Autumn Court
The Autumn Court, also known as the @Court, is a mysterious and somber realm within the Unseelie Courts. It embodies the shifting balance between life and death, growth and decay, beauty and withering. Though once ruled by the Pumpkin King, the throne now stands empty, a haunting symbol of the court's current state. The lack of a ruler has left the court vulnerable to the influence of Queen Mab, the powerful and merciless ruler of the Winter Court, and none dare to claim the Autumn Throne for fear of incurring her wrath.
The Autumn Court exists in a perpetual twilight, with the sun forever low on the horizon, casting long shadows through forests of ancient, gnarled trees. The ground is covered in fallen leaves in hues of gold, red, and brown, and the air carries the crisp chill of the approaching winter. The scent of damp earth and decaying wood fills the air, and every breeze seems to whisper the inevitability of time’s passing. In the Autumn Court, beauty and melancholy walk hand in hand, creating a strange, bittersweet atmosphere that is both enchanting and unsettling.
The architecture of the Autumn Court reflects this balance. The Empty Palace, where the throne remains unclaimed, is a vast, crumbling edifice overgrown with ivy and moss. Its towers and walls are made of rich autumnal stone that appears both regal and decrepit, as though the palace itself is slowly succumbing to the ravages of time. Within, the throne room is eerily silent, dominated by the Empty Throne, a grand seat made of twisted iron, wood, and bone. It is surrounded by vines and covered in a layer of autumn leaves, untouched by any ruler's presence. No fey dares to approach it, for it is said that claiming the throne would draw the attention of Queen Mab herself, and her retribution would be swift and unforgiving.
The landscape of the Autumn Court is a vast wilderness of forests, fields, and misty valleys, where the last harvests are being gathered before winter arrives. Feral animals prowl the woods, their eyes gleaming in the dim light. In some places, the land has already begun to decay, with trees dying and flowers wilting, signaling the slow creep of winter’s touch. Rivers flow lazily through the countryside, their waters dark and reflective, as if mirroring the quiet, pensive nature of the season.
The Empty Throne looms large over the court, both physically and symbolically. The fey of the Autumn Court are caught in a delicate balance between freedom and fear. The absence of a ruler has created a sense of lawlessness, where no one voice commands authority. However, this freedom is overshadowed by the oppressive presence of Queen Mab, who exerts subtle control over the court through fear. The fey whisper that the Pumpkin King vanished long ago, leaving the throne vacant, and any who dare to claim it risk bringing down Mab's icy vengeance upon them.
The Autumn Court was once a place of transition, ruled by aking who understood the delicate balance between life and death. His disappearance left a void, one that Queen Mab is all too eager to fill. Though her direct rule has not been declared, the fey of the Autumn Court know that her influence grows stronger with every passing season, and they live in fear of the day when she may seize control outright.
The lack of a ruler also means that there are many factions within the court, each vying for power and influence, though none are brave enough to step forward and claim the throne. This instability makes the Autumn Court a place of intrigue and uncertainty, where alliances shift like the autumn leaves and trust is a rare commodity.
With no single ruler to command the court, the Autumn Court is rife with factional conflict. Various groups vie for influence and power, but all stop short of claiming the throne. These factions are led by ambitious fey nobles, hags, and other powerful beings, each hoping to gain the upper hand without invoking Queen Mab's wrath.
Some wish to see the return of an Autumn King, believing that only his return can restore balance to the court. Others prefer the status quo, finding freedom in the absence of strict rule. A few even entertain the idea of welcoming Mab’s control, hoping to gain favor in her icy regime. However, fear keeps any grand designs from coming to fruition, as no one knows what punishment awaits those who seek to fill the Empty Throne.
The Autumn Court represents the cycle of life and death, the inevitability of decay, and the beauty of things fading away. It is a court of reflection, where the fey contemplate the passage of time and the transitions that all creatures must face. However, this reflection is overshadowed by fear—fear of the unknown, fear of change, and most of all, fear of Queen Mab.
Without a ruler, the Autumn Court stands on the precipice of destruction or transformation, waiting for a figure bold enough to either claim the throne or lead the court into a new era. Until that day comes, the court remains a haunted, melancholy place, where the beauty of autumn is forever tinged with the chill of winter's inevitable arrival.
We are the echo of a king.
Type
Court, Royal
Ruling Organization
Parent Organization
Subsidiary Organizations
Notable Members