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 Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 8:28 am
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 8:31 am
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History of the Sidthe
The Fey are timeless, you know. They always have been and always will be.
The Sidthe are known to strangers as Fair Folk - the Fairies, the Fey, the Fae, and other terms for what amounts to a fairy. A coalition os mostly cheetahs, they favor small, lithe forms and colors, and worship the four traditional seasons.
The coalition itself is old and near-timeless, born in the early times of creation and in formes that allowed them to grow and evolve into a coalition of four courts for each season. While old, they are often described by their internal squabbles and squabbles with local and far reaching prides - the Sidthe are notorious cub and pup-nappers, often taking young from others and leaving a kill, familiar, or one of their own children behind - these young are often called Changelings, and some, Spirits. However, it is this practice that keeps the blood alive, combined with Cross-Court breeding. While the origin is forgotten and the Sidthe believe they are of the season they grew up in, as they often steal cubs from other courts as well, the only thing about the coalition known it is old, and it is healthy.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 8:35 am
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The Courts
Winter is sleep, as Spring is rebirth; Summer is firey passion, and Autumn are the Keepers.... And together they live in dance.
There are four Courts, one per season, that commands the pride. Which Court varies based on the season and time of year, but every court has at least two holidays, including the Equinox, or Solstice, accordingly. The Courts often work independently, however they can band as one as demand calls for it. For example if someone were to threaten all, then all would coordinate together, however, every Court has a King and Queen, and Nobles. Every court mates with other courts if they wish, and steals cubs from one another before a cub's eyes open. While most times the Courts try avoiding one another, they do step into one another's territory, leading to a good number of interesting events.
The Courts worship the seasons, and use natural clearings and groves for ceremonies and celebrations, and universal traditions do exist, especially a time known as 'Nesting' for young cubs, and gift giving.
The Winter Unseelie
Holidays: Winter Equinox, Yule
Old-Blood Pelt Colours: Saturated purples and blues, icy whites, purples, and blues. Winter pelt themes.
Contrary to most courts and many believes, the Unseelie are the most private, well mannered court. They are friendliest to Spring and the court is often in conflict, almost infamously, with their summer counterparts, the Seelie. Considered the first court of the new year, they are said to represent the cold before the rebirth of the land. With heavy, thick fur and most often cooler pelts - but not always - the Unseelie represent grace, elegance, and nobility. While not above tricks and cubtheft, they are choosy, picking orohans and the needy. They are, however, still playful. During the Winter Equinox, they will often Bless new adolescents, welcoming them to Adulthood, in any Court - or if the Adolescent has none. Unseelie often give gifts in whites or blues or violets, favoring rabbit hides, flowers, and, in the Moving Times, winter flowers and plants.
Titania's Children of Spring
Holidays: May Day, Spring Equinox
Old-Blood Pelt Colours razz astels; pinks, greens of a saturated nature. Spring themes, especially flowers.
Always Titania's children, the Spring Court's queen, regardless of birth name, becomes the mighty Titania in honour of their first Spring Queen whom negotiated peace with all Courts. May Day, a term for their most popular holiday taken from a Cheetah after they escaped mysterious two-leg spirits, is a popular time to mate, and conceive cubs, and is often used to spread flowers and peaceful wishes with dancing and song. The Spring court often seduce any lover they find attractive and are horrible flirts, going so far as to keep their catches as a mate. Friendly, and least-willing to harm others, Spring Court practice the art of harming none, and are often coloured in soft, spring colours and markings, but not always.
The Summer Seelie
Holidays: Summer Solstace, Day of the Sun
Old-Blood Pelt Colours: Yellows, sea colours; blue greens and sandy light browns. Summer and beach themes.
The Seelie are to outsiders the most playful court. Courtless often know them to be plyful teasing Fae that tease and flirt, but, the Seelie are also notoriously vicious, knowing how to harm. They often enslave Spiritchildren, andf attack other courts if one is freed. They steal the most young and trick others, with jokes and pranks. The nastiest of the Fae, the summer Seelie are arrogant and proud of the Summer-god, and dedicate their lives to the god of summer. Overall, to others... They're a bunch of assholes.
