* BrokenBase: There's a bit of contention over whether it was a good idea to keep the True Fae largely off-screen antagonists for 2E, instead giving much of their more personal role to their [[TheHeavy chief agents]], the Huntsmen (the writers have justified it by saying one of the major components of a Huntsman's physical body is the desperate desire of their Keeper master to recover their favorite toys-[[FightingAShadow being their master in part]], in other words).
* CompleteMonster: [[{{Sadist}} The Shrike]] is a wicked [[TheFairFolk Charlatan]] who emerged from the Fae lands to prey upon mortals, including [[WouldHurtAChild children]]. Dragging them back to her [[CannibalLarder larder]], the Shrike would impale them on thorns to die in agony and feast on them at her leisure. Upon meeting the human SerialKiller Earnest Marker, the Shrike bonded with him and gained a new appreciation for taking life now that she could understand it better. Stalking her prey and slaughtering them, the Shrike relishes nothing so much as torture and agony, with even her ostensible host not being safe if she is discovered.
%%* Crazy Awesome: [[TheFairFolk True Fae]], though they don´t notice the ''crazy'' part. Some Changelings can be so, too.
* EnsembleDarkhorse: The entire game line is something of this to the ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'' in general. The game was originally supposed to consist of a limited run of six core books (and even that was only because the publisher was convinced to expand from the intended five). The line became ''so'' popular that they released three more print books, a PDF-only tie-in, and several pre-published adventures for Storytellers to use.
* EvilIsCool: The True Fae are good candidates to qualify as being the sickest, most twisted bastards in the ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'' (with some tough competition). And fans ''[[LoveToHate love]]'' them for it.
* {{Fanon}}: The oft-repeated anecdote that [[spoiler:changelings are how the True Fae reproduce]]. It ''may'' be - [[spoiler:Changelings can indeed become True Fae, and start making Changelings of their own]] - but the actual book the idea comes up in, Equinox Road, also suggests other ways for [[spoiler:True Fae to come into existence, such as for a bit of Arcadia to develop a Name]]. Nevertheless, the idea fits so well thematically the fandom tends to embrace it as WordOfGod.
* GeniusBonus: When describing Treasured, who were ''objets d'art'', the painting they reference is "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Roses_of_Heliogabalus The Roses of Heliogabalus]]". Read the description. Sounds ''exactly'' like something a True Fae would do.
* JerkassWoobie:
** Huntsmen. Yes, they're hellbent on bringing changelings back to their Keepers, but that's only because the True Fae forced them into servitude by tearing their hearts out. Those who get their hearts back often spare the changeling they're supposed to be after.
** The True Fae themselves. Yes, they're insane monsters, but any given True Fae is potentially [[spoiler: a former Changeling, and thus a [[ShadowArchetype kidnapped abuse victim]] who finally lost the fight for their sanity.]] For that matter, the True Fae are the way they are because they are [[EvilCannotComprehendGood metaphysically incapable of being any other way]], and any attempt to invoke HumanityEnsues tends to end up more in BlessedWithSuck territory.
* {{Narm}}: A line in the ''Rites of Spring'' sourcebook: 'But anywhere the juice ran, the wound tightened, puckered up like a [[TooMuchInformation nervous butthole]]...'
* NightmareFuel: The entire premise of the game, really. See the [[NightmareFuel/ChangelingTheLost page]] for more.
* ParanoiaFuel: Anyone could be a fetch. ''You'' could be a fetch. There's no way of knowing until the Changeling comes back... Or you get hurt with cold iron, which is EXCEEDINGLY rare in the modern age.
** Any opening, archway, doorway or reflective surface can be a portal to The Hedge. So making sure every door is locked won't do you any good since they can come out from under your bed, your bathroom mirror or even from the [[VideoGame/{{Persona4}} TV]] [[Literature/TheRing screen]]!!
*** Or ''[[OhCrap the computer monitor you are currently reading this on]]''.
*** Quick question, who here owns a smartphone? And carries it ''everywhere''?
* TooBleakStoppedCaring: '''Averted.''' The authors were so anxious about this happening that they put a paragraph or so of narration into nearly every book clarifying that yes, there are things worth fighting for, and that "for all the madness, there is also wonder."
* TheWoobie: Your character at the very LEAST was kidnapped, replaced, and tortured. Even if their back-story makes them more of a BreakTheHaughty, you still want to give them a hug.
** IronWoobie: But even the weakest changeling was able to muster up enough courage and independent thought to escape their abusers. The True Fae are as ''gods'' to normal humans, but for all their power, changelings can escape to freedom- and thousands have done so.
** Even among other Changelings, the Wizened have it pretty rough. They are normally made from shy, socially awkward individuals, and the transformation makes them even more uncomfortable among others. On top of that, they are often overlooked by the other Changelings [[UngratefulBastard even after offering their services to them]], and they find it difficult to ask for respect due to their aforementioned issues.
** The Fetches. They're not even real people, just clumps of random matter that ''think'' they're people. If their changeling comes back to reclaim their life - and many do - they suffer a FreakOut and will [[GoMadFromTheRevelation never fully recover even if they survive]]. WhatMeasureIsANonHuman indeed...