™

By Brian Campbell, Jackie Cassada and Nicky Rea

Credits Authors’ Dedications and Thanks
From Jackie: Thanks to Chris Howard for his en-
Written by: Brian Campbell, Jackie Cassada and Nicky Rea
couragement and help with consistency.
Developed by: Ian Lemke
From Nicky: Grateful Thanks to Heather K. Williams
Edited by: Ronni Radner
and Carla Hollar for acquainting us with Irish heraldic
Art Director: Aileen E. Miles designs.
Heraldry Consultant: Heather K. Williams Thanks to Ian Lemke for his continued guidance
Layout and Typesetting: Aileen E. Miles and help.
Heraldry , Arts and Realms: Richard Thomas Many, many hugs and thanks to James Crabtree for
Art: Anthony Hightower, Jeff Holt, Fred Hooper, Mark sharing his art with me and for his understanding and
Jackson, Andrew Mitchell Kudelka, Heather McKinney, patience while I fell before the onslaught of the Unseelie.
Drew Tucker And Very Special Thanks to Brian Campbell for in-
Border Art: Henry Higgenbotham cluding us in his project and giving us so much to work with.
Front Cover Art: Dennis Calero Playtesters: Mike “More Meat!” Berg, Dave “Mac-
Front and Back Cover Design: Aileen E. Miles Gyvering” Birkhead, John “Flying Elephant Pooka” First,
Sean “Carmina Burana” McLachlan, and Chris “Mommy
Doesn’t Like You Anymore” Mohney. Additional thanks
to Jeff Brimhall for letting us all crash in San Francisco.
Author’s Dedication: Dedicated to Baron Mun-
chausen, for being impossible, and Elizabeth McClean,
for being generally wonderful.

© 1997 White Wolf, Inc. All rights reserved. Repro-

duction without the written permission of the publisher
is expressly forbidden, except for the purposes of reviews.
Blank character sheets may be reproduced for personal
use only. White Wolf is a registered trademark of White
Wolf, Inc. All rights reserved. Changeling the Dreaming
and The Shadow Court are trademarks of White Wolf, Inc.
All rights reserved. All characters, names, places and text
herein are copyrighted by White Wolf, Inc.
The mention of or reference to any company or prod-
uct in these pages is not a challenge to the trademark or
copyright concerned.
Because of the mature themes involved, reader dis-
cretion is advised.
Check out White Wolf on the World Wide Web at
http://www.white-wolf.com
PRINTED IN CANADA.

2 The Shadow Court

 ™

Contents
Introduction 4
Rebirth 6
Book One
Chapter One: Endless Winter 16
Chapter Two: The Way of Shadow 22
Chapter Three: Wheel of the Year 38
Chapter Four: Shadow Courtiers and Other Unseelie 50
Chapter Five: The Dark Arts 78
Book Two
Chapter Six: Storytelling 86
Chapter Seven: Samhain 100
Chapter Eight: Notorious (and not so notorious) Kithain 108
Contents 3
 Introduction: An
Introduction:
End to Innocence
An End to
Innocence
Any dream holds the promise of a nightmare. Indeed, power. For the darkest of fae, the Winter Solstice and its
it is often in our darkest hours that we find the greatest ritual of Samhain reflect the nature of the world around
truths. Those who are troubled by nightmares eagerly them. On Samhain, as a taint of malevolence is carried
await the dawn. The morning light drives shadows back on the wind, Seelie Kithain give in to their Unseelie
into temporary submission. Sometimes we remember Legacies for one glorious night, and the Unseelie choose
our nightmares and learn from them. Sometimes we are between rebellion and redemption. When the ritual fires
foolish and forget. of Samhain burn brightest, Unseelie cliques revel in the
The Shadow Court is an alternative approach to chaos and madness.
playing Changeling; it is a version of the game for peo- The most contemptuous of the fae, the members of
ple who tire of sweetness and light — a saga for those the Shadow Court, are at their strongest on this night.
who crave the night. Just as beautiful dreams have been For one evening, they no longer need to hide or deceive.
known to fade and die, any changeling can — through Whispered secrets, unspeakable acts and glorious anarchy
circumstance, intrigue, or even free will — succumb to are celebrated openly as stories are told around blazing
the nightmare that awaits within the Dreaming. Those bonfires... until dawn returns and the Samhain Mists force
destined to find greatness awaken and learn from what memories from the minds of those who yearn to forget.
they have seen, but those who never awaken descend to We cannot, however, speak openly yet. It is still
meet their Unseelie destiny. a time for whispering and treasured secrets. Sit by the
Shadows are longest when winter is at its coldest, and fireside with us, as the nobles pose and posture in their
the world has become cold. Trust and honor are hard to elegant throne rooms far away. Drain a flagon of bitter
find, and survival often depends on deception and betrayal. ale, sample a charred piece of meat, and stare into the fire.
Seelie faeries shelter themselves from the evil in the world, Soon, you will come to terms with what troubles you. By
but the Unseelie revel in it. They live in a dark world, and understanding what you feel in the darkest part of your
they survive by instinct and impulse. heart, you will conquer the nightmares that torment you.
When surrounded by despair and suffering, the Un-
seelie are at their best. The ruination of others brings them

4 The Shadow Court

 and kith. The Thallain, the not-too-distant cousins of the
How to Use This Book Kithain, are revealed at last.
The Shadow Court is an alliance that hides behind In Chapter Five, the Dark Arts practiced within the
the Unseelie Court. They believe that the Seelie Court Shadow Court are revealed, as well as new horizons for
has corrupted the society of the Kithain, where change- Ravaging.
lings masquerade in human forms and revere antiquated Chapter Six renders assistance to Storytellers who
morality. They strive to protect the past, but the Shadow are preparing Shadow Court adventures. You’ll find ex-
Court prepares for a new age. Overthrowing the nobility panded rules for Ravaging, a slightly different approach
and destroying the Seelie Court is just the beginning. to Bunks, and ideas for incorporating the Shadow Court
Most of its members are recruited from the Unseelie into chronicle structures.
Court, although Seelie have also been known to betray Chapter Seven explores the full importance of Sam-
their compatriots and join their sinister brethren. You hain. All of the aspects of this most important holiday are
will find within this book all that you require to bring the revealed in this chapter.
Unseelie to life, whether you join the Shadow Court or Chapter Eight presents a rogue’s gallery of fallen
struggle against it. Understanding and representing the fae, including sample characters and historical Shadow
Unseelie requires you to commune with the night, to join Courtiers, ranging from childling assassins to the For-
the legions of the wicked. sworn Prince.
Politics, culture, religion, romance, honor — every
aspect of their lives deviates from the norm. The higher Theme
ideals valued as humane are only a diversion from the true The world is out of balance, even though changelings
self, the darker self. Fae who spiral into the intrigues of struggle to maintain harmony. Each changeling struggles
the Shadow Court are drawn further into madness as they to determine her own destiny, balancing the noble ide-
risk spiritual corruption. Fortunately, the journey does not als of his Seelie Legacy against the treacherous path of
have to end with annihilation. Heroes overcome this test her Unseelie nature. Every hero holds the potential to
and escape, while antiheroes and villains find perverse become a horrible monster; every villain has a chance at
bliss in the midst of their nightmares. redemption. Your hero may only briefly experience her
The world itself reflects the fates of these fae. Either bleaker nature, or she may decide to turn away from the
the balance will be restored, or the world will descend into lies of honor and chivalry forever. Those who descend
the beauty and majesty of eternal night. further and faster seek out the courtiers of the shadows.
Victims who are trapped forever in the depths of the
Contents Shadow Court are never able to recapture what they have
Chapter One offers the bleak origins of the Shadow lost. Without the balance between light and darkness,
Court and reveals their ideal of Endless Winter. Their order and chaos, the world is lost. The Shadow Court
goals are best summarized by the Manifesto, which guides works to destroy that balance.
them toward their Unseelie destiny.
Chapter Two expands on what is to be Unseelie. Mood
Many aspects of Unseelie culture are presented, including The mood of a Shadow Court adventure should reflect
the importance of the Pageant. Factions of the Unseelie the moods of the Unseelie. They live in a world of decep-
Court, secret societies allied with the Shadow Court, and tion and intrigue, passion and deceit. There’s humor, but
the three Unseelie noble houses are also detailed. it’s black. There’s hope, but it always has a price. There’s
Chapter Three explores Unseelie spirituality and gives always the chance to conquer, but it never comes without
more details on their calendar. This culminates with the struggle or sacrifice. And just as the Unseelie destroy their
events of Samhain, as shown in Chapter Seven. adversaries to bring about change, the world around them
Chapter Four provides more detail on Unseelie char- is constantly changing. Allied with your clique and armed
acters, including more information on Unseelie seemings with your instincts, you are opposed by a world of darkness.
Let the games begin!

Introduction 5
6 The Shadow Court
 Rebirth
Rebirth by Jackie Cassada
“I demand the right to trial by Fior!” Darkain’s voice stated. “You brought an instrument of Banality into the
echoed across the audience chamber of his brother’s heart of my freehold, endangering its sanctity and putting
freehold. The young sidhe lord stood easily, a languid my subjects at great risk.”
half-smile transforming his finely etched features into a “I rode my motorcycle up the mountain path to this
study in desiccated beauty. Surrounded by a half-dozen of forsaken spot,” Darkain replied, looking around him at
his brother’s knights, Darkain waited for a reply. Beyond the spacious hall in which he stood. In the mortal world,
the circle of guards which separated him from the other Baron Aubergin’s freehold consisted of an abandoned ski
courtiers, a round of whispers began as the lords and ladies lodge in the Catskill Mountains. Concealed by Glamour
of the court of Baron Aubergin tried to anticipate their from the eyes of disbelievers, the building and its grounds
liege’s response to his brother’s challenge. were shaped into a chimerical blend of elegant simplicity
From his throne of carved cedar surmounted by the and rustic charm.
blazon of House Eiluned, Aubergin regarded his prisoner “And what of the bag of iron filings you carried in
with studied calculation. It had been a year and a day since your saddlebags?” The baron’s voice was colder for its lack
Darkain had been banished from his brother’s freehold, of malice. “You could not think that I would allow such a
the result of a quarrel that was only the last in a long string breach of my hospitality to go unpunished.”
of instances of sibling rivalry. Aubergin had expected his “A gift to you,” Darkain said, “a reminder of the world
brother to return, as he had in the past after other periods you have so long denied and which is as much a part of your
of exile, but this time Darkain’s method of returning had nature as anything your precious Glamour can construct.”
surprised him. Aubergin shook his head. “You cannot have expected
The baron raised a hand, motioning his guards to me to accept such a gift as anything more than a challenge.
stand aside. Your very presence here is a mockery of everything we
“Let my brother approach,” he said. The whispers hold dear.”
of the court subsided, replaced by a silence in which the Darkain’s laughter rang through the halls of the court.
rustling of silk garments and the tinkle of silver bangles “You see the right of it after all, then,” he said. “I meant to
sounded like cracks of thunder. challenge you and all who hold themselves so close to the
With the grace of a cat on the prowl, Darkain closed light that they cannot see the darkness which surrounds
the few steps to stand before his brother’s throne. it and gives it meaning.” The Unseelie noble’s expression
“You have changed,” Aubergin said simply, but those suddenly grew serious.
few words encompassed his assessment of his brother’s “Set me a challenge whereby I can prove to you that
mien. Though still comely in the unearthly way of the there is more to our existence here than just clutching at
sidhe, Darkain’s appearance had taken on an air of wildness. the straws of a way of life that is doomed to slow erosion.”
His long, raven hair hung in a series of braids that The urgency in Darkain’s voice brought a look of
did not conceal his shaven temples. Both brothers favored genuine concern to his brother’s face.
dark clothing, but Darkain now wore unadulterated black, “I do not believe that you can convince me that your
from his loose-fitting silk shirt and leather jacket to his way has any special merit,” Aubergin said, “and I cannot
black, tight-fitting jeans and ebony-studded, knee-high excuse your methods in bringing yourself once more to my
boots. Everything about him pointed to a transformation attention. But this I can do, since your demand for trial by
that went beyond the physical, that had infused his per- ordeal is an honored custom among our kind.”
sonality with the darkness from the shadows that lurk on Darkain waited in silence for his brother to pronounce
the fringes of the Dreaming. his judgment.
“If you mean that I have chosen to walk the Unseelie Aubergin stood before the assembly of nobles and
path, then you are correct.” Darkain spread his arms wide, commoners that had gathered together to celebrate the
palms outward, and executed a mock bow. coming festival of Samhain.
“You cannot deny that you have entered my demesne “As the dark of night settles upon the land, the
in an unseemly fashion and with harmful intent,” Aubergin Samhain fires will be lit and we will for one evening cast
Rebirth 7
aside our Seelie natures and explore the darkness that
dwells within us. Tonight’s revels will honor the Court of
Shadows, which has chosen to send a representative to us
in the person of my brother, Lord Darkain.”
The baron stepped down from his throne and, remov-
ing the silver circlet from his brow, placed the symbol of
his rule into his brother’s hand.
Darkain looked at the circlet, then at his brother. “Is
this a joke?” he asked.
Aubergin answered his brother’s question with a smile
that ended at his mouth. His eyes bore the predatory look
of a chess master declaring his opening gambit in a game
he does not intend to lose.
“This is no joke,” Aubergin said quietly. “You wanted
an ordeal and tonight I shall give you one the like of which
you have never seen before. Tonight, you will rule in my
place as lord of this freehold. As part of your duty toward
your subjects, you will instruct us in the fine points of the
Unseelie way of life. That is what you had intended to do,
after all, is it not?”
Darkain felt the stares of the assembled Kithain and
heard the muffled whispers that indicated that his brother’s
court — now his court for the evening — were as unsure
as he was of what Aubergin had in mind.
“I had expected something more onerous,” he con-
fessed, speaking in a voice he hoped would carry only as
far as his brother’s ears.
It was Aubergin’s turn to laugh as he escorted his
brother to the cedar throne and stood, waiting expectantly
for Darkain to take his seat.
Within the audience hall, a subtle change was taking
place, as pages bearing flaming torches moved around the
walls, lighting candelabras of black, brown and orange
candles. Wreaths of twisted elder branches wound through
with rue, rosemary and elderberries hung on every wall. The
front doors of the hall had been opened to the courtyard,
where masses of logs and twigs awaited kindling as the
Samhain fires. The last sunset of October bathed the sky
above the freehold in splashes of hot crimson and gold as
the sun came to rest against the mountains.
In small groups, the courtiers were leaving the cham-
ber, only to return later wearing the outrageous masks and
costumes of the seasonal rite of transfiguration. A cluster
of musicians stood waiting for the signal to play.
Darkain surveyed the room he had so suddenly come
to rule. Placing his brother’s circlet on his own head, he
turned to Aubergin, who stood below the throne in the
place Darkain had occupied only moments before.
“So when are you going to drop the other shoe?” he
asked suspiciously.

