Court of Wind and Stars
The Court of Wind and Stars, nestled within the vast dreamlike reaches of Halomir, is a Spring Court unlike any other—cold in manner, calculating in purpose, and consumed with the quiet gathering of knowledge. Though they are Seelie in name, their demeanor is distant, their courtesy practiced and frigid. Ruled by the inscrutable Starborn Lady, the Court’s central purpose is the accumulation, preservation, and control of information. It is said she can hear every conversation held under starlight, and that her will drifts on the wind like invisible ink—gathering truths, secrets, and stories to be etched into the Library of Stars, the Court’s ever-expanding archive that gleams like a galaxy hidden behind curtains of gauze.
The Court views knowledge not as something to be traded, but something to be hoarded—a resource more valuable than gold, more potent than magic. Unlike other Spring Courts that celebrate renewal and abundance, the Court of Wind and Stars sees growth through acquisition of understanding, not emotion. They collect conversations, catalog betrayals, study relationships, and diagram patterns of courtly behavior across centuries. This information is not shared, only stored—used as leverage, quietly shaping decisions in distant courts or dismantling rivals without ever appearing to act. Diplomacy, for them, is observation; action, when it comes, is always precise and entirely deniable.
Their disdain for mortals is palpable. The Court considers the mortal world a tangle of short-lived impulse, corrupted histories, and crude attempts at understanding forces beyond them. Mortals are, at best, curiosities; at worst, contaminants. They are not invited to stay in Halomir unless they are being studied. Even among fey, the Wind and Stars are aloof, preferring to observe rather than engage. Their relationships with other Seelie Courts are strained—especially with the Court of Yestermorrow, whose mastery of prophecy and futures unsettles them. To the Court of Wind and Stars, the idea that someone else might hold truths they cannot see is not only insulting—it is dangerous.
Their political agenda is subtle but far-reaching: to become the silent, unseen hand behind the knowledge structure of The Feywild. If one court falls and another rises, the Court of Wind and Stars already knows why. They keep records of every alliance, every broken vow, every whispered promise made beneath the moon. They do not move quickly, but they never forget, and once the stars mark a name in their ledger, that name remains—shining faintly, indefinitely, until it becomes relevant again. Their court may be still, but the wind never stops moving, and the stars are always watching.
Structure
The Court of Wind and Stars is structured with an intricate and almost scholarly precision, its hierarchy flowing from the unassailable authority of the Starborn Lady. Beneath her, the Stellar Archivists serve as the primary stewards of knowledge, responsible for recording, preserving, and interpreting the endless influx of gathered information. They are followed by the Wind Listeners—a subtle and far-flung network of spies, dreamcatchers, and echo-weavers who sift the breezes and starlight for whispered secrets across the realms. Beneath them are the Silent Stewards, administrators who oversee the maintenance of the Library of Stars and the safeguarding of the Court’s internal affairs. Rank within the Court is determined by the depth and accuracy of one’s knowledge, not by martial prowess or social charm. Those who gather information of high value rise swiftly; those who lose secrets, even by accident, descend into cold obscurity, forgotten as surely as a star that has fallen from the sky.
Culture
The Court of Wind and Stars holds as its highest belief that knowledge is the only true form of power, and that silence is a strategy, not a shortcoming. The Court prizes observation over expression, patience over passion, and detachment over sentiment. Emotion is seen as a vulnerability, a distraction from the pursuit of truth. To speak without purpose is discouraged; every word should carry weight, every gesture observed. The Court’s culture is one of meticulous cataloging, subtle maneuvering, and the cultivation of superiority through understanding. Their customs center on reflection and recording: conversations are transcribed into the Library of Stars, and memories are etched into constellations using starlight and wind-carried threads of spoken truth.
Court functions are subdued and ceremonial—gatherings held under open skies, where courtiers exchange observations rather than pleasantries. The act of sharing information is reserved for internal use only; even trusted allies are left in the dark. To reveal knowledge without consent is a grave betrayal. Dreams and whispers are collected through ritual winds, and important events are commemorated by the naming of new stars—each one a secret sealed in light. Above all, the Court of Wind and Stars believes that to see and not be seen, to know and not be known, is to reign without contest.
Demography and Population
The Court of Wind and Stars is home to a variety of fey who embody the ethereal nature of wind, night, and the celestial realm. Since the realm is in perpetual night, only nocturnal fey beasts roam the fields. Owls are well represented in the realm and are sought after for their wisdom. Spring eldarin have formed several small settlements, though all pay homage to the Starborn Lady. Stardust fey, with skin that sparkle like the night sky and with hair that flows like liquid silver, serve within the court as keepers of ancient knowledge and advisors to the Starborn Lady. Starfall giants remain unseen except for times of trouble where they arrive to protect the court. Starlight nymphs whose pools of water reflect the stars above dwell throughout the lands. Nightbloom Dryads protect the rare luminescent flora that thrive in the night sky of the court. When a comet appears in the night sky, portent of change, celestial wraiths appear in the realm.
Laws
- What is gathered, is not given. No knowledge collected by the Court may be shared outside its ranks without explicit permission from the Starborn Lady herself
- Prophecy is not welcome.
- Never conceal the night sky, allow the stars to see everything.
- Respect the wind's freedom, it may not be captured for work.
- No light brighter than the stars.
"To know is to rule."
Type
Court, Noble
Leader
Ruling Organization
Leader Title
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Parent Organization
Location
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
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