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The Ironhanded

The Ironhanded was formed in 1946, when a then Seventeen year old David Ironhands uttered his now famous vow to guard over the Trod atop Beacon Hill for as long as he draws breath. With the help of a loyal band of sworn brothers, David Ironhands has kept a keen eye on the Trod and all of Boston for the last fifty years. The Motley was first called the Ironhanded during the Year With No Spring, when David Ironhands stood at the head of the opposition to Blind Thomas and his Knights of Endless Winter. Over the years, the motley has lost members and replaced them with fresh blood, to the point that of the Changelings that originally joined David in his oath to protect the Trod, only one other than him remains. Though joined together in their dedication to protecting Boston and keeping watch over Beacon Hills Trod, and kept close by the fierce camaraderie that develops in battle, the Ironhanded are perhaps not as friendly with one another as some motleys. Their association is one of duty and honor, and their bonds tighter than many, but they still have their own lives. When not standing guard over the Motleys' hollow or the Freeholds Commons, or hunting the servitors of the Gentry, the various members of the Ironhanded keep in very different company.

The Ironhanded's main asset in their duties is their main Hollow. A small secure bolthole with gateways to many of the lesser Trods nestled throughout Boston, the Ironhanded use their Hollow to range freely around the city when needed, having quick access to all the hots spots where activity amidst the Gentry is most likely. The Ironhanded try to keep an eye on these lesser Trods as well but this is impractical in terms of time and manpower, so it is a distinctly secondary objective for the motley. The Ironhanded cooperate closely with the Bloody Handed Sons and Blood Red toward the defense of the city, generally trying to be equitable in terms of who is responsible for what. Blood Red tends to specialize in activities in Roxbury, Roslindale and Mattapan, while the Bloody Handed Sons handle most of South Boston, Back Bay, Fenway, and the South End. The Ironhanded themselves try to direct their attention to Beacon Hill, Allston/Brighton, East Boston and Charlestown. David considers the overall defense of the city against the Gentry his to coordinate, however, regardless of what his two Generals feel about their own responsibilities.

In addition to their Hollow, and their self-appointed position as Guardians over the freeholds commons, the Ironhanded claim effective ownership over a small bar in Allston called the Last Days of Summer. They had nothing to do with the name, but when they noticed it, well. It's been a favorite of the entire Summer Court since it opened some 17 years ago, but one can find a member of the Ironhanded there a fairly high percentage of the time. The proprietor of the establishment has long since been Ensorcelled, and the back areas of the bar are available for Summer Courtiers in good standing with the motley for various purposes.

Related Links- Beacon Hollow

Members of the Motley

• David Ironhands (Ogre, Stonebones - Summer Court - RIP) is the King of Summer, but more than that, he's the leader of the motley that bears his name and the hero of the freehold. Many hear the story of the "Boy King", and the young upstart warrior that cast down the oathbreaker Thomas, giving David more than a little bit of a legendary air to him. Some members of the Summer Court are awestruck the first time they meet the Ogre, which he himself tries to discourage, as he prefers a fairly hands on leadership style and doesn't want his reputation to get in the way of the safety of Boston. David might just love the city, and its freehold, more than anyone.
• Robert Thorn (Ogre, Farwalker - Autumn Court - RIP) has been with the Ironhanded as long as its been a Motley, and has a friendship that goes back with David that goes back even longer, to when he Fostered the younger ogre. Robert Thorn is perhaps one of the freeholds best experts on Trods, and is the best expert on the trod atop Beacon Hill. Hes been studying it for over 60 years now and he has even followed its path back toward Arcadia - never all the way, obviously, but quite some distance. He's personally responsible for most of the Wards that protect the Motleys' Hollow, and is the authority when it comes to defending Boston from attacks that come from his Trod.
• Jonathon Bligh (Wizened, Smith - Summer Court) has been a member of the Ironhanded since '74 or so, following the death of his Wife. He's not as active as some of the other members of the Motley in actually fighting the gentry and their servants, but that's because he is a very busy person. The workshop he maintains, in his own private hollow, where he does most of his work is a frequent destination for Changelings of all the Courts and even from distant Freeholds. One of the best workers of iron in New England, Jonathon Bligh works more or less non-stop, and the only thing that can pull him away from his forging is getting a drink at The Last Days of Summer or cracking the heads of some Loyalist scum.
• Brian Leeland (Darkling, Mirrorskin - Summer Court) frequently acts as a Flanker, Scout and Messenger for the motley, and is widely considered something of a tricky bastard by the freehold as a whole with the reputation that goes along with it. Any operation that the Ironhanded pulls off which seems a bit underhanded or cunning is often associated with him, and he frequently gives Winter Courtiers a run for their money in competitions designed to give those cunning Changelings a chance to shine. Despite all this, Brian is generally well-liked by the Summer Court and the Freehold as a whole.
• Janette (Wizened, Gameplayer - Summer Court - RIP) is widely considered by even the members of her own motley a disaster waiting to happen, as she's slowly losing her grip on reality and doesn't seem to have any easy options to even slow down the slide. Self-referentially a killer by nature, and nothing more, she desires only to use her 'gift' for the Court and if denied such tends to sink into a deep melancholy. If anything she seems to be healthier when indulged, but over the years, she's just gotten worse and worse. David and Robert both know that something has to be done, and probably soon, but are unsure what.
• London (Fairest, Dancer - Summer Court) is perhaps the most well-liked member of the Summer Court, even compared to David (who is more respected and held in awe than liked), with a reputation as a lover boy almost on a par with Ferguson, Mercedes or Augustina. He spends a lot of time partying with the Spring Court, only infrequently sleeps in his own bed, and is more than a little of a irresponsible frat boy. Despite that, when it comes to fighting the Gentry and their servants, he's as heartless and cold as his Seeming can sometimes be. A graceful fighter skilled with blade and gun, as well as a very accomplished Duelist, London has no problem earning the respect of his fellows in the Court of Wrath either.
• Maerick (Elemental, Firetouched - Winter Court - RIP) has been with the motley since the 60s, having left Thomas' group early on and hooked up with David when it was obvious that he was going to do something about this Endless Winter nonsense. Despite his long association, he's never been overly tempted to switch Courts, and tends to gracefully tease the Summer Courtiers in the Motley about their philosophies - noting that he's likely to dance on all their graves, and what not, for instance. Despite that, Maerick is not considered anything of a coward, and is not at all shy about standing beside the members of his motley in combat. Though he does it in his own way.
• Sister Mona (Wizened, Soldier - Summer Court - RIP) only joined the motley a little while ago, after the Beacon Hill Irregulars disbanded, but had been working with David for quite some time to help run one of the freeholds business practices - a dojo that trains various forms of self-defense and competition sport. After the Irregulars fell apart, she was quietly invited by David to join along with her friend Elijah and Nathaniel as well. While the other two turned down David's offer for their own reasons, Mona eagerly accepted the offer, and has slowly been working her way into full acceptance.
• Marley (Darkling, Skitterskulk - Summer Court).