8 The Shadow Court

 Aubergin bowed in mock humility before Darkain. have given me that chance — and more. So where do you
When he raised his head, his blue eyes sparkled with want me to start?”
canny delight. “You might begin by pronouncing the beginning of
“You know me far too well,” the Seelie lord replied. the evening’s revels,” Aubergin said, gesturing toward the
“Here it is, then. I have accepted your claim to trial by door and the darkness which had finally fallen.
ordeal and have given you the first part of your task — to Darkain looked around him, at the musicians stand-
rule this night as the Lord of Samhain and to instruct us in ing ready with their instruments, at the gathered Kithain
the Unseelie path. The second part, the other shoe of which resplendent in their Samhain finery, and at the torchbear-
you speak, is to delve deeper than you might wish into the ers who hovered near the throne awaiting the signal to
details of what it is to seek the darkness. I would have you light the fires in the courtyard beyond the throne room.
reveal to me — and to any who might turn their ears to our Raising one arm, he waved his hand in a lazy gesture that
conversation — the innermost secrets of the Shadow Court.” encompassed all his subjects.
Before Darkain could reply, Aubergin produced a “Let the fires be lit, let the music sound, and let the
slender, jeweled dagger from his belt and drew its sharpened Samhain Revels begin! All hail Discordia!”
edge across his palm, opening a shallow cut in his flesh. At the sound of his voice, the hall erupted in a ca-
Turning his back on his brother, he held his bleeding palm cophony of pounding music and raucous cries as nobles
outward to catch the last rays of the sun’s fast-disappear- and commoners alike shed the boundaries of etiquette
ing light. Continuing to pivot until he once more faced and civility and succumbed to the lure of a night without
Darkain, Aubergin jammed the dagger into the polished limitations. A few seconds later, the courtyard blossomed
oak floor boards between his brother’s feet. into a garden of flaming bonfires which filled the air with
Even as he heard Aubergin’s words, Darkain felt sparks and punctuated the sounds of merriment with hisses
the Glamour gather about the two brothers, forging an and pops. Many revelers rushed from the chamber, drawn
unbreakable link between them. by the open flames and the promise of more pleasures in
“By oak and light and blood,” Aubergin began, “I the darkness beyond the firelight.
charge you to speak those things which before now have Aubergin sat at his brother’s feet, looking like a stu-
been spoken only among those who dwell in the shadows dent awaiting his teacher’s lessons. Darkain seemed lost
of the Dreaming. This trial I set upon you, this challenge I in thought, his face transfixed by the spectacle of writhing
lay before you, this geasa I pronounce in your presence. Let dancers. Finally, he pointed toward one of the dancers, a
the fires of Samhain illuminate the darkest corners of your slender woman with fawn-colored hair. Amid the crowd
mind, that we may benefit from your knowledge and learn of thrashing bodies, she moved to her own music with an
the truth about those who so adamantly seek to undermine animal grace that singled her out from those around her.
what we have worked so hard to build. Fail in your task, and “Who’s that?” Darkain asked.
all that you may chance to do hereafter will come to naught.” Aubergin saw who had captured his brother’s attention
Aubergin’s face bore a look of triumph as he wrapped and smiled a little.
his wounded hand in a silken handkerchief and bowed “If the mask she is wearing has not deceived me,”
once more before the Samhain Lord. he replied, “that’s Monica. Her theater company has its
Darkain glowered at his brother. winter home not far from here and she usually attends
“You know there are secrets that cannot be safely told most of my winter courts.”
to any not of the Court of Shadows,” he said. “You have By the time Aubergin finished speaking, Darkain had
set me a task that, when I have accomplished it — as it risen from the throne and was making his way toward the
seems I must — places me at the mercy of those not noted throng of dancing courtiers.
for that quality.” “Where are you going?” Aubergin called to his brother.
“You asked for trial by Fior, not I,” Aubergin said. “I Darkain looked over his shoulder. “This is the intro-
but give to you your heart’s desire on this night ruled by ductory lesson in Unseelie behavior,” he replied. “Follow
our inner passions.” your instincts. Mine are telling me to join the dance.”
Darkain slumped in his seat, hooking one leg over A few minutes later, Aubergin stood up and followed
the arm of the throne and shrugging wearily. He allowed his brother’s lead. Eager hands drew him into a circle of
himself a sardonic smile as he inclined his head toward his masked revelers and he soon lost himself in the seductive
brother in acknowledgment of Aubergin’s opening sally. rhythms of the music.
“Round One goes to you,” he said. “I asked for a chance
to justify the changes that have come over me, and you •••
Rebirth 9
 The Samhain fires created pockets of warmth against
the chilly October night. Darkain watched as Monica fed
a handful of branches, one by one, to the voracious bon-
fire, a look of rapt fascination on her face. Dancing led to
touching and from there to more intimacies in one of the
many bedrooms on the second floor of Aubergin’s palatial
lodge. Now, their passions temporarily sated, Darkain and
Monica were content to stand in the courtyard outside the
freehold, watching the comings and goings of the other
members of the court.
“Is there a second lesson?” Aubergin’s voice startled
Darkain from his contemplation. He turned and smiled
at his Seelie brother’s disheveled appearance. His smile
broadened into a full grin when he saw Aubergin’s com-
panion, a willowy, dusky-skinned eshu whose expression
of complacent contentment told Darkain all he needed to
know about how his brother had been passing the time.
“There’s always something more to be learned,”
Darkain said. “Especially by as quick a study as you
seem to be.”
“Shall we go back inside, where it’s warmer?” Au-
bergin asked.
Darkain shook his head. “This is as good a place as any
to talk about the coming winter,” he said. “We’ve become
far too attached to light and warmth. The slightest chill
drives us to seek shelter when we would be better served
by inuring ourselves against the cold and teaching our
eyes to see through the shadows.”
“I take it you’re speaking in metaphors,” Aubergin
said. “This is Lucas,” he added, indicating the eshu. “He
came here from Pacifica last year and decided to stay.”
“For the time being,” Lucas said. “I’ve heard stories
about the baron’s reckless younger brother, but you were
gone from the court when I first arrived. I admired your
entrance earlier this evening.”
Darkain nodded. “I’m afraid that’s the most reckless
thing I’ve done tonight,” he said.
“I don’t know about that,” Monica mumbled, tossing
a handful of pine boughs onto the bonfire and drawing
back as they popped and sparked in the flame.
Darkain laughed. “That wasn’t reckless,” he replied,
“that was fun and games. This is reckless.” He backed
away from the fire until he was standing at the outermost
edge of its radiance. Taking a deep breath and tensing his
body, he sprinted toward the flames.
“What are you doing?” Aubergin cried as Darkain
charged the bonfire. At the last minute he hurled his
body up and over the crackling flames. Monica screamed,
and Aubergin felt a cry escape his mouth as well. Lucas
disappeared suddenly. A second later, his voice called out
from the other side of the fire.

10 The Shadow Court

 “He’s all right!” revel in the inner darkness, how to live without shame,
Immediately after Lucas’ pronouncement, Darkain and how to prepare for the inevitable, Endless Winter.”
confirmed his success with his own cry of victory, running “You speak as if you’re looking forward to it,” Au-
around the fire to join his brother and Monica. Lucas bergin said.
followed him, a bemused look on his face. “Only because it’s better than dreading it,” Darkain
Aubergin rushed toward Darkain and grabbed him by replied.
the shoulders, half-shaking and half-embracing his brother. “Some of us are doing our best to prevent its ap-
“You could have been killed trying a stunt like proach by preserving the little Glamour that is left to us.”
that!” he remonstrated, his voice trembling with barely Aubergin started to walk away from the fire back toward
suppressed anger. the lodge. Darkain held out a hand to Monica and, as an
Darkain threw off his brother’s grip, shoving Aubergin afterthought, offered his other hand to Lucas. The trio
backward. followed Aubergin back inside, where tables of food had
“If I pissed you off, why don’t you do something about been laid out for a midnight banquet.
it?” he challenged. “You’re angry enough to fight. Let’s do it.” Darkain helped himself to mulled cider and a handful
Aubergin felt something inside him give way. He of Samhain cakes and joined his brother once more near
launched himself at Darkain, who braced for the impact. the throne.
Monica and Lucas watched as the brothers fought. Au- “About the Shadow Court,” Aubergin began as
bergin, marginally stronger and heavier than his brother, Darkain seated himself on the throne.
wrestled Darkain to the ground. A small crowd of spec- Darkain lifted one arm in a sweeping gesture. “Tonight,
tators gathered, some cheering for their baron and others this is the Shadow Court,” he said. “For one night, Seelie
for the scrappy lord of the evening. The battle ended and Unseelie are brought together to celebrate the other
inconclusively, when Aubergin lost his balance and fell side of brightness. Tomorrow, you’ll go back to being baron
atop Darkain, sending the pair rolling perilously close to and Monica will forget the pleasure we shared and Lucas
the fire. They broke apart suddenly and struggled to their will look upon you as just the lord of this freehold, but
feet. A smattering of applause greeted the combatants. tonight, we are all part of the Court of Shadows.”
Darkain brushed the dirt and gravel from his clothes Aubergin shook his head. “Even I know better than
as he looked at his brother. that,” he said. “This is the shadow of the Shadow Court.
“Lesson Two: If it scares you, do it,” he gasped be- I want to know about the real one.”
tween breaths. “Your words indicate that you already know more than
Aubergin shook his head, running his hands through most,” Darkain said. “Admitting it on any other night to
his auburn hair and pulling out clumps of pine needles. someone you suspected of being part of the Shadow Court
“I shouldn’t have lost it like that,” he said. could be dangerous.”
Darkain threw up his hands in mock disgust. “This Aubergin’s face registered sudden realization.
is Samhain!” he proclaimed, speaking to the crowd that “The Samhain Mists,” he whispered. “You’re banking
had been drawn by the sounds of the fight as well as to on the fact that the Mists that come with the morning will
his brother. “You’re supposed to lose it. That’s the whole wipe tonight’s conversation from our minds.”
point of the evening. Lose all, risk all, hold nothing back!” Darkain lifted an eyebrow and inclined his head a
“Where did you learn to do that?” Aubergin asked, fraction of an inch. “It’s the only hope either of us have,”
gesturing toward the bonfire. “I was expecting some last he said. “Before this night is over, you will know more
minute display of Glamour to transport you beyond the than is good for you and I will be branded a traitor to my
flames. Instead, you just... jumped.” cause. Only the Mists can save either of us.”
Darkain shrugged. “I spent a year and a day in exile. “If we forget,” Aubergin said. “Sometimes memories
I used that time to explore the darkness and the creatures persist, or so I’ve heard.”
who know it more intimately than we ever will. We are “Risk all, lose all,” Darkain replied. “Listen carefully,
so insulated in our chimericalal shelters, congratulating because I’ll say this only once. Yes there is a Shadow Court,
one another on the fact that we can protect ourselves and it — we — are all around you, planning in secret to
at least part of the time from the outside world, that we ensure that we survive the end of the Dreaming.”
don’t learn the lessons that world can teach us. I have
been spending time with the Prodigals, the Thallain, the •••
witches and the wolves and they have taught me how to

