Faeries' Landing

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Faeries' Landing is a 1998 manhwa created by You Hyun and licensed in 2004 by TOKYOPOP. The original title is 선녀강림 (Sun Nyu Gang Lim); 선녀 (Sun Nyu) refers to the Korean version of a female angel.

Set in modern day South Korea with a strong element of fantasy, it follows the misadventures of 16-year old Ryang Jegal, (the Korean pronunciation of an actual Chinese historical figure) which result when he meets the faerie Fanta, as well as his fate of having 108 doomed relationships. The plot also shares common elements with the classic Korean fairytale of the Fairy and the Woodcutter (also known as the story of Star Fisher in China and the Ten'nyo in Japan), both in Fanta and Ryang's story, but as well as the story of Fanta's parents, who were the basis of the legend. In the English version, the names of the characters and settings were changed dramatically. Korean version follows a traditional Korean folk tale and settings while English version was altered to fit the world of faeries (resulting in Goodfellow and variety of characters). Translated character dialogue has been localized for North American audiences

Contents 1 Story 2 Characters 3 Other Faeries 4 Genre

[edit] Story

Ryang Jegal lives a relatively normal life (save whenever his teachers try to force him to remove his trademark bandanna, which he wears for "medical reasons"). When he saves a deer spirit called Goodfellow (Chunrok), Goodfellow offers him the opportunity to see something extraordinary. Since he has nothing better to do, Ryang accepts.

It turns out, Goodfellow's surprise is an enchanted spring where three beautiful faeries are bathing. Since he and Goodfellow cannot manage to stay undetected, Ryang accidentally tears the gown of one of the faeries. While Thea and Sina, the other two, can return to Avalon (the home of the faeries), the third cannot. The faerie Fanta and Goodfellow decide that as divine punishment, Ryang must protect her until her gown heals. Fanta, despite the fact she cannot return home, is more than happy to stay on earth with Ryang. [The book indicates that Faerie Fanta planned it all(?)]

Things seem to be going fine until Fanta's rivalfor the throne of Avalon [the king is single, yes...], the faerie Medea, arrives on the scene. Determined to stir up some trouble, Medea anoints poor Ryang with magic eyedrops. If Ryang makes eye contact with a girl who already has romantic interest of any sort, an evil affinity will result. Ryang is destined to suffer 108 evil affinities and cannot control who he affects.

Since Fanta is the only one able to purify the evil affinities, it looks like Ryang will have to welcome her into his life. Little does he know, Fanta has her own reasons and problems for coming to earth in the first place...

[edit] Characters

Ryang Jegal

Ryang is the 16-year old protagonist of Faerie's Landing. He lives with his oldest brother Hun Jegal and his wife, Taeyeong Oh. His parents are both working overseas, and his other brother Kang is currently serving out his mandatory Korean military term. (Kang does come back in the later volumes, and gets used by Ryang's psycho ex-girlfriend Yuri.) Ryang always wears a bandanna to cover up a long scar [that Yuri gave him] he has on his forehead.

His best friend is Mungyeong Seong, who goes to school with him and Fanta. Ryang was held back a year because he missed too much school, for a reason that has not been disclosed yet, but he seems to be a decent student. He is fairly athletic as well, as he is an extremely fast runner and good skateboarder. It is said that Ryang has no problem attracting girls, something that would get him into trouble later on. As for Ryang himself, there are more and more hints that he is attracted to Fanta.

Fanta

The heroine of Faerie's Landing and the Faerie of Affinity. She is extremely powerful, despite the fact that she is only a half-faerie, and is usually the only one who can purify Ryang's evil affinities, though her brother Pain and others with strong magical abilities can hold off the negative effects for an undisclosed amount of time. Though she looks sixteen, Fanta is actually 172 years old (since one Avalon year is about 10 earth years).

Until her gown heals itself (since a gown is a living part of a faerie), Fanta lives with Ryang's family on earth. Rather than being upset, she is quite happy to stay, mostly because it is the best opportunity to find her father's reincarnation and learn more about him.

Despite the handicap of being a half faerie, Fanta is extremely powerful, and was even able to summon a master class gown in the middle of a magical battle against her rival Medea and the exiled god Neptune, despite the fact such a feat should have been impossible. Fanta likes life in the mortal realm so much she completely torn her dress in half to stay longer, which was why summoning a master class dress was such an impressive feat, considering how badly her regular dress was damaged. Beyond her impressive magical powers, Fanta is very agile and strong, something that comes in handy more than once while fighting evil affinities.

Ryang, Seho Yun and Yuri Kim are the only humans who know that Fanta is a Faerie. Fanta has wiped the memories of everyone else who has seen her at work.

Seho Yun

One of Ryang's classmates. He learned early that Fanta is a faerie. When Fanta tried to wipe his memory it was uncovered that Seho has a multiple-personality disorder consisting of two distinct personalities. One is a 'geekier' Seho with glasses, closed eyes and a quieter disposition. The other is a 'cooler' version with no glasses, open eyes and a wilder personality. This condition of his means Fanta is unable to wipe his memory or cut his line of affinity.

