Fae Court
Contrary to popular media, there are numerous Fae Courts throughout the world, usually with each centered around a particular area. The Fae are not a monolith, and each region has its own concerns that must be carefully regulated and maintained for a good balance.
This mainly applies to magic. The fae center themselves around particular natural formations of magic. They appoint themselves as guardians and caretakers of these forces. Most people don't object, since the nature of fae magic ties them into these forces regardless of whether or not they're made responsible for it.
A Living Organization
Fae courts form when the fae gather around a specific magical confluence. As with any such gathering of a large group of people, a society must form. This is the court. It's difficult to say if the nuances stem more from the fae themselves or from the magic they bind themselves to.
The primary facets of the courts, the ones that tend to remain consistent factors across all of them, are the king and queen, the lords and ladies, the physical court, and the tree. All other details tend to shift and vary to an extensive degree. The exact aesthetic depends on the surrounding ecosystem, the exact number of courtiers, the more specialized positions, whether or not there's an official guard position or not.
Not long after a fae court comes into existence, it becomes a physical location that the fae can inhabit, albeit one not tied particularly well to a physical location. Since it is so tied to the people who form it, going there can be a good way to tell what sort of court it is. If they are involved in darker magics, the ambiance will reflect that. If they are a looser coalition, the plants will grow wild.
The physical court is open to all, as a part of their magic. This does not mean it's not defended, nor does it mean that just anyone should waltz on in, unprepared. But you could, if you wanted to.
Kings and Queens
There is always a king and a queen in the fae court. Sometimes the exact lineage is a formal one, passed down from generation to generation. Other times the fae rulers are chosen by particular and specific criteria detailed by the rest of the court. The commonality is that there is always a male ruler and a female ruler.
The position is not shared, nor is it in name only. The kings and queens of the fae have very real power, literally and politically.
They do not need to be married, or romantically interested in the slightest. They can be closely related or they could have never met before becoming king and queen.
Midnight Town
The king and queen in Midnight Town are brother and sister. They are the children of the last king and queen, who were a married pair. The selection process was in contravention to the typical way of passing on the title in this place, and the duo are regarded as aggressive and manipulative. There are several instances of them notably not following the laws that pertain to the town or that deal with the various other factions and alliances. They are notably strict about others following the fae laws, however.
The local magical font is the Ilyanoryth, a magnificent tree that is the only one of its kind.
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