The Unseelie Court

The Unseelie Court is made up of all manner of Fae creatures, and legends suggest they have boosted powers during the Winter half of the year, starting at the Autumn Equinox and peaking at the Winter Solstice. This is a large group of fae creatures who rule over part of the Otherworld, Faerie, or Alfheimr (which also goes by many other names!). The term "unseelie" actually means unhappy, unlucky, or cursed, and that represents much of what the Unseelie Court is: evil-inclined faerie folk. Most are Chaotic Evil in nature, out for themselves and lacking any real empathy for their victims.

The Fae creatures of the Unseelie Court love to destroy life and beauty in direct opposition of the Seelie Court, with whom they have been at war since the dawn of time.

## How to Identify the Unseelie Court

The Unseelie Court has many different species among its members, including but not limited to Fae elves, trolls, giants, centaur, boggarts, red caps, treants, goblins, and kelpies. Its nobles are primarily Fae elves, though there are some truly unique creatures and part elementals with great power, as the Unseelie Court has a right-by-might dogma. Each and every one of them has magic, though their individual power levels vary, and most rely on magic to actually survive as part of their very being. Physically, Unseelie Fae tend to be very darkly twisted, even if they are beautiful. Some use illusion glamours to hide their real appearance, while others openly flit about as imp-like creatures, grotesque troll-like elves, and gaunt, horned beasts, while still others are quite clean-cut and could pass as a Seelie if they could restrain their malevolence.
Among the Unseelie winter court, the fae creatures tend to **favor the colors of winter**, washed out and greyscale saturations, dark colors or icy tones: all colors of winter and night. Blood red is a favorite and violent alternate color, though some Fae are blind to the color so it is not as common as one might think. When on official court business, their faces are marked with **personalized orange facial designs** (since it stands out against their otherwise icy tones), and their **wings are usually recolored to orange or ashen grey.** Sometimes their outfits are recolored to match.

Notably, humans have historically still referred to the Unseelie as "the gentle folk," but this is not because they are actually gentle. It is a respectful placation to please not prank or bring harm! The Unseelie in particular are known to be malicious, but that does not mean they can't all be reasoned with. Some might outright attack for the fun of it, but some might also be open to negotiations or trades, if you have something to offer that interests them. Otherwise, most humans are advised to avoid and block Unseelie from their homes and villages as they are extremely dangerous and have no concern for laws or life, and commonly kidnap children.

### Traits common among all Fae creatures

* The Fae cannot lie, but have perfected the art of the verbal dance. The Seelie will find loopholes in laws, rules, and agreements; while they will not usually be malicious about it, they do enjoy tricking and trapping others with their own words. They are also very skilled at telling half-truths, omitting details and leading the listener to the wrong conclusion. For example, "That warehouse was burned. The Unseelie do enjoy setting wildfires," may be quite true, but omits the fact that the speaker was the burning reagents in that warehouse that they did not want to leave in mage hands.
* The Fae are highly allergic to iron and steel. It burns their skin.
* Running water in rivers and streams has the ability to cancel the fae’s enchantments; however, it is not a weapon to be rained down upon them.
* Some fae are blind to the presence of anyone wearing the color red. Not all are, however. It is not advised to use this as a fail safe way to hide.
* Fae cannot cross the threshold of a private residence without a specific invitation. This occurs even in the homes of nonmagical people; there is an innate power in a home that creates enough of a magical boundary to bar entry.
* Court Fae are, in most cases, ageless: they stop aging once they are adults (which can,itself, take centuries to reach), and unless slain, they have no limit to their lifespan.
* Fae have the ability to reproduce both with their own kind and with humans. Several of such attend or teach at Trefoil Academy. Oftentimes Fae find such an unnatural union repulsive. Do not expect warmth from them. Some Seelie Fae are actually very fond of humans. This is not the majority.
* The Fae enjoy touring other realms, particularly on days and nights of celestial significance when more natural portals open up between the worlds. On our world, The Seelie Court can sometimes be spotted riding through the night air like a procession of brilliant light, and may get mistaken for a comet. The Unseelie Court looks like a dark cloud riding upon the wind, from where their cackling and howls can be heard as they fly above the earth, stealing any humans who are unfortunate enough to be in their path.

## Unseelie Court Culture

The Unseelie Court glorifies violence, chaos, and greed. It is quite disorganized, but readily bands together in the mutual goal of destroying the Seelie Court. Groups with their own internal culture who follow generals or clan leaders are common, and each loosely reports to the current King or Queen of the Unseelie. All leaders are determined by right of might: whoever is most powerful, wins. Whomever doesn't submit, dies. Individual groups have their own policies as dictated by their leader, but these are fluid and based on whim of the leader and the support of the majority of their group.

The Unseelie do not hold honor in high accord. Survival is more important, and especially one’s own survival. Most Unseelie are simply out to amuse themselves at the expense of others. Any partnerships or love between members is relatively short-lived, lasting only as long as it is of mutual benefit to both, as their selfish nature prevents any true commitments. The Unseelie act on passion, not duty. They support leaders who are both a) powerful enough to force their subservience, and b) keep things interesting and entertaining. This usually means there is severe bullying of those lowest-ranked Unseelie, and torment and torture of prisoners, and active hunting for fun.