Rebirth 11
 Another cry of mixed terror and exultation, followed Aubergin looked at his brother, confusion in his
by a chorus of cheers and hoots sounded from the courtyard. eyes. “I still don’t understand,” he replied. “There was a
Inside the lodge, the crowd had thinned out as most of conspiracy among some of my supposedly loyal retainers
the courtiers had taken their celebrations outside, despite and instead of exposing them, you joined with them and
the evening’s chill. Midnight had come and gone, and became their ringleader. How was that keeping your oath?
the night was making its inexorable progress toward the You were lucky that I hold ties of blood as strongly as I
coming dawn. do. I banished the others from my freehold permanently.”
“You’ve started something,” Aubergin observed as he Darkain smiled. “You noticed them because of my
rose from his seat near the throne and walked toward the association with them, didn’t you?” he asked. Without
open doorway. Leaning one hand on the lintel, he watched waiting for a response, he continued. “It was the only way
as the more daring members of his court took their turn at I could think of to make certain that you became aware
leaping the bonfire. Scornful boos greeted those who, losing that your ‘best friends’ were plotting to seize control of
their courage as the flames suddenly loomed in front of your domain. When the plot was uncovered, I didn’t dare
them like an impenetrable barrier, balked and turned aside. admit that I had deliberately sought to bring them down. It
Those who persisted received the screaming accolades of would have weakened the case against them. They could
the spectators, some of whom had already braved the fires. have claimed that I entrapped them.”
Now and then, a genuine howl of pain testified to someone’s Aubergin did not reply at once. He lowered his head
partial success in clearing the burning hurdle. and stared for a few long moments at the floor. When he
“I certainly hope so,” Darkain replied. “That’s the finally looked up again to meet Darkain’s gaze, his own
whole point — or one of the whole points — of letting eyes were shining with suppressed moisture.
loose the darkness inside us. Even the ones who turn aside “So you kept silent and let me condemn you along
have learned something about their inner selves.” with the others,” he said.
“Some of them are only learning that fire is hot,” Darkain shrugged. “I suppose I deserved it as much as
Aubergin replied. they did,” he answered. “In order to convince them I was
“No one’s been seriously hurt so far,” his brother serious, I had to become one of them. I had to change.
responded casually. “I’m sure we’d be notified if someone They would have recognized any guile on my part.” An
had died from immolation.” impish smile softened the craggy features of his face. “I
Aubergin shook his head angrily. “It seems so point- worked my ass off to overthrow you. I just wasn’t very
less,” he said. Yet Darkain noticed the uncertainty in his subtle about it,” he said.
brother’s voice. “Why didn’t you come to me later?” Aubergin asked.
“Have you done it?” he asked. “How can you pass “You could have met privately with me and explained your
judgment on something you yourself haven’t experienced?” actions. I would have revoked your punishment and not
“That’s unfair,” Aubergin replied. “That’s like saying branded you an oathbreaker.”
that I can’t judge an oathbreaker unless I, myself, know Darkain shook his head. “You missed the importance
what it’s like to break an—” He stopped abruptly, his eyes of what I said. I had to change in order to do what I did.
suddenly hard as he wheeled around to face his brother. It wasn’t that easy to revert to the person I was before.”
Darkain was smiling. “Exactly,” he whispered, al- “You mean you became Unseelie in order to oppose
though Aubergin could hear him above the other noises me,” Aubergin said slowly, as he tried to follow his broth-
as if he were speaking directly into his ear. “You called me er’s reasoning.
oathbreaker and banished me from your presence one year “Yes,” Darkain said. “And once I had launched myself
and one day ago tonight. And you didn’t know what drove upon that path, I have had to follow it to its conclusion.”
me to do what I did, nor could I speak of it until now.” “Is that why you came here tonight?” Aubergin asked.
Aubergin left his post by the door and crossed the “Have you found the end of the road you’ve been traveling?”
room to stand in front of his brother. “Maybe.” Darkain’s answer lacked certainty. “I re-
“So, tell me now what you couldn’t or wouldn’t tell turned because my time of exile was over, and because I
me before,” he said quietly. “Why did you fail in your knew that what I have discovered is a truth that I cannot
oath to me?” keep to myself.”
“That’s what you never understood,” Darkain said, “What truth is that?” Aubergin asked.
sounding suddenly tired. “I broke my oath precisely in “I realized that had I known then what I know now, I
order to remain loyal to the vow I made to you.” might have worked in earnest to overthrow you,” Darkain

12 The Shadow Court

said. “Only I would have made certain that you would not “So you have given your allegiance to the enemies of
have realized what was going on until it was too late.” the Seelie Court?” Aubergin asked.
Aubergin’s face grew hard. “So have you come here “I wouldn’t call us enemies,” Darkain began.
tonight to announce to me that you have, in truth, broken “The Shadow Court stands for everything we oppose!”
you oath? Was I right to call you forsworn?” Aubergin said. “How can you call yourselves anything
“I came here to tell you that you are wrong,” Darkain but our enemies?”
replied “You and all your subjects who struggle so hard to “I can’t claim to speak for everyone who serves the
hold on to a way of life that has no meaning in the world Shadow Court,” Darkain said, “but I believe that the ex-
today. None of you understands more than the barest istence of opposed forces is necessary to the survival of the
glimmer of what is happening all around you. Winter is faerie race. We exist to reassert our right to rule as equals
coming, and it will be an endless one. We have only one with the Seelie. We believe that the only way to assure
option — to adapt to it or to find ourselves ripped away that spring will come is to welcome the winter and deal
from everything that makes us what we are.” with the changes it will inevitably bring. It is called the
“We can prevent the arrival of Winter,” Aubergin Endless Winter because we have delayed its coming for
insisted. “By conserving the Glamour that is left among so long that it will, perhaps, be longer than many other
mortals, by carefully encouraging their dreams to produce winters that have come and gone.” Darkain rose from his
more Glamour, and by steadfastly refusing to give way to seat and embraced his brother.
the assaults of Banality, we can keep hold of what remains.” “I am not your enemy,” he whispered. “I am your
“That is the argument advanced by the Seelie Court adversary. There’s a difference.”
to justify its retention of power throughout the year,” Aubergin held his brother close for a moment, re-
Darkain said, his voice heavy with scorn. “Sure, you can membering other quarrels and reconciliations. Then he
hold the line for a time by hoarding your precious stores pulled away from Darkain.
of Glamour, by not wasting it and by rationing yourselves “What can you tell me, then, about the opposition?”
to what you can glean from the droppings of mortals. But he asked.
the power of winter is growing, while yours stays the same. Darkain shook his head. “You are also the persistent
Eventually, that line will give way and you will have to brother,” he said. He slumped to the floor in front of the throne
retreat and draw another line to hold until it, too, gives and patted the polished wood, inviting Aubergin to join him.
way. Sooner or later, you will have nowhere to go.”
“Let us talk as equals,” he said. “I’ll tell you all I
“And you think the solution lies with the Unseelie know about the Shadow Court, but I have to say that I
Court, or, more specifically, with the Shadow Court?” am nowhere near the center of its power. For all I know,
Aubergin asked. I’m only one of its pawns, and what I know may all be an
Darkain arched an eyebrow and gave his brother a mocking elaborate lie made up for those of us who need to believe
smile. “At least you have learned one thing,” he said. “You that we are part of something greater than ourselves.”
have finally latched onto the fact that there are two different “I’ll take that into account,” Aubergin said.
courts out there, and that they are not quite the same.”
As the revelers both within the lodge and outside,
“I’m not entirely dim,” Aubergin said, trying not to around the fires, discovered their second wind, Darkain
sound petulant or allow Darkain’s patronization to pro- began to speak of things dark and secret. Aubergin listened,
voke him. “My geasa this evening enjoined you to reveal eagerly absorbing his brother’s words in the hopes that at
to me what you know of the Shadow Court. I have not least some of what he was hearing would remain in his
been deaf to the rumors of its existence as a force behind memory despite the Samhain Mists that would herald the
the Unseelie Court.” end of the festival.
“Forgive me if I misjudged you,” Darkain said. “You
have always been the forthright brother, the one who took •••
things at face value.” Aubergin opened his eyes and winced at the odd pain
“Which was why, of course, you had to throw conspir- in his side. Feeling around, he realized that he lay slumped
acy in my face before I could see it,” Aubergin muttered. against the throne, an overturned candelabra jammed
Darkain’s smile was genuine as he answered his brother. between his hip and the floor.
“More or less,” he said. “I, on the other hand, have never “Good morning, my lord,” someone said in a voice
been content with appearances and have made it a habit to that, although barely more than a whisper, echoed inside
question everything before I accepted anything as true. That his head like the report of a gun. Aubergin looked up,
was how I found the Shadow Court. Or how it found me.” his eyes still glassy with sleep, and saw the familiar form

