The Sidhe Courts
There are few societies so prone to revolution as the Sidhe Courts. A free spirited people, they have been crushed down and rose up repeatedly throughout history by others and themselves more times than most can say. Even their king and queen, the storied Oberon and Titania, who have crushed the enemies of their nation and held the courts together with iron chains, know that they can only apply so much pressure before another revolution comes to fruition
Atezka Tlali, on the Sidhe Courts
Structure
At the head of the government sit Titania and Oberon, who have the final word in most governmental matters. Below them are the four Sidhe Courts that give the nation its name. Each one controls a portion of the countries home territory. Each court has a 'head', that makes the decisions for the whole of their own courts.
Assets
- Fairy LIghts
- Dream Dust
- The Palace of Mirrors
- 452,000 Winter Court Courtiers
- 312,000 Summer Court Courtiers
- 21,000 Autumn Court Courtiers
- 13,000 Spring Court Courtiers
- The Sidhe Pixie Corps
- 5,000 Arcane Constructs
History
The Sidhe Courts are one of the oldest nations on the face of the planet. Though they have only existed in their current iteration for that past 300 years or so. In the Age of Spilled Magic, the Elder Fae came into being. Born from, and so in tune with nature that they could change shape at will. Living as a squirrel, then a wolf, then a pine martin, then back to their humanoid form again was as simple as breathing in and out. Over time, as our world's natural magic (before the Realmshatter) settled, it became harder for the Elder Fae to change shape, and over time they vanished. In their place, they left who we call Sylvan. Still a free-spirited and passionate people, but without the natural ability to slip from one form to another. Modern philosophers have theorized that the loss of this ability might even be the reason for the Sylvan people's penchant for rebellion and the like.
After they lost their ability to change, the Sylvans found that they had to rely on each other for protection that they used to be able to provide for themselves. As such, they fell into clans, which grew and grew until they were nations in-and-unto themselves. These clans then divided themselves by personality and method of thought, resulting in the four courts.
The Summer Court: Remained friendly and cordial, but of powerful personality
The Spring Court: Friendly, but considered tricksters and ephemeral
The Winter Court: The strong right hand of the Sidhe, the Winter Court is cold and cruel.
The Autumn Court: Driven, but thought of as hardworking instead of the abrasive single minded-ness of their cousins in the winter court.
To say that these courts got along, would be an understatement. Each one jostled the others for resources or whimsy, often creating short term alliances between themselves for their own gain. That is until Oberon and Titania came to power. Born to the Autumn and the Summer Courts respectively, the Sylvan power couple met when they were attending the Royal College (This was still when the college was open to only those of noble blood or higher, mind you). While they were first repulsed from each other, due to their respective heritages, they soon developed a rapport through their intelligence and a desire to see their home stabilized. Oberon Revreeth, was and is, a master of physical combat. His ability in the art of dueling won him quite the reputation at the Royal College, while he played himself as a sort of party boy. Titania Wivrile, on the other hand, is one of the most powerful sorceresses this world has seen in the last two ages. They spent their time at the college well, meeting the important players of their youth, including the crown prince of Avalon at the time; Pengolet III Adelwas, who dueled Oberon on many occasions and consistently spent his free time with the Sylvan couple.
While there is some discussion as to whether or not Oberon and Titania befriended people such as these solely for their own advantage, or leaned on their legitimate friendships to help with their own goals one cannot ignore the benefit they played in the couple's future. In any case, when they graduated, they had put themselves in the exact position they needed to be to pull off the plan they had been formulating for all five years of their time at the Royal College. Returning to the Courts, they set their plan in motion. Seizing the command of their native Courts through force and guile, respectively, they called upon the backing of their college friends. With weapons, money, and magical support provided from outside allies, Oberon and Titania bested the other two courts after a short civil war.
That wasn't the hard part, however, as their new subjects did (and still do) everything that they can to try and pull the wool over the eyes of their new rulers. Not only that, but the debts that they accrued were a hook in the heart of the newborn nation for longer than most mortals live. Many of them have been paid since then, but some nations, such as Avalon still hold on to theirs.
Demography and Population
100% Sidhe. It is illegal for foreign immigrants to own land or permanent lodging, and as such they are not recorded on census data.
Military
Winter Court Courtiers: The most numerous unit in the Sidhe army, the Winter Courtiers are the first ones called when military intervention is needed. Rigorously trained, with whispers about their brutality circulated by both their neighbors and their allies.
Summer Court Courtiers: The Summer Court has been trying to supplant the winter court as the de facto military force in the country for decades now, and have started to close the gap between their military might. It's soldiers, however, have a reputation for a disregard of the military structure. Badmouthing officers in public and disputing orders. This is born almost entirely from the members that are recruited from the fields of the Spring Court, but the tarnish remains.
Autumn Court Courtiers: Seen as a sidecar to the military operations of the Winter Court, the Autumn Courtiers are usually left to their own devices and only called upon by the Winter Court in sparse circumstances. They are mediocrely trained. but their equipment is some of the most up to date in the Sidge Courts.
Spring Court: Mostly folded into and cannibalized by the Summer Court in recent years, the Spring Courtiers reject most forms of military authority, chafing under any for of command structure. To this end, they often serve as scouts and irregulars and are stationed in places out of the public and foreign eye.
Founding Date
Unknown, Age of Spilled Magic
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Confederation
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
Sylvan Reyal
Legislative Body
King Oberon and Queen Titania are the ones that write the laws, and enforce them when necessary.
Judicial Body
The Four Courts interpret the laws, though they are closely watched from the throne to see of they are brewing any sort of concent.
Neighboring Nations
Related Ethnicities
Comments