Mab's Children the Autumn Keepers
Holidays: Autumn Equinox, Samhain
Old-Blood Pelt Colours: Oranges and blacks, warm greens, red browns, flame colours, warm tones, autumn themes.
The Autumn court, much like their spring reflection, use the same name for each queen, however, unlike the spring court, they call their queen 'Mab' for the first queen., While Titania always weds, Mab and her children of Autumn are more inclined to fling than mate, unlike the polygamy-inclined Spring Court. As the Keepers of the End of the Year and guardians of Samhain, the Autumn Court is considered the ashes of the Seelie Court of Summer, to whom they are friendliest.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 8:39 am
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Spirits and the Courtless
The Fey are not unkind nor are they cruel to their chosen and all must pay homage to spirits.
The Courtless and the Spirits
The Courtless came of the Leopards, Liuons, Hyenas, and Wild Dogs stolen from other prides and packs and clans over time; the short version is, they are those not adopted by Fey folk nor are most spirits. They simply live amidst the fey in the center of the coalition and the courts revolve around them in procession. In exchange for the ruling court's protection, the Courtless provide a small tithe of food, protect fey children, offer fresh blood in fertile hybrids or in cheetah cubs in the rare case of a courtless fey; however in terms of living, they are still welcome members of the coalition - although the Courtless and the Courtless Spirits may in face be punished for transgressions against a Court of allies by the court in power. They are not slaved, however - most are simply considered mere mortals.
Identifying Spirits
Spirits are the physical incarnation of the spirits thought to serve the gods of animals. Spirits oftyen look like th animal they are spirits of - for example, a black leopard with black eyes, a narrow snout, and a silent walk may be a Raven Spirit. Another black lion with gold eyes may be a black leopard, ETC. In short, they are spirits born to the pride to resemble animals. Each court views them as spirits, but some will openly adopt them as 'Fey-Spirits', Fey-Spirits are raised by and loved in fey families nd treated exactly as a fey of the court, while some courts may use them as entertainment or slaves - especially the Seelie whom view most spirits as lessers.
The friendliest to Spirits is the Unseelie, followed by the Children of Titania, Mab's Children, and the Seelie almost never have Fey-Spirits, bar sun-tied Fey-Spirits, such as Peacock-Spirits.
Identifying Changelings
Changelings are the babies from outside the pride, many growing to become ither mortal or Fey, and nne have natural pelts. Many have bright colors like paint in greens, or neons, and the like, and these animals are thought to be attractive, but not really spirits, though some may be taken as Fey in rare instances, where others may become Mortals. Although Fey adoption is rare for Changelings, it is surprisingly most common for Seelie to adopt a changeling of any species as fey, as long as the Seelie find them beautiful. Similarly, hybrids may be considered changelings as well, fey blooded or not, on merit of their unusual quality, regardless of markings.
Seelie most often steal and adopt Changelings. Autumn Court, of all courts, most often birth changelings, due to their inquisitive natures.
Becoming Courtless
Courtless is no Sin to the Sidthe. Most often the Courtless are Spirits and Mortals brought into the coalition by Fey looking to raise cubs, but not formally adopt. Similarly, some Fey of the Courts may be called to serve all four seasonal gods; in which case the Fey will serve to leave court life altogether. While their young may join a court, they re blessed not to have a court, and thus remain in one place as simple Fey. |
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 8:47 am
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Traditions
For their differences you might know them and for their similarities may it be same.
Birthing and Nesting
When young are about to be born, both fey and nn-fey will begin nesting. Nesting is a process in which the parents-to-be build a small nest of pelts and feathers for newborn and young cubs to grow in. When the cubs are ready to be born, the mother will rush into this nest with only her mate, during which time the cubs are born. While both parents hunt and guard, nesting is also a time of love and bonding. Although before the eyes open between courts and in-pride cubs young may be stolen, other sorts of visits require a useful and preferred gift to the parents as a token of respect - honeycomb, scraps of meat, a new pelt, etcetera, or the visitor risks a lethal attack.
Cubsnatching
In the coalition, Cubnapping is as common as breathing before their eyes open. Often, young are too small to do much beyond sniff, and cub are frequently not aware of their true parentage until much older if ever. Similarly, the fey of all courts will often steal cubs from non-allied prides, for good, or they may offer to trade young with neighbor, friendly prides. Often when stealing cubs, something is left to fool the parents and only one or two are taken. Beyond a fey cub, things left are often logs or haunches of meat of the same size, anything that might disguise a lost cub while the fey escapes. Non-pride cubs may be stolen as long as they can be carried, with no remorse from the fey.
