Brisbane Lost
"You guys don't have multiple seasons. For half the year, it's fucking hot, and for the other half... it's fucking hot, and it rains a lot.
Introduction
In Brisbane, they say, the seasons don't vary like they do in Europe. There's times when the heat is dry, and harsh winds blow, sucking the moisture from your skin and mouth, and at other times, rain pours down in thick sheets, swallowing up houses as people wait for rescue, and the heat still doesn't let up. Some Changelings like to point to the rise of the Summer Tyrant, Tros ti̱s Kataigídas, and claim the unending heat is a legacy of his fierce rule. Others claim that it's always been such, and the Courts have never had such problems. And while they argue, the violent, tropical weather of the North continues.
Brisbane is a Freehold fractured and split; a political hotbed of mistrust and tension that's barely held together due to the threat of the Others. On one side stands the Storm: consisting of Summer and Autumn, they value action and progress. The other consists of the Drought, an alliance of Winter and Spring, who prefer being happy and safe. One side wants to see the Freehold's holdings expand, while the other prefer holding onto what they have. While there is some variation in the ideologies of the two groups, the lines are fairly clearly drawn, and few step over or avoid the conflict without being mistrusted.
The Court
Position Holders
The Regent
The Pledgesmith: Jarlath Stern, of the Court of Desire.
The Adjudicators: The Knighthood of the Shining Light of a Knight of the Freehold.
Nemesis: Michael Daley, of the Court of Sorrow.
Monarchs
While the Regent nominally leads the Freehold, there's little doubt that the true power within the Freehold lies within the fractious Monarchs. They are the true rulers of the Freehold, respectful, powerful leaders of their Great Courts. While they've voluntarily granted Regency to a ruler, so the Freehold can continue to stand, they still advise, manipulate, and bicker between themselves.
Most importantly, the Monarchs don't just install a Regent - they're also the only ones able to remove someone from the position by unanimous vote.
- Lachlan of the Iron Spear, The Crimson King of the Court of Wrath.
- Trow of the Leaden Mirror, The Ashen King of the Court of Fear.
- Davian Darko of the Silent Arrow, The Onyx King of the Court of Sorrow.
- Connaught Stern of the Antler Crown, The Emerald King of the Court of Desire.
Structure of the Freehold
The Regent
The Pledgesmith
The Adjudicators
The Nemesis
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Tiny
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Trow
Lucinda Cornwell
Orion
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Ashe
Aura Themis
Micheal Daley
Inari
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Connaught Stern
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The Major Motleys
Your Motley is your family. You’re lucky this time, because you get to choose. Your Motley will have your back even unto death. Other Freeholds allow you to find your own Motley in time, when you’re ready to make the commitment, but in Brisbane that luxury has been denied.
The need to rush is regretful, but the Freehold is at war, practically we do not have the resources to protect those who do not contribute, but there is a mystical reason as well. Lost without a motley after three months have begun to display strange symptoms; Paranoia, Delusion, Wanderlust and eventually worship of the Gentry. Our occultists believe it is due to the saturation of Fae presence within Brisbane, or some form of powerful curse, we do not know why but we know that the Motley pledge protects you.
New Lost who have not joined a Motley within those three months will be placed in one by The Regent into one of the archetypes that your skillset best suits.
The Lords of the Freehold, under the direction of their elected Regent, reserve the right to alter the duties of the Motleys or even to enforce changes in their membership.
There are motley archetypes, each has numerous Vassalage Motleys, these are:
- The Information Network
- The Rangers
- The First Response
- The Oneiromancers
- The New Life
- The Reapers
Freehold Pledges
The swearing of the Freehold Pledge is a day long affair, filled with arcane ritual, spirited competition, revelry, and, as always, story-telling, all of which change year to year. Even the wording of the pledge is constantly being updated. The latest version of the pledge sworn is follows.
The Freehold
I swear, by this Bloodthisty Artifact of the First Queen of Summer,
in the presence of The Nemesis, before all the Free Lost who have fallen before me,
to the Glorious Monarchs of my Beloved Freehold and their Rightful Regent.
I swear that I shall be faithful to my Liege, to cause him no harm unjustly,
and to give of my skills to the best of my ability for the good of the freehold,
to obey the Laws and the Orders of the Freehold to the best of my ability,
and that I shall render unto him my Loyalty and Subservience.
By The Monarchs and Regent
I swear, upon this Merciless Weapon, of the First Queen of Summer,
in the presence of the Nemesis, before all the Free Lost who have fallen before me.
May the First Monarchs witness and Sanctify my most solemn Oath.
I swear to treat The Lost of Brisbane righteously and to shield them from harm,
to guide their abilities with wisdom to the deeper glory of the Freehold,
to uphold the Laws and to Rule with Honour and Pride.