Rebirth 13
of Otho, his troll bodyguard. Otho held out a heavily “Have I overstayed my welcome?” Lucas asked. “If
muscled arm. Aubergin reached for the arm and used it so—”
to pull himself onto his feet. Aubergin shook his head. “No,” he said quickly. “It’s
“Thank you and good morning to you, Otho,” Aubergin only that your kith are not known for remaining in one
replied belatedly. He released his grip on the troll and stretched place for extended periods and you have been a member
his arms and legs, trying to ease the stiffness that had settled of my freehold for almost a year. I thought you might be
in from sleeping on the hard, wooden floor. He looked around getting tired of the same faces.”
at the shambles of overturned chairs and tables, spilled food, “It is the morning after Samhain,” Lucas said. “Noth-
pools of sticky wine and mulled cider, the torn tapestries ing is the same.”
and wilted flowers that bore testimony to last night’s revels. Aubergin frowned. The eshu’s words had triggered a
“It was some party,” Aubergin said, his voice thick partial memory, and he tried to follow it before it escaped
and scratchy. He shook his head in hopes of clearing his him entirely.
mind and finding his usual eloquence. “Darkain spoke of change,” he said aloud. Lucas nodded
Otho nodded, a slight grin on his broad-featured and moved to stand closer to him. “He told me about shad-
face. Aubergin noticed a bandage on the troll’s other arm. ows and the coming winter and—” Aubergin’s voice broke
“What happened?” he asked. off and he sighed in disgust. “It’s no use,” he said. “I can’t
The troll shrugged. “I got burned,” he confessed, remember anything except that we spoke at great length.”
looking down at his feet. “Perhaps you should put a sprig of rosemary under
Aubergin raised an eyebrow, but decided not to your pillow tonight,” Lucas suggested. Aubergin looked
pursue the matter. Other courtiers were beginning to at him quizzically for a moment, then his eyes registered
rouse themselves from similar positions on the floor of sudden comprehension.
the audience chamber. “For remembrance,” he said. “Maybe I’ll do that.” Au-
“Didn’t anyone make it to the bedrooms last night?” bergin eyed Lucas appraisingly. “Since you seem intent on
Aubergin remarked. staying, at least for a while,” he said, “it seems that I should
“Those are the ones who didn’t,” Otho replied. “The put you to work in my freehold. I am always in need of good
bedrooms are full, I believe.” counsel, and yours seems better than many I’ve heard in
Aubergin smiled. He wondered who would be waking the past. Will you stay and serve me as one of my advisors?”
up with whom and how much any of them would remember. Lucas stared at Aubergin for a moment before answering.
“Darkain,” he said suddenly, glancing quickly about “I am a commoner, my lord,” he said. “I am only too
the room for his brother and failing to find him. “Where willing to serve you however I can, but the other nobles
did he go?” in your counsel may not approve of having one in their
“He left an hour or so ago,” another voice replied. midst who is less than their equal.”
Aubergin turned and saw Lucas standing behind Otho. “That’s easily taken care of,” Aubergin said, waving his
“He said not to disturb you, but to wish you a fruitful hand dismissively as he spoke. “What’s a title anyway, but
journey.” The eshu’s handsome face bore an enigmatic something attached to the beginning of a name? I’ll make it
smile. “I thought that was a little odd, considering the official at court this evening, Sir Lucas.” Even as he spoke,
fact that he seems to be the journeyer.” Aubergin realized that something within him had changed.
Aubergin felt a wave of sadness wash through him. Yesterday, he would not have taken the matter of titles so
“I’m sorry he left without saying good-bye,” he said. “Or casually. Today, the idea that with a word, he could make
maybe he did, and I just don’t remember it.” He closed his a commoner into a noble struck him as amusing.
eyes and tried to recall the events of the previous evening, “Shall I organize a contingent to clean up the mess,
finding instead only a jumble of indecipherable images my lord?” Otho asked, his voice a low rumble that made
that eluded his attempt to bring any of them into focus. Aubergin wince. The baron shook his head.
“Damn the Samhain Mists,” he muttered. “Something “Let it be for awhile,” he said, nudging a ruined tapestry
important happened last night.” with the tip of his boot. “I’ve half a mind to redecorate,
“Maybe if you stop trying so hard you’ll remember it, anyway.” He looked at the throne and noticed his baronial
my lord.” Lucas’ voice was a soothing balm to Aubergin’s circlet resting in its seat. He started to retrieve it, then
aching senses. He nodded. decided to leave it where it was. He crossed the room and
opened the door to the lodge.
“I’m surprised to see that you’re still here,” Aubergin
said to the eshu. Outside, the sky was overcast, promising a storm
later in the day.
14 The Shadow Court
 “I feel like going for a walk,” he said. “I’m not afraid of the dark,” Monica said. She tightened
“It’s cold, my lord,” Otho remarked. “There’s a strong her hold on Darkain’s waist.
wind blowing.” “You will be,” Darkain replied. “It’s not too late for
Aubergin laughed. “Of course it’s cold,” he replied. you to turn back, you know.”
“It’s nearly winter.” He turned to Lucas. “Do you want to Monica shook her head stubbornly.
come with me?” he asked. “There are some paths through “You’re not turning back, are you?” she asked.
the woods that I haven’t walked in many years, and I can “I thought about it,” Darkain said. “It was so tempting to
always use a guide in case I lose my way.” slip back into my brother’s life. We would have been arguing
The eshu nodded, and followed Aubergin out into about something inconsequential before the day was over.”
the chill November morning. “Why didn’t you stay?” Monica wanted to know.
••• “Part of me did stay,” Darkain replied. “I left Aubergin
with a gift that will take him some little time to recognize.
A few miles from Aubergin’s freehold, Darkain drove
I planted a seed in his soul and left a gardener there to
his motorcycle off the road and came to a stop. He turned
make sure it grows.”
to the woman who sat behind him.
“What sort of seed?”
“Are you sure you want to come with me?” he asked.
“Rosemary,” Darkain said. “For remembrance.”
Monica gave Darkain a lazy smile and brushed her
wind-blown hair into some semblance of order. Monica laughed at his response and Darkain joined
her. Soon their voices were lost in the roar of the mo-
“As sure as I am of anything,” she said.
torcycle as it sped down the mountain road toward the
“It won’t be like anything you have ever known,” he darkening winter sky.
warned her. “We’re heading down a road that only leads
to darkness.”

Rebirth 15
16 The Shadow Court
 Book One
Chapter Book One:
Chapter One:
One: End-
less Winter
Endless Winter
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire,
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
— Robert Frost, “Fire and Ice”

Centuries ago, there was an agreement between the two contested with each other over how to heal the world. To this
courts of the fae: In spring and summer, the Seelie would reign; in day, they have held different visions of how to restore the bal-
fall and winter, the Unseelie would rule. The equinoxes marked ance. The Seelie have tried to preserve the world by nurturing
the transition between the two courts. The Kithain understood Glamour, preserving honor, and treasuring the nobler emotions.
the balance between creation and destruction, order and chaos, They have tried to hold on to their traditions, no matter how
and winter and spring. Without spring, life cannot be renewed, anachronistic this may make them seem. Opposing them, the
but without winter, spring cannot return. When the world was Unseelie have prepared for the onset of Winter. They value
in harmony, the brighter emotions — such as love, honor, and change, and do so by changing the world around them, learning
faith — were pure and held power. Yet they could not exist unless to Ravage the Glamour they need, and, eternally trying to adapt
they were balanced with the darker emotions of the Unseelie. to a rapidly dying world, they ready themselves for the worst.
Their passions were just as pure. Seelie and Unseelie had an un- When the nobility fled to Arcadia, the two courts tried
derstanding, and the harmony of the world reflected that balance. to repair the trust that had been broken. Both have failed,
Mystics have said that the Shattering was as certain to even though both courts wanted, and still want, essentially
occur as the passing of the seasons. Since the dawn of time, the same thing: the restoration of balance and the eventual
the world has been dying. When the Mythic Age ended, return of spring. Yet with each passing year, the shadows
Summertime began. The way of all things was disrupted, and lengthen. Hope dies, and the gentle lands of Arcadia become
the Kithain have been trying to recover their world ever since. more distant. If the world can never return to the springtime,
As this sundering between dreams and reality grew stronger, the dream will die.
the two courts abandoned the idea of sharing authority. They

Section 1 17
 Despite the conflict between the Seelie and the Unseelie, and those who were lost could glimpse the world they had left
there is a third group that has prepared for this tragic fate. behind. The brave few who dared to speak into the void would
They are waiting for the world to die, and they hide in the have their messages carried on the wings of eidolons, and pilgrims
shadows until the time of their triumph is at hand. For them, who traveled the Bright Road would respond.
there is no end to the world — only a chance for a dark new Yet the spirits of the Earth could never fully tolerate
beginning. Their story begins before the Shattering, before communion between the two worlds. When the living and
the nobles left the world in the 15th century. the dead conversed, the strength of the Mists grew. Every
year, on the morning following the autumnal equinox, the
The Earliest Samhain Mists were perilously strong. Foul deeds were for-
gotten, revelry was forgotten, and communion between the
Shadow Court living and the dead was forgotten as well. The balance would
be restored, the Unseelie would rule, and the Seelie Court
Before the Shattering, relations were not as strained would wait for the return of spring.
between the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court. Just
Then the Shattering came, the balance was lost, and
as the Unseelie would relinquish power and welcome the
everything changed.
return of the Seelie at Beltaine each year, the Seelie Court
was prepared to step down and make way for Unseelie rulers
when Samhain arrived. The festivals of the autumnal equinox
were more than simple celebrations — they were dangerous
The Dying Times and
demonstrations of who the Unseelie really were.
On the glorious night of Samhain, the order of Kithain
the Long Night
In the madness of the Shattering, the nobles left the
society was tossed to the winds. Nobles dressed as commoners world. Many commoners believed that the nobles had earned
and begged for food, wandering in disguise to free themselves a place in Arcadia, and they wished them good fortune, while
of their identities. By the light of blazing bonfires, commoners others cursed their names for abandoning them in a world
would then elect a “mock court” to act as their nobles. No one full of Banality. The Unseelie, filled with anger, accused the
believed that the simple folk had the nobility to rule, but the aristocracy of cowardice, believing them to have fled. Some
election of this Shadow Court recognized the noblest among commoners believed that the nobles perished outright. They
them. The humble were proud, and the starving feasted. On whispered that gatherings of sidhe walked the Bright Road again.
that one night, Seelie would try to understand their Unseelie Each year, with the passing of Samhain, the world fell
natures, and the Unseelie would be generous to them. Ev- further from the state of grace it once knew. The two courts
erywhere, the Kithain would revel, giving in to temptation. no longer trusted each other, and the practice of sharing
Samhain was a night without sin, without blame, and without leadership became unthinkable. Political factions fiercely
recrimination. At dawn, the Samhain Mists would erase the debated how to handle their affairs, but the two courts could
memories of all that had transpired, and all would be forgiven. never agree. The strife between the Seelie and Unseelie grew,
On that night, away from the mock courts, nobles revered creating a perpetual schism between the two.
their ancestors. The veil between the lands of the living and Masquerading as humans in a world of men, the Kithain
the lands of the dead was thin. Just as the flowers that died began to turn away from the old traditions. Just as the Mists
in winter could be reborn in spring, so could the fae renew obscured the trods to Arcadia, the chimerical world of the
themselves. Death held little meaning for them, for they aged Dreaming became more distant with each passing year. Com-
slowly in those days. Those who met with death could be born moners realized that their world would never again be the same.
again. Fae who passed beyond this physical world began a long Some waited faithfully for the nobles to return as shadows
spiritual journey through the lands of the dead, following an lengthened, but as the situation worsened, they began to realize
ancient trod known as the “Bright Road.” When a Kithain that it was a world that they had to rule. Each year, the ritual
soul completed this quest, he would be reborn, and in his re- of Samhain was held with greater reverence, and its meaning
incarnated form, he would await his Saining and new identity. became more important. The impossible became necessary.
The quest was always hardest for the sidhe. When the world Seelie and Unseelie came to realize that they could no
was young, the only way for a Seelie sidhe to become Unseelie, longer war with one another if they were to survive. Any
or for an Unseelie sidhe to become Seelie, was to walk the Bright commoner could rise to the prestige of ruling a kingdom.
Road and return to the world forever changed. Only the knowl- Seelie fought to preserve what the Unseelie would disdain,
edge hidden in the Gremayre would reveal the truth of a sidhe’s and freeholds and kingdoms changed hands in these disputes.
origins. For commoners and sidhe alike, the journey was a lengthy As a result of this conflict, changelings could choose their
one, but each year, the rituals of Samhain renewed the courage Legacies more freely. Even more disturbing was the fact the
of both the living and the dead. When the veil between the two those few sidhe who remained behind could choose their
worlds was thin, those who were forgotten were remembered, Legacies without passing through the Bright Road. This

18 The Shadow Court

became a more common practice, as many of those who set
out on that spiritual journey never returned.
Just as falsehoods became truths by the light of day, truths
were revealed in the shadows. Cliques of Kithain who returned
from the rituals of Samhain with their memories intact learned
to use the Mists to their benefit on that night, and they treasured
the memories they retained. Ritualists guarded this knowledge
and allied with those who respected the choices made during
the mock court. Soothsayers witnessed dark prophecies of the
future, and the future of the world looked bleak. Their visions
were of an Endless Winter, a world of unrelenting darkness
and horror. In the shadow of the two courts, as preparation
for this revelation, a secret conspiracy was born.
Conspirators, who knew of the prophesies and remem-
bered the black secrets they learned on the night of Samhain,
believed that Spring would never return. Their silent and
forgotten activities were only ephemeral shadows compared
to the politics known to the Kithain. While changelings who
lived by the light of day were preoccupied with the Seelie
and Unseelie Courts, those who adored the night communed
with the Shadow Court.
For six centuries, the shadows lengthened, and with the
death of magic came the death of hope. Slowly, monsters who
waited in the shadows returned. While Arcadia seemed more
and more distant, horrid things, long forgotten, crawled from
the regios that hid them to slither and crawl across the Earth
again. Magical creatures always need magic to sustain them,
so they consumed raw Glamour as they Ravaged the world,
bringing the onset of Winter. With them came the neglected
cousins of the fae. An innocent changeling would find a
Ganconer seducing a lovely young lass or a bogie sucking the
breath from an infant child. These creatures were known as
“the Forgotten” — the Thallain.
Despite the slow invasion of these horrors, the rituals
of the autumnal equinox were never neglected. They were
a reminder of the pure strength that slept within each fae.
Their taint — the Unseelie Legacies that slept within their
souls — gave them the strength they needed to survive.
Each year, Kithain still waited to hear the whispered voices
of long-lost nobles to give them guidance. Unseelie raved in
the night, Seelie were tempted by their abandoned legacies,
and the commoners revered the noblest among their people
with their mock courts.
The disappearance of the nobles had brought about a
certain fatalism in the Unseelie Court. The myth of Endless
Winter spread far and wide among their kind, but stories of its
endless night rarely bolstered the courage of loyal Unseelie.
Every Unseelie on Earth knows that there is a Seelie Legacy
within, and that if circumstances are favorable, any Unseelie can
become Seelie again. The world is bleak, but there is hope for
redemption and the restoration of balance. Despite this, if the
Shadow Court grows strong enough to take the world, Endless
Winter will forever destroy all Seelie Legacies everywhere.

