My view on fairies

Just dropping by, but from what some of the recent posts, are we still talking about how a fairy's size-shifting ability works?

gwadahunter2222 wrote:

An elemental can be hard to kill but he his very predictable when you know his element.

Some spell can hurt them, like cold fire and spell affecting the soul can be usefull against them.

They are not different from spirit or ghost

They can not be killed by destroying their body but they are not immortal.

Everything gwadahunter said (that I bolded! ) bears repeating. Elementals are spirits, just like any other spirit. They are not truly immortal, and can be destroyed, just like most other spirits.

Spells work against them, magical weapons/items that work against spirits work on them, magical weapons/items that work against that specific type of spirit work against them extremely well... and there are even people/creatures/entities who are capable of actually touching spirits as though they were physical objects.

The standard human going hand to hand with a fire elemental is generally a really bad idea; but if you have claws that can shred spiritual matter just as easily as flesh? Then it's time to throw down; you're not just going to merely destroy the elemental's physical form, which is the best the average warrior fighting one can accomplish... you're going to mangle the entire elemental being itself, on a physical and spiritual level.

In such a case, you could very well actually kill the elemental in hand to hand combat, something that is not simply possible for most beings under normal circumstances. It dies, and it isn't coming back, ever. It would be the same thing as if a Succubi or other creature capable of magic-voring devoured the elemental; it's finished, and there isn't a chance of it reconstructing a physical body and coming back. So, yeah... there's several ways to handle an elemental, other than just trying a particular strategy and praying it pans out.

Again, I would rather fight an elemental than a fairy any day of the week... and twice on Sunday.

Sean Okotami wrote:

Just dropping by, but from what some of the recent posts, are we still talking about how a fairy's size-shifting ability works?

Nope, the discussion moved on to the relative possibility of Fairies taking over Felarya vs. other species (Elementals, currently).

Because there is still the misconception that fairies can shrink anything?

Sean Okotami wrote:

Because there is still the misconception that fairies can shrink anything?

Uh, no. Shrinking doesn't really have anything to do with the conversation. Unless people are under the impression that the only thing Fairies can do is shrink stuff.

zelda31 didn't seem to think that fairies have the potential to be an alpha species on Felarya; instead, he thinks that elementals would be more likely to achieve that status, if race did. The shrinking abilities of fairies haven't even come up, except for maybe minor references; it just doesn't really pertain to what we're talking about.

Im' sorry if I look repetitive it's hard to me to find the good words

ok pit a fairy against a elemental what type of magic does a fairy specialise in normally, shrinking magic and healing magic not really effective against elemental's and few fairies know elemental magic let alone any real offense magic

In my opinion, no races could really achieve dominant status. I believe each race is dominant in its own domain.

Crimson Maidens seem to focus almost exclusively in offensive magic, and an Element attempting to hit a Faerie alone is going to be a hard feat because you're talking about something that can at will change its size, yet no mention of velocity. Try hitting something moving as a blur while the size of a fist? Not that easy.

zelda31 wrote:

ok pit a fairy against a elemental what type of magic does a fairy specialise in normally, shrinking magic and healing magic not really effective against elemental's and few fairies know elemental magic let alone any real offense magic

If the power of the elmental is not effective against the fairy the elemental is powerless. It's a two way system, if you can hurt something, this thing can hurt you.

All the fairies are not only based on shrinking and healing ability they can possess and learn other ability. They are not restricted as an elemental.

And any abilities correctly used can be lethal, even healing spell can be dangerous due to the same reason the abuse of medecines can be lethal.

zelda31 wrote:

ok pit a fairy against a elemental what type of magic does a fairy specialise in normally, shrinking magic and healing magic not really effective against elemental's

Fairies specialize in dimensional magic; growing/shrinking just happens to be the most common thing they do with it.

zelda31 wrote:

... and few fairies know elemental magic let alone any real offense magic

There is nothing at all to suggest this; in fact, there is plenty of evidence to the contrary. The Crimson Maidens, as Malahite pointed out, are one of the best examples. With them, the case would be "Few fairies don't know elemental magic, let alone several types of offensive magic". It's what the average member of their species specializes in, more or less to the exclusion of everything else.

If anything less than a seriously powerful elemental (something on the order of a Greater Elemental, or an Elemental Lord) encounters a Crimson Maiden, chances are 9 times out of 10, it is going to need to build a new body; if it's lucky, and the Maiden doesn't actually destroy the elemental spirit altogether. The Crimson Maiden might not know spells of the elemental's "opposing" element, but it is almost certain that she will know many spells that are effective against a spirit.

I'd rate the average elemental's chance at actually winning a battle with a Crimson Maiden somewhere around 10%; significantly higher if the Maiden happens to be a novice (who are still extremely dangerous spellcasters). In that case, it might be about 50/50. Crimson Maidens aren't the only elemental/offensive magic-using Fae, however; you have the various type of Sprites, who are actually Fae/Elemental hybrids. A Storm Sprite or Water Sprite is most assuredly capable of using elemental magic.