I accept your Loyalty and pledge my own.
Should I be forsworn, may Rest or Contentment never find me, and my Fate be cruelly ended.By The Nemesis
I swear, upon this Merciless Weapon, of the First Queen of Summer,
to stand as Nemesis, before all the Free Lost who have fallen before me.
May the First Monarchs witness and Sanctify my most solemn Oath.
I swear to bring Justice to those who harm the Freehold from within,
and do my best against threats from without,
to obey and uphold the Laws of the Freehold to the best of my ability,
I accept this task and this burden.
Should I be forsworn, may Rest or Contentment never find me.Well Known Locals
Freehold Members
Xiùlán Liú - A Freehold Knight, went missing in late 2012.
The Librarian - A creature of unfathomable knowledge, possibly a changeling
Preston Wildthorne - Spring Court recluse
Garm - Far Strider Ogre, nominally one of the Rangers
Clifford - Spring Court Wizened
Annette - Psychology expert, member of the Information Network Motley
Known Loyalists
The Hunters
Jack Rover - A relentless Beastkin Headhunter.
Grant - A Stonebones brawler, not much of a talker, but hits like a train.
Chris Wavefall - A beautiful Fairest descriptions of her vary greatly.
Greg Weisman - A darkling lurkglider, a gargoyle like man. Genuinly seems unhappy with what he's doing.
Elise - A spider skitterskulk, sensual and deadly. You never see her coming until you feel the bite.
Tyson - A mist elemental, a beautiful charming man. Very hard to dislike.
Cain - Little is known about this wizened.
Misc
The Groundskeeper - A changeling first seen coming from the direction of Stradbroke Island, a presumed Loyalist.
The Messenger - A wizened gunslinger with some kind of cowboy motif going on, Extremely Dangerous.
Outsiders
Walker - A Free Changeling of the "South" Court. Without Motley or Freehold Pledge, not to be trusted.
Blunt - Claims to be a Werewolf and no-one really wants to argue with him.
Nathaniel Rockwell - One of The Mad, Nathaniel lives out in the hedge and seems to hear about everything eventually.
Essa Wilde - An elemental who travels the country via caravan she's sworn the good neighbors pact until she decides if she's staying.
Dead, Taken or MIA
((Inactive, Killed or Retired characters get moved here))
The Summer Tyrant - The Savior of the Lost, and the most hated Lost in the Freehold's History.
Ivy Amaryllis - Former Autumn courtier turned Courtless, former Ranger. Taken during The Rangers' mission to rescue Zhenya Poslavska.
Fallacy Yankelovich - Disappeared mid-year unseen, has recently turned up, apparently she joined a motley with Becky and Mulch... whoops.
Jack Frost - Killed by order of The Regent for forsaking his Oaths to the Freehold, his Court and his Motley.
Jax Quinn - Taken in the wake of the Wild Hunt that Adam Winnick summoned, he returned a loyalist with vengeance upon the Freehold, after a battle in the middle of a street he was executed.
Adam Winnick - Killed by order of The Regent for stealing the Nemesis sword, and refusing to return it upon the order of his Liege.
Danny - Killed by order of The Regent for breaking her Motley Pledge and encouraging members of the freehold to visit The Markets held by The Gentry. Executed by the Nemesis, her Brother, Davian Darko.
Lizzy Spoons - Slashed her wrists and was stabbed by Sebastian Lund after she had Kidnapped Briar.
Mother Lupa - Killed in action whilst fighting Jack Rover
Erebus - Killed in action whilst fighting Jack Rover
Ruby -
Channing - Joined the Spring Revelers
Hayley Le Quin - Not dead, just on Vacation
Morty -
Specter -
Leon Manderley - Hiding....Somewhere
Black Rook - Retired to his bookstore after the loss of his crown
The Stories of Brisbane
2013
May
The Election
As Ada Milner's term as the Wet Regent finally came to an end, the Freehold was cast yet again into the political turmoil that accompanied an Election, as candidates wrangled for support from motleys and courts, and the Monarchs quietly made the backroom deals to get what they wanted out of the coming seasons.
The Freehold, however, was mostly focused on the matter of the election. As Lizzy Spoons, Hayley Le Quin and Fallacy Yankelovich pitched their ideas to the Freehold, the Monarchs met to put the last touches on this season's Freehold pledge. As the election came to a close under the close watch of one of the Adjudicators, the Winter Courtier, Fallacy, was elected, and to sworn in as Regent.
Escapees
Meanwhile, in Arcadia, a snake finally had a realization of her own humanity as she was about to kill and consume a terrified mouse. As one of the cats called to her and their magpie friend, the startling realization of their humanity led to their frantic escape opportunity, retrieval, and interrogation at the hands of The Corruptibles.