Fey Courts

The Fey Courts are the home of the True Fey, and the prime governing body of The Mysts. While Faerie has the penultimate say on all matters within her Plane, the matters of daily governance falls to the courts. There are four courts in total - Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Winter. These courts are broken into two categories - The Grand Seasons and the Transient Seasons.

Each court holds governance over specific areas within The Mysts, and their powers and influence wax and wane with the seasons. Each court holds its own values that reflect the season of its namesake, and its politics reflect these values.

Swearing Fealty
Most, if not all Myst born mortal Fey will swear fealty to one of the courts. Upon reaching the age of adulthood, it is expected (although not required) that one swear allegiance to a court. Since almost all towns in the Mysts are governed by the courts, most are born under the banner of at least one, and as such, most will swear loyalty to the court of their birth. However, it is not unheard of for one to grow dissatisfied with their court of birth, and seek a court that more closely matches their ideals. Some may even reject the Court system as a whole, despite the dangers. It is also not uncommon for Fey born of other Planes, such as the Material Plane, to travel to the Mysts to swear fealty to the courts there. Furthermore, the courts are not restricted purely to Fey. Humans and elemental kin can be found among the ranks of the mortals under the courts' banners.

The benefit of swearing fealty to the courts is protection. The Courts rule the Mysts below Faerie, and control portions of the Mysts. A Fey sworn to Summer will have no issues travelling in summer lands, and might even find little resistance among Spring and Autumn. However, there is also a risk of flying the banner of a court in the wrong lands. Specifically, Summer and Winter have always been rivals, and a Summer Fey in the realm of Winter may be in more danger than an unaligned Fey.

It is not impossible to change one's fealty, but should only be done with most careful consideration. A Winter Court Fey may offer gifts and adoration if only you break your oath to Summer and join them. If you do, you will be granted all that is promised, and welcomed with open arms. But to break an oath to a court leaves a stain on one's honour. They will be shunned and chased from the lands of the courts who they have spurned, and will likely not be offered such a deal again.

It is possible to live without a Court affiliation. Those that choose this life are referred to as "Courtless". It is a perilous and dangerous life. Those who fly no banners are more or less considered free game by the four courts. True Fey will look to claim them into a court, or snatch away their True Name, for there would be no repercussions to do so. Visitors to the Mysts are considered Courtless and are granted no special privileges, unless they have been invited by a True Fey.

The Grand Court of Summer
Current Head of Court: Ignis Dei, The Patron's Daughter (Elf) she/her

Ignis Dei was among the first of the first. A True Fey elf born at the creation of the species, Ignis was raised by Faerie themself for the express purpose of ruling the Summer Court. Firm, stern, and commanding, she is quick to mobilize the Summer forces in defence of The Mysts, and quicker to punish those who step out of line. While Ignis is a master of playing the Courts' games, she dislikes the political manoeuvring necessary to get anything done, preferring a direct approach. She glows softly like the summer sun, and wears a mask of butterfly wings. She often wears ornate plates atop fine robes.

Court Colours: Red, golds, yellows

Court Symbol: The Summer Sun

Elemental Affinity: Fire

The Grand Court of Summer is one of two grand courts, and is perhaps the largest of the four courts based on the number of mortal Fey that fall under its banners. The Grand Court of Summer follows the values of the summer sun - its heat spreads and watches over all, basking everyone in life and warmth. The Summer court is a court of structure and purpose, that values the needs of the many over the needs of the few. Those who find themselves under the governance of the Summer court enjoy magnificent cities basked in endless summer days, and the protection of the Summer court's armies. It is for that reason that many would consider the Summer court as a 'good' court. However, the sun's heat can also burn. The Summer court is unflinching in its laws. Those who are deemed lawbreakers will often face severe punishment. Likewise, selfish thinking is met with skepticism and distance. Thus, while those under the Summer court enjoy safe and comfortable lives, they often find it difficult to truly succeed, and are punished for stepping out of line.

Opinions of the other Courts
Spring: The sowers. From them, all blooms. From us, all learns their place.

Fall: When the falls comes, we rest. Our duty is fulfilled.

Winter: The heat of the sun will always melt the frost.

The Grand Court of Winter
Current Head of Court: High Lord Mavis, Winter's King (Halfling) he/him

Lord Mavis is a True Fey Halfling, whose skin is covered in a fine layer of winter frost. He wears only the finest robes, and hides his face behind a skeletal mask. He comes off as jovial enough, but like the court of his namesake, his words are cold. When he stares at you, it is clear he is measuring your worth. Lord Mavis does have a particular interest in Carreg Wynn, as it was the influence of this town in a particularly disastrous dinner party that allowed him to seize the throne of Winter.