Blessings
When young become adolescernts, there is great celebration and Ceremony. Traditionally this celebration includes a beginning by presenting the young to the ruling court based on the season. A representative fey will approach and reaffirm the hopes of any watching parents as they study the young,, before each cub is blessed with protection of the Fey in full - complete with feeding promises when food is lean, protection from dangerous outsiders, and more. Blessing is accomplished by a fey placing a paw upon their foreheads, before stepping away. After formal blessing rights, the cubs, Court, and Spirits and Courtless, Changelings, and Spirits will all share a feast. Non-ruling courts are welcome to bring cubs as well, as during blessing-nights cubs are not stolen but instead celebrated as they are now considered adults.
Mating and Courtship
When Fey and non- Fey are out and about, they may be alone, or in groups, however, courting most often occurs when theone being courted is alone, as males and females may initiate courting.
Courting often begins when the interested party spies someone they know and care for, or some random pretty stranger, and begin to tease, feign danger, or otherwise draw their target close to them in a secluded location. Once the one being courted is drawn in, the one courting them will be affectionate and sweet to try to 'keep' them. This may include love and affection, food, lavish gifts, all dependent on the fey's choices, wat they plan or don't plan in advance, ETC. Every courtship is different but it is always a luring process. If the one being courted agrees they are the other persons, they may approach the royal family of the court in power or the druids for the right to be mates. Alternatively, fey sometimes use this to tempt outsiders into a fling to take the cubs home - after all, no fey ever gave a straight answer to non-Sidthe, did they.
Similarly, the Courtless and non-fey often court more traditionally by seeing one another, or, simply knowing someone well enough to date. Or, well, to throw themselves into a fling. Yanno.
Gift Giving
The Sidthe are very big on gift giving, as it fosters a sense of community and care. Gifts are given at blessings, at birth, matehood and death certainly, but also day to day. A winter fae intruding on the land of a Spring fey may bring a wreath of flowers, a Seelie may gift an autumn fey a spirit servant, ETC. Visiting a nest will require a gift of some kind to prove no ill will or intent to steal cubs, Not sure how to approach someone? Bring a gift. New pride? Gift time. The Sidthe, court or not, will give gifts for any reason as a sign of good will and friendly openness. Even if they steal cubs or trade them later, as it is a sign of respect and good manners.
Death
Although sad, deasth and the dead are part of the pride,and to the sidthe, and their long lives, death is a tragic reminder of the end of their lives on earth. When a coalition member dies, the grieving family will seek the druids - if they had no family, a neighbor or friend will do the same, and bring them back to the deceased.so their bodies may be disposed of. The druids will tke the bodies to a hill or mountain base, and dig a hole in the ground, burying the body before placing a marker of some kind on the grave, and leave for a grove of trees. The dead are said to speak through the tres, where the druids and Bansidthe will, according to belief, be able to speak to them. |
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 8:54 am
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Holidays
Dance not with the fey - for to dance amongst seelie may drive you to madness.
Samhain
Samhain is marked as the death of an old year and the birth of a new in fall. During the day when the fey awake they begin the last major hunt of the year with all but the Royalty and the Bansidthe and Druids as well as cubs hunting food. This food is set to dry by artisans in how sunny places and it is set partly as a feast. Upon sunset cubs are nested in communal nests to protect them from bodiless spirits, and the courts gather with the Spirits and Courtless to dance amidst the standing stones at the edge of the courtless dens, a structure naturally resembling Stonehenge faintly. At midnight, the stones empty bar the Autumn Court, whom then walk in a circle around pride land to protect the druids and bansidthe as they ward the land against threats, poor rains, and other disasters before sleeping. Samhain is when the spirits of the dead are believed to be loudest and the Bansidthe are to listen for words or visions from the dead, in case of warning for the living. They take special note of outside visions as well and after Samhain, a bansidthe may take themselves to find this creature and draw these 'fey-blessed' back to join the Autumn Court regardless of species.
