The White Tree Freehold
From Shadowsoflogos
The White Tree Freehold is the largest of the three changeling Freeholds in Chicago, and also happens to be the most "traditional" of the three - in terms of conforming most closely to the Court structure common in Europe and America. It is a cyclical freehold, with power alternating between the Courts, but it is structured somewhat differently from the traditional cyclical structure, in that only two Courts ever actually hold the title of Queen of the Freehold. The remaining two Courts are not powerless, however, serving instead to fill the ranks of the Freehold to form a continuous organization even as the power structure alternates between their companion Courts.
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[edit] Structure
The White Tree Freehold is ruled by a seasonal Queen. The Freehold's Crown is in the hands of the Winter Queen from Midsummer to Midwinter, and in the hands of the Summer Queen for the rest of the year. Each Queen has a named heir, who will assume the Crown of the Freehold when she is too old to do so herself. Additionally, though this is somewhat coincidental, each Queen has taken a Consort from one of the other two Courts.
Beneath the Queens, their heirs and their consorts are a number of other important changelings - the High Peerage, many of whom are Entitled and all of whom are engaged in the continued smooth running of the freehold and the enforcement of its laws. Many of these Peers will sponsor Motleys, providing them with the resources of a highly placed Mentor in exchange for their service.
[edit] Services
The White Tree Freehold provides a number of services for its members. Most members can find a place to sleep for the night, either at the Freehold itself, or in one of its members' homes, and food if they can't manage for themselves. New identities are easy to come by for those who've Come Back with nothing but their name, and a number of mundane items can be purchased from craftsmen in the employ of the Freehold safely, and without any annoying questions.
[edit] Location
The White Tree Freehold is located in the Hotel Hyperion, a spacious hotel originally constructed in the 1920s, which operated nearly 40 years before being closed down. Purchased by the first Monarchs of Summer and Winter, it remains officially empty, but serves a hostel and apartment for many members of the Freehold. In the central lobby of the hotel, beneath a statue of Apollo, a small white tree - said to have been stolen from Arcadia itself - blooms free, a constant reminder of both the danger of the Gentry, and of the Lost's victory over them.
[edit] Important Persons within the Freehold
[edit] The High Peerage of the White Tree Freehold
Lillian - Queen of Summer.
Maeve - Queen of Winter.
Aurora - Lady of Spring. Consort to the Queen of Summer.
Jack Lampkin - Baron of Autumn. Consort to the Queen of Winter.
Cinderskin - High Prince and Heir to the Throne of Summer. Master of the Armies of the Queens.
Annise - The Weeping Princess, Heir to the Throne of Winter. Guardian of the Obsidian Sanctuary.
[edit] The Peerage of the White Tree Freehold
N - Lord-Marshall of the Freehold, Keeper of the Law of the Queens and the Oaths of the Court.
The Black Prince - Minister of the Equinox, Emissary to the Children of Typhon and Grendel, ambassador to the Courts of the Wise.
Bishop 4&20 - High Bishop of the Rookery Covenant.
37 - Lord of the Red Sign, Knight-Banneret of the Tollhouse of the White Tree Freehold.
Applejack - Provost and Dean of the Black School, Seer of the White Tree, Advisor to the Throne of the Baron of Autumn.
Dumier - Attendant to the Throne of the Lady of Spring, master of the Calender of the Queens.
Virginia - Servant of the Throne of Lady Spring, sometime envoy of the Black Prince.
Cerrana Drawnwright - Lady in Waiting to the Spring Lady.
[edit] Motleys of Note
[edit] The Black School
Members: Applejack; Barachus (Water-Dweller Ogre; Autumn Court); Murdoc (Lurkglider Darkling; Autumn Court); Fortuna (Sand-Touched Elemental; Autumn Court); Jack Crowe (Free Council Acanthus)
The Black School is dominated by the Autumn Court, and its members seek to plumb the depths of Faerie, fate and dreams. Practically, they are constantly on the look-out for the Gentry, and provide the Freehold with early warnings of incursions. Their motivations are more scholarly, however, and they've even recruited one of the so-called "Wise" to assist in their research.
[edit] The Spider Lodge
Members: Erzulie (Flowering Fairest; Spring Court); Shango (Fireheart Elemental; Summer Court); Agwe (Swimmerskin Beast; Summer Court); Eshu (Muse Fairest; Spring Court)
The Spider Lodge is a Voodoun-influenced Motley with ties to the White Tree Freehold, though they spend most of their time in Chicago's South Side, where they're somewhat feared for their willingness to wipe out any gang that threatens the relative peace of their neighbourhood. The Spider Lodge has recently lost its fifth member, a young Autumn Court Darkling named Legba, who was killed by a rival gang - La jolie Marinette'.
[edit] The Knights of the Pumpkin and the Willow Leaf
Members: Steiner (Gargantuan Ogre; Autumn Court); Alvis (Wizened Soldier; Autumn Court); Barb (Treasured Fairest; Spring Court)
The Orders of the Pumpkin and of the Willow Leaf once boasted twice the membership they now possess, but in the pursuit of their duties - the protection of the Monarchs, the Royal Heirs and the Royal Consorts - half their number was lost during a battle with privateers led by the dread privateer Robespierre. Though broken, they continue to uphold their duty and honor, and seek to restore their former numbers.
[edit] The Salt Syndicate
Members: "Gentleman" Argyle Trick (Whisperwisp Darkling; Spring Court); King John (Polychromatic Fairest; Winter Court); Pretty Good (Wizened Gameplayer; Spring Court); Painter (Mirrorskin Darkling; Winter Court)
The Salt Syndicate has close ties to the White Tree Freehold, but they're mostly looked at as black sheep by more respectable Lost. Con-men, street performers and gamblers, they make their money on Chicago's incredulous and gullible, but it's only a matter of time before one of their cons crosses the wrong person.
[edit] The Brotherhood of the Red Sign
Members: 37; Albus (Razorhand Darkling; Summer Court); Patruchio (Snow-Skin Elemental; Summer Court); Parthenos (Troll Ogre; Summer Court)
The Brotherhood of the Red Sign is one of the most feared motleys in the Freehold. It's members are all Knights of the Tolltaker Brotherhood, rough mercenaries ready to fight at the drop of a hat, and their services are available to anyone who feels that the justice of the Monarchs isn't satisfactory. 37 will accept most bounties on behalf of the Tollhouse, but he's sworn not accept a bounty on anyone who has already been sentenced by the Monarchs to carry out some punishment - to do otherwise would undermine the Freehold altogether.
[edit] The Hunt
Members: Chuculainn (Truefriend Beast; Summer Court); Epona (Broadback/Runnerswift Beast; Summer Court); Herne (Chimera/Huntersheart Beast; Summer Court); Patrick (Coldscale Beast; Summer)
The Hunt is a radical motley of Summer courtiers who've begun the slow progression from "creatures of wrath" to "militia". They are known for their violent destruction of fetches, their conservative, paranoid view of anything Faerie has to offer. Though they do a lot of good for the Freehold, they've also made enemies of most of the Summer Court, a fact that will one day come back to haunt them.
