The Fey Courts of Khodvia

Each of the Fey Courts of Khodvia and the great fairies that stand as their heads straddle the line between mortality and divinity in a unique fashion. The true Courts are located in material-bound demiplanes with set anchors and hidden entrances across the entirety of Khodvia, activated by the time of day and position of the moons, and known only to the Fey and the most trusted of their worshippers. Tales of meeting the rulers of the Courts are commonplace, with many famous instances taking the place of Khodvian folklore, and wild claims and rumors come up as casual gossip and drunkards' brags day in and day out.

The uncertainty of their divinity and personal role within the lives of mortals plays well into the naturally whimsical nature of the Fey. To live carefree and secure in yourself is one of the greatest virtues of all three courts, though the manner in which they promote their followers to pursue this goal varies wildly.

## The Celenial Court

### History

The most well-loved and widely-worshipped of the courts is the Celenials. In the City of Summer itself, every house bears at least three charms in reverence of Queen Samdradh and her family, and for good reason. It was Samradh herself that brought the knowledge of shelter and farming to the starving, impoverished settlers of Khodvia, and who has watched over them all with a mother's love ever since. Under the sun, the cruel antics of the Eagallach Court are all but powerless, further proof of the grand scope of protections provided to man by the Celenial Court.

Today, worship of the Celenial Court is as active as ever. To those following the Celenial Court, every Monday is celebrated as the Queen's day. While usually the most depressing day, that being the start of the workweek, the day is marked by great meals, music, and drinking, to show appreciation for the knowledge they had been given. It is because of this that Tuesday is often known as 'Basday' thanks to the rampant hangovers from the day before.

Today, the court is in a strange place. Ever since the First Curse, Queen Samradh and her son, Prince Geamhradh have not once been spotted in the material world, though the Fey still speak of them fondly, and comment about how busy the two of them are. The warmth and protection of the Celenial Court can still be felt, though a sense of uncertainty lingers about the status of their beloved Queen of Fairies.

### Home

The Celenial Court resides in the mythical Demiplane known as the Garradh, a verdant land that hides between the folds of material space, always in direct view of the sun. As such, the vast, expansive forests and gardens that mark the Celenial Home are always bathed in warm, direct sunlight. Queen Samradh's personal garden, the Blathan Fiadhach, is said to be so incredible that it was sealed away from all visitors save for the queen and her family, for the scent of the those powerfully exotic and lovingly tended and unique flowers was said to be so pleasant, that men would die after leaving as their lungs would refuse to breathe any other air. Those scarce few that have set foot in Garradh have compared it to Heaven, and all have professed a deep longing to return up and to their deathbeds.

