By Scott Hillman(symmes@sfsu.edu)
Familiar to any fan of science fiction, and some say science fact, Greys are commonly though to be aliens. Some say from Zarchion 3 or other stars. Some say that they come from inner world or other dimensions. Some say that they are future projections of ourselves.
That's all wrong.
Greys are in fact a Species of Fae, much like boggans or sidhe (which they are in fact related to), but quite unlike the good-natured changelings of the other kiths, the Greys are cold and quite heartless, thinking nothing of doing the most unspeakable of acts to the most innocent of people. This is perhaps why of all the Fae, they are the most feared by normal humans and sadly even though they act like other Fae they are also why they are the only ones generally believed in.
The Greys in essence act like normal Fae. They take humans away for awhile and show them their true selves. While most Fae are content to dance and frolic and perhaps to inspire men to great heights (or to steal their dreams away depending on temperament), Greys study and dissect humans, force them to carry their offspring and do other acts that are among the most unspeakable and vile, in the name of their research. Yet like all fae when they do this, humans can see their true faces (nothing lowers a person's banality like a little good old fashion fear) and can see what others dismiss as a plane or a reflection of Venus on swamp gas, is really a flying saucer and what looks at first glance like a bunch of normal looking men are really hideous aliens.
Fortunately (for both the victims' sanity and the Greys) most of the victims soon forget their experiences with the Greys. But some do not or remember it as half forgotten memories or dreams. These stories, have formed the basis for a growing counterculture of people that to the Greys is anincreasing headache. But unfortunately there is nothing they can do; they have to keep doing this.
The reason for these strange goings on are only whispered in the darkest hours by the fae. Once, long ago, the Greys (their original name is long forgotten by everyone but themselves, and they aren't telling) where a house of sidhe was obsessed with purity to the point of inbreeding. Inbreeding too much as it turned out. When they had degenerated to the point that the other fae could no longer stand to look at their grotesque features, they hid on a fairy isle for generations, far away from The Shattering, and in fact everything else. Doing what; nobody knows. They aren't telling.
That was until the middle part of this century, when to their horror (or what ever comes closest for the beings) they realized that there were no more females. For centuries the Double XX chromosome had been dying out, producing fewer and fewer females, but until this point they had contented themselves with simple mass breeding programs to produce young. But they found themselves in a bind. They were forced to turn to the only source they had done their best thus far to avoid -- the outside world.
Their solution was drastic. They would clone their existing cells, and put it in a normal women's body to incubate. This proved a limited success. While they where able to produce enough kids to for the next generation, too many failures led them to do a systematic study of human and other animals' genetic material (they use lots of cattle, as fewer people care when a cow dies than when a human does). Their variety and textures of the substance sparked one of the few emotions they have left: fascination. Their study has gone on longer then expected, and some of their numbers have even suggested, that they attempt to breed their own genetic stock with those they collect. So far they scoff at this, but the movement is slowly growing among their kind.
In recent years, since the return of the sidhe, they have made moves to return to fae society, establishing freeholds in urban centers, taking jobs in their mortal seemings and generally acting like human beings. Some go to elaborate measures to present and work with local rulers, and some have gone so far as to become knights and reeves in service to them. But whatever they do their first loyalty is always to their kith, others say. Most say that their behavior is only a cover up for the secret activities their kith do and perhaps as protection from whatever enemies they have. It is strongly rumored that two group of mortal mages called something like "NVA" and the "Cong Engineers"( both believed to be affiliated with the Vietnamese government) are trying to hunt them down, due to their human abusing activities. If their is any truth to these rumors the Greys certainly aren't telling.
Perhaps the only thing, that is preventing these mages from stooping their horrible activities or the sidhe from doing the same Is the famousness of their treasures. They are masters at not just not cars or computers, but creating ray guns that look like umbrellas, monofolicular whips that look like scarves, mind control devices, that look like hats, and virtually any device that has tantalized the minds of a science fiction writer. For this is their reality. They have no need or reason to get into a retro-medievalist stance. The other craft making kindred such as the boggans and the nookers are in quite awe of their ability, while more than one mages has met her end at the end of their pain sticks.
Oddly enough, even though they keep their frail appearance, their mortal seemings are almost as universally tall. They still keep a vague alien look to them, that puts off many people. There's nothing specific you can really place about them but they do look odd.
Wilder Greys, on their other hand have their emotions completely caulderized. They rarely, if ever laugh or cry, preferring to go about their business with as much efficiency as possible.
Grumps have been known to slip a little. There have been instances, they have whispered, of Grumps actually giving their patients some sort of anesthetic to their patients before surgery or even releasing one if they ask nicely. These reports our scoffed at though. Everyone knows Greys are emotionless.
Ties that Bind: Greys are a close group, and any time a Grey member of their motley is hurt all the other Greys in that motley instantly know it. However they do not suffer any penalties or such nonsense due to this. Greys can never botch a medical roll that deals with other Greys.
Benefits of the Stolid Mind: Greys are emotionless. While this can be a disadvantage, it does have its good sides. They are immune to fear, lust, humor or hate. They can not be affected by magic or abilities that create these states or any other strong emotons. Well most of the time. Wilder are completely immune, but childlings and Grumps get +5 to any difficulty to affect them.
Curses of the Stolid Mind: The benefits of the stolid mind also produce its maledictions. Any magic or ability that will not affect them they can not use either.
"Monsters, and worse sex fiends than satyrs."
Eshu: Useful information source if the information they have is rarely needed.
"Be wary of men who tells no 'tales'
. Nockers: Very Informed about technical matters.
"I've got to respect their technical abilities. They at least do that better then any one else. Except of course us."
Pookas: The combination of animal and human genetic material can be useful.
"You wouldn't believe what I knew anyway."
Redcaps: Clearly a product of poor genes and thus avoid them.
"I'll show you poor genes...."
Satyrs: We don't understand them, and thus avoid them.
"Poor bastards. If they weren't such a pain in the ass, I woould feel sorry for them."
Sidhe: Our starting point.
"Our dark mirror. Fae who have sold their souls to Banality to try to hold on to their nobility, not realizing that in this very act they loss it."
Sluagh: What Waste
"What Waste"
Trolls: Powerful and Unyielding.
"Whatever the others say about them, we must respect their devotions to their goals and their honor, no matter how twisted this may be."