Section 1 19
The Dead of Night Wyrm, will destroy all that is held dear. The most avaricious
Unseelie are not troubled by either of these legends. For
Today, few would speak openly of the six centuries of the
them, these portents herald the beginning of a new dark
Long Night. The Resurgence was a chance to escape from that
age. That bold age has already begun.
world and allow wayward sidhe back into positions of power.
While most commoners were pleased with the compromise of Secretive cliques watch the final days carefully, for they
the Resurgence, not all fae were as forgiving. Today, some are confirm the tragic destiny of the world. If the finest of nobles
still old enough to remember the bloodshed from a scant 25 can be cast out from the world, the nightmare of Endless
years ago, and some still whisper tales about the Long Night. Winter can also become a reality. The Shadow Court blames
Commoners have learned to survive without their masters. the fate of the world on the failure of the Seelie Court, the
compromise of the Unseelie Court, and the cowardice of the
Memories about the Resurgence vary, as one would ex-
nobility. Courtiers who have abandoned the politics of the
pect under the influence of the Dreaming. Some of those who
Seelie, members of the Unseelie Court who tire of Kithain
remember the opening of the gates of Arcadia remember the
life, and nobles who have fallen from grace have descended
Shining Host (“the Fallen Ones”) returning to the world they
into the intrigues of the shadows.
abandoned. And a few remember what came behind them: foul
clouds of darkness, hideous monstrosities — True Unseelie,
the foulest of the fae, and their armies of Thallain. Right out The Manifesto
in front, the Shining Host charged into the world again. Seelie As part of the secretive alliances of the Shadow Court,
remember it as an attack on a dying Earth; Unseelie recall it generations of courtiers have detailed and redefined the goals
as a retreat from a lost cause — it all depends on your point of they would need to realize the prophecies they had witnessed.
view. The rumors of a war in Arcadia are not dead. The seven tenets of their desiderata are described in an
Today, in this world, the nobles fight a different war. agreement known as the Manifesto of Endless Winter. Not
The casualties are victims of a banal world. There is a saying all courtiers agree on these goals or how to enact them. The
among the nobles: When the land is crownless, it lacks a soul. The only way to fully understand how these goals are enacted is
return of the nobles has not purified the land, however. Even to ask the members of the Shadow Court themselves.
the greatest of the nobles feel their Unseelie destinies calling The First Tenet: Understand the mortal world, and
them, and that taint is reflected in the kingdoms around them. shelter those who cannot live in it.
The political games and courtly romances they use to amuse We have an obligation to our neglected cousins, the forgotten
themselves are only diversions from the state of the world, and Thallain. They have no place in the mortal world, and so we must
they cannot hide the growing states of Banality in their souls. help them adapt. The Seelie would destroy our brothers, but only
Yet there are also commoners who commune with the world we understand them. They want to preserve all that is magical,
fully, desperately trying to understand the horrors that surround yet the persecute and our ogres and goblins when they find them.
them. Perhaps they are the true heroes in these dark times. After all, they’re not Kithain, are they? To me, they’re more than
Commoners and nobles still have their differences, and that. They’re always welcome within my freehold.
ancient grudges are hard to ignore. Many nobles fear the — Troll Guardian
Shadow Court because they fear the threat of assassination. Sure, I understand the mortals. I’ve seen poverty and trage-
In truth, most recruits of the shadows would not dare resort dy, crime, violence and despair. I’ve seen the fear in the eyes of a
to such extremes. Some who join do so merely to overthrow a chump cashier right before I put a bullet in his head, and I’ve seen
Seelie rival or exact revenge against a member of the nobility. the righteous anger of a police officer who thinks he upholds the
When their goals are achieved, they return to their former law. Humans are at their best when they take to the streets, so if
lives. They get what they desire, and the Shadow Court gains you want to understand the mortal world, tool up and take down!
their temporary support. Untroubled by conscience, these — Redcap Ravager
lesser subjects scoff at the stories of a world without light. The Second Tenet: Understand the supernatural world,
After all, Endless Winter is only a myth, a fairy tale told to and make and break alliances as necessary.
Unseelie childlings. Yet those who join the Shadow Court You really think vampires are a Prodigal race? Everything
permanently do so to reaffirm this dark prophesy. The threat you think you know about them is wrong. You say they’re tragic
of Endless Winter is worse than the threat of death. and humane, but I’ve seen them for what they truly are. I have
Adventurers who do not hide themselves from the had the honor of leaping through the flames of a Fire Dance, and
world confirm the legends of Winter’s approach. Wilder I have witnessed the glory of Monomancy in action. They are
cliques who have listened to the tales of the Kindred and beasts, without humanity or decency. Yet they are free, just as all
the Garou have heard of the onset of the final days. The changelings should be free. They are alien, and yet they are all the
vampires speak of Gehenna, when the Ancient Ones will Unseelie should aspire to be. We have so much to learn from them.
arise to devour their young. Werewolves prepare for the — Eshu Emissary
Apocalypse, when the force of ultimate corruption, the

20 The Shadow Court

 It was a simple matter. We knew what the Shadow Lords Each year, the gathered courtiers speak of their deeds. By
wanted, and we stayed out of their way. The Seelie didn’t. Now the light of the bonfires, we praise those who have found glory.
there’s 10 less changelings in this freehold because a certain im- Those who have done the most for our alliance receive the honor
pudent childling ruler wouldn’t listen to advice from a werewolf. I of leading our cliques for the next year.
wash my hands of the matter. — Eshu Ritualist
— Sidhe Advisor The Sixth Tenet: Spread chaos, revolution and anarchy.
The Third Tenet: Harvest Glamour and prepare for The most important goal of the Shadow Court is really the
the approaching of Endless Winter. revolution of the commoners. The nobles have always used us for their
Mortals come and go. If they’re going to survive, their false dirty work, yet they were quick to slaughter those who would stand
ideals are going to have to go. There is no room in the world for up for their rights. The Accordance War isn’t over, not by a long shot,
false hope or romantic love. The only race that has a chance in not until we find vengeance and watch the blood of the nobles flow.
hell of making it through the next millennia are the workers of true — Troll Assassin
magic. Admit the truth: We’re at the top of the food chain, and if And then all the animals were singing to us, asking us to let
we’re going to survive, we have to feast on the weak. them out of the zoo! I’ve got a big bucket of paint, and the lions told
— Nocker Weaponsmith us they wanted the trees to be red. I’m a lion, too! Hear me roar!
See that girl on my hawg? She had a pretty little life in a — Pooka Childling
backwater town. Picket fence, 2.5 children, the whole cliché, and The Seventh Tenet: There is no tenet number seven.
all before the age of 20. After a few hits of angel dust and a few All hail Discordia!
shotgun shells, I think she saw the light. Now she lives for Glamour, The only way to keep your enemies off guard is to keep them
and now she rides with me. confused. One moment, they suspect their loyal commoners are
— Sidhe Ravager about to revolt; the next, they think mortals are trying to steal from
The Fourth Tenet: Overthrow the Seelie Court and them. There’s only one effective strategy against the Seelie nobility:
the nobility. Divide, confuse, and conquer.
Endless Winter is a myth. The only reason the Shadow Court — Pooka Mastermind
exists is because the Unseelie Court is too cowardly to overthrow Why bother with a Manifesto? How can you achieve chaos
the Seelie Court and the nobles once and for all. What we should with rules? Follow your instincts, and let the pieces fall where they
really want is a world without Seelie interference and noble arro- may. You will know when you are right if you feel the passion in
gance. In a world as bleak as this, only the Unseelie should rule. your heart. You will know you are there when the world is in flames.
The solution is simple. Death to the Seelie. Victory to the masses. — Redcap Anarchist
— Boggan Crusader
I have served my freehold faithfully for centuries, but for a
sidhe to bow his head to a fae of another kith is a disgrace. No
Revelry
If the world is to be conquered by the Shadow Court, they
longer. That Seelie bastard, that troll of House Gwydion, Aric of
must seize their opportunity now. The world of Seelie ideals
the Seven Thorns, who sits upon my rightful throne will feel the
is gone: Chivalry, true love and honor are relics of the past.
taste of my cold steel, and I will bathe in his blood.
The spread of Banality is a portent of the future, and when
— Unseelie Noble
the world at last descends into Endless Winter, the masses
The Fifth Tenet: Fulfill the ritual obligations of the will revolt and the structure of Kithain society will be forever
year, culminating in the rituals of Samhain. broken. The Earth will bask in darkness, and the foulest of the
I lost my love a decade ago. Each year, I prepare a shrine in
fae will revel in perpetual anarchy, chaos and discord. The
her honor, yet for ages, she was lost to me. Now I can see clearly.
Endless Winter will begin soon. The revolution begins now.
I have seen the truth, and in compensation for my sacrifice and
servitude, the Shadow Court has carried my messages of comfort
to my one true love.
— Satyr Romantic

Section 1 21
22 The Shadow Court
 Chapter
Chapter T
Two:
wo:
Two:
The The
Way
W ay of
Way of
Shadow
Shadow
Introduction: of the Fae once incorporated all of the children of the
Dreaming into its grandeur and from it arose the cyclic

The Pageant structure of faerie existence.

At the heart of the Pageant lies the seasonal passage,
the journey of the faerie soul through all its arcane twistings
The Eagle soars in the summit of Heaven,
and turnings — both Seelie and Unseelie. As the two
The Hunter with his dogs pursues his circuit.
courts stepped their way through the year, weaving their
O perpetual revolution of configured stars,
Glamour into every facet of their lives, they re-created
O perpetual recurrence of determined seasons,
the spectacle of birth and rebirth, of constant renewal
O world of spring and autumn, birth and dying!
through constant, progressive change.
— T. S. Eliot, “Choruses from ‘The Rock’”
All this ended with the Shattering. Although the
More than their Seelie counterparts, the Unseelie, faeries, who were left behind when the sidhe fled the mortal
particularly members of the Shadow Court, view fae life as realm, tried to maintain the Pageant, the necessities of
a Pageant, a formal drama in which everyone is an actor. survival in a world suddenly bereft of most of its Glamour
The play has been written, and it needs only to unfold. and subject to the ravages of Banality and disbelief, forced
This imbues the actions of the Unseelie with a certain them to abandon all but the bare bones of their life-dramas.
distance, since they are merely fulfilling their destined In particular, the Seelie changelings were hardest hit by
roles in the Pageant, and need not take anything they do the drastic changes that were taking place around them.
or say too seriously. At the same time, the Pageant itself is Little by little, the memories of the Pageant — and what
extremely serious, since it tells the story of the continuous it meant — disappeared.
rise and fall of the Dreaming itself.
The Unseelie fae were able to harden themselves to
Some claim that mortals, in the old times, having the worst effects of the Shattering, possibly because their
seen the elaborately choreographed interplay between dark Legacies adapted more easily to the corresponding
light and dark, winter and summer, Seelie and Unseelie, darkness of the world. Thus, they remembered what oth-
created their own version of the Pageant — giving birth ers had forgotten. They kept at least part of the Pageant
to drama as a creative expression of their own rituals of alive as they preserved the rituals familiar to them — the
the spirit. Whether or not this is the case, the Pageant autumn and winter rites and ceremonies that marked the
Unseelie half of the yearly cycle.