Court Colours: White, blue, black

Court Symbol: The first snowflake of winter

Elemental Affinity: Water

The Grand Court of Winter is perhaps the most misunderstood of all the courts. It was formed in the harsh cold of its namesake. Many claim that the Grand Court of Winter is selfish and unstable, and is a place where only the strongest thrive through backstabbing of others. However, this is simply untrue. Winter strives and thrives in places where most would crumble and fall. The Fey of the Winter court are self-sufficient and driven. Each has a goal and the drive to see it through. Those who apathetically walk through life will be crushed under the weight of the snow, but those who work hard will achieve monumental heights. Thus, while many of the Winter court are insular and crafty, the most capable of all Fey can be found within its folds.

Opinions of the other Courts
Summer: No matter how hot the summer, the cold will come. It always comes.

Spring: So eager to sprout from our harsh cold, yet when under pressure, they wilt.

Autumn: Autumn is filled with those afraid to embrace true cold. They are so close to greatness but just short.

The Transient Court of Spring
Current Head of Court: Hibiscus Chrysanthemum, The Sprig of Life (Faun) they/them

Hibiscus is a True Fey Faun, whose body is covered in natural vines, moss, and flowers. Wherever Hibiscus treads, life blooms. Hibiscus is a master of all plant life, for it is their duty to govern the growth of plant life within The Mysts. They are welcoming to all who embrace the traditions of growth and life, but people who threaten the natural world often become fertilizer for Hibiscus's garden. Despite being a faun, Hibiscus has a particular distaste for alchemists, as they find their use of plants barbaric and cruel. They wear a mask of moss and flowers.

Court Colours: Green, pink, violet

Court Symbol: Interwoven vines

Element of Affinity: Earth

The Transient Court of Spring is responsible for tending and cultivating life within The Mysts. This court values life and possibility above all else. To grow however you choose is the penultimate goal of the Court of Spring. This mentality means most under the jurisdiction of the Spring court have the liberty to seek any goals their hearts can desire. Growth and life are the key teachings, thus, so long as it does not interfere with these actions, those within the court are given free reign to act as they see fit. This means that those of the Spring court hold vastly different opinions on how to best serve the teachings of life and growth. This often leads to infighting. The harshest of punishments will be dealt to those who threaten life.

Opinions of other Courts
Summer: The things we sow we send to you for care. Do not disappoint us.

Autumn: They reap that which we sow. They know only death. We cannot understand them.

Winter: They refuse the lessons of growth and life. How pitiable.

The Transient Court of Autumn
Current Head of Court: Grom Ushnar, The Reaper (Orc) he/him

Ushnar is a True Fey Orc, whose green skin is interspersed with tattoos of falling leaves that seem to shift on the wind. Shnar does not wear the fine clothes of the other court heads. Instead, he keeps a pair of fine work clothes that he maintains with great care. Ushnar got to his position by hard work, and in time was recognized by his peers as encompassing the values of Autumn and elevated to his position. Ushnar is very direct with the governance of Autumn. Instead of delegating jobs, he will often go out to see jobs completed himself. He can often be seen with an axe that goes by the name Harvester. This axe is granted to each head of the Autumn court, and is said to be capable of severing ones soul from their body with a single swing. Ushnar wears a mask of leaves in varying colours.

Court Colours: Brown, orange, grey

Court Symbol: A fallen leaf

Elemental Affinity: Air

The Transient Court of Autumn cares little for the politics of the other courts. Summer deludes itself with eternal life, Winter clings desperately to any scraps of salvation, and Spring disregards that all things must end. No matter how one clings and hopes, Autumn always comes. The Autumn court knows its time will come and waits patiently. But that doesn't mean the Autumn court is full of lethargic nihilists - in fact it is quite the opposite. The members of the Autumn court are some of the hardest workers in The Mysts. It is their job to reap away life at the end of Summer, so Winter can wash the slate clean, and the cycle of seasons can start again. Hard work and patience are valued in the autumn court. You reap what you sow, and the Autumn court are the lords of the harvest.

Opinions of the other Courts
Summer: They delude themselves under the warmth of the their sun, but Autumn waits, and comes.

Spring: The harvest must come, to fight against this is to fight nature itself. What hypocrites.

Winter: We must prepare the world for Winter to wipe it clean, and allow the cycle of the harvest to begin again.