Twilight Court
The Twilight Court rules over the mysterious Twilight Realm. Members of this court do not consider themselves deities but royalty and command the respect that comes along with it. Regardless of how they chose to define themselves, members of the Twilight Court wield abilities on par with the other gods of Phoenix.
The Twilight Court works alongside the Elemental Barons in maintaining the climate of the Material Plane and helping transition Phoenix through its seasons every year. As payment for their services, the Twilight Court’s denizens arrive every fall to partake in the Wild Hunt.
Typically, denizens of the Material Plane try to steer clear of members of the Twilight Court out of fear or respect for their power. There are no temples to the Twilight Court anywhere on Phoenix, so champions and clerics of them are rare. Druids and rangers most commonly work alongside the Twilight Court due to their deep connection to nature. Anyone who serves the Twilight Court on the Material Plane is not bound by faith. They are instead bound through respect, bargains, or pacts.
Structure
The Twilight Court is ruled by Empress Titania. Titania can mold and change anything that she wants within the Twilight Realm, including the passage of time. Beneath her is her husband, Emperor Oberon, who serves as the main method of communication between the Twilight Court and the multitude of other kingdoms within the Twilight Realm that don't fall into the category of Seelie or Unseelie.
The Seelie Court—commanded by Queen Mab the Summer Solstice—is an aspect of the Twilight Court that oversees all things that are bright, warm, and orderly. The Unseelie Court—commanded by Queen Nicnevin the Winter Solstice—is an aspect of the Twilight Court that oversees all things dark, cold, and chaotic. The two solstices trust their heirs, known as the Equinoxes, to serve as ambassadors between their two kingdoms. The Equinoxes spend half of a seasonal cycle in the opposite court. They can return home during the change of the seasons. The Autumn Equinox, Adema, lives in the Seelie Court for the spring and summer and returns home in the autumn. The Spring Equinox, Lavan, lives in the Unseelie Court for autumn and winter and returns home in the spring.
The Seasonal Lords serve as advisors to their respective solstice and rule over the different seasonal realms of Moonshae. In the Seelie Court, Lord Ido rules over the realm of spring, and Lady Elezi rules over the realm of summer. In the Unseelie Court, Lady Adel rules over the realm of autumn, and Lord Jurel rules over the realm of winter.
History
Due to the unstable and confusing nature of time within the Twilight Realm, getting a solid history and timeline of events can be tricky.
The Twilight Realm was originally created by Queen Nicnevin as a home for all things that exist in the gaps and corners of realities. Nicnevin believed that since she made the Twilight Realm, she would rule as its queen. As the Twilight Realm grew to its endless size and the population bloomed, it became clear that not everyone was pleased with Nicnevin's leadership style. The most vocal was the Seelie Court that formed under Queen Mab. Nicnevin and Mab's followers would regularly disagree about how the Twilight Realm should be governed.
The disagreements between the two courts became more serious, and hostility brewed between them. Fearing for the safety of their people, both queens agreed to hold a meeting about the state of the Twilight Realm. They realized that ruling the entire plane and keeping everyone satisfied was not something either queen was capable of. The queens decided to hold an election for an emperor. The queens invited the best and brightest of the Twilight Realm to run in the election; whoever was most favored by the people of the realm would be placed in charge.
All over the Twilight Realm, residents flocked to the capital of Season in hopes that they might curry favor with their fellow faefolk. Each one spoke pretty words and made elaborate vows and promises until a stranger arrived on the very last day of registration. Her form was as fluid as water, ever shifting, growing, shrinking, stretching, and rippling—a true shape changer. This stranger, who allied herself with no kingdom, called herself Titania from the shrubbery and moss, and she wanted to enroll in the election. Seeing no reason not to allow her to join, Nicnevin granted her permission.
What followed was a long and complicated series of debates, trials, questions, and contests revolving around every possible thing the faefolk could think of. Some say that the election lasted so long that time stopped meaning anything in the Twilight Realm. The people eventually ran out of ideas for competition, and it was time to vote. The people chose Titania as their empress based on her adaptability and captivating personality.
Titania has remained the empress since the election. She will continue to remain empress until she is either deemed unfit to rule or decides to step down.
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