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The Winter Court
The Winter Court is not strong in numbers, nor does it have great unity. Nobody would call them especially dedicated to anything, unless they were being particularly nice. There is no doubt that the Winter Court is the weakest of all the Courts in Boston, but this was not always so. Once the Court of Sorrow was strong, stronger than all the others. It dominated Boston, and the other Courts at best scrabbled for the scraps. The Year Of Eternal Winter changed all that, Blind Thomas and those loyal to him tearing both Court and Freehold apart. Oaths to freehold and season were shattered, and the Court almost created a Winter that was both endless and eternal. This is their great shame, their great sorrow, that they almost let this happen. That they, who should be most watchful, almost did not notice. The other courts say that the Winter Court has great focus, or that its single-minded, but they are just too kind to say the truth. The Winter Court seeks redemption, and forgiveness. Not from others, but for themselves.
The Court at a Glance
Only one Motley in all of Boston is actually aligned with the Winter Court, that being the Winter Motley. In general, the Winter Court prefers to spread itself among the cities Motleys, a courtier or two here and there. Lady Midnight herself is a member of Jordans Motley, for instance, though only a few know this as she doesn't really associate with them while she holds office. The exact amount of influence these orphans hold varies; some are like Natalya Loveless in Mercedes Motley, the firm second in command, holding great influence. Others are more like Verney Underbridge of Creepy, simply acting as a supporting voice to her friends. Many more just blend into the background like Elena Logos of Harnley Industries or Jenny Cottontail of Skys Motley. The Court mostly uses this structure as a way to demonstrate their loyalty to the freehold and their fellow Courts, despite the fact that nobody ever asked them to.
There is, obviously, no real stigma against being orphaned in the Winter Motley. Quite the contrary! Kevin Journey and his Winter Motley are considerably more political than the rest of the Court tends to be, viewing it as their duty to speak up for the rest of the Court despite the fact that said Court doesn't really want them to do so. No, most members of the Winter Court put their loyalty to their Motley ahead of their loyalty to the Court. This is not to say, however, that disloyalty is accepted. If there's one thing the Winter Court has no patience for its the disloyal.
Titles and Duties
- The Lady Midnight has served as Winter Queen for the Court since 1987, when the Court decided that they didn't want Kevin Journey in charge anymore. When her fellow Courtiers showed up and argued their case, the Lady reluctantly acquiesced to their argument, and now serves out her appointed season without fail. She then effectively ceases to exist, in truth being little more than an aspect of the larger personality that is Christa Delalupo. The Winter Court knows that she's insane, of course, but view her as the kind of insane that they need right now. Christa might be weak-willed, but the Lady Midnight is practically the incarnation of Icelaw.
- Kevin Journey tries not to be bitter, and does a good job as the courts Seneschal, being in charge of managing the affairs of the Court during the rest of the year and handling any affair that doesn't require the active involvement of the Winter Queen. While not an actual part of any of his positions, he also serves as a political advocate for the Court in freehold politics and tries to represent his fellow courtiers - rather they want him to or not.
- Lisabeth Crow has been the cities DJ Ötzal for the past three years, since acquiring the radio equipment. It has certainly made her life more interesting, given that she's neither licensed for broadcasting nor did she really ask first before setting any of this up. The show switches frequencies every couple of weeks, moves broadcasting location constantly, and generally tries to keep a low profile. Many local Changelings (and god knows who else) pick it up every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10, 6 or 8pm respectively.
- The Winter Court generally trusts Alexander Harnley to manage the Onyx Courts network for safehouses and winter cottages; no official title was ever given to the position, but Alexander tends to call himself the Housekeeper.
- Under Alexander, strictly, the Courts three Archers of the Lonely March work to help keep the above mentioned network safe and secure while scouting out possible dangers and making sure that any danger the Court sees is kept an eye on. Sir Hadrian Bellecoste (a Knight of Utmost Silence in the Winter Motley) and Salvatore Vichy (from the Boston Chronicle) have served the position the longest, while Jenny Cottontail is the new girl.
- The shadowy Maerick serves as the Courts Sun Banisher and its Lord of the Inhospitable Chamber. A member of The Ironhanded, Maerick is a strict professional, and while he expects strict obedience whenever he's called in he is very good at what he does - rather that be torturing loyalists or cleaning up after a body. He has been known to work closely with Mercedes when necessary to help keep the freeholds Changelings out of jail.
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