Changelings

Changelings have adapted very well to city life. Due to the stressful nature of being forced out of their homes, many fairies are happy to be let humans raise their young for them as they can barely provide for themselves. Changelings are the spitting image of human children, though in their true form they tend to take on characteristics of their fairy parents such as pointed ears and teeth and a penchant for mischief. Changelings rarely stay very long with their human guardians, having a naturally rebellious nature and can be found roaming the streets alone.

Recent Findings

I've been fortunate enough to catch this creature in the act of stealing the lead from my mechanical pencils. He was surprisingly obliging in letting me draw a picture of him... although I did have to agree to let him keep one of the pencils... I recognized him immediately as what's commonly known as a dust fiend, or a "dust bunny" because of the characteristic mouse-like limbs and the fact that his fur was really the bits of dust and lint that has collected in the corners of my apartment. I had always thought these creatures were rather unintelligent and shy, but that's not at all the case. I've found my particular dust fiend to have characteristics similar to the Scottish House Brownies. This leads me to believe that the dust fiend is some sort of adaption of the brownie to the urban household.

This is an intriguing monster. Normally found in swampy Southern areas of America, the Groaker became notorious for begging the unwary traveller for anything he might have. If the traveller looks into the groaker's eyes he will be forced to succumb to the groaker's demands. Eventually the Groaker will make off with everything you have and disappear into the bog, leaving the poor soul alone in the marshlands to die. Seeing them in the city isn't surprising. People discard so many valuable things that the groaker hardly has to beg. Although people can't see these creatures, city dwellers constantly feel the effects of them even if they don't realize it.

Ogres come from all over the world, and like trolls, they feed off of the creatures around them. Being forced out of the mountains and forests, city ogres became confused as to how to survive. They've become mostly mute due to the fact that they lost contact with each other when the cities started cropping up and they were forced to split up. City ogres are mostly herbivores, feeding on garbage and local vegetation. Being quite vast in size, they tend to inhabit vacant lots and abandoned buildings. This particular ogre I caught a glimpse of behind a decrepit thrift store where it was obvious he had been nicking old clothes to make either a bed or blanket out of. 

Microfairies, salamanders, Meeshka, and trolls

Here's my first group of sketches.



I haven't found a proper name for what these things are yet (they might not be classified.) For now I'm calling them micro-fairies. They're usually found crawling on other larger fairies, sort of like lice. I want to make some better images of them since they're actually kind of pretty but all I have is an old magnifying glass. If anybody can tell me where to get a microscope at a decent price I would be much obliged.

This is a common Northeastern Salamander. They like campfires and other warm places (like kitchen stoves and light fixtures.) They are dormant in winter months. (And also a tiny picture of Tin somehow got on there.)
This is Meeshka. Meeshka lives in a meat locker here in Richmond. From what I understand he was originally from Alaska and was trapped in a refrigerator truck loaded with salmon. He doesn't speak English very well but he's learning. Since Richmond is classified as subtropical (look it up, it's on Wiki) Meeshka can't go outside except on the coldest days and nights. However he is eating well and other than being homesick and lonely he doesn't have any complaints. Sometimes I bring him his favorite snack - charcoal.


Last and least is this troll. I don't have any of my reference books here but I believe that trolls originated Sweden and there abouts. (I'll have to check with Abby since she's the expert on that area) There are A LOT of trolls in Richmond. I don't think I've ever come across any in Bland but they're everywhere you look in Richmond. Most of the time they're disguised as homeless people, owing to their relatively human shape and features and since they can blend in easily with hobos in their favorite shelter - under bridges. I think these small Americanized city trolls are fairly harmless, or less dangerous than some of the more deranged homeless humans. I'll have to research their diet to determine this.


I'll have more in depth descriptions of these creatures in later posts.

Far From Watchful Eyes

Welcome to the Urban Mud Fairies Project!

Autumn Haynes and I hatched the idea to start a project. As if we don't have enough to do. But this was such a brilliant plan that we couldn't resist. 

We'll be documenting the local unseen (or should we say, unseely) inhabitants of our beloved city as we come across them, and posting our findings here. We hope you're prepared to see evidence of goblins, ghosts, and all creatures straight out of long-forgotten folklore - because they're all around you, completely hidden... that is, to the untrained eye.