The first experiment in genetics went horribly wrong and the unfortunate outcome was a nasty and bad mannered creature later known as a Grendel. The Shee quickly abandoned the experiment, but overlooked a few eggs that had been mislaid behind a dresser. Unfortunately, those eggs hatched and Grendels escaped to breed in the wild.

A subsequent attempt resulted in the docile (and pale) Ettins. Unfortunately, Ettins proved to be dreadful servants, as they tended towards kleptomania (or perhaps just over-tidiness) and often nicked the masters' teacups and bits of wire and string that were put down only seconds before. They were, however, gentle and relatively harmless, so they were retained, but kept well away from the family silver and high explosives.