And as Malahite said, a fairy can be three inches tall, flying around so fast that it's nearly impossible for a giant-sized creature to hit it... and still nail you with a fireball the size of a truck. Just because their body shrinks doesn't mean their magical abilities are diminished in any way; a tiny fairy is still as dangerous as it is when it's 90 feet tall, if not moreso.

I was excluding crimson maidens and crossbreads I am talking about a pure blood common fairy

Even pure blood common fairies possess offensive magic. It differs greatly between individuals.

zelda31 wrote:

I was excluding crimson maidens and crossbreads I am talking about a pure blood common fairy

What do you mean by a pure blood fairy
Crimson maidens are pure blood fairy, Alvar is a pure blood fairy and have fighting abilities all fairies can have the potential to have fighting ability.

Fairies are more unpredictable than an elemental so even a pure blood fairies as you call can hurt an elemental because they are not restricted only by the size shifting and healing abilities.

They can possess their own power and developped other abilities.

An elemental is defined by his element, and share the same strenght and weakness of his element. He is powerfull but generic.

If you know how to defeat an elemental you will know how to defeat each element affiliate to his element.

To modify a quote on Madboyz to describe Faeries:

"The fact remains that Faeries are a surprisingly potent asset in the Jungles, for their Felaryan antics often confound the foe. Even the most gifted tactician cannot predict the anarchic movements of a group of Faeries caught up in the excitement of games. After all, how can you second-guess a Predator who is as likely to fling Bolts of Energy at an attacker as they are to make a contest of who change it to the most comedic size?"

Faeries are not something you can really 'plan' for, when attempting to deal with.

zelda31 wrote:

I was excluding crimson maidens and crossbreads I am talking about a pure blood common fairy

Again, quoted from the wiki:

Quote :

However, contrary to popular belief, not all fairies are light hearted. In their population you can find a wide range of attitudes that vary from the usual fun loving and carefree pranksters to solemn watchmen, serious scholars, mystic sages and even dark brooding warriors.

Out of the six "common" Fairies detailed on the wiki's page on fairies, only one is stated to have magic solely focused on healing. That's Temi; so, we've got a ratio of Healer/Non-Combatant Fairies to Combat-capable Fairies of 1:5. Melany, it doesn't really go into her magical abilities; but she's brainy and a trapmaster, so we'll take her out of the Combatants list. She may very well be able to build a complex deathtrap that could take an elemental out, but anyways, we're still sitting at a 2:4 ratio.

Subeta is something of a special case; her magic focuses primarily on "gathering information and healing". She's not strictly healing-oriented, and the ability to magically determine her opponent's weakness would make her formidable. In addition, she's an explorer, and collects "who knows how many" magical items, relics, and artifacts. Even assuming she doesn't know any spells which can harm an elemental, she most certainly has an object in her bag of tricks that can.

So, we're at 2 Non-Combatants, 1 Combatant, and 3 unknowns. Out of the other three fairies...

One (Alvar) is a "true master of both swordplay and magic", who has duelled "swordsmen of every race who come to challenge him"... despite a significant handicap (he's blind). 2 Non-Combat, 2 Combat, 2 Unknown.

Another (Lily) is an expert in both Support magic and Nature (plant-based) magic. Her capabilities include proficiency "with a large list of support spells that range anywhere from speed enhancers, to strength increasing, to magical armor"; in addition, her signature ability is using "vines from her body to entangle her prey and pierce it to suck out its vital energies"... a method of killing which could very well destroy an elemental outright. 2 Non-Combat, 3 Combat, 1 Unknown.

The last (Aya) has been described to me by someone as "Felarya's version of the Incredible Hulk". When she's hungry, she "becomes dazed, unable to think properly, and unable to recognize her surroundings. She grows instantly, and then attempts to grab and eat any creatures that are within her reach and the right size, including friends. When in this state, her movements become slow and her reflexes dull, but her magic increases tenfold, reaching tremendous power, although she doesn't control it." Sure, she's slower and easier to dodge, but she's significantly stronger and more magically powerful. Most elementals don't have "tremendous power"; what's more, we don't really know much about Fae digestion- for all we know, Aya might be able to EAT an elemental while she's in her berserk state.

That brings the total to 2 "common fairies" out of 6 who are strictly non-combatants. The odds are looking even worse now for elementals than they were before.

Malahite wrote:

To modify a quote on Madboyz to describe Faeries:

"The fact remains that Faeries are a surprisingly potent asset in the Jungles, for their Felaryan antics often confound the foe. Even the most gifted tactician cannot predict the anarchic movements of a group of Faeries caught up in the excitement of games. After all, how can you second-guess a Predator who is as likely to fling Bolts of Energy at an attacker as they are to make a contest of who change it to the most comedic size?"