### Notable Figures

* Queen Samradh: The patron of the entire Court, she has led the Celenial Court since time immemorial. Often depicted as a tall, fair-skinned fairy with fiery red hair, beautiful incandescent blue butterfly wings, and a penchant for bright green clothing, she is known as the Lifegiver, and is credited with personally teaching the first settlers of Khodvia how to till the lands and build their own shelters. She is said to have a great love for all life, from the grandest of kings to the most pitiful of humans, and down to even a simple blade of grass.
* Prince Foghar: The husband of Queen Samradh, Prince Foghar is a meek, gangly man who always seems to be the tallest person in the room, as if by magic. His skin is almost grey, his hair is a messy bed of brown, and he flies via two oversized moth wings. Despite his apparent lack of personability, Prince Foghar is widely renowned as the Patron of Bards, an unmatched musical genius who can play any instrument expertly upon picking it up for the first time. Khodvian bards are constantly on the lookout for a cloaked, lanky figure hiding in the back of the crowds, in case such a figure might be the musical genius himself, for his offered insights into the nature of song are said to be life-changing.
* Princess Earrach: As the eldest child and daughter to Prince Foghar and Queen Samradh, is the pinnacle of beauty and innocence. Her wavy blonde hair is long enough to drag on the ground as she walks, yet it is perpetually clean and glistens as if gold, her green eyes are said to be impossible to look away from, and her laugh is, quite literally, contagious, spreading to others as readily as a spell. She is the one most often seen in the Material World, and rumors abound that the Fairy Princess even wanders beyond Khodvia's borders, to find new, exotic joys to experience. Her sweet tooth is a thing of legends, something that pastry chefs the world around strive to please for the blessings that such an honor can come with. It isn't unheard of that even the most isolated village will find a bright-eyed blonde-haired guest at their tables when there is pie to be served, and the fastest way to her heart is with her favorite dessert, vanilla cream puffs!
* Prince Geamhradh: He takes much after his father in his quiet, gentle disposition. That being said, the young-looking prince with snow-white hair and bright blue eyes is said to be the kindest of souls and a prolific healer. It was by his hand that Khodvians were taught how to preserve life, with healers often invoking small prayers to the Son as they work their craft.
* The Court Knights: The military arm of the Celenial Court, clad in armor of leaves and wielding gleaming sickles, the knights of the Court are few, but skilled fairies that act as guards for the royal family, and protectors of the Celenial Realm. Princess Earrach with her unquenchable wanderlust has notably turned evading them into an art form, much to their consternation.
* Court Lords/Ladies: Each noble house of Khodvia is favored by the Fey and granted certain privileges, such as the ability to petition the fairies directly, and they are blessed with long lives and good health. Each noble bears a dandelion-shaped birthmark over their heart, and their eyes are always green.

### Holidays

There are several other holidays that hold the court in reverence as well, in wildly varying degrees.

* July 20th is known as Samrafeis, the brightest day, where massive bonfires are built to shine under the longest day in the year. The day is usually accompanied with feasts and merrymaking.
* October 31st is Latha Masg, the Day of Masks. To counter the particularly potent occult energy that used to permeate that day, a festival was born in which the people would don hand-carved wooden masks meant to emulate the grotesque creatures of the Eagallach Court, and to hide among them. Witch Queen Bas herself seems to love the holiday, and has ordered her court to abide by its rules.
* March 21st is Duisgfeis, the day of awakening. It celebrates the day that the endless winter of the First Curse broke, and the snow melted away. Thanks are given to the gentle son, Prince Geamhradh, in the form of burnt incense and flowers woven from the dried grasses.
* June 1st is Slanachadh, a day that pays respect to the healers, both mundane and magical, by gifting them coin, food, wine, and clothes.
* In addition, King Duncan V constantly creates new holidays, seemingly on a whim. The vast majority of them are celebrated only in the City of Summer, leading there to be more days of celebration than there aren't. Lily Day, Cinnamon Day, Orange Cat Appreciation Day, the holidays are as inane as they sound. Just don't let the guards hear you say that.

### Symbols

The holy symbol of the Celenial Court is the dandelion, revered for its persistence and penchant for following humans wherever they may settle, as well as being a viable foodstuff all their own. Farming and carpentry tools are often revered as holy symbols as well to a lesser extent. Lastly, iconography of the Sun can be used to depict the Celenial Court's scope of influence. No specific sigil exists, anything works from a wooden charm, a metal sculpture, or even the actual flower.

## The Luminial Court

### History

Far removed from their sister court, the Luminial Court acts as a source of rules and guidelines towards the people of Khodvia. Many of the nation's laws are based off of the strict teaching of the Three Sisters, that were taught to the settlers in order to teach them how to survive in their own way. Never pass the Warded Stones. Never hunt a fey beast. Do not eat the red capped mushrooms. Do not hunt for sport. While the Celenial Court gave and taught what was needed to create, the Luminial Court taught the settlers of Khodvia what was needed to live in harmony with the land and its inhabitants.

That isn't to say that the Sisters do not take a more personal role in the lives of man. Indeed, tales have been spun about sightings and meetings alike, of a mysterious cloaked figure giving a single nod of approval at a well-placed arrow. Of a beautiful woman comforting them as they lay in bed, sick with a deathly illness. The influences of the Luminial Court are far more subtle, but no less felt and appreciated by the Khodvians.