Zero and the "Spirit Squad of Five"

For a good deal of time, Ryang had to rely on Fanta to deal with evil affinities until they could be purified. This changed when Fanta's brother gave Ryang some strong magical abilities using his skateboard as a medium. So far, Ryang has used the skateboard to fly, and created a powerful energy blast by drawing on its power, even though it was nowhere near him. Five spirits can inhabit the skateboard, each representing one of the five elements (earth, fire, wood, water, and metal). The de facto leader of the five is Zero, an earth spirit and the first to inhabit the skateboard. He is SOOOOO ADORABLE in chibi form!!!^^As far as volume 10, only a spirit of metal is required to balance the current four. The other three spirits include Gabija (fire), Nyrckes (wood), and Neptune (water).

Evidently, Ryang does not have to have the skateboard with him to access the magical power, and is extremely likely he can do much more.

Sindo

Fanta and Pain's human father¹. He is only introduced by name (before he was just referred to as ‘your/my father‘) and makes a physical appearance when Fanta uses the ‘History Hex’ on Ryang and they travel back to ancient Korea . He is a good, honest man who has compassion for others. This is shown when Ryang and Fanta (back in the past) are on the point of dying from starvation and Sindo gives them lunch. Also, the fact that the whole tale started off with him helping Goodfellow out in the first place represents his honourable qualities. He lives with his elderly mother in a rather modest shack in the middle of a forest where he makes a living chopping wood.

¹ It should be noted that it was recently revealed (Volume 13) that Sindo is actually Pain's 'foster' father, as Lady Oran was raped by Sino, making him the biological father. It is unclear as to whether Sino or Sindo could be considered Fanta's biological father, as their bodies were apparently 'switched' by a rival of Lady Oran. With these revelations however, it could possibly be coming clear why Oreadia resents Fanta and Pain's human father, (as the content in Volume 13, which shows her quite attached to her life with Sindo) she could have actually been talking about Sino, who abused her and gives her good reason to hate him. This could also explain the possibility that Sindo is the human being keep at the Gwimun Mountains (Volume 8) and why she seems compasionate then, and hostile when Fanta enquires about her father.

Sino

Sindo's half brother, on the side of their father. He is the lord of a province in ancient Korea, albeit a perverted and unfair one. Originally Sindo was to be a lord but traded places with Sino because he was scared of the responsibility. Sino is quite a self-centered character with very questionable morals. Sino is Pain's biological father, which resulted when Sino raped Oran.

Yuri Kim

A rich and revenge-minded teenage girl at the highschool usually described as "psycho" and usually described as Ryang's ex-girlfriend. Ryang would probably argue that their one date doesn't qualify her as his girlfriend. She is resentful of Fanta and Fanta's relationship with Ryang. She took in Bast, as a cat, after Bast lost one of her nine lives in vol 5. Since then Bast has shown Yuri Kim the existence of faeries and the two have worked together to take down Fanta. Yuri Kim employs two Japanese 'body-guards'.

[edit] Other Faeries

Goodfellow (Korean Name Chunrok (천록))

The messenger of the King of Avalon, as well as one of Heaven's Beasts, magical creatures that are half animal, half faerie in form. Goodfellow has the horns, ears, tail, and coloring of a deer, and can also turn into a real deer at will. Although he is nowhere near as skilled or powerful as Fanta in terms of magical power, he does have the ability to cast illusions, jump incredibly high, and ascend to Avalon. Whenever Goodfellow appears, trouble is sure to follow.

His greatest joy in life, however, is stealing bras and peeping at naked women, whether faerie or human in various states of undress, especially in the bath. He was also the one responsible for Ryang and Fanta's meeting. Ryang helped him escape the police, and he rewarded Ryang by taking him to the local bath house to peep at three faeries bathing.

Chunrok is a substitute for the deer in the original Korean folktale that was saved by the woodcutter.

Medea (Korean name Miranda (미란다) )

Beautiful and ambitious, Medea's sole goal in life is to become Queen of Avalon by marrying the current king. Unfortunately for Medea, the only faerie he is interested in is her rival Fanta, whom he has preferred since her arrival and has promised to marry, even when Fanta refused him. Medea's petty rivalry is one-sided as Fanta often fails to notice Medea's attempts to one up her. Medea is unintelligent and weak-minded, a fact many of the characters comment on, and though powerful, she is actually weaker than Fanta, who is only half-faerie compared to Medea. She greatly admires Fanta's mother Oran (오란)/Oreadia, who is a very skilled and powerful faerie.

Medea comes to earth solely to stir up mischief for Fanta and prolong her stay. She anoints Ryang with eye drops that will create up to 108 evil affinities with each girl he makes eye contact with, but her plan backfires when her gown is also torn by Ryang and she is miserably forced to stay on earth. For breaking the roles, the Prime Minister of Avalon (her brother Charon) exiles her, though the Chief Inspector (Fanta's brother Pain) offers parole if Medea helps Fanta deal with Ryang's evil affinities. Medea's recent plotting with rebels against the King of Avalon will probably end this deal.

