Courts of the First World

"A land of contradictions, bright and yet dark, beautiful yet deadly, and full of endless wonder."

### Government

Monarchy + Courts

In the First World, there are four major courts that rule over realms. The Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumnal Courts are four organizations of the Fey, each with their own unique cultures, beliefs, motivations, and ambitions. While collectively they all belong to and put the needs of the First World first, the interpersonal politics can at best, cause annoyances, and at worst, perpetuate infighting that's both endless and pointless, due to their inability to remain permanently dead in the First World.

**Theme**

## History

When the First World was abandoned by the gods to reshape the Material Plane, those who remained behind, the fey, were then taken over by Nine creatures known as the Eldest. Considered to be the most powerful among all fey, the Eldest are able to shape the reality of the First World to their whims, though all do so with the best interest of the First World at mind, or so it is believed.

Yet there are more than gods and monsters that live among the First World. As time went on and the fey formed into factions among themselves to survive in the First World, or, rather, thrive, four main groups emerged. They became known as the follows: The Winter Court, The Summer Court, The Spring Court, and The Autumnal Court. Initially, the Summer and Winter Court were first to be formed, with the Spring and Autumnal Court forming second, as both mirrors and a balance to the polarized dichotomy of the Summer and Winter Court.

## **The Summer Court**

The Summer Court is home to the fey who typically find themselves good-aligned. One thing that is certain among the Summer Court is their desire to embody the light and growth of the First World, seeking to maximize it's potential and give a home to the fey that had been left behind. A place of laughter and friendship, many of the denizens emulated it's ideals in their both curious and playful nature.

### Religion

* While the Eldest are often times incorporated into religion and belief among what little fey do in fact hold such practices, many see their ruler and their queen Titania, as their true 'savior', though even many merely respect her, rather than worship her. Religion is few and far between, and even Titania herself has never validated the rumors that she is a lesser known Eldest, or perhaps one of the Nine in disguise. Overall, the Summer Court cares little for worship of someone, and more about embracing the goals and ideals of the Summer Court.

### Magic

* The magic of the First World is wild and chaotic, embracing all forms. The only kind that is forbidden among the First World is necromancy, the fear of negative energy tainting their place, especially the Summer Court, being enough to ward off any would-be practitioners of dark arts. A favoritism towards magic that exonerates and manipulates nature, minds, and reality, such as illusions is clear in both disposition and interaction, but there is no magic that is cast out, so long as it follows the Queen's rules.

### Technology

* Technological is difficult to define among the fey, as their needs and desires are far different from denizens as Material Planes. As such, it is only speculated what they are capable of, but nobody knows for certain.

### Military

* Led by Queen Titania, a brilliant strategist and resourcesful, cunning leader, the military of the Summer Court is exceptionally capable at adapting to any given situation, whether it's in defense of their home or on the offense near the borders where they clash with the Winter Court. Employing all manners of soldiers and creatures to combat one another, the Summer Court is known for it's pragmatic approach, but caution was given to the fiery wrath embodied by those of the summer.

### Law and Crime

* Standard laws and punishments, nothing unique or special here.

### Points of Interest

* **Leader of The Summer Court:** Queen Titania
* **The Inner Circle:** Powerful archfey who are not Eldest, but still hold respect and command. They answer only to the Queen.
* **The Outer Circle**: Selected individuals to represent the varied interests of the Summer Court fey, serving as advisors, a court system, and the representatives to and of everyday people.

## **The Winter Court**

The Winter Court is the dark mirror of the Summer Court, twisted reflections and corrupted ideals stolen from them. Some believe the Winter Court was formed after one of the Inner Circle of the Summer Court were slighted by Titania, while others say that it was Titania's sister, and perhaps another Eldest that is disguised, or unknown. Regardless of source, the Winter Court is all the Summer Court is not. A place of hatred, enslavement, and death, the Winter Court is barren and forlorn, full of dark hearts and malevolent spirits that thrive on the malice and pain inflicted upon others. Inhabited only by the most foul and the most diabolical, the Winter Court was a place of suffering and sadism, ruled over by the Queen of Air and Darkness, who may be more of a presence than a person at this point.

### Religion

* Believing in very little, including the Eldest, there is no official faith or beliefs in the Winter Court. What little individuals may find purpose and belief ascribe such to the Queen of Air and Darkness, her presence always there but never manifested.

### Magic

* Unlike the Summer Court, the Winter Court has no qualms with using necromancy and raising the dead, often using mindless ones as menial servants or entertainment for the Queen. All magic is welcome here, except that which the Queen claims is 'of the Summer', which is often those who have an excessive abundance of positive energy or equivocally such 'bright and happy' magic.

### Technology

* Technological is difficult to define among the fey, as their needs and desires are far different from denizens as Material Planes. As such, it is only speculated what they are capable of, but nobody knows for certain.