Any cubs born on Samhain are always Autumn Court if they are of the Courts, and as such the Autumn Court often lavishes gifts upon other courts when any litters are presented for autumn parents to adopt.
Winter Solstice
The Winter solstice is the first change of the Courts after the year begins. On this day the Unseelie Winter Fey take over rule and move into the Fey-Dens or 'Fairy Mounds'; the Court will make their presence known to the Courtless and assume power. A small feast of rabbit is held and Winter is said to begin at this time. While few if any fey from Spring or Summer attend festivities bidding Autumn Fey a good year unless they feel friendly or are very young, the Seelie will change dens as well as the Spring to represent the changing seasons in a wheel. When the day ends, the Autumn Court vanish to their place in the wheel.
Yule
Yule, also known as Longest Night, i a time that all members of the coalition bring private rites and join as one to celebrate the last night of long sleep of the earth. According to believe, after longest night, the Earth prepares to wake. On Yule, nobody sleeps and the eldest Bansidthe or Druid, the middle of the road Druid or bansidthe, will play chase with the youngest able bodies druid or bansidthe to represent the continuing seasonal cycle. Once the youngest is caught, a time of silence occurs as the pride goes through their rites for the years - often invoking protection or warmth. After, there isd winter fruit and many of the stock prepared before Samhain brought for feasting. Cubs born on Yule are always blessed Winter Court, regardless of species, and presented to the Winter Court as such. In return, the Winter Court often gives young cubs or familiars in return, or they may offer an adult fey to the Court or Family as a mate in repayment.
Spring Equinox
The Spring Equinox occurs when the first flowers bloom, and the winter court dpart rule to welcome the Spring Court. Few members of Autumn or Summer will come out for this progression as once again they change dens, but the Winter Fey will, surprisingly, linger through the day to welcome Spring as gladly as the Courtless. Relations between the two courts has always been spectacular as Spring itself is a fickle season, and story has it a spring prince once chose a winter fey as his preferred bride, welcoming a new era of joint prosperity.
May Day
May Day is the Spring Court's favorite day and VERY popular among everyone else too. Like all events, it occurs in the Standing Stones, however, May Day is a day of dance and singing and welcoming the return of the hunt. Preperation is made entirely by the Spring Court, whom hunt fresh game to bring home, and the court will strew flowers about. On the day itself, there is dancing, and, for luck, several courtships and matings (Sort of like las vegas). On May Day, the youngest able dance around a large stone, wrapping it in furs and scraps of fabric conned from camping two-legs foolish enough to come too close to the pride, As they day ends, the coalition will collapse into a pile of cuddle, and... Accidental cubs may happen between anyone able, including unblessed adolescents.
Cubs on May Day are Spring Court regardless of species and will be presented to the court, although the court will take them, sometimes they will give of their own litters in exchange, or promise a future cub to the parents in exchange, or, perhaps later return the cubs themselves with flowers marking them as Spring Blessed, however, the latter is very, very rare for any fey.
Summer Solstice
The Summer Solstice is a feast day when the Seelie assume power from the spring Court and summer begins. While not particularly fond of the Seelie, the Spring Court often leave golden gifts and food for the feast. This is the second-loudest holiday, third after Samhain - and the Seelie often arrive dancing and singing, and it is a day of play.
Day of the Sun
The Day of the Sun is a major Seelie holiday - although one invented by the Court itself. The Seelie will collect gold, yellow, or orange gifts of fruit, familiars, and even cubs, and mark them for the Sun.he Seelie will dance - and with anyone, and it is believed dancing with Seelie on this day leads to madness, requiring Unseelie to dance one sane. While the other courts come, it is a tense day, especially for Unseelie, since it really is all about the Sun and the Seelie, and general food and dance with little else.
Cubs born on the Day of the Sun, which is also Longest Day, are considered Sun Court, although the cubs will be given to the Seelie, the Sun Court usually only gives pelts and similar in return, but compassionate Seelie very, vry rarely give a promise of a cub, food, or even a favor. Interestingly, if it rains on Longest Day, the Seelie believe it is bad luck for the pride.
