Board Thread:Fun and Games/@comment-26208189-20150620012412/@comment-26890640-20150905135420

Fairy is a blanket term for the supernatural folk. No biologists have worked out a concrete classification system but most commonly is through five rough categories:

Plant folk: flower fairies, etc. They have a close connection with the forests and other places. They like to grow plants, may have magic that grows uncommon or magic plants, or accelerate growth. Some can photosynthesise. They can look and function like plants, or may just have the magic. Sentient plants count.

Animal/creature folk: ones connected with animals. They can speak to them, and this group contains shapeshifters like selkies or pucks. They tend to have animal features if humanoid.

Human-like folk:  Most humanoid. They have similar thought processes to humans or have a very strong magical receptiveness to human emotions or thoughts. They tend not to have wings. Usually humans feature in their family tree. Examples would include destinies, brownies or changelings. They are very powerfully connected to humans. They would be most interested in manipulating humans or granting wishes.

Insect folk: Probably considered the least magical of the fairies. They are insectoid and only really have inherent physical abilities, like quick reactions, flight or bioluminescence. They can look creepy but are the more peaceable type. They can talk to insects and will usually have a lot around them. They can be tiny or slightly shorter than humans. They usually have high knowledge bases because insects get everywhere and they have great connection lines.

Elemental folk: linked to elements and will usually live in isolated communities. Will have ethereal bodies or very solid earth bodies. In fact they're likely to look like embodiments of their element. They can travel through them naturally, and manipulate them to their will. Examples would be knockers, gnomes, undines, sylphs, etc.

This system is imperfect and there are many exceptions to the rule. For instance some can gain abilities considered to apply to other groups, or be both elemental and animal type. Fairies don't mind the system but have to laugh at the patheticness of humans trying to understand the supernatural