How to Protect Yourself Against the Fey
Here are some guidelines for safeguarding against and avoiding the notice of the fey:
- Respect Boundaries of the Fey: Never trespass into places known to be sacred or important to the fey, such as ancient groves, mushroom circles (fairy rings), or enchanted springs. Avoid disrupting or damaging natural areas, especially in the wilderness, as the fey are guardians of nature and may take offense.
- Avoid Making Deals: Fey are notorious for making deals that seem favorable but are riddled with hidden consequences. Never accept gifts, food, or favors from fey creatures unless you fully understand the terms—and even then, it’s best to refuse. Avoid offering anything in return, especially your name, as this can be used to gain power over you.
- Do Not Share Your True Name: In many fey traditions, knowing a person's true name gives power over them. Always introduce yourself with a nickname or false name when in areas frequented by fey.
- Iron as a Deterrent: Fey creatures have an aversion to cold iron (pure iron), which disrupts their magic. Carrying a weapon or charm made of iron can offer protection from fey creatures. Keep iron objects near doors, windows, or thresholds to ward off fey from entering your home or dwelling.
- Salt and Protective Symbols: Salt is believed to disrupt magical creatures, including fey. Create a salt line around your home or carry salt with you when traveling through fey-influenced areas. Protective symbols, such as a rowan twig or four-leaf clovers, are said to offer protection from fey influence.
- Be Polite and Courteous: Fey are extremely sensitive to disrespect and rudeness. Always be polite and courteous if you encounter one. Offending a fey can lead to terrible curses or enchantments. Do not lie or deceive a fey, as they are adept at detecting dishonesty and may respond with trickery of their own.
- Avoid Eating Fey Food: Consuming food or drink offered by fey can entrap you in their realm or place you under their control. Even a small bite or sip can bind you to their world, making it difficult to return to the mortal realm.
- Avoiding the Fey Realm: Do not linger near fey doorways such as springs, fairy rings, or hollow hills. These places are gateways to the Feywild, and accidentally crossing into their realm can be dangerous and disorienting. If you do find yourself in the Feywild, keep track of time carefully. Time flows differently there, and you may lose years in what feels like moments.
- Do Not Owe Favors: If a fey creature offers assistance, make sure not to leave any debt or favor owed. A fey who is owed a favor will collect it in ways you may not expect or want. Likewise, avoid accepting bargains where you must perform a task for them, as the conditions are often ambiguous and heavily weighted in their favor.
- Beware of Gifts: If you receive an unexpected gift that seems magical or unusual, especially in areas known for fey activity, be cautious. Fey often leave gifts to create obligations or entrap unsuspecting mortals. Never throw away or disrespect such gifts, but leave them where they were found or return them carefully without showing offense.
- Wear Protective Amulets: Amulets made of certain herbs and stones, such as rowan, hawthorn, or St. John’s Wort, are believed to offer protection from fey enchantments. Wearing cold iron jewelry or carrying iron talismans is also effective in warding off fey attention.
- Stay Out of Their Games: Fey love to play games, both physical and mental, and will often challenge mortals to contests of wit or skill. These games are rarely fair, and losing can result in dire consequences. Politely decline any invitations to such games.
- Remain Humble and Modest: Fey are attracted to vanity and pride. Avoid boasting or drawing attention to yourself when near fey territories, as it might provoke their mischief or ire.
- Protect Your Dreams: The fey can enter the dreams of mortals, using them as a tool to influence or torment their prey. Ward your dreams with charms such as a dreamcatcher or protective herbs like lavender under your pillow.
- Beware of Glamours: Fey often use glamours to disguise their true form or to trick mortals into seeing something that isn’t there. If you feel something is out of place or too perfect, it might be an illusion. Use iron, salt, or magic to dispel these glamours.
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