Summer Court
< Changeling | Society | Courts
The Summer Court
The Iron Spear, the Crimson Court, the Court of Wrath
The heat of Summer can be felt impatiently nipping at Spring's heels, and lingers late into the Autumn months, unwilling to settle and calm. Like its Courtiers the boldness of the Crimson Court brings searing heat and comforting warmth in their wrath against their enemies. Everyone feels safer with the Iron Spear is near.
Members of the Crimson Court harbor wrath in a variety of ways, most often physically domineering, they can also be brilliant strategists, social annihilators, persuasive leaders, and sizzling spies. The tie that binds is the unrelenting will to fight back, to resist being subdued, and to prevail above all else or die trying.
Wrath is a powerful weapon, but must be kept check. A Season of Summer is an intense time and the Courtiers will spread their energy into various activities if they have no specific foe. While the Spring Court jockeys for social proclivities, the Iron Spear will fight amongst themselves in physical sport, training, sparring, and teaching others. Off season knows no different, for the heat of Summer might sleep, everyone remembers the burn of the previous season. Courtiers will seek out the Iron Spear for advice on how to proceed best against their enemies.
The status is not given voluntarily in the summer court. It cannot be bought and is not given without reason. Even though the Summer Court is a meritocracy, the hierarchy is very important. Everyone who is at the top has worked hard to get there, and newcomers will never find an easy path to settling among the esteemed. Status is achieved through tests and tasks, and these are never easy. Gaining Court Goodwill is much the same. Many are burned trying.
Titles in the Summer Court are always tied to the mantle. There is an exception for Fae Touched.
Hooks:
- Bounty: Summer gives out Bounty to all the courts for defeating dangerous foes and enemies to the Freehold.
- Hold my Beer: Competitions are the thing of Summer, from food eating contests to pit fights or obstacle runs. Everything can prepare you to fight against the gentry.
Summer Oath
The Summer Oath is made in the Great Hall of the Summer Hollow, amid a clashing of spears, the rattling of sabres and the beating of shields. Regardless if anyone else is actually present. The Summer offers a drop of blood to a sheaf of wheat, which accepts the oath on behalf of the Court, and is then replanted. So long as the Summer lives, and they remain true to the court, the blood-red wheat will continue to grow. At death, that sheaf is used to bake bread from which the entire court shares in memory. In betrayal, it bursts alight to burn to ashes.
I pledge my heart and loyalty to the Court of Summer, and will honor its patronage by devoting my life to upholding its ideals to the best of my ability.
Benefit: Once per Chapter, recover a point of Willpower when you take damage in one of your three right-most health boxes.
Consequence: Gain the Sick Tilt (moderate) at the beginning of the Season of Summer.
Summer Titles
Shield
Shields are little more than guards, bouncers, and bodyguards, the Summer Court often includes several Shields within its ranks. Prized for physical ability over anything mental, the only requirements for the role are to either be able to hit something or to appear as if one can hit something. It is a viable stepping stone to other, greater roles within the Iron Spear. Performing some heroic measures while on duty is a way to stand out. Shields most often possess Survival and at least one type of Fighting skill.
- This position can be taken by more than one person at a time, and does not change each season.
- This can be also taken by a Fae-Touched.
Requirements: Mantle or Court Goodwill 1+, Brawl/Weaponry/Athletics/Firearms 2+, All Physical Attributes 2+
Position Holder:
Sword
The life of the Sword is that of a foot soldier for the Summer Court. Some martial ability is necessary, as is a willingness to step to the front of the line and suffer the slings and arrows of whatever hobgoblin, Loyalist or Keeper waits behind that ring of Thorns.
- This position can be taken by more than one person at a time, and does not change each season.
- This can be also taken by a Fae-Touched.
Requirements:Mantle or Court Goodwill 1+, Brawl/Weaponry/Athletics/Firearms 2+, All Physical Attributes 2+
Position Holder:
Constable
As the name suggests the Constable is a keeper of the peace. In most freeholds, the Constable acts as such only among the changelings within the Summer Court. A good Constable must be prepared not only to enforce the peace, but to investigate crimes whenever necessary. Constables most often possess high levels of Investigation and Empathy. Contacts, Resources and Allies make their job easier as well.
- This position can be taken by more than one person at a time, and does not change each season.
- This can not be taken by a Fae-Touched.
Requirements:Mantle 2+, Brawl/Weaponry/Athletics/Firearms 3+, All Physical Attributes 3+, Investigation 2+, Empathy 2+
Position Holder:
Emissary of the Sun
The Crimson court's diplomat is a far from a glorious position, often dismissed by those more physical members of the Court as being nothing more than an excuse to attend “social hour” with the other Courts. As the only truly social role within the Iron Spear, though, acting as a diplomat can be quite valuable and pretty damn dangerous. Negotiating terms with the other Courts is dangerous; at least those marching onto the battlefield can see their opponents.
- This position can be taken by more than one person at a time, and does not change each season.
- This can be also taken by a Fae-Touched.