Pain (파인)

Fanta's older brother, and is a half-faerie like her. He and his sister are close, even if they do argue sometimes like most siblings. Although the full extent of Pain's power is unknown, the fact that he has attained the position of Royal Inspector, a job which requires both power and precision, as well as being the only character seen so far that is able to hold off evil affinities suggests that he is extremely powerful. Pain is the one who enchanted Ryang's skateboard so he could fight the evil affinities along with Fanta. He also prefers men over women, something that occasionally results in Ryang being hit on. Pain's best friend is Charon, the Prime Minister of Avalon and Medea's brother.

Unlike Fanta, he can recall his father, but chooses not to tell Fanta of their father to protect her. He and his mother do not get along and merely tolerate one another.

The King

He is the almighty ruler of Avalon. He is never referred to as anything but his Highness, the king, etc so it can be supposed that he doesn't have a name, just his royal title. The King has varying character traits; he can be annoying and comic at one moment then change to cunning and serious the next. He seems to have a pique interest in Fanta though it has not been fully disclosed as to what interests him so.

In the later volumes it shows him plotting to acquire a new body with Samsin; the Goddess of Birth in Avalon. Because the King must marry and reincarnate in the form of his son, his queen must be both powerful, beautiful, yet not ambitiously vying to become queen. The King originally had chosen Fanta's mother, Oran, but after her rival tricked her into marrying a human, Oran was no longer eligible. The King no longer wished to marry (since no faerie was as qualified as Oran) until he met Fanta, who he deemed worthy because she was of Oran's blood.

He has a youthful and somewhat 'girly' appearance (because of his long hair) which causes no end of teasing from Ryang when he visits earth to get the Scroll of Divination back from Bast.

Charon

Medea's older brother and the Prime Minister of Avalon. He is fairly serious and is constantly frustrated by the King of Heaven always giving him the slip. Charon is always doing things by the book and is extremely perceptive, despite the fact that his king always manages to sneak away undetected until it is too late. Charon is deeply concerned with the King's recent activities, especially as the King still has not chosen a queen and Charon worries the King may die before this occurs.

Bast

In the English version, Bast is a cat 'Goddess' who was rejected after rumour was spread that she was an evil monster. In the original she is just a monsterish half-breed named Myohwang; discarded by family because of what she was. She plays a key role in the story as one of the main 'bad guys'. She teams up with Yuri (Ryang's psycho-ex) to plot to take down Fanta and Ryang, though she comments to Yuri at one point that she somewhat likes Fanta, but has to do what her 'mastuh' wants done. Her 'mastuh' is in fact Lady Oran/Oreadia.

When Ryang and Fanta time travel to the past they meet her as a 'kitten' and Fanta takes it upon herself to protect her because of Bast's cuteness and helplessness. Young Bast loves Sindo (Oran's husband), but dislikes his son Pain.

Lady Oran/Lady Oreadia

Fanta and Pain's mother, an extremely powerful faerie even after a liaison with a human man. Oran was originally a candidate to be Queen of Heaven, but a jealous rival named Seraphina tricked her when the two of them went to earth to bathe. Oran was left on earth with a torn gown and married a human man after she was raped and lost her memory. Though having three children would have trapped her on earth forever, Oran got her gown back in a moment of desperation to stop Sindo (in Sino's body) from being killed by Sino (in Sindo's body). She regains her memory soon afterwards and is allowed to return to Avalon under the conditions that she no longer kills any more humans out of her hatred and that Pain and Fanta must be taken back with her to heaven. Though Oran expresses a desire to rid herself of her children, she is unable to kill them because she had developed human compassion and found that, at some degree, she did love them. Bitter with her fall from the graces of the higher echelon, Oran took a new name, Oreadia, and grew to resent her children, who were a constant remainder of her relations with a human.

Seraphina

Once a devoted and bright faerie, she questioned the King as to why a faerie like herself was not permitted to visit him as often and freely as Oran. The King's cold response left Seraphina jealous and determine to best Oran, no matter what it took, and constantly strove towards what ever goal Oran was headed to. When Oran is tricked into staying on Earth, Seraphina uses the opportunity to achieve her ambitions and become the Queen of Avalon. Unfortunately, she is rejected again and again by the King, who constantly reminds Seraphina that no matter how hard she works, even after she becomes a 1st class faerie, she will never compare to Oran because Seraphina simply tries too hard to be something Oran comes by naturally.

Syndra

One of Oran's companions, who was involved with the prank that left Oran stranded on Earth. In the end, Syndra is Oran's truest friend because she is the only one who never gave up on finding Oran and trying to help her return to Avalon. Syndra is allowed to descend to Earth at an inappropriate time (faeries can descend and ascend at the full moon) with the King to find Oran at the price of being forced to be reborn as a spirit force of water.

[edit] Genre

• Fantasy
• Comedy