Coblynau

Coblyn singular (kob-lin) and coblynau plural (kob-lin-eye).

Coblynau and coblyn-humans (bazzin) are green-skinned, pointy-eared elf-like beings typically between 4 and 5' tall. They have a wide range of body shapes and green-to-grey skin tones. Their ears vary in shape and size and earrings are a popular adornment. Their hair is similar to humans in distribution and texture, but in colors more in the coblyn skin-tone range.

Coblynau are said to have come to Britain a long time ago and they have their own folklore about how that happened. Naming convention for coblynau is ‘[First name] of [Family name]’ e.g. Meyron of Fizink.

'Coblyn' is an exonym from the Welsh, borrowed by wix from folklore. They call themselves Kobalos (kobaloi, plural) from their Greek roots. The coblyn language is called Rhema.

Society

Coblynau in Britain are a relatively small population (50k) and live almost completely hidden from the mundane world. Their society is focused around the sprawling underground city Craeky Hob that is forbidden to humans. They live in big extended families with a strong focus of craftsmanship. They have had to learn a great deal about wix culture, but the opposite is not true - culturally, they wish to preserve their culture from human influence.

Coblynau come from eggs that grow for several months before hatching into babies. Their life spans are similar to humans.

Glowing fungi down in Craeky Hob

Fungi

Coblynau are brilliant cultivators of all manner of mushrooms and fungi. With Skill they are able to alter and amplify ordinary mushrooms for magical purposes. For example, they can light the Hob with glowing mushrooms, protect the portals to the Hob with fairy rings, or send messages with a mycelium network.

Electricity & Technology

Coblynau have mastered, in their own way, electricity. With Skill they can make magical use of current and magnetic fields to make their lives easier and to improve their crafted tools and mechanisms. For cultural and logistical reasons, there is little human technology down in the Craeky Hob. Many young coblynau and certainly most bazzin are curious and fluent in human technology and will engage with it when above ground. There have been past efforts to get cell signal, for example, in the Hob, but there's little traction.

Skill

Coblynau practice of magic is known as the Skill. There is some foundational overlap in that they can see the Betwixt, use Doors, and can access the same magical properties of natural things as wix can.

Coblynau have innate magic that's practically and culturally different from wix and known as Skill. Scholars disagree on its origins, but suffice it to say, there is a clear distinction. Coblyn magic focuses on the creation and enchantment of tools, materials, and objects of the earth, like soil, stone, and metal.

They imbue tools with magic by way of alchemy and inscriptions. Coblyn-made tools are enduring, coblyn-made clocks are precise and prescient, coblyn-made locks cannot be opened with Craft. Coblynau and and bazzin tend to develop aptitudes for one or two materials - gold, silver, steel, granite, marble. This kinship to particular materials makes it easier to work with them.

In terms of everyday magic, coblynau can do similar things to wixes like float or summon objects. They do this by ‘asking’ the object in their tongue, Rhema. A bazzin might be able to simply gesture as wixes do. Otherwise, coblynau rely on the tools and objects they have created to practice magic.

Constitution

Foods that would be poisonous to humans are consumed by coblynau to various effects. It would be very difficult to poison a coblyn.

Coblynau have a different way of processing and metabolising consumed substances. They are expert at treating different kinds of fungi to different effect.

Examples:

• Glamour - imbibing an infusion of Deadly Dapperling mushrooms (toxic to humans) will disguise a coblyn as human; the effect wears off should they lose consciousness.

• Bright Eyes - consuming sauteed Jack-o’-lantern mushrooms enable coblynau to see in the dark for up to a day; a popular breakfast for miners.

• Strength - drinking mercury instills great physical strength on coblynau for up to three hours; commonly used by metalworkers and can only be taken once a day.

Results are inconsistent amongst bazzin but the general rule is that effects are less potent and do not last for half as long.

Bazzin

Bazzin is a Rhema (coblyn language) word for coblyn-humans. They almost exclusively live amongst the coblynau in a somewhat outcast position. Bazzin are taller and more likely to have smaller ears and more human skin colors ranging from a pale pink to dark brown, depending on their human parents' appearance.

They have the capacity to learn and practice Craft. It is believed they inherit the Fae Touch. Bazzin have not been historically included at covens, so they have a reputation of being poor Crafters. Bazzin also have the capacity for Skill. If they are raised in Craeky Hob, they can learn it.

Since humans are not allowed in the Hob, bazzin typically have to chose (or have chosen for them) the path they take.

Bazzin do not take familiars because they do not access covens. Bazzin born to humans are live born, and bazzin born to coblynau come from eggs.