Faeries are not something you can really 'plan' for, when attempting to deal with.

The above, highlighted section needs to be posted in that "Advice for Surviving Felarya"-ish thread, yesterday. Best damn advice I've heard all week.

*salutes Malahite*

A little details an elemental can look invincible only against physical attacks and magic affiliate with his elements.

But against magical and non-physical attacks he is very weak.

And he has the same weakness of many magical creature against anti-magic an example abyssal Tonorian can be dangerous to an elemental because it can nullify the magic allowing to move his body.

it's beginning to look like I can't win any argument's either I overlook bits and pieces of information or I forget a necessary detail but you are forgetting about a darkness or light elemental which in truth have no element they're weak against and the most powerful type's of elementals to boot surely they can on a fairy and win

zelda31 wrote:

it's beginning to look like I can't win any argument's either I overlook bits and pieces of information or I forget a necessary detail but you are forgetting about a darkness or light elemental which in truth have no element they're weak against and the most powerful type's of elementals to boot surely they can on a fairy and win

Wrong, darkness is weak against light and light is weak against darkness.
And even that you can attack them with the other elements is not a problem because they are not immune to the other element and non-elemental magic are still efficient.
They oppose each other and even if they are powerfull, if the fairy can attack directly the soul of the elemental is not a problem.
It's you who forget a elemental is invincible only if his body is attacked.

Edit:an elemental is a spirit, no matter the elment he use all magic and abilities affecting the spirit will work against him.

A fairies is magical creature, in clear she is not restricted in magic contrary to an elemental who is limited by his element.

A fairy can or may learn any type of magic it will depend on her choice, like a humans decide to study a school of magic. She has the freedom of the choice.

I give up

To sum up Malahite's advice: Fairies think so radically different from humans, that it is all but impossible for one human to know in advance what a fairy will try.

Another advice I might add for fun: If you are a psionic, never dive into a fairies mind. You'll become insane if you do.

Sean Okotami wrote:

To sum up Malahite's advice: Fairies think so radically different from humans, that it is all but impossible for one human to know in advance what a fairy will try.

Exactly. Elementals and Fairies are on completely different ends of the predictability scale. You can prepare for an Elemental; you can't prepare for an encounter for a Fairy.

Sean Okotami wrote:

Another advice I might add for fun: If you are a psionic, never dive into a fairies mind. You'll become insane if you do.

Along these lines, I present a fun fact: According to Celtic (primarily Irish) traditions and superstitions, the insane were considered "Fae-touched". That's where the old expression, "She's (or He's) a bit touched in the head." as a euphemism for "special", "totally nuts", or "crazy" originated.

Sean Okotami wrote:

To sum up Malahite's advice: Fairies think so radically different from humans, that it is all but impossible for one human to know in advance what a fairy will try.

Another advice I might add for fun: If you are a psionic, never dive into a fairies mind. You'll become insane if you do.

True that. If you are a psionic, though, you bring a totally different play to a fairy's game than she may have ever dealt with before.

I've read this entire exchange and it occurs to me that control-telepathy and strong anti-magic armor is frighteningly devastating to a fairy. If you can see a fairy using remote location, "silence" a fairy with anti-magic and then use telekinesis to finish the job, you're an assassin.

But the #1 thing to deal with a fairy is cutting off their magic.

Raveolution wrote:

True that. If you are a psionic, though, you bring a totally different play to a fairy's game than she may have ever dealt with before.

This is potentially true; however, remember that Fairies are unpredictable. You don't plan for them, but they (most of them, except the die-hard serious types like Crimson Maidens) don't plan for you, either. If anyone is capable of adapting to the tables being flipped on them in an instant, it's probably a fairy.

Raveolution wrote:

I've read this entire exchange and it occurs to me that control-telepathy and strong anti-magic armor is frighteningly devastating to a fairy. If you can see a fairy using remote location, "silence" a fairy with anti-magic and then use telekinesis to finish the job, you're an assassin.

Mind-control might work, although I imagine a Fae mind would be extremely 'slippery' and hard to control. Anti-magic armor is fine against the major spellcasters, but it isn't a catch-all solution; if you run into Alvar, he is still going to be able to cut you to shreds assuming that he is more skilled than you... and to be honest, most really powerful psychics aren't known for being physically adept.

Raveolution wrote:

But the #1 thing to deal with a fairy is cutting off their magic.

Again, this depends on the situation and individual fairy involved. Cutting off the magic of a Crimson Maiden has a good chance of winning you the battle. Cutting off the magic of the fairy equivalent to Miyamoto Musashi might not help you at all.

Simply put, there is no catch-all solution to every possible situation except God-like power... and even then, there might be exceptions.