The Wind-Dragon Freehold
From Shadowsoflogos
The Wind-Dragon Freehold is less a Freehold and more a loose diplomatic organization - the United Nations of the oriental Changelings that sometimes find their way back across the Hedge and into Chicago's Chinatown.
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[edit] Structure
There is no King, no Duke, no ruler of any kind in the Wind-Dragon Freehold. Instead, the four Directional Courts hold sway - taking the form of secret societies of changelings and ensorcelled or otherwise allied mortals hiding among the tight-knit, exclusionary society of Chinese immigrants and nationals that makes up Chicago's Chinatown. Each Court is ruled by a "Grand Master", who directs the Court's day-to-day affairs and assists the members of his or her Court. The traditional Motley structure of organization is almost unheard-of except among the scattered few unaligned Changelings in the Freehold, as it's considered extremely inauspicious to hold loyalty to a group other than one's secret society.
[edit] Services
Though changelings of the Wind-Dragon Court don't have a Motley to rely on, they find that their Court provides them with just about everything they need - money, food, a place to stay and, most importantly, a purpose and a family - something many changelings lack when they come back across the Hedge. Outsiders, though, are cautioned that the services of the Courts are largely available only to members, and the cost of procuring them for oneself is often more than most Changelings will be willing to pay.
[edit] Location
Gan's Quality Chinese is a nice, tourist-y Chinese restaurant on the edge of Chinatown. It does good business among people looking for a taste of "authentic" Chinese. The front is run by an old man in his 70s, who stares blankly at a Go-board most of the day, while his grand-daughter actually operates the restaurant. If a changeling were to come in and lay down a single white stone on the Go-board, the old man would show them a back entrance into the Hedge behind the restaurant's kitchen, where a Hollow has been carved in the shape of a stylized Three Kingdoms-era castle, the perfect bastion for the Freehold's members to meet and do business among themselves.
[edit] Important Changelings of the Wind-Dragon Freehold
[edit] The Grand Masters of the Courts
General Zhao - Grand Master of the Tiger-Spear Society of the Western Court.
Aunt Wu - Grand Master of the Broken Heaven Society of the Eastern Court.
Mr. Chang - Grand Master of the Fallen Earth Society of the Northern Court.
Gentle Mai - Grand Master of the Spring Blossom Society of the Southern Court.
[edit] Other Changelings of Note
Lai Gao - Dai Lo Dai of the Phantom Tong.
Johnny Shiu - Champion of the Freehold.