Chapter Two: The Way of Shadow 23

 When the sidhe returned, they found that the world will last beyond the morrow. An Unseelie Kithain may
had undergone cataclysmic changes since their departure. be utterly devoted and maniacally faithful to her current
While the Seelie concentrated on reestablishing a social lover while realizing that at any moment her passions
system which afforded them some security and restored to may change.
them their roles as leaders of the fae, the Unseelie began to Displays of love are less tender among Unseelie, but
salvage what was left of the Pageant. As the Seelie began often just as extravagant as those of the Seelie fae. It is
to dominate the realm of fae politics, the Unseelie drove not uncommon for Unseelie lovers to display their “affec-
straight to the heart of faerie spirituality, resurrecting the tion” for one another through acts of violence, emotional
Pageant as the best way to put the changing world into and mental cruelty, or extreme displays of jealously and
perspective. possessiveness. Political correctness has no place in the
The Pageant, therefore, comprises all the social inter- Unseelie bedroom.
actions of the Unseelie fae, whether they are consciously Doomed love confers a certain prestige among some
aware of it or not. Romance, honor, politics and relations of the Unseelie, particularly when the lovers expose
with other creatures are all contained within the scope of themselves to great risks by their passion for one another.
the Pageant. It is Unseelie life itself. The Shadow Court, Tales of lovers who have broken vows or ignored tradi-
of course, sees itself as the directors of the Pageant, with tional enmities to be together and whose love has ended
the ability to change the script if necessary. in tragedy for both of them are told and retold among
the Unseelie.
Romance
But Love has pitched his mansion in
The place of excrement;
Shadow Courtly Love
Where many Seelie, particularly the nobles, devote
For nothing can be sole or whole themselves to the ideals of courtly love, the Unseelie of the
That has not been rent. Shadow Court tend either to ridicule the elaborate structure
— William Butler Yeats, “Crazy Jane Talks with the of romantic involvements or else to take the already highly
Bishop” formalized patterns and stages of courtly love far beyond
For the Unseelie, love is a powerful emotion, but the boundaries set by their Seelie counterparts. Most of
it has a different meaning from the usual connotations the younger Unseelie ignore courtly love altogether. It is
of affection, gentleness and fidelity. The concept of ro- seen as a symbol of Seelie decadence.
mance, particularly as espoused through the artifices and
rules of courtly love, has little or no meaning. Instead,
the Unseelie fae embrace love’s darker side, recognizing
Shadow Court
it more as a cry of defiance against oblivion than an
affirmation of life.
Romantic Societies
A few Romantic Orders exist within the Shadow
In matters of the heart, the Unseelie are far more prone
Court, and, while they do not enjoy the same obsessive
to giving in to their instincts and lusts, surrendering to
attention as Seelie Orders of the Heart, they provide an
the impulses of the moment, without regard to the conse-
outlet for expression for many Unseelie Kithain. (See
quences or wisdom of some of their dalliances. Although
Nobles: The Shining Host for an explanation of Orders
the fae, in general, are less bound by the morality of the
of the Heart.)
mortal world, the Unseelie excel in pursuing alternative
avenues of sexual pleasures — sometimes for the shock
value alone, sometimes for the total experience. For the
Mockers
These self-appointed satirists turn the idea of courtly
Unseelie, there are no taboos.
love into a grotesque parody, aping the postures and poses
This does not mean that all Unseelie are faithless
of the Pageant of love, while at the same time holding its
or fickle lovers (although many of them are). Fidelity is
tenets up for ridicule. It is not uncommon for a Mocker to
present in the moment, but usually has little to do with
assume the stance and fervor of a lovesick courtier while
long-term promises. Members of the Shadow Court are
serenading the object of his affections with a bawdy song
so aware of the impending Endless Winter that they are
or an insulting limerick. Unseelie redcaps and pooka are
reluctant to commit themselves to relationships that might
masters of the art of mockery, although some of the more
not weather the “end of the world.” Today’s passions are
cynical sidhe manage to give a creditable accounting in
savored for what they are, without the delusion that they
this form of courtship.

24 The Shadow Court

Masquers Danseurs
The utter devotion of these Unseelie romantics makes Followers of this Unseelie order of romantics see
them almost indistinguishable from their Seelie counter- themselves as the primary object of their affections, but
parts. Masquers enjoy the elaborate structure of courtly love, use their involvements with others as a background against
but take it one step further. They see in it a reenactment which they can display themselves to best advantage. They
of the doomed, yet ultimately triumphant, love between use the trappings of courtly love to focus on themselves.
Winter and Summer. Many Ritualists channel their The “beloved” is almost an afterthought, a necessary prop
emotions and structure their love affairs according to the that allows them to fulfill their role as lover. They play the
seasonal rites, using the calendar as their guide for beginning game of courtly love to the hilt, but care less for making
a courtship (in spring), consummating a relationship (in their consorts happy than for enhancing their own image
summer), savoring its slow decay (in autumn) and, finally, as unrequited lover, doomed romantic, noble martyr, or
mourning its absence while celebrating its imminent return whatever role they choose to assume.
(in winter). For them, courtly love is one of the highest
expressions of the Pageant, since it personalizes the yearly
cycle of alternating darkness and light.
Romantic Legacies of the
Most Masquers, unfortunately, become so caught up
in the pattern of their love that they fail to take into ac-
Shadow Court
Unseelie fae who belong to one of the Romantic
count the real emotions involved. Their display too often
Societies adopt a pair of Romantic Legacies in addition
devolves into an empty ritual, full of exacting details but
to their court Legacies. Nobles: The Shining Host lists
devoid of passion and divorced from the emotions that
a number of Seelie and Unseelie Romantic Legacies, but
would give it meaning.
there are a few additional Legacies known only to members
of the Shadow Court.

Chapter Two: The Way of Shadow 25

 Analyst: You analyze everything that happens during develops her own code of conduct, and determines what
your love affairs. To you, having a lover is not so import- she has to do to remain true to herself and to her larger
ant as understanding the processes of love. How it works, goals (if she has any). This code may be a strict adherence
why two people are attracted to one another, what causes to behavior that exactly mirrors what the Seelie think of
them to fall out of love — these are what interest you. On as “chivalry,” or it may incorporate lying, theft or even
the one hand, this makes you something of a cold fish, murder (for a justifiable cause). Seelie are continually
someone with no true passions; on the other hand, your surprised when they encounter Unseelie knights who
lover can expect some unique situations and experimental seem as honorable (or more honorable) than themselves.
lovemaking as you use her for your ongoing research. They fail to realize that the Unseelie’s reason for following
Heartbreaker: You are completely faithful to your the chivalric code (i.e., that it is the part assigned her by
one true love — until you find your next one a week the needs of the Pageant) may wildly diverge from any
or a month later. The classic romantic, you sweep your justification the Seelie would understand.
lovers off their feet, taking them to undreamed-of heights The concept of oaths and geases are just as binding
of ecstasy. Then you get bored and move on to greener for the Unseelie, but they also recognize the dubious but
pastures. You have no understanding of why former no less real “honor” of the oathbroken or the forsworn.
lovers should try to cling to you once the magic is gone. Those who, for one reason or another, join the ranks of
How boring! violators of sworn promises have their own mystique and
Obsessive: You control every aspect of your relation- are accorded respect if they can prove or if it is believed
ship. No one else is allowed to take your love’s attention that they have gone back on their word for good reason.
away from you, nor will you tolerate flirtations with others. (Sometimes it is necessary to break the letter of an oath
Your lover must be utterly consumed with you, obeying in order to keep its spirit intact.)
your every wish, working to please you at all times, and Although most Unseelie fae, particularly those operat-
forfeiting his own desires in order to fulfill yours. In return, ing within the confines of Seelie society, pay lip service to
you focus every waking thought on your loved one. the Escheat, or code of the fae, their private interpretation
Tormentor: You constantly test your lover, seeing of that body of laws and customs differs somewhat from
how much he will suffer for you. You delight in pushing that of their Seelie counterparts.
your partner to new thresholds of emotional and physical
anguish. Not content with just whips and chains, you excel The Escheat — Winter Version
in mental cruelty as well. If he stays with you through it For Unseelie fae, the laws of the Escheat are not
all, you know it’s for real. written in stone. Although these traditions have a pur-
Trader: Love is a matter of trade-offs. You total up pose in ensuring the survival of the fae in an essentially
each expression of it, making certain that you get at least hostile environment, the Unseelie (largely through the
as much as you give (preferably more). Expensive presents, efforts of the Shadow Court) are preparing themselves
calls to one another, support during crises, paying for for a time of cataclysmic upheaval. For now, they abide
entertainment, number of orgasms — all these measures by a version of “the rules,” but they are in the process of
of your love affair must match up or the whole thing just rewriting the script.
isn’t worth your time. You can’t be bothered with those The Right of Demesne — Power to rule lands or
who are too self-centered to see to your needs. people belongs in the hands of those who are strong
enough or clever enough to take it and keep it. In many
Honor cases, this may be a single noble or a house; in others,
groups of Kithain — both noble and commoner — may
I live near the abyss. I hope to stay
achieve dominance over a freehold or even a kingdom.
Until my eyes look at a brighter sun
Being a Seelie noble is hardly sufficient grounds in and
As the thick shade of the long night comes on.
of itself for rulership.
— Theodore Roethke, “The Pure Fury”
Reality: Who holds the power, makes the rules.
Most fae consider the Unseelie to be without honor,
The Right to Dream — Mortals have the right to
since they do not subscribe to the code of chivalry or to any
dream. Any way in which we can encourage them to
recognizable structure. Indeed, these decriers of Unseelie
dream for our benefit is good. That includes both in-
knavery couldn’t be further from the truth.
spiring through Musing, or Ravaging for what we need.
Unseelie honor is an individual matter, governed by Some among us practice direct infusion of creativity to
no body of laws or customs. Each Unseelie Kithain usually

26 The Shadow Court

incite Rhapsody. Who can argue with genius and the
masterpieces it creates?
Reality: Mortals have the right to dream; we have
the right to the fruits of their dreaming.
The Right of Ignorance — The fact that mortals
don’t know of our existence is vital to our protection and
survival, but paranoia has its limits. Sooner or later, as
Endless Winter draws nearer, we will have to come out
of our freeholds and hidden places and brave the shock of
the world. When that happens, we will need to surround
ourselves with mortal armies willing to serve our purposes.
This means that we will have to risk revealing ourselves
to the world at large. As for making ourselves known to
Prodigals and certain mortals already sensitive to our
presence, individual judgment has to take precedence
over hard-and-fast rules.
Reality: Nobody believes in faeries anyway, so why
bother?
The Right of Rescue — Any Kithain who falls into the
clutches of Dauntain, the Inquisition, or mortal institutions
which threaten to destroy their faerie natures, needs to be
removed from danger. Period. New changelings — whether
they are commoners fresh from their Chrysalis or nobles
just booted out of Arcadia — need succor and protection
until they can make their own way in the world. This is
not a duty, it is just common sense.
Reality: Rescuing a Seelie noble from Banality puts
her in our power — where she belongs. Garnering favors
never hurt anyone.
The Right of Safe Haven — We need to protect our
freeholds from Banality and violence to ensure that we, as
well as the Seelie, survive. All Kithain in need of shelter
are welcome in our places of power, so long as they behave
like the guests they are. What better way to win friends
to our cause than to provide safety in times of trouble?
Reality: We need to fight tooth and nail (iron nails,
if necessary) to keep what we have. Let supplicants and
petitioners come to us. We’ll take them in — for a price.
The Right of Life — Destroying the soul of one of the
Kithain destroys all of us in some small measure. While we
should avoid killing those of faerie blood if possible, there
are times when extreme measures are called for. Those
who betray us forfeit their part in the Pageant.
Reality: Death is the greatest risk of all. Any takers?

