you home. Stick a dry piece of bread in your pocket and you’re good. Just don’t let yourself fall for an enchantment or you’ll ditch or eat the bread as soon as you can.
Mirrors
The Stone of Fal in the Sidhe that declares the Fae’s sovereign queen is a type of mirror; therefore we also categorize mirrors with the element of earth. Certain subspecies of Faeries use mirrors to communicate, and also for transportation, so there’s no denying there’s a magical quality in them. We can’t see our reflections in Sidhe mirrors. They have no reflection in ours.
Ways to avoid a Faery Ambush:
Break Mirrors: As explained, mirrors are a great source of strength for Faeries, in problem areas with a huge populace of Faeries, destroy as many mirrors as you can.
Reflections: Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish Faeries from other humans; a quick mirror check does the trick. It does not work on subspecies of wolves, half-mortal hybrids, and changelings. Also great power may be reflected in mirrors, causing the Faery’s image to look disjointed or hazy. As mentioned above, Faeries travel through mirrors, so if you see a Faery clearly through one it is because it is the actual Faery, not its reflection.
This brings us to our second method for fighting Faeries:
SECOND ELEMENT: WATER
Copyright © All content belongs to Stephanie Fowers
'Faery Hunter Guide'
(Taken from "At Midnight" by Stephanie Fowers.FIRST BOOK HERE)
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