Autumn Equinox
The beginning of Autumn is... Surprisingly easy. The Seelie welcome the change with apples and meat (and the Courtless welcome having the calmer Autumn court) and the Courts change power and the mass transition reaches the cycle's end with feasting. Apples are pressed between stones for juice often dosed with spices found in pridal land, and sometimes the Seelie leave gifts or a cub for the Autumn court in goodwill. The last transition of a pride year, the Autumn Court will often enter quietly and bring gifts for families whom lost a member to sad death. |
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 9:45 am
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Ranks
The fey are not without structure, but they are organized chaos.
King and Queen
Each Court has a King and Queen. One member must be of royal blood of the season, and they the King or Queen will each rule ONLY during their seasons. Additionally, the Spring King and Queen are always called 'Oberon' and 'Titania', and the Autumn Queen is always 'Mab', to honor the first of those lines.
Prince and Princess
The heir and their mte are the prince and princess of their respective court. Often they are royal blood and mate, but as fey are wont to steal young cubs, sometimes an adopted fey cub will be heir if they are a cheetah as well.
Laird and Lady
Lairds and their Ladies are the nobility of the coalition. A Laird manages the Courtless, and more populate all areas of the coalition. Lairds win their title for a great deed or for being non-inheriting royalty or a descendant, and often have say in matters below the royal pair.
Druid
Druids are the non-seer priests of the pride. In lieu of visions, they pss the pride's oral histories and traditions, mark heroes and fairy-mounds, and manage the dead as well as wards. They aid the Courts and identify Spirits and changelings, and are considered the pride's mystics. Druids can be any gnder, but it seems male-dominant. Not by force, simply, choice.
Bansidthe
The Seers of the pride are calld Banshee, or Bansidthe, and they are the pride's seers and a second priest class. Because of their powers, all seers are Bansidthe, and are consulted by all, from druid to king or queen. The leaders three of the Bansidhe are sometimes the Morrigan, but they can be any gender. Commonly the Bansidthe are not known to cry - their visions can be of anything - but a wailing, crying bansidthe is said to fortell death in a family. When a group or all wail, it is said some great or holy figure will soon die in the coalition. Needless to say, the Bansidthe are terrifying, and the most mystical of fey.
Artisan
Artisans are the crafters, jewelers, and the ilk of the pride. They turn pelts toi useful items, make trinkets, and generally create arts. The best know how to knot vines and thin leathers into wraps or artwork, or, in the rarest cases, they know how to use berries for inks to stain images on walls of dens to remember great leaders.
Bard
Bards, like artisans, create, but not physical works. Bards sing and produce music, tend instruments, and work with druids to sing of epic tales and great deeds, or of history. Bards are wonderful teachers, and travel amidst the coalition to sing their songs between holidays.. Rarely, bards scout and bring in new members, especially cheetahs, to revitalize the courts. Mostly, though, they're just happy singers.
Fey-Spirit
Some courts will adopt spirits into their family as cubs and raise them; These Spirits become Fey-Spirits, those of both Spirit and Fey, and may be members of their adoptive parents' court. Fey-Spirits are marked with the same finery as a fey to be distinguishable, and are often considered lucky.
Spirit
Spirits are the physical birth of a totem animal or any animal not natively a large cat, wild dog, or Hyena. There are all sorts of spirits from ravens to vultures to dingoes, ETC. As long as they bear natural markings resembling an animal, they may be in fact a spirit. Cheetahs, considered fey, are exempt, however they may have spirit children in hybrids or through adoption as Fey-Spirits.
Changeling
'Changelings' is the term for any non-fey children brought into the pride with a non-natural pelt color. Changelings are usually kidnapped from outside the pride very young and brought into the pride to keep as children - most often by infertile couples, mix-breed couples incapable of offspring, ETC.
Fey-Child
Fey-Child are the young of any Court Fey. This is the cheetah cub default!
Unseelie
A default, jack of all trades rank for adult Winter Court Fey who choose not to specialize in tasks.
Titania's Childe
The default rank for all Spring Court fey who choose not to specialize.
Seelie
The Default rank for all Summer Court Fey who choose not to specialize.
Mab's Childe
The Default Rank of all Autumn Court fey who choose not to specialize.
Mortal
The default rank for all Courtless and Non-Spirit Fey who choose not to specialize.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 9:46 am
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 9:49 am
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 9:51 am
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 9:52 am
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