"HEY! PUT THAT CRYSTAL BALL DOWN! Gently. Those things are expensive. Alright, alright, I'll change the topic." Sorry about that. Somehow I've attracted a troop of faeries from Norway. They're frolicking around on my computer desk like a litter of baby raccoons. Where was I? Oh, yes. Thanks for reminding me, Tylwyth. Changing the subject. Apparently, faery ethics are a touchy subject with the little folk.

    Brian Froud and Alan Lee, two Devon artists, described and illustrated faeries for mortalkind in their aptly-named tome Faeries. If ye plan to be the Dungeon Master (DM) in a gaming session involving faerykind, ye'd be wise to consult this great book. The 185 illustrations (147 of them are in color) are incredibly detailed and as fascinating to view as a group of faeries dancing on a midsummer's night. According to Froud and Lee's book, "The faerie body comprises the finest states of physical matter. When faeries are visible they are on an ETHERIC level (a state more subtle than gaseous) and when invisible they are on an ASTRAL level (a state even finer than etheric). They are able to change levels at will, but on the finer levels are only visible to the clairvoyant. The matter of their form is so sensitive and fluid that it can be molded by such tenuous things as thought and feeling. Their normal state is a pulsating sphere of light with a bright nucleus, but when this condenses and they materialise on the etheric level, they often use a collective consciousness as a blueprint for their form. In this way form is determined by imitating elements of plants and animals, or by using a traditional mold; or by intercepting human sub-conscious thought patterns. Thus a faerie's appearance will often reflect our own preconceptions of faeries.

    "Because of the nature of its etheric structure a faerie can change its size at will but, if naturally small, to maintain a larger size for any period of time is a considerable strain. In order to take on a new form a faerie must conceive it clearly and keep it fixed firmly in its consciousness, for as soon as the thought waivers its form reverts back to normal. The energies that flow through the faerie body often help to create flowing hair and outspread wings of brilliant, ever-changing hues. These pinions are not used for flight for faeries can travel through air and matter at will."

    Faeries are magical creatures who do not live by human rules. They are indisputably the world's greatest practical jokers. Their mischievousness knows no bounds and can range from harmless fun to malevolent danger. So if you are wise, you'll find yourself a four-leaf clover and keep it with you at all times. Why? Well, because a four-leaf clover will break a faerie spell. So if you want to see faeries, carry your four-leaf clover with you and find a likely spot where they will be. (Uhm, Tylwyth, that's an animated THREE-leaf clover. What'd you do with my FOUR-leaf one?!) Find a place where there are mushrooms and toadstools growing undisturbed. Your three best opportunities to see one or many, are on a Midsummer's Eve, Halloween and May Day. The book of Faeries claims that "Time is often an essential ingredient as most faerie sightings take place either at noon, when the sun is at its zenith, or alternatively at midnight and in the twilight hours preceeding sunset and sunrise, all of which mark the transition from light to dark or vice versa. It should also be noted that dawn can also be the moment of escape for humans on whom faerie spells have been cast....In general terms, faeries do not like to be seen by humans so the gaze of an observer must be steady for the little people will disappear in the blink of an eye." This is especially true when you have just opened a bag of Oreo cookies. If there are faeries around, in the blink of an eye, there won't be any Oreos left in the bag, not even a crumb!

    Tylwyth wants me to mention faerie rings while I'm on the subject of faerie sighting. She claims to be a Norwegian faerie but her lilting, sing-song voice has a definite Welsh accent to it. She says that faeries spend their days feasting (that explains where my Oreos go), hunting, frolicking, and enjoying beautiful music. Yes, they are so passionately fond of music they can be seen cavorting wildly in circles in the grass on a Midsummer's Night. Faerie rings (as these circles are known), while spellbindingly fascinating to view, are fraught with danger. Though faeries usually dislike intruders in their realms, they do on occasion, welcome well-mannered mortals, especially if ye be a talented musician. Any human who steps into one, on purpose or by accident, is compelled to join them in their wild prancing. It is wise not to tarry long though as faery time is very different than mortal time. In the faery realm, a few hours could be decades in mortal years. Remember what I said about four leaf clovers. They come in handy when you stumble into a faerie ring. Of course, if you absent-mindedly left it on the bureau when you went outside to put some seed out for the chicadees, you might be able to bargain with them and design a website or webpage for them. Faeries, you see, have developed a growing fondness for computers and the World Wide Web. After all, where would we be without sprites?