Ye Olde Question of Race

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dclary

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Collectively...

What would you call Fairies (Fae), Elves, Dwarves, Leprechauns, Goblins, Werewolves and Vampires? -- as opposed to Humans, specifically.

I think ChaosTitan had a term for it in her book, but I've forgotten here in my midday work stupor.

Also, has there been books written about these disparate groups ever aligning into a single governing body? Kinda like a UN or EU of mythological beings?
 

KimJo

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I would lump elves, dwarves, and leprechauns in with fae, personally, and I think I've seen them included under that term in other books.

As for all of the races you've listed... Paranormals? Others? You could easily make up your own term for it that's used in the universe you've created.

I don't think I've read any books like you ask about, but it's early and I'm not sufficiently caffeinated yet to remember for sure.
 

Tasmin21

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In one series I'm working on, they're collectively called the "Otherkind" and are working under a central governing body (that's still decided by brute force, really, but old habits are hard to break). One of the main issues in that world is a pending bill in the human government on whether or not to give "illegal immigrant" Otherkind official U.S. citizenship. The supernaturals are trying to adapt to human social and political norms, but it's very hard.
 

soapdish

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I can't decide on a name for the ones in my WIP. So for now I'm going with Inhumans. But it kind of implies evilness, I think. Once I settle on something I think I'm going to have to do a ctrl F and replace all the instances.
 

ChaosTitan

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I use the term "Dregs" but it's a derogatory word mostly used by humans. More politely, they're simply called non-humans. When the races are broken down further, they have more specific names, such as Fair Ones for fairies, sprites, nymphs, gnomes, and sylphs.

I've seen Supernaturals, Supes, Paranormals, Paranorms, and Paras used in different books.

As for a single governing body, I've seen versions. For example, in Rachel Vincent's Shifters series, werecats and thunderbirds are the only paranormal creatures that exist in the world (and we don't even see the thunderbirds until very late in the series). But the werecats are governed by a Council.

I feel like I've heard of a series that has a kind of Paranormal United Nations thing, but I can't remember what it is.
 

dclary

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My MC is a native american, and he's been raised to believe that the Fae realm is called the Spirit World. For that reason, he calls them spirits, collectively. But they refer to themselves as the Old Races. And there will be a Council of the Elders -- in which a representative of each race is given admittance, and they try to work out grievances. -- And one member from this council is elected leader for a time, during that time he is the Lord of the Council, and his race is considered 'the ruling party' in a way.

In this way I can also explain why zombies, vampires, dwarves, elves, or whatever are the "popular" supernatural du jour in media.... whoever controls the council manipulates hollywood. LOL.



Thanks everyone.
 

Stormhawk

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I just go with fae/faerie for the collective term.

Of course, it does get confusing, because I also use "fairy" to describe the people with wings (even if these guys aren't really likely to cameo in an Enid Blyton book). This, however, is a conceit because they xenophobic jerks who have issues with outsiders (which include other fae) using their words, so people get stuck having to use words like "fairyland", "fairytown", fairy-this, fairy-that etc etc in serious conversation, and it also leads to translation errors, because of the lack of specifics.

As to a governing body - I have the Court of Kings, which while not a directly ruling party, is sort of like the faerie court of lawyers, and people go there to get things decided, and when things are uncertain, everyone defaults to using "Kings Law" to decide what should happen in a situation, lest they leave themselves open to retribution/counter-suing/beheading.

The issue here is that because they have to deal with so many races, and local systems of law, that it takes them a long time to update their laws, so there are a lot that seem very dated/horrible, and are easily exploitable for profit. Example, one that's a focus in book #4 is the fact that according to Kings Law, parents own their children. >_>
 

GenevieveGoth

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In general, I call then supernaturals. Angels, Demons and Fae are kind of a separate category with their own subgroups. Magic users, psychics, shape-shifters/were-creatures and all that other fun stuff are kinda lump in with the rest though. A few have subgroups too. That's how I classify them.
 

unruley700

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Trans-dimensional beings. They prefer TDB. In my work, all of these creatures have come from another dimension to our's, in hopes of starting a new life for themselves or for vacationing purposes. Shifters,mages, and other special humans are not considered TDBs.
 
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