|
The Clans of Scotland Aoor Almost all the winter fey of the lowlands belong to Aoor, which has many small interconnected holdings across the wide moors and plains. The current aboslute ruler is the Firstborn Lady Lillana, whose feud with the spring clan of Dikara didn't end with the Oath-Truce. She has openly declared that she cares nothing for the War of Seasons, finding it to be nothing more than trite and uneccesary politics. but she is still bent on exterminating every single spring-fae she can get her hands on, until she has snapped the neck of Eilwedd herself. This makes diplomacy difficult. Quite apart from anything else, Aoor has been known for the fact that it managed to preserve the knowledge of how to make potent treasures all through the war. Though much has been lost along the way, Aoor craftsmen are still the most proficient in all the land, and Fae of all courts and houses who might one day need a trick up their sleeves try to keep on their good sides. The only other crafters who have ever come close to them are the summer fae of clan Frial, a fact which has caused much competition between the two. Quite a lot of fey are also wary of gifts from any Aoor-fey, since it could easily be a potent cursed item (these are winter fey, after all). Indeed, any item owned or worn by a member of Aoor is wiewed with deep suspicion, and this distrust has hampered their relations with outsiders severely. Dikara The fae of clan Dikara all belong to the spring court, yet their homeliness and geographical separation from Mrriv marks them as a separate clan. This has often caused confusion for foreigners, but no real hostility exists between the two families. Members of Dikara are noted for their rather wild passions and their idealism. Many of them follow travelling bards or simply study humans and their budding culture, deeply fascinated by all they see. More so than most spring fae, these people seem to appreciate beauty and romance for its own sake, and they have been labelled as flaky on several occasions. It should also be noted that exceptions exist. Among them is the Matriarch Eilwedd, who's sweet and reasonable countenance is only pierced by those with experience. Dikara is perhaps the smallest of the houses in Scotland, yet it is has such a deep connection to the mortal realm that it has managed to build up a power-base equal to that of its peers. The homes of Dikara are usually fanciful, so much so that it impairs practicality. They go for the lavish and extraordinary simply because it looks good, and this has often lessened them in the eyes of others. It has also been said that this is the true inspiration of the plethora of mortal castles found in the area, though clan Frial also makes this claim. Both or neither could be correct. Eylem Though the autumn fey do not have anything even approaching the numbers that the spring or winter courts do in this region, one could almost believe this wasn't the case. Though they are as secretive and mystrious as they are everywhere else, their envoys and diplomats (read: spies) are active almost everywhere fey business can be found. rumour has it that the local leader, Matriarch Illuein, knows every conversation between two fairies occuring within the boundaries of Britain. Though this might be a slight exaggeration, the members of Eylem are both nosy and proficient at what they do, something which makes the more conspiratorially-inclined fey nervous around them. Eylem has few holdings in this area of the world, but the few they do have they guard viciously. None save true Eylem-fae are even alloed to see their ancestral home of Luvonkral, hidden away in a dark and gloomy forest somewhere. Even more important to them is the mysterious Stonehenge, which even most members of Eylem aren't allowed to approach. All in all, Autumn realms are as scarce as chicken teeth, and as difficult to get a grasp on as exploded jelly. Frial The hierarchial mindset of the summer court has resulted in Clan Frial, where every single summer court fae in Caledonia belong according to the Law. They're a proud and rigid bunch, with great tempers to match. But even though they do have their fair share of stiff aristocrats and rules lawyers, there are also many honest and capable fairies to be found here. They do tend to get a bit pompous from time to time, building castles across the moorland and forging jewlery by the dozen, but they boast within reason. Though their castles are many, they're not as large, nor as well bound with oaths as the elders would preffer. The summer court has had great problems holding on to power in these lands, and change comes to them but slowly. Mrriv Siludar While the winter fey of the lowlands often flock to the banner of Aoor, the higher grounds and mountains house the royal and terrible Siludar. Considered to be among the most civilized winter fey in all of europe, these ferocious and temperamental beings value their privacy like all other of the winter court. Seldom are visitors allowed entrance to their domains without good reason, and autumn fey are despised more than most, if only for their tendency to snoop around and discover treasured secrets. The Siludari often build huge cave-complexes within the mountains, with towers jutting out haphazardly from the cliffs and precipices. They've also been known to construct lairs in the bottom of lakes, with Loch Ness being among the more notorious of examples. But what is most intriguing about the members of Siludar is that they all have a rather reptilian bent. They themselves claim to be the last remaining Dragons, the sole survivors who managed to adapt to a slightly more humanoid form. By this theory they claim to the be inheritors of the vast draconic legacy, as symbols of power and glory undimmed, of vast hoards and ruthless slaughter. Though their egos certainly fit, reality might disagree on some of the remaining points... |