Faerie Doctor Info (Was RE: [DL] When did this appear?)

["Matthew DeForrest" <mmdeforrest@worldnet.att.net>]

First off, let me say how thrilled I am that people are looking at the
Faerie Doctor AB and talking about it.  After all, as Oscar Wilde said, the
only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about....

-----Original Message-----
 I can say that I'm Irish and so are my posse (living in Ireland will do
 that to a group)
--------------------------

Dia huit!

(Hey, we've had a host of other languages appear, why not a little Irish?)

--------------------------
 and although I kinda like the rules and think they seem fairly balanced and
all, they don't interest me, and I doubt they'd interest my players either.
--------------------------

I'm glad you like the rules and, as for not interesting you, to each their
own.  I wrote them up with Irish Immigrants moving west in mind (much like
the Martial Artists that you mentioned in a snipped section of your e-mail
are based on the Chinese immigrants who built much of the western
railroads).

--------------------------
the same could go for Faerie Doctors (jeez, I'd  really like to know the
correct name for such folks) - a stranger in a strange land with strange
powers righting wrongs.
--------------------------

I took the name from Lady "Speranza" Wilde's _Irish Cures, Mystic Charms, &
Superstitions._  Lady Gregory used a host of different terms to describe the
figure (Seer, Healer, Witch, etc.) and I wanted something that attached
itself to the idea of the "faerie faith."  Likewise, I couldn't come up with
an Irish name that satisfied either.  In the end, I decided that Lady Wilde
(and her husband) made excellent candidates for membership in the Explorers
Society and went with her name for the AB.

If you come across a better, more appropriate name, let me know.  I'd love
to know what a modern folklorist might call them.

Take care.

Matt

PS:  If you're looking for Irish who are not red-haired and brawling their
way through the west, you might want to check out "The Witching Hour" on
PEG's website.  I should admit that I'm a little biased towards it,
though. -- MMD