Historical Overview
Literary Origins
In the early literary and cultural traditions of the Blossom Fields, the Braelea castle of
Terracetop was the home of a legendary noble court. Here, the various real Braelea lords, but most often a highly fictionalized
Laurent of the Hedge, held court. At their court they dispensed quests, hosted tournaments, feasts, and parties, and generally acted as either a source of literary and bardic entertainment for the nobility of the Vinelands, or as a source of moralizing stories and social commentary.
Apropriation
Long after the legendary days of the Age of Rule, and after the
Fall of House Braelea, the idea of the Braelea court as a seat of chivalric virtue and adventure had only grown. In response to the takeover of the Blossom Fields, and later the Vinelands, by
House Semillon, their new subjects responded by continuing to bolster the legends of the Braeleas.
To counter the legitimacy of their defeated rivals, especially after the resurgence of
Braelea Loyalism through the efforts of
House Thewisy, the Semillons tried to appropriate the reputation of the Braeleas. Without any legendary founding story, nor notable chivalric past as they were mercenaries and moneylenders, the Semillons began adopting Braelea themes as their own.
"Our exulted lady exercised, yesterday, truly divine judgement upon one of her handmaidens, who had, in the carelessness of youth, been woo'd by one of our Lord's gallant knights." - The Violet Vellum
Most prominently was the Court of Love, created for the Lady Semillon to host other noble women at the Mirielle Gardens. Here Lady Semillon sits upon her throne, at the head of a council table reminiscent of the early Braelea lords, and deliberates upon matters of courtly love. From adultery, contests for the hands of maidens, disputes at parties, or judging poetry and the arts, the Court of Love controls a world of playacting by the wealthy.
"The young heir of House Perry made a daring escape from his luxurious lodgings in the Apartments of Terracetop yesterday. While he was recaptured in the Lovers' Steps, he dispatched a number of those sent to retrieve him. We applaud his prowess and are sure he will grow to be a chivalrous lord." - The Violet Vellum
It serves a dual purpose, both entertainment and soft power. The Court of Love goes along with the Semillon adoption of the wider
Romance of Nobility movement, a later term for the resurgence of the literary traditions of the early Age of Rule, and the playacting that goes along with it. Nobles often dress up in period garments, pretend to be heroes of old, and entertain themselves. It also functions as soft power, creating artificial competition at court, and giving visiting Semillon vassals, sometimes there as political hostages, something to do.
Structure
The Court of Love has the Lady Semillon at its head, often pretending to be Mirielle, the first Lady Braelea and friend of
Vestria's. Along the Court's table, at the foot of Lady Semillon's dais, are sat visiting ladies of the court and noble members of Lady Semillon's household, in order of precedence. Rather than the precedence of their house in Anhara's actual system of
noble houses, this follows the Semillon tradition of sorting by time spent loyal to the house and services rendered.
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