Faerie Courts

Within their realm, the aos sí (more commonly known as the fey) group themselves into courts, with membership based on family or exceptional acts. In times of war and other danger, one's court brings stability and protection. In times of peace, they are sources of support and kinship. Each court controls their territory the way they see fit, magically manipulating their corner of the realm to suit their needs and whims.

Cutthroat Politics

Yet even in times of peace, those with power seek to use it. Those from smaller courts wish to leave for larger ones, those in lower ranks wish to rise through them, and those at the top wish to ensure everyone knows it. Courts distrust each other, and are reluctant to take new members for fear of spies and sabotage. Courtless fey aren't trusted, for their allegiances are unknown. Without protection, they're often forced to live Ironside, among humans.
Courtly nobles, especially of the largest courts, are among the oldest and most powerful of the aos sí. They control the weather and seasons of the realm, can wipe out smaller courts on a whim, and exert their will in viscous displays so none will dare challenge them. The average fey seeks to have as little to do with the nobility as possible, to avoid being exiled for a simple misstep.

Minor Courts

The smaller courts number in the hundreds, and even the largest of them could never rival the major courts. This is by design, both by the major courts to ensure they are their only rivals, and by the small courts to avoid the unwanted attention. All courts have some feature that defines their core identity, but often only loosely. Most have their own rivalries and territory disputes among them, below the notice of the major courts.

Uisce

This court is mostly comprised of water-dwelling fey, such as kelpies, selkies, each-uisge, and cù-sìth.

Gaoth

Also known as the Court of the Winds, this court often represents change and rarely stays the same for long.

Brùnaidh

Brownies, silkies, hearth spirits, and other home-based fey are typically part of this cozy court.

Related Species

• Aos Sí

Reasons for Exile

• Conspiring against the court
• Betraying the court
• Failing tests of worthiness
• Offending a noble
• Threatening a noble's power
• Being too closely associated with someone else who's being exiled

Effects of Exile

• Marked as an enemy of the court
• No longer gain any benefits of the court
• Harder to join other courts (untrusted)
• Possibly hunted by the court
• Possibly cursed in addition to exiled

Effects of Being Courtless

• Not trusted by most other fey
• More dangerous to travel the faerie realm
• No protection from being hunted
• Often resort to living Ironside

Major Courts

The two largest and most powerful courts have existed for longer than even aos sí memory extends. Most humans have heard their names before: Seelie, also known as the Bright or Summer Court, and Unseelie, its opposite as the Dark or Winter Court.

Unseelie will torture you until they kill you. Seelie will torture you until you kill yourself. They're harder to piss off, but Seelie takes just as much joy in causing pain as Unseelie.

— Naoise

Origins

Some believe the Tuatha Dé Danann formed the Seelie Court in ages past, while their enemies the Fomori created its opposite in the Unseelie Court. However, stories also claim the Tauth Dé defeated the Fomori long ago, yet the Unseelie Court remains as powerful as ever.

Opposition

The two courts are eternal rivals. Their wars shape their realms, each giving an opposite impression to make their point. In this way, they hold to their light/dark and summer/winter monikers. If Seelie leaves behind a summer's day, Unseelie takes it and turns it to a winter's night.

Similarities

The only true difference between members of each court is the brand-like mark they bear. They all have the same propensity for mischief, and for cruelty. A human encountering a member of either court is in incredible danger, even if that danger is wrapped in sugar.