### Home

The Luminial Court resides in the Moonlit Path, a series of paved walkways encompassing the entire world, hidden in the shadows of moonlight. These roads are used by fey of all kinds to cross indeterminate amounts of space in the span of a single step. Those that stumble into the Moonlit Path by accident often find themselves miles away from home, and in some extreme cases, have even turned up entire countries away. Luckily the paths themselves are regularly patrolled by the Watchers, the Feyborn Owls that act as servants to the three sisters, so such extreme cases of accidental displacement are quite few and far between. The secrets of the Moonlit Path are a closely-guarded secret, one that not even all Fey are privy to the knowledge of.

### Notable Figures

* Nighean, the Huntress: The youngest, and most aggressive of the Three Sisters that comprise the rulers of the Luminial Court. She is the violent enforcer of the rules of Khodvia, bringing punishment to those that dare to break them with swift and merciless precision. Some have equated her doling of minor justice to a form of Karma, such as punishing oathbreakers with misfortune, or punishing animal abusers with supernatural animal animosity. It is only the most egregious crimes that draw her direct ire, such as the hunting of a great Fey Beast. Nighean is described as a young woman clad in an owl-feather cloak, with short black hair and bright yellow eyes, and who never speaks a single word. She is prayed to for good fortune by hunters and warriors alike, that their victory might be judged by the Great Huntress.
* Boireannach, the Wardeness: As diametrically opposed to her younger sister as ice is to fire, Boireannach is the gentle guardian of dreams. She is described as a shapely woman wrapped in a heavenly soft goose down cloak, with a soft voice who's whispered words of comfort are heard as songs by those meant to receive them. Those seeking reprieve from nightmares or sickness might place a charm or favor under their pillow, to request Boireannach to protect them in the dreaming world, and she is often credited for other comforting phenomena such as the softness of down, and the quiet comfort of a foggy morning is known as 'Boireannuine'.
* Seanmhair, the Listener: The eldest of the sisters, Seanmhair is by far the strangest of the three. She takes the form of an old woman, hunched over and hobbled from age, wearing a black cloak of desiccated raven's feathers. Nothing gives Seanmhair more pleasure than listening to the tales of others, of their exploits, their boasts, their regrets, and their secrets. The woman herself is quite the repository of knowledge, and those that give her an exciting enough story often find themselves with an invaluable tip or trick given in return. There exists a tradition in Khodvia known as the Urnaigh Bais, where those upon their deathbeds may whisper confessions of pride, shame, and regret to an anointed priest of Seanmhair, or if none is available, perhaps even the Listener herself might spare the time to hear what has to be said. This is done so that the dying may pass on to be judged with a clear sense of self, of who they really are and how they might be judged.
* The Watchers: The owl-like Fey that patrol the Moonlit Path, they act as guides and messengers for the Luminial Court and their retinue. They also act as guides, both within the Moonlit Path and without. A common Khodvian expression of wisdom is 'When all is lost, look to the trees.', in reference to the number of tales in which lost travelers and children have found their way back home by the guidance of an owl.

### Holidays

Holidays celebrating the Luminial Court are often more somber occasions, though that doesn't stop the citizens of Khodvia from feasting and celebrating all the same.

* December 21st is Latha Dorcha, the Longest Night. The holiday was originally honored by selecting one person per household to stay awake the entire night, keeping candles lit upon the windowsill to show defiance to the darkness of the Eagallach Court, while the moon shined on overhead. It has been adapted as of late, to include massive parties and feasts lasting until sunrise, though the tradition of candles has never been forgotten.
* August 1st is known as Gearain. While less of a celebrated holiday, it is the day in which those bearing grievances and hatred are encouraged to bring their bottled up anger to the person in question, to be settled by calm words or fists, whichever is deemed appropriate. All that matters is that, by sundown, the complaints have been settled. In the City of Summer, Gearain Brawls are almost a spectator sport, with roped-off stages being set up around the entire city to turn the fights into shows for the masses. It is not unheard of for a Gearain Brawl to take the form of a duel to the death, and while it certainly remains within the terms of 'Settle the grudge', such actions are generally frowned upon by the public as being against the spirit of the holiday.