Requirements:Mantle or Court Goodwill 3+, Brawl/Weaponry/Athletics/Firearms 1+, All Physical Attributes 2+, Presence 3+, Socialize 2+, Politics 2+
Position Holder:
Scarlet Herald
The Scarlet Herald is there to drum everyone up for war. His job is to draft those outside the Summer Court to fight. It’s not always necessary, of course; sometimes the Crimson Court can handle a threat easily, though even then the Herald must reach out to those in Summer if they’re otherwise hard to reach. But when the threats threaten to overwhelm the Crimson Court the Herald is the one who must convince, threaten or cajole others to leap headlong into the fray.
- This position can be taken by more than one person at a time, and does not change each season.
- This can not be taken by a Fae-Touched.
Requirements:Mantle 1+, Brawl/Weaponry/Athletics/Firearms 2+, All Physical Attributes 2+, Persuasion 3+, Socialize 3+, Intimidation 2+, Politics 2+
Position Holder:
Hunter of Dawn
The Hunter of Dawn is something of an esteemed bounty hunter, a proud knight who isn’t valued so much for his prowess in a large fight but is used more as an “elite” tracker and hunter. Loyalists striking from the shadows, fetches and hobgoblins hiding behind keenly-crafted facades. The Hunter is the one who handles such individual threats. They take trophies whether they want to or not. While some suffer a frailty that demands it, it’s actually more something of a social convention; those who fail to showcase trophies can’t be trusted to have truly fulfilled the mandate at hand.
- This position can be taken by more than one person at a time, and does not change each season.
- This can not be taken by a Fae-Touched.
Requirements:Mantle 4+, Brawl/Weaponry/Athletics/Firearms 2+, All Physical Attributes 3+, Investigation 3+, Survival 3+, Resolve 3+
Position Holder:
Ardent General
The Ardent General is the military leader of the Crimson Court. He’s a strategist, prized for mind over body. And some are just that thing: a one-man council of military wisdom, plotting attacks on local Loyalist hollows or arranging the freehold’s proper defenses.
- This position can not be taken by more than one person at a time, and does not change each season, though members may challenge for it at any time.
- This can not be taken by a Fae-Touched.
Requirements:Mantle 4+, Brawl/Weaponry/Athletics/Firearms 3+, All Physical Attributes 3+, Politics 2+, Survival 2+, Intelligence 3+ Position Holder:
Sun's Shadow
The Sun’s Shadow role is reserved for those outside the Court who has truly earned the respect of the local Crimson Courtiers. Someone with great Court Goodwill is truly worthy of it, whether having helped the king overcome some clandestine problem or having marched into the stormy Hedge with a battalion of Iron Spear soldiers to take the head of a terrible True Fae. The Sun’s Shadow is a brother to the courtiers, invited to all the Summer Court events. It marks a partnership between his Court and the Summer Court.
- This position can be taken by more than one person at a time, and does not change each season.
- This can be also taken by a Fae-Touched.
Requirements: Court Goodwill ••••
Position Holder:
Summer Roles
Warden
It is the Keepers who leave one eye open for weaknesses in the Freehold and among the Courts. They're the first to see a storm brewing, a fault in defenses, a dissent from the Courts. While they'll step in to mitigate as best as possible, sometimes it's about informing the correct people to make sure the matters are resolved.
Position Holder:
Guardian
Either bound to a location or another member of the Court, Guardians have pledged their hands at keeping something safe, including the health and well being of the person or place, and their loyalty to this task is unwavering. It is rare for a Guardian to pledge themselves in more than one instance, but in the case of low numbers, it has happened before.
Position Holder:
Legionnaire
Perhaps the most basic of roles, almost all Summer Courtiers will fall under it. Simply put, a soldier who will rise to the call of battle at a moment's notice. Not all of the Iron Spear are tied to physical prowess, but those that are jump at the chance to prove their skills in combat and earn their status among their peers.
Position Holder:
Pedagogue
Courtiers might be full of anger, but it takes skill to turn that potency into 'Wrath', and that is were the instructors of the Crimson Court come into play. Offering sparring lessons, strategy courses, social defense and more. If it can be weaponized, a Pedagogue will teach it.
Position Holder:
Registrar
This clerk's duty is to keep the Freehold and Crimson Court's assets in order. Perhaps it means buffing them with their own resources, but mostly it means keeping weapons in fine working order, keeping allies on the line, safe houses stocked, and keeping physical support available. When someone is in doubt of where they can find aid, it is the Registrar who will assist.
Position Holder:
Deacon
The Deacon is the conductor of ceremony among the Iron Spear. It is they who officiate duels, sound the horns of battle, bless the soldiers with fervor, and bind the Oaths of Summer. A prestigious title that isn't handed out lightly.
Position Holder:
Resources
Jaskeerat Mamar
- Midnight Circus, for training.
General
Contracts
- Cole Soleil: Buffing Contracts, such as Blessing of Protection, Spinning Wheel, and Changing Fortunes.
Members
The members of the Summer Court in New York City.
Add [[Category:Summer]] to your page to show up here.
Active Summer PC Courtiers
Active Summer NPC Courtiers