Crime and Punishment:

The Shadow “Courts”
Most Unseelie fae do not recognize the Seelie system
of Commoner and High Courts, preferring to adhere to
their own methods of dealing out justice whenever pos-

Chapter Two: The Way of Shadow 27

sible. Needless to say, the Unseelie rarely bring suits or
claims before the courts of Seelie justice. Unseelie fae who
dwell within the domain of a Seelie ruler, however, leave
themselves vulnerable to Seelie authority.
In freeholds governed by the Unseelie, the ruler
usually dispenses justice, sometimes along with a coun-
cil of advisors (usually members of the ruler’s clique).
Because of their generally unlawful (according to Seelie
definitions of the word) attitudes, what constitutes
“criminal” or punishable behavior in Unseelie eyes is
open to interpretation.
The Unseelie are much more prone to settle individual
matters of dispute or alleged wrongdoings on the spot,
through duels, brawls, or sometimes, complex bargaining
between offender and offended. The Right of Fior (or
trial by ordeal) enjoys great popularity among Unseelie
nobles. Some commoners even prefer this method of
settling quarrels. Often an Instigator will oversee one of
these trials to bind the combatants or competitors with
Glamour, thus ensuring a “fair” judgment.

The Midnight Court

Even among the Unseelie there are some crimes that
merit special attention. Unseelie fae charged with murder
or treason, in particular, often find themselves summoned
to appear before a panel of Instigators to defend their
actions. This panel, called the Midnight Court because
of its favored meeting time, acts as the judicial arm of the
Shadow Court, that it serves.
The judgments of the Midnight Court are usually
severe, and those they censure have no right of appeal. In
rare instances, a defender who throws herself on the mercy
of the Midnight Court will be “recruited” on the spot for
membership in the Shadow Court, subject to strong geas
and other bindings to ensure her loyalty. In these cases,
punishment is usually deferred, with the understanding
that failure to serve the cause of the Shadow Court will
bring swift retribution. Some of the most zealous agents
of the Shadow Court joined in this fashion.
Many Unseelie believe that the Shadow Court seeks
to bring all matters of Unseelie justice before the Mid-
night Court. The Shadow Court, of course, denies this,
maintaining that its only desire is to intervene in cases
where normal lines of justice fail or where the goals of the
Shadow Court are threatened.
Membership in the Midnight Court is a closely guard-
ed secret. Any Instigator encountered might be a member
of this clandestine group of judges and enforcers. Since
the Samhain Mists tend to erase the knowledge of the
identities of the Instigators until they reveal themselves,
it has been a matter of speculation that the Midnight

28 The Shadow Court

Court is actually comprised of a separate group, who seem to suffer little loss of respect because of it. In fact,
do not otherwise appear to have any official function. those with an understanding of the demands of the Pageant
Thus, their identities are deeply hidden beneath a veil believe that these oathbreakers are merely fulfilling their
of complete anonymity. destined roles in a drama which demands that betrayal
Punishments meted out by the Midnight Court range and loyalty exist side by side. The Pageant needs villains
from chimerical torture to, in the case of the most heinous as well as heroes.
(even to the Unseelie) crimes, death by cold iron. One The Midnight Court considers it one of their duties
of the most frequent punishments consists of stripping to recognize the Forsworn, holding special ceremonies
the guilty party of all Glamour, and turning him loose in in which the oathbreaker is simultaneously damned and
a high-risk area of a city or the surrounding countryside. delivered by the conference upon them of the title. In
If these individuals run into a pack of hungry redcaps or some cases, the Forsworn are bound by geas, further setting
enraged trolls (who are often conveniently nearby), the them apart from other fae and guaranteeing their future
misfortune that results is not the concern of the Midnight loyalty to the Shadow Court.
Court. They believe that their judgments are backed by
the Dreaming and that those who deserve to escape with
no more than the loss of their Glamour will, in fact, do so.
Politics
Throw away the flowers,
The Honor of the Forsworn they are no use,
the faery bowers
Among the fae in general, the swearing of oaths ranks of the former truce;
as a solemn undertaking, enforced by Glamour and the fancy quickly dies
Dreaming. The Unseelie and the Shadow Court often bind under fear’s dark skies.
themselves with oaths or find themselves forced into giving
— Elizabeth Daryush, “Throw Away the Flowers”
their solemn word to Seelie. Their ideas about oaths are
entirely different from those prevalent among the Seelie Like their Seelie counterparts, much of the Shadow
Court, however. Many Unseelie believe that the oaths Court’s maneuverings revolve around the various mem-
they freely make and those made to fellow Unseelie are bers’ political beliefs. The Seelie content themselves with
inviolate, while those sworn under duress or to the Seelie three major political impulses, and believe that these are
are just so many words which may be kept or broken as echoed by corresponding Unseelie versions. While there
they see fit. are some similarities, the Seelie have no understanding
of or appreciation for the subtleties inherent in the Un-
The Unseelie believe that if a changeling changes
seelie viewpoint; subtleties that lead the Shadow Court
her court, all oaths sworn while of the old court are con-
to embrace five political forces rather than three. Each
sidered null. Further, if an Unseelie find it necessary to
political impulse is associated with one or more of the seven
ally with others whom she eventually means to betray,
goals (or tenets) of the Shadow Court, though none of
she holds, within her heart, reservations which are not
them agree to all of them. Further confusing the political
stated at the time the oath is sworn. Since her intention
scene are the cliques who band together along political
was to eventually break their oath, she sees no harm in
lines. Regardless of whatever else they believe, however,
doing so. Many even believe that such “cheating” can be
all the factions have one goal in common which allows
done with impunity, so long as their original intention
them to act in concert and provides a common ground
was never to keep to the agreement. Unfortunately, the
for the Shadow Court’s meetings: the overthrow of the
Dreaming itself rarely agrees with these interpretations.
Seelie Court.
In other cases, keeping the intent of an oath sometimes
involves violating the actual words of the oath. In these
cases, the penalties for breaking an oath may or may not Political Impulses
befall the oathbreaker. (This is usually a matter for the
Storyteller to decide on a case-by-case basis.) Purist
Those who break their oaths are often branded “For- Purists are usually misnamed Traditionalists. These
sworn” by both Unseelie and Seelie. Among the Unseelie, Unseelie want things to return to the original way in
however, the word often bears with it a certain amount which Seelie and Unseelie divided up rulership through
of respect and adulation, marking those who bear the the year. While they do not advocate bringing it on,
title as “set apart” from their peers. Some members of the Purists prepare for the Endless Winter. They are most
Shadow Court belong to the ranks of the Forsworn, and concerned with gaining power and influence in the mortal

Chapter Two: The Way of Shadow 29

and supernatural worlds and with harvesting Glamour, Ravage for all the Glamour they can get, try to overthrow
which they believe will be needed to see them through the entrenched Seelie nobility, and spread anarchy and
the hard times ahead. They are not above Ravaging when chaos however they can. There are as many commoners
quick Glamour is needed, but many Purists believe that as sidhe among the Anarchists.
Glamour is a vanishing commodity, and seek to preserve
their Dreamers rather than waste their potential. While Ritualists
the Purists are led by Unseelie sidhe, there are a large Many see the Ritualists as offshoots of the Purists,
number of commoners who agree with their philosophies. but their interests are more spiritual than political. Where
they verge on politics, it is because they believe political
Repudiator systems should be subservient to the spiritual life. They
Once called Reformists, the Repudiators wanted to fully subscribe to the ancient ways, believing that the king
completely divorce themselves from the constitutional is the land, and that sacrifices are necessary for the good of
monarchist Seelie Reformers. To make clear their disgust the land and to preserve its connection to the Dreaming.
with the Seelie in general, they took the name Repudia- They see the Endless Winter as a necessary part of moving
tors. These fae desire a complete takeover by the Unseelie through the cycles and on into a new Spring. The Unseelie
sidhe, who will then rule. They argue that 600 years of calendar is a creation of the Ritualists and they are the
Seelie governance have led to ruin, and that only a total ones who pay most attention to it.
reversal can save changelings now. They work to bring Most Unseelie have great need for a major spiritual
on the Endless Winter. Some among them believe that presence in their lives. Thus, anyone may become a Ritualist
the Winter is coming regardless of what they do. They in addition to whatever other party she espouses (except
think those who are strong and ruthless must be in control Anarchists). Rituals can be used to legitimize just about
when it does. any political impulse. Since the Unseelie are the ones who
Others fear that the Winter is already upon us and acknowledge the Endless Winter and feel they are to play
the Seelie are just too blind to see it. They foresee that a large part in it, they are far more given to spiritual shows
Spring will only come again once control has returned to and celebrations than their Seelie brethren. Ritualists are
the Unseelie for the centuries-long Winter. Repudiators concerned with attaining influence and alliances with
seek power and influence among mortals and supernaturals, the supernatural world, in taking and storing Glamour
harvest and hoard Glamour for themselves, work toward for the Winter ahead, and in performing all their ritual
the total overthrow of the Seelie, and closely follow the obligations correctly and meaningfully. They are the most
yearly rituals, especially those pertaining to Samhain. likely to create treasures and store Glamour as dross. Many
Commoners are welcome to their ranks, but definitely commoners like the Pageantry of the Ritualists, but the
take a back seat to the Unseelie sidhe. sidhe are the group’s backbone.

Anarchist Modernist
Those who do not believe there should be any rulers Though Unseelie, the Modernists have no problem
belong to the Anarchist impulse (if the idea of a group of with sharing a name with a Seelie political impulse, for
Anarchists isn’t a contradiction in terms). In actuality, their views are somewhat similar. Often confused with
this catch-all category throws together both those who the Repudiators, Unseelie Modernists believe the class
believe the system of fae government is outmoded and distinction between commoners and nobles is ludicrous.
should be torn down for something better (but have no They acknowledge that the world is not the same anymore,
idea what that “something better” is), and those who just and that no one (not even the oh-so-genteel sidhe) can
want destruction for its own sake. The former might better cram a 14th-century government into the modern world
be called the Rebuilders and the latter the Destructionists. and make it work. Nor can changelings go back to the old
The Destructionists see no future for themselves, for other ways; therefore, the only thing to do is to make up new
changelings or for the world. They don’t believe in the ones. If changelings throw off their outmoded ideas and
promises of an Arcadia Never-Neverland. learn to live fully in the modern world, Banality and all,
Neither group particularly cares about the Endless they may be able to prevent the Endless Winter or ride
Winter — the Rebuilders because they see enough problems through it with very little damage.
with things as they are now, the Destructionists because Modernists believe that the reason the Endless Winter
in a future in which there is no future, such things as is creeping up on the fae is to shake them out of their old
annihilation just don’t matter. Most of them cheerfully ways and force them into the vanguard of a new era where

30 The Shadow Court

they belong. Fae are supposed to be bright new dreams,
not the outmoded, discarded ideas from yesterday. These
changelings are the most likely to court knowledge of Ba-
nality in order to survive its effects as the world becomes
ever more inhospitable to the fae. They seek knowledge
of the modern world and alliances within it, both with
mortals and supernaturals. They harvest Glamour, but
are more experimental with it than other changelings,
and they see that the old Seelie rulership has got to go
if modern ideas are to be given serious consideration.
There are far more commoners than nobles among the
Modernists.

The Parliament of Dreams

A few Unseelie nobles belong to the Parliament of
Dreams. Some among them believe that they can best
make their views known and lobby for support by acting
within the Seelie system. Others are there to act as goads,
subtly disrupt the proceedings, make deals and spy on the
opposition. Some are not known as Unseelie at all. These,
of course, are of greatest value to the Shadow Court.

Secret Societies
Membership in secret societies is almost de rigeur
within the Shadow Court, the very nature of which en-
courages individuals to cluster together in like-minded
groups, devising secret agendas and jockeying for position
within the greater organization. An exhaustive list of all
these esoteric groups is impossible, particularly since many
societies change their names and, occasionally their goals.
Although some secret societies, notably the Monkey’s
Paw and the Ranters, contain both Seelie and Unseelie
members (see Nobles: The Shining Host for details), a
few groups are unique to the Shadow Court.