### Symbols

The holy symbol of the Luminial Court is the Brightcap, a purple tulip native to Khodvia that glows red under the new moon and always seems to spring up over freshly-dug graves. The flowers are said to act as wards against the creatures of the Eagallach Court, though their effectiveness has varied results. Another symbol of the Luminial Court is the Owl, a potent nighttime hunter that is said to be a source of great wisdom.

## The Eagallach Court

### History

For every tale told to naughty Khodvian children in order to scare them into behaving, chances are high that the story contains nuggets of truth, and the chances are even higher that the story was born of the Eagallach Court's machinations. Ruled by the beautiful yet cruel Witch Queen Bas, the court is a sanctuary for hideous and wicked monsters so depraved and hated that they dare not travel under the domains of the other courts. For the Fey and followers of the Eagallach Court, their whimsy and trickery has long since crossed the line into true malevolence.

Nightmares, monsters, disease, kidnappings, human experimentation, all are dabbled in by the Eagallach Court. The Witches and Hags under Bas' protection are free to form their covens and conduct their wicked magics, so long as their whimsical leader finds the results to be entertaining in some fashion. Bas' sense of humor is known far and wide, and in all of her centuries of living, it seems that her only motivation for granting power and protection is simply to look for her next big laugh.

### Home

The Eagallach Court resides in the Baslands (named by and for their egotistical ruler), the great expanse of marshes, swamps, and dense forests that make up the northern part of Khodvia, though their influence stretches greatly in areas where the Sun and Moon are unable to shine, such as the network of caves underneath Greaggun Dochas much to the consternation of the dwarves of Cnuic Oir. Bas herself resides within the (once again aptly named), Bastle. A looming fortress of smooth grey stone with rotting vines climbing up the masonry, it lay half-submerged in the most toxic of the Basland's swamps, though the inside is remarkably spotless.

### Notable Figures

* Witch Queen Bas: The sole ruler of her court, Bas is a witch like no other. Much unlike her ilk, who draw power from the Rule of 3, Bas herself has never entered a coven, yet as far as fell spellcasters go, her magic is nigh unmatched. She professes a true, genuine love for all hideous and malformed creatures, granting them protection and favor with the same fervor that the other courts show for their humanoid wards. Much like her fey ilk, Bas has a great love for pranks, though she has long since turned to great cruelty to get her giggles. Twisting and defaming those that take great pride in themselves, until they are turned into the terrible monsters that they once mocked and despised happens to be her favorite modus operandi. That being said, one can easily earn Bas' favor, should they manage to make the Witch Queen laugh. Bas herself has a great love for the Fool, and much of her time is spent attempting to outprank the great prankster himself, in the vain hope that he might take notice.

### Holidays

* The Witch Moon: The new moon marks the hour in which the Celenial and Luminial courts are at their weakest, thus making it the prime time for the Eagallach Court to spread their wicked mischief across Khodvia. Unfortunately, thanks to the presence of Khodvia's second moon, both moons must align at once to create a true new moon, now referred to as the witch moon. This unhallowed day comes once every 13 years, allowing the monsters to wander freely beyond the borders of the Baslands en masse. Entire villages have been known to disappear during this time, and it is not uncommon for nobles and well-to-do Khodvians to simply skip the country while they wait for the night to pass.

### Symbols

The unholy symbol of the Eagallach Court is a twisted and gnarled root embedded with an iron spike. It cannot be reproduced by means of precious metals, and any effort to use such a trinket as an unholy symbol immediately causes the metal to tarnish and crumble into nothingness.