The Unseelie see themselves as having the 'freedom to act independently', and therefore think their way of living is the best. To the Unseelie, there is no 'good' and 'evil'. There are instincts and power, and those too self-righteous to use them. There is a web of those that are predator and prey. To the Unseelie Fae, it is not particularly 'wrong' to do what you wish to those below you on the web of life. This society teaches that the 'self' is more important than others.

### Rulers of the Unseelie Court

The name of the current King or Queen is unknown. Supposedly, they tend to wear silver markings instead of orange, though given the chaotic nature of the Unseelie Court, this likely depends entirely on the whim of the King or Queen.

Some students have theorized that the Erlking is the Unseelie king, but this does not make sense with his domain of summer. There have been some other theories of a Queen Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness, who is Titania's banished sister.

### Joining the Unseelie Court

Members of the Unseelie Court are either outcasts from the Seelie Court, or are partlings who were born as half-breeds or converted by the magics of Alfheim itself. It is rumored that the Unseelie cannot interbreed, as they have an intense focus upon creating partlings, usually by kidnapping but sometimes by trades and bargains ("your first born child" etc). As the children are raised in Alfheim, they are slowly converted into Fae over several decades or centuries.

These children are treated very poorly, and in many warbands, they are forced to fight each other for the amusement of the Unseelie, or work as manual labor. Those who survive and show promise are taught more and encouraged, while those who fail will often die or simply exist as a tortured prisoner to serve and entertain. Partlings who are strong enough to earn the respect of the Unseelie Court eventually become members of the Unseelie Court itself, joining its dark Host.

Other Fae species who show interest and power are always welcomed, such as Kelpies, Giants, Trolls, and Bugbears.

### Outcasts from the Unseelie Court

These are usually former leaders who managed to survive being overthrown, but were unwilling to submit to the new leader. They are not actually outcast from the magics of the Unseelie court, however, so they are outcast only in name, unless the ruler had granted them any magical boons that they can opt to strip.

True outcasts from the Unseelie Court are Fae creatures who openly reject its chaotic ideals and the magics of winter. Unfortunately, the Seelie Court does not welcome such fae into their own court, so these particular outcasts often leave Alfheim or otherwise live as hermits.

## Relations with Trefoil Academy

The Unseelie Court is mostly disliked by the academy, as they are unpredictable and violent, and are primarily interested in kidnapping its students or convincing them to be stolen away. Any Unseelie around the Academy are treated with suspicion, and if they are guests, they are under strict behavior contracts.

## Unseelie views on other Cultures

Overall, the Unseelie see others as either victims, or future victims. Everyone else is a stepping stone for their own personal ambitions. Thus, they judge other cultures as either potentially useful, as victims, or as enemies to be destroyed or subjugated when possible.

The Unseelie see themselves as better than humans, and are quite condescending. Humans are toys and victims to them.

The Unseelie are known to have access to the Niflheim (along with every other realm), and those that can withstand the cold and ice can appear there frequently enough, though they tend to vanish quickly when they know the most dangerous beasts are lurking or nearby (otherwise they will get destroyed, just like anyone else unlucky enough to be caught up in the maw of such true beasts of chaos). Some Unseelie live in Niflheim all the time, forming goblin bands. Sometimes, they will leave prisoners there to die, purely for their own entertainment.

## Rumors and Theories

* Some have suggested the Erlking is the Unseelie king. He is also called the Hunter King, or Herne the Hunter.
	+ Here is a description of the Erlking: “The Erlking is a being of the forest. Particularly, 'his' forest. It is not quite known how one enters 'his' forest, and his true state is unknown as well. Some say he is a spirit that rules the forest, some say he was a creature that mutated into a new species of his own. Currently, there has only been one 'Erlking' sighted. He is crafty and favors playing games, though there is an air of mischief about him.” At one point in time, a single Partling showed such promise as to gain entry to his household. Now, this Partling has disappeared. The Erlking is a powerful creature, practically a legend or cryptid. The Unseelie Fae Tomlin believes it to be real.
	+ However, the **Erlking is associated with summer** and the Seelie court. It may be another name for Oberon, or a separate consort of Titania.
	+ It is possible the Erlking is actually part of his own mini-court, the Autumn court.

* The Unseelie Court once threw a young female woman into the Niflheim, but later ordered their execution. She went by the name of Emri. Emri claims she was killed by Nylora in the Niflheim after being thrown in by the Unseelie. She possesses Cloud's bell necklace, and it often rings when Emri wants to say something. Occasionally, Emri possesses Cloud’s body and moves and talks as though she has a body.

* The Unseelie Court was once ruled by Vale (Search for info on what Vale did before and during being King). He was overthrown millennias ago and has since struggled to regain his abilities. The Unseelie Court thought him dead, until recently. Vale’s wings were cut off, this is a sore subject for him.