Undead Courts

The **Undead Courts** consist of the sentient non-Awakened undead community. It is split into 3 courts: the **Dawn Court**, the **Dusk Court**, and the **Night Court**. Each has different ideologies regarding the living. The 3 courts originated from and are named after the Three Horsemen, cursed objects created by the mother of undead, Baba Yaga.

The Courts cannot be destroyed by the three Great Countries. Some members of the court have existed before the Griffon Kingdom was founded. They are powerful and wise, but also have made their existences a secret from the public, as they do not interfere in political struggles nor seek temporal power. One of the reasons why the Kingdom barely tolerates them is that the Courts are a necessary evil. They take care of rogue undead and often take control of the criminal underworld, preventing useless chaos.

Awakened undead have no place in the Courts and despise them. There's also very few of them because Awakening an undead is much harder than a living being due to their blood core, so most of them are Liches or Awakened that turned to avoid death. Undead beasts and plants are a minority in the Courts not because they are few but because most of them live in the Eclipsed Lands.

After the Battle of the Feymar Mines and Night's defeat in Lutia, many undead abandon the Courts and seek asylum in the Eclipsed Lands.

## Dawn Court

Horseman: Dawn (Bright Day)

The **Dawn Court** respects all kinds of life forms. Be they humans, plants, or beasts, the Dawn Court regards them as creatures that despite being weak and short lived, can still be worthy of the gift of eternal life. They do not take slaves, are patrons of the arts, and don't kill while feeding unless strictly necessary. Just like the Royal Court, the Dawn Court is ruled by a King and a Queen. They are by no means related by nuptial vows or even race and are often at odds with each other to further their own power plays. The Dawn Court is not content with survival, they want to enjoy their existence. The Royals are elected every year among those who brought more prosperity to the Court, be it in terms of wealth, social connections, or safe havens. Most of those who became undead against their will and wish to retain, if not to regain, their old life style seek asylum among their ranks.

Those who enter their territory are forced to abide by their rules or die. Their most sacred vow is their hospitality, one they will not break. As hosts, they may request a gift of their choice from their guests, and refusing will instantly end any negotiations.

## Dusk Court

Horseman: Dusk (Red Sun)

The **Dusk Court** is a collection of loners who grouped up to not get harassed or disturbed by the other Courts. As long as they are left alone, they don't care about the living. Their feeding and social habits are unpredictable. They have no leader nor a rigid structure. They assemble only when one or more of their members is threatened. They are the most difficult Court to contact or deal with. If attacked, they don't bargain nor do they seek compensation. They retaliate until their enemy is destroyed. Most Liches belong to the Dusk Court.

Since Liches only care about magical research and Awakening, they only joined the Dusk Court for its mutual aid clause and to effortlessly build a network of similar-minded people that could help them with their agenda. The mutual aid clause is only intended for protecting each other's labs and research from invaders.

## Night Court

Horseman: Night (Black Night)

The **Night Court** despises the living. They consider them just like humans consider their food - inferior sentient beings, a lesser ring in the food chain, or two steps behind on the evolutionary scale. They only value power and rank themselves like an army rather than a Court. A General keeps his authority only as long as he is capable of defending it. They believe that the end always justifies the means, making betrayals and conspiracies the norm. They are their own worst enemy. Their only rule is to not kill among themselves, otherwise their numbers could be counted on one hand in less than a week. To them birthing an offspring only means to create more rivals, so they don't share the gift of undeath easily. Unlike the Dawn Court that mingles with nobles, artists, and politicians, Night Court members are usually active members of the human underworld. With its human trade, drug trafficking, and weapon dealing, the black market allows them to hide in plain sight. To obtain what they want and get away with it. They like to befriend corrupt nobles and officials, to use them as strawmen and fall guys.

## Laws & Customs

### Foul Moon

Article 4 of the Courts' code of honor states that a **Foul Moon** can take place in case of an irreconcilable difference between members of the Courts. It is an ancient trial by combat that requires a fight to death between peers. Article 4, Section 3, Sub-paragraph 1 states "If a probationary member of a Court assaults a guest from another, to avoid the conflict to spread to their respective Courts they must meet in a duel, unless both their patrons are willing to take their place." An arbiter can propose the Foul Moon, but only one of the offended parties has the right to put their life on the line. If the loser ignores the result of the combat, they put their life at stake. Any underlings exposing his/her treachery is entitled to obtain his/her position within their Court, while the offender's superiors are authorized to kill them and split his/her resources among themselves. A Foul Moon is a contest of pure might, no weapons or protections are allowed. However, the fight between "peers" means those of equal strength, not the same rank.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chapter 456
2. ↑ Chapter 817
3. ↑ Chapter 801
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chapter 1384
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Chapter 454
6. ↑ Chapter 455
7. ↑ Chapter 1301
8. ↑ Chapter 461