Gael

The mercurial gael were once dreams, quite different from the forms they take now. They find language incapable of expressing that existence and laugh off questions from other folk about the matter. Even they don't fully understand what they once were, aware only vaguely of the flowing, unformed possibility they left behind and will one day return to.

The gael are not born as other folk; they are splinters of the Dream cast into the waking world fully formed. The gael are always beautiful, though sometimes oddly so, and their appearance loosely mirrors that of the mortal folk. Though they rarely deign to explain it, because they are made from the Dream, their bodies hint at aspects of the world that have not yet awakened. For example, winter has not yet awakened in the world, but a gael might have frosted hair and chilled skin that would make one think of winter were it known. Likewise, roses still sleep, but a gael might have rose-blushed cheeks and carry their scent.

The gael themselves cannot fully know what they express from the Dream, however. Were it known and able to be captured in thought or language, it would be awake. Often each gael has a bare inkling of their nature, which they delight in being mysterious about. At times, this imperfect sense of self also leaves them wistful for the greater whole they left behind.

The gael do not age; rather, their form naturally degrades over time as the impermanence of the Dream wears away their body. Eventually, a gael dissolves back into the Dream, never to be seen in that particular form again.

Naturally, this existence renders them strange and wondrous to mortal folk. Much about them simply can't be explained in the waking world, so the gael don't bother to try; they would much rather tease and cajole mortals about their questions anyhow. Indeed, the gael find much of the world fascinating and delightful. They rise easily to laughter and even mockery, little troubles or offends them. Additionally, in their drive to experience the world, their emotions can run wild quickly. The other folk sometimes find the gael insensitive or hurtful because of this.

Above all, the gael are explorers without specific purpose. They mingle freely with other folk and usually live among them. They see little point in congregating amongst themselves; therefore, there are no gael communities in the world.