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The Summer Court
While neither as large as the Spring Court nor as single-minded as the Winter Court, Boston's Court of Wrath is noteworthy for its unity. When the Iron Spear stands, they stand together, each Courtier made stronger by the presence of his fellows. This unity is marshaled by David Ironhands?, the Courts own celebrated hero who has stood against the Gentry since the foundation of the Trimountain Society, who guides his Court with the aid of his Generals to ensure the protection of the Freehold as well as Boston itself. The Iron Spear also enjoys admirable relations with the Ashen Court, from the lowest levels of both Courts to the highest (though tensions are high between David and Byron for personal reasons, as of late, both rulers set aside such matters when necessary).
The Court At A Glance
The Summer Court is ruled, make no mistake, by The Ironhanded - the personal motley of no other than David Ironhands - which has a nigh legendary reputation. Yet that authority is shared by the Summer Motley, as well as both the Bloody Handed Sons and Blood Red (both Summer/Autumn motleys, well regarded in both Courts), and until recently the Beacon Hill Irregulars as well. Even some nominally non-Summer Court motleys are largely considered par of the Iron Spear. While Creepy is more Autumn than anything else, Jack Timblefingers and Nocturne combine to give the motley a strong Summer focus, and Samsons Motley has a strong contingent of Summer Courtiers despite its focus on other matters. Even the Boston Chronicle, largely uninterested in fighting on the front lines and lacking any members of the Court, is more than willing to hand over information to the warriors of the Summer Court.
The Summer Court has fewer 'orphaned' members than other Courts, the Court as a whole preferring to either dominate a motley or rule it in joint with the other Courts. Despite this a few scattered Courtiers linger here and there, from Kelvin Horn in Skys Motley to Alex Apperson in The Family. Some, such as (some person) in Jordans Motley, rise quite high in the Court, but it tends to require a bit more effort and devotion to gain attention when you lack a firm connection to the rest of the Court in the form of other members of your motley that can tell tall tales of you at Summer Court gatherings and such.
Titles and Roles
- The name of David Ironhands is one to conjure with in the Summer Court, as the Summer King is arguably the most revered of the Freeholds leaders. Well known for strangling a member of the Gentry soon after his escape when he was only 11, and serving as the first and to date only King of the Summer Court only a year later, not to mention his crowning achievement: victory over Blind Thomas, the self-styled King of Endless Winter. While the Iron Spear is firmly in Davids' grip, the Summer King is one to favor delegation, and he shares much authority with his two generals.
- The title of Wroth General Calescence is one held by both Anthony Redface and Cayce, leaders of Blood Red and the Bloody Handed Sons respectively. Second in command to the Ironhanded, both leaders are heavily involved in the month to month activities of the Freehold, particularly when it comes to the allocation of scarce resources to various necessary tasks and the planning of activities both large and small. Both are also among the toughest bastards in Boston, and hold ambition of being the one on top when David eventually meets his end.
- Former Irregular Samhain has served as Iron Adjutant since '97, when the old Adjutant was found to have been working with his Keeper. This has made him a fairly popular individual, as anyone that needs to talk to David needs to go through him (except in the most dire of emergencies, when formalities are tossed to the side). While not quite as highly ranked as the two Generals, Samhain quite often stands with them to represent the wishes of David. Samhain is also usually in charge of matters of logistics for the Summer Court as a whole, as well as funds collection for the Court.
- The exact role held by Nocturne in the Summer Court is uncertain, as he is not actually a member of the Summer Court, but instead a loyal member of the Leaden Mirror. Regardless, many individual Summer Courtiers forget this, regarding the tall dark Fairest as a boon brother unafraid to stand beside them in the darkest of circumstances. Far beyond the level of respect given to most Sun's Shadows (a title fairly common to Boston's Summer Court), Nocturne is just considered to belong.
- Both Janette and Elijah serve as Hunters of the Longest Day, though Elijah is by far the better tracker while Janette focuses more on execution. Though he does not actually hold this title, Nocturne has served this role more than a few times, particularly when the Iron Spear must act against some of the stranger enemies that lurk in the shadows of the World of Darkness.
- The strong military background of the Summer Court in Boston created the title of Crimson Bannerlord, who serve as a kind of Officer Corps in the city. Kelvin Horn, Blackeyeblue, Sister Mona Immaculata, Jonathon Bligh, and (in all but name) Nocturne serve this position in the city. Mostly their duties consist of taking command when neither David, his Adjutant, nor his Generals can personally supervise matters. All Bannerlords are gifted with an actual Crimson Banner as a recognition of their services to the Court.
- The extremely busy and overworked position of Master of Iron is held by Jonathon Bligh, the cities premiere blacksmith and forger of weaponry for the Summer Court. Hand-forged weapons require a lot of skill and effort to make, particularly if you expect them to not only be potent against the True Fae but also potent as weapons. Also, though Jonathon makes fine blades, Iron just isn't quite as good a material as Steel and he occasionally has to repair or reforge a blade for someone. Lastly, Jonathon is probably the best smith in New England, and receives commissions from all over the region.
- The cities Arrayer of Distant Thunder, Brian Leeland, earned his post in the 60s when he helped David to drum up support across the Courts to fight back against the King of Endless Winter and his usurpation of Season Rule. Both London and Roderick Candlewick also bear this title, and assist Brian when it becomes necessary to rally the entire Freehold against a threat.
- By far the most social and urbane of the local Summer Court, London serves as the Summer Courts Sun Singer - emissary to the other Seasonal Courts. It's a post he's well suited for, since he's slept with Augustina, Sky, Jordan and a few other Spring Courtiers and is quite popular with the local Winter Court as well. Once the Court of Fear has its own emissary from the Summer Court, in the form John Toombs, but the post (called the Singer at Twilight) has not been refilled since his discovery as a loyalist pretty much from the day of his escape.
- The Summer Court, of course, has no shortage of Men-at-Arms, Dust Grunts, and Sentries of the Summer Vigil. Unlike some Summer Courts, though, Boston has no title of Mule Squire - all members of the Court are expected to be familiar with manual labor, just in case, and dedicate time and effort as necessary. It builds character, and is one of the best ways to gain respect within the Court.
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