Quote:
Originally Posted by Astromancer
Remembering a book on French Folklore and Folktales I read long ago (and I suggest you find a book like that at your library), the author said that by the end of the Middle Ages the French had pretty much reduced all supernatural beings (other than religious figures and humans with powers) to Fairies/Fees, Mermaids, Dwarfs, and Ogres.
The Fees were basically immortal humans with vast magical powers and caprious habits.
The Mer-folk were underwater Fees.
The Dwarfs were basically Fee peasants, though often rich and magically powerful.
And the Ogres were beautiful Fees with superhuman strength, razor sharp teeth, lots of magic, and a taste for human flesh.
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That author seems to have forgotten about talking/anthropomorphized animals, werewolves, dragons, Goeblins (although they may fall under Dwarfs), and a few others...