By Dale Strombeck
To this extent almost no noble house is without its Brownie butler, maid, or personal spy. The main reason for this is due to the fact that a Brownie cares more about others than it does itself. A Brownie cannot accept any gift other than a dairy product for a meal. Any Brownie who does accept more finds itself being torn apart from its Faerie nature. Payment of money is a mortal tradition that separates them from their natural upbringing; favors are something that they would rather accomplish themselves, and the only food they can digest is dairy products.
While Seelie Brownies are only interested in cleanliness, their Unseelie cousins are fascinated by destruction. An Unseelie Brownie is known as a Boggart and they often have short tempers. Although they have good spying qualities, Boggarts will only do favors twisted and backwards. A peacful Brownie will form into a Boggart if it is rubbed the wrong way. For this reason many of the mortals and kith will be good to them and award them with kindly thanks.
Brownies all have different characteristics. The three most noted are the addition of a long furry tail, A large nose and no mouth, or only stubs for fingers and toes with two tiny slits for nostrils. The reason for these differences is unknown. Some believe that it deals with the region that the Brownies ancestors once inhabited. Nevertheless they are always coverd with short brown fur, and have giant round eyes.
In more recent times the younger Brownies have tried to rebel against their past with little effect. Instead of worrying about others needs they wish to concern themselves with their own needs. Many of these Brownies have become Boggarts, much to the dismay of many Grumps. These Brownies have become saddened by the fact that their habits may not be of choice but some natural instinct that lies deep in their past. Many of their kind has suffered terribly from banality while trying to resist their heritage.
Wilder: Cleaning for Wilders is not a chore but a state of mind. Wilder Brownies have learned how to help others and find enjoyment from it. They also begin to care more about others than themselves.
Grumps: Grumps often attach themselves to one chore that they like particularily well and will work to make sure that their task is not ever disturbed in any way, shape, or form.
Large Nose: Brownies with this ability have a large nose that covers their entire faces with the exception of their eyes. In order to eat, food is stuffed up the nostrils because they have no mouths. Kithain with this trait gain an extra point in Perception, even if it raises this trait above five. This is because they have a keen sense of smell. Brownies with this trait are known as Killimoulis.
No Toes, Fingers, Or Nose: These are the classic Brownies of the Scottish Highlands, Lowlands, and Midlands. Their ability is that of agility. For an unknown reason these Brownies are exceedingly fast and thus gain an extra point in Dexterity, even if it raises the trait above five. Faerie historians believe that this ability is gained from their original homeland of Scotland.
Eshu: How do you hide an Eshu's paycheck?...Put it in his work shoes. Ha Ha Ha!
Nockers: Good at what they do. If they were not around there would be no brooms.
Pookas: Friendly folk. A little goofy, but friendly nonetheless.
Redcaps: Can we ignore them?
Satyrs: "Whistle while you work". They whistle while we work.
Sidhe: Nice large houses to clean and live in.
Sluagh : Filthy buggers.
Trolls: Gentle but large. I mean huge. No I mean Gigantic!!!