The Faerie Courts
in Moontide IslesFor being a realm of chaos, change, and flux, there is a very distinct and set heirarchy within the rule of the Feywild. The largest division among the fey is the distinction between the Seelie Court and Unseelie Court. Each of these two Courts is made up of lesser Courts that serve them, and each is ultimately ruled by a Queen.
Queen Titania rules over the Seelie Courts while her sister, Queen Mab, rules the Unseelie. The whims of the fey do not easily fall under mortal labels and expectations, making the distinction between the two Courts often very blurry for mortals, while stark and sharp for the fey. Mortal views of good versus evil, peace versus aggression, and even beauty versus horrid do not apply. There is one constant opposition between the two Courts--the change between warmth and light to cold and darkness. This opposition is what causes the fluctuation of the seasons.
The Seelie and Unseelie Courts are large generalizations, but the reality is that each is composed of two seasonal Courts.
The Spring Court and the Summer Court are the largest Courts of the Seelie. The Summer Court is ruled by Queen Titania and is the seat of the Seelie rule. The Summer Court is ruled by her consort, Prince Oberon. Ultimately, the Spring Court answers to the Summer Court, though each Court rules over smaller, lesser Courts beneath them.
The Autumn Court and the Winter Court are the largest Courts of the Unseelie. The Winter Court is ruled by Queen Mab, and is the seat of power for Unseelie rule. The Autumn Court has no current ruler, and is known as the Empty Throne. With the lack of ruler in the Autumn Court, Queen Mab is the undeniable matron of the Unseelie and of the lesser Courts beneath the Autumn and Winter.
While most fey belong to part of this hierarchy, there are established outliers. There are some Courts that are unaligned, finding allegiance to neither the Seelie or Unseelie. There are Courts that fluxuate themselves between the Seelie and Unseelie, changing allegiance between one and then the other. It can be dangerous to serve within one of these Courts, for a Court that is part of the Seelie banner will be protected by their Queen, and the same is true for those aligned with the Unseelie. But the Courtless lend themselves to be played as pawns, and need to be crafty enough to survive and thrive on their own, or they at least need to prove the use for their neutrality. Beyond that, there are the Courtless--fey who hold no allegiance to any one Court--Seelie, Unseelie, or otherwise. They often untrusted and considered to be enemies of both Courts.
And finally, there is the Feydark. It is the realm where few dare to dream and their strength comes from the unknown and the unseen. There are Realms within the Feydark, but they hold allegiance with none, not even others of the Feydark. It is a place that few dare to trod.
Queen Titania rules over the Seelie Courts while her sister, Queen Mab, rules the Unseelie. The whims of the fey do not easily fall under mortal labels and expectations, making the distinction between the two Courts often very blurry for mortals, while stark and sharp for the fey. Mortal views of good versus evil, peace versus aggression, and even beauty versus horrid do not apply. There is one constant opposition between the two Courts--the change between warmth and light to cold and darkness. This opposition is what causes the fluctuation of the seasons.
The Seelie and Unseelie Courts are large generalizations, but the reality is that each is composed of two seasonal Courts.
The Spring Court and the Summer Court are the largest Courts of the Seelie. The Summer Court is ruled by Queen Titania and is the seat of the Seelie rule. The Summer Court is ruled by her consort, Prince Oberon. Ultimately, the Spring Court answers to the Summer Court, though each Court rules over smaller, lesser Courts beneath them.
The Autumn Court and the Winter Court are the largest Courts of the Unseelie. The Winter Court is ruled by Queen Mab, and is the seat of power for Unseelie rule. The Autumn Court has no current ruler, and is known as the Empty Throne. With the lack of ruler in the Autumn Court, Queen Mab is the undeniable matron of the Unseelie and of the lesser Courts beneath the Autumn and Winter.
While most fey belong to part of this hierarchy, there are established outliers. There are some Courts that are unaligned, finding allegiance to neither the Seelie or Unseelie. There are Courts that fluxuate themselves between the Seelie and Unseelie, changing allegiance between one and then the other. It can be dangerous to serve within one of these Courts, for a Court that is part of the Seelie banner will be protected by their Queen, and the same is true for those aligned with the Unseelie. But the Courtless lend themselves to be played as pawns, and need to be crafty enough to survive and thrive on their own, or they at least need to prove the use for their neutrality. Beyond that, there are the Courtless--fey who hold no allegiance to any one Court--Seelie, Unseelie, or otherwise. They often untrusted and considered to be enemies of both Courts.
And finally, there is the Feydark. It is the realm where few dare to dream and their strength comes from the unknown and the unseen. There are Realms within the Feydark, but they hold allegiance with none, not even others of the Feydark. It is a place that few dare to trod.