### Military

* An elite group known as The Shadow's Hunt is compromised of the Winter Court's finest hunters. While most are fey, there are intelligent undead and even non-fey mortals, though they are exceptionally rare and extremely skilled, being equally as dangerous as the Queen's finest warriors, if not more. Where the Summer Court adheres to typical knightly and feudalistic armies, the Winter Court is far more accepting of guerilla warfare and dishonorable tactics.

### Law and Crime

* Standard laws and punishments, nothing unique or special here.

### Points of Interest

* **Leader of the Winter Court:** Queen of Air and Darkness (Name unknown)
* **The Shadow's Hunt:** Elite warriors among the Winter Court, they also serve as an impromptu council when necessary.
* **The Court of Sorrow:** Selected individuals to represent the varied interests of the Winter Court fey, serving as advisors, a court system, and the representatives to and of everyday people.

## **The Spring Court**

Where the Summer and Winter Court represent the axis of good and evil, the Spring Court embraces chaos unfettered. Believing in growth, freedom, expression, and whimsy to the fullest, the Spring Court believes that neither good nor evil can be trusted or wielded, and it is through shedding these moral problems that one can become truly free, and exist in a euphoric bliss of totality, where all is felt without shame, fear, or regret. Their wildly volatile, fluid, and unpredictable nature makes both the Summer and Winter Court regard them as a liability, though not outright friend or foe. Dealings with them are often quick and short, so that they cannot bring chaos and unstructured behavior to the respective realms, restricting their ability to cause chaos, destabilization, and anarchy. A reflection of their behavior, their lands, known as the Meadows, are a place fashioned from Oberon, and appears to be a biome that constantly shifts it's nature to suit the whims of it's creator.

### Religion

* With a belief in none more than themselves, none of the fey revere any faith.

### Magic

* Due to their nature, there is no restriction on magic. To them, all must be felt, both good and bad, to embrace true freedom.

### Technology

* Technological is difficult to define among the fey, as their needs and desires are far different from denizens as Material Planes. As such, it is only speculated what they are capable of, but nobody knows for certain.

### Military

* Perhaps the most wild of a military, the Spring Court organizes itself through those that are like-minded and capable of similar abilities. This allows them to quickly form squadrons that cover their weaknesses and empower their strengths, making them much like their behavior on the field of battle. Unpredictable, wild, chaotic, and most of all: Dangerous. After all, it is impossible to predict an enemy that cannot even predict themselves.

### Law and Crime

* Standard laws and punishments, nothing unique or special here.

### Points of Interest

* **Leader of the Spring Court:** Prince Oberon
* **Season's Greetings**: Selected individuals to represent the varied interests of the Spring Court, serving as advisors, a court system, and the representatives to and of everyday people.

## **The Autumnal Court**

The Autumnal Court is much akin to that of the Spring Court in being neither Summer nor Winter. Yet similar to the Winter Court, the Autumnal Court is an opposed reflection of the Spring Court, in complete opposition of their beliefs. Where the Spring Court believes that it is necessary to embrace all emotions, all experiences, and all things unfettered to experience true bliss, the Autumnal Court practices clarity, apathy, and calmness. Withdrawn from the conflicts of the First World, they do not seek to ever be the aggressors, and instead take a defensive, if not slightly passive, state on the affairs of the other three courts.

### Religion

* Worshipping none, the Autumnal Court believes in the betterment of the self, clarity in apathy, and enlightenment in silence.

### Magic

* Eschewing magic they believe far too chaotic or whimsical, magic that exists on the extremes, such as necromancy or pyromancy, are forbidden due to their disruptive and tumultuous nature. A strong favor is shown to magic that is both calm and controlled, and is more on the responsibility of the user, than the magic itself.

### Technology

* Technological is difficult to define among the fey, as their needs and desires are far different from denizens as Material Planes. As such, it is only speculated what they are capable of, but nobody knows for certain.

### Military

* Forming an army in defense of their lands, the Autumnal Court focuses on long, drawn-out sieges that will either result in the abandonment of the assaults by the enemy, or the slow but steady witling and defeat of their foes. Located in a mountainous region, the Autumnal Court is shielded and protected by their leader who goes by the name 'The Changeling'. It's unclear who or what they are, but their secrets are their own, and they share them with few, if anyone. Led by Knights of the Equinox, the Autumnal Court is a formidable foe, as immovable and impenetrable as the mountains they call home.

### Law and Crime

* Standard laws and punishments, nothing unique or special here.

### Points of Interest

* **Leader of the Autumnal Court:** The Changeling
* **Knights of the Equinox**: Selected individuals to represent the varied interests of the Autumnal Court, serving as advisors, a court system, and the representatives to and of everyday people.