Post by alysen on Jan 3, 2007 3:06:46 GMT -5
Fae recognize the passage of time – hours, days, and seasons – but their relationship to it is very different from the human perspective. First, fae do not age the way humans do. They reach adulthood, and then become immortal. Humans, who do not have the mental capacity for immortality, would not be able to stand against the ravages of time without going mad. The fae, however, experience this differently.
A fae might become wrapped up in the day-to-day running of her noble house and scarcely notice that a century or more has passed. The reverse is also true: a fae may spend what feels like weeks learning a new language or magic, only to look up and find only moments have gone by.
This temporal distortion (although fae insist it is the humans who truly suffer for their attention to time) is one reason why a few horrifically powerful elders do not dominate all of fae society. While it is true that older fae tend to have greater control over their birthrights, younger fae can learn just as much in a short span of time if they put their minds to it. Because of this, a fae who is nearly firstborn and one who has recently come into adulthood may not necessarily occupy vastly different strata of power.
That being said, age is still a measure of respect among the fae, just not a measure of personal might.
A fae might become wrapped up in the day-to-day running of her noble house and scarcely notice that a century or more has passed. The reverse is also true: a fae may spend what feels like weeks learning a new language or magic, only to look up and find only moments have gone by.
This temporal distortion (although fae insist it is the humans who truly suffer for their attention to time) is one reason why a few horrifically powerful elders do not dominate all of fae society. While it is true that older fae tend to have greater control over their birthrights, younger fae can learn just as much in a short span of time if they put their minds to it. Because of this, a fae who is nearly firstborn and one who has recently come into adulthood may not necessarily occupy vastly different strata of power.
That being said, age is still a measure of respect among the fae, just not a measure of personal might.