Knights of the Cold Watch

When the gateways to Arcadia burst open, the sidhe
were not the only beings to cross the Mists and enter
the mortal world. Other creatures, born from dark imag-
inings and possessed of hideous mien, made the passage
as well, dispersing themselves to the four winds while
the newly arrived sidhe were still reeling from the shock
of their journey. The Mists have blinded the eyes and
clouded the memories of most returnees, so that these
corrupters are seldom recalled except in nightmares,
which are then soon forgotten. Some few individuals,
most of them Unseelie, retain stronger memories of these
monsters. These haunted sidhe have gathered into a
self-appointed group of sentinels known as the Knights
of the Cold Watch.

Chapter Two: The Way of Shadow 31

 Their purpose is to scour the world for evidence
of the dark things that invaded the mortal realm from
Arcadia’s dark borderlands. Many sidhe (both Seelie and
Unseelie) consider the “Watchers” to be deluded fanatics
and false harbingers of doom. The Knights of the Cold
Watch believe the Seelie sidhe are naive in their pursuit
of temporal power while the world is besieged by unknown
assailants of inestimable might. Most members of this
group belong to the Purists, although they have put their
political aspirations on hold until the creatures they search
for are identified and dealt with. There are a few secret
Anarchists who have infiltrated this society and who are
interested in allying with the monsters once they have
been tracked down, for one glorious orgy of destruction.

The Glowing Eye

This group of Unseelie knights and nobles is con-
trolled by a triumvirate of sidhe from House Balor.
Consisting of those nobles who believe they are best
suited to lead all fae into and through the Endless Winter,
members of the Glowing Eye think of themselves as a
secret “inner council” of the Shadow Court. Just as the
real Shadow Court hides behind a facade of powerless
poseurs, these ruthless sidhe believe they use the court
for their own ends.
Allied with Black Spiral Dancers, certain fomori and
several rogue vampires, the Glowing Eye works to place
its members in positions of power both in the mundane
world and the courts of the Kithain. The few highly placed
members who hold power in Concordia and Hibernia are
adept at masquerading as members of other noble houses
and are little suspected by the Seelie monarchs they
purport to support.

Pilgrims of the Bright Road

Within the Ritualists, a small group of extremists have
found a way to go beyond even the fastidious observances
of their impulse. Calling themselves the Pilgrims of the
Bright Road, they focus their attention on establishing a
lasting means of communicating with the dead — both the
spirits of fae who have died and those of other creatures
who inhabit the Shadowlands. The Pilgrims believe that
the dead possess the answers necessary for achieving Un-
seelie supremacy and survival of the Endless Winter. Some
have even revived the practice of the teign, or “sacrifice
to hell,” a custom said to originate in the earliest times
and in which the fae guaranteed their serial immortality
by offering a sacrificial victim to the Underworld every
seven years. The chosen one would voluntarily accept
permanent death as a tithe in return for allowing other

32 The Shadow Court

fae to walk the Bright Road and return to the world in a courts. Although their primary goal — ensuring the long
reincarnated form. term survival of the fae — often puts them at odds with
The details of this society are closely guarded secrets, one or another of the political impulses of the Shadow
even from Ritualist leaders. The Pilgrims are thought Court (particularly the Repudiators and the Anarchists),
to have formed alliances with certain groups of Heretic they are often the best sources for information and contacts
wraiths, Euthanatos mages, Shadow Lords and vampires within both Unseelie and Seelie factions. Because many
of the Giovanni clan. Seelie members would balk at associating outright with
fellow conspirators who openly espouse Shadow Court
Children’s Crusade sympathies, the society’s “official” position toward the
Made up largely of redcaps — most of them childlings Shadow Court is one of opposition.
or young wilders — the Children’s Crusade has only The women of the Cat’s Cradle wield great power and
one goal: to assassinate as many of the Seelie nobility as influence (either directly or indirectly) within fae polit-
possible. The Crusade is popular among Anarchists and ical society, and those who suspect their existence credit
Repudiators, though some Modernists also support this them with preventing outright war between the Shadow
ultra-radical group as a means of increasing the power of Court and the Seelie power structure. Indeed, there are
the commoners. The actual assassins are almost always some who believe that without the subtle manipulations
childlings, as they are able to flirt more easily with the of this group, the Accordance War might have had a very
Banality engendered by their killing other fae. Further, different, and much bloodier, outcome. Perhaps the most
they are less prone to feel guilt over their deeds. Some important aspect of the Cat’s Cradle lies in the connec-
indeed seem to behave as if it is all a cartoon in which the tions it has established between Concordia and the other
victim will climb back to his feet after being squashed by kingdoms of the fae.
the steamroller. Others get away with it by crying croco- Most Unseelie members of this group belong to either
dile tears of regret for what happened while voicing that the Purist or Ritualist impulses. Purists see the Cat’s Cra-
universally recognized childish cry of “Oops.” dle as providing the necessary links that enable smooth
transferences of seasonal power, while Ritualists hark back
Cat’s Cradle to the matriarchal customs that underpin many of the
Made up of both Unseelie and Seelie noblewomen, traditions associated with the year-long round of festivals.
this society attempts to breach the gap between the two (See Nobles: The Shining Host for another view of this
pivotal secret society.)

Alliances
So, what are we going to do tonight, Brain?
“The same as we do every night, Pinkie. Try to take over the world.”
— Pinky and the Brain

ince you
, bu t th e tim e ha s com e for me to move on. S
Dear Caitrin, journey record
ld ha s been a ple asan t waystop on my greater e lates t vol um e of my journal, which contains a
th
My stay in your freeho mi ssion for those we serve, I wish to
leave you
necessity of ap praising and evaluating ot
hers as
ow my true nder ings. T he that
are one of the few who kn oups I ha ve en countered in the course of my wa ur t of S hado ws , will find some use in the pages
ious gr through you the Co By the time you
of my observations on var to hope th at you, and
them to the S am hain fires.
saries has led me to your archives or deliver m of Apples.
potential allies and adver st rikes you. A dd them
t, as your fancy ere in the Kingdo
follow. Believe them or no y to the freehold of Aubergin ap Eiluned, somewh Till next we meet,
my wa
read this, I will be on
Lucas the Wanderer

Chapter Two: The Way of Shadow 33

Kithain Menehune
My information on these Hawai’ian natives comes
The Seelie Court from others. Like the Nunnehi, they have been driven
Remaining objective about these usurpers poses an out of their natural places and now hide themselves from
almost insurmountable challenge. By all the demands of the the eyes of mortals and Kithain alike. It is said that they
Pageant, they should be not only allies but willing abettors possess an intuitive understanding of the power of shad-
of our goals. They remain locked in the delusion that they ows, and that when they are under the influence of their
can postpone Endless Winter indefinitely. Some few of War aspect, they exhibit a savagery we would do well to
them may eventually come around to the realization that mimic. Whether we can make use of them or whether
the halcyon days of summer and the slow decay of autumn our concerns have any meaning for them requires more
must surrender to the revitalizing changes possible only observation to ascertain.
during the winter. Those, we can use. We must coexist
with the Seelie until we are ready to make our move. After Inanimae
that, all bets are off. The strong will survive. Many of these races are far too weird to bother with.
It is difficult to conceive of any of these useless Kithain
Seelie Commoners by-products as potential allies or adversaries. Possibly they
Although many of these Kithain have a genuine can provide us with sources of Glamour if we can discover
loyalty to their Seelie rulers, others only pay lip service how to extract it from them. Let the scholars among us
to the conquering host from Arcadia. Where there is dis- study them, if they wish. Perhaps something useful may
content, we must sow more. Where there is unhappiness come of their endeavors.
and resentment, we must foster anger. Inside every Seelie
changeling, there lurks one of us, waiting for the key to Beasties, Boggarts,
unlock the chains that keep it confined. Here is where
our real task lies.
Goblins, Ogres and
Things That Go Bump in the Night
Lost Ones Our forgotten cousins are dangerous, uncontrollable,
Finding the enchanted places, where these remnants treacherous and bizarre. That makes them of inestimable
of the ancient times linger in solitude, should be one of value to us and we should protect them, encourage them,
our highest priorities. The amount of Glamour these and aid them whenever possible — preferably from a safe
Lost Ones keep to themselves could turn the tide in our distance.
struggle. We may even find allies among some of these
ancient fae, if we can but convince them to step out from Fomori
behind the wings and enter the Pageant in all their glory. Their ability to thrive in the midst of Banality and
They may burn but briefly before Banality consumes their sheer corruption may hold the key to our survival during
unshielded spirits, but what a bonfire of Glamour their the coming hard times. If they have some skills or Arts
presence will provide! that enable them to feed on Glamour’s antithesis, we
need to discover their secrets. The sidhe of House Balor
Gallain and Thallain claim to have formed alliances with individuals among
the Fomorians. We need to know more about who (or
what) these misshapen creatures serve (or if they serve
Nunnehi anyone at all). Let Balor continue acting as emissaries to
These fae have little understanding of the subtleties the Fomorians, but watch for signs of treachery.
of Seelie versus Unseelie politics. All they know is that
many lands they once held have since been claimed by
others who have tried to impose their rule on everyone and Prodigals
everything within their grasp. They should be our natural
allies. If we can channel their anger and resentment at Children of Lilith (Vampires)
having their sacred places usurped and turned into palatial The vampires understand the game of politics all too
freeholds, we will have an army of guerrilla warriors ready well. Some of them even look forward to a time of future
to strike when the time is right. upheaval, called Gehenna, which sounds suspiciously like
the onset of Endless Winter. The older ones remember

34 The Shadow Court

us, and it is possible that we may still have allies among (or Garou, as they call themselves) are the most common
those who formerly held connections among the Unseelie ones, but there are others we would be loath to ignore.
and Shadow Courts. The younger ones, however, must The Unseelie Court and the Garou Nation have never
be courted with care, since they are so caught up in the fully understood each other. Alliances made between
politics of survival that their first instincts often lead them Unseelie and the werewolves never last long. One of the
to “bite first and ask questions later.” They have as many greatest obstacles to building understanding between us
clans and factions as the Kithain, and each of them must is their concept of the Triat (their name for a tripartite
be dealt with differently. Here are my own impressions of godbeing). We are not fully of that which they call the
the types that I have encountered: Wyld or the Weaver. Our ever-changing natures, so I have
• Malkavians — These vampires resemble fae in the been told by a talkative werewolf with the unlikely epithet
throes of Bedlam. Some of them display an uncanny insight Bone Gnawer, result in their “smelling the Wyrm” on us
into the realms of time and space, as if they were somehow one week and “feeling our Wyld” the next. If the Shadow
connected to the Dreaming, though their dreams are more Court does contact the werewolves, they usually do so
like nightmares. If we can ever begin to understand what under the guise of merely representing the Unseelie Court.
makes them tick (or ticks them off), we may be able to use • Fianna — Their Celtic origins give them much in
their unique viewpoints on reality to lay the background common with a number of Kithain, and many individuals
for universal change and discord. have close ties with both Seelie and Unseelie Courts.
• Ravnos — Undead Gypsies are Gypsies all the same. Their opposition to the coming darkness, however,
They, at least, retain some knowledge of old customs (now makes them more likely allies for our enemies, although
called superstitions) from before the Shattering. They a few of them understand the necessity of change and
are dangerous to us because we fall into the category of the importance of a balance between light and dark.
outsiders (non-Gypsies) and are, therefore, fair game for They are excellent companions in revelry, particularly
any of their pranks and other deceptions. Their powers, when they have sampled some of our faerie mead. Some
like ours, are based on illusion and some maintain that few can be provoked to such a rage, particularly when
they invented the Art of Chicanery. Playing with them they are reminded of how badly humans have botched
is like playing with fire: risky but rewarding. things, that they make superior cannon fodder for Shadow
• Lasombra — I have heard rumors that some of Court activities. Just point to something and say “Wyrm
these vampires have already formed an alliance with us creature!” and see what I mean.
and with some of the changing breeds in Scandinavia, • Shadow Lords — The Shadow Court and the
where they have devised a grand scheme to permanently Shadow Lords have a mutual understanding: Neither one
blot out the sun. That would certainly hasten the approach trusts the other. The two have been known to ally briefly,
of the Endless Winter. The one I met demonstrated, to but the chances for one to betray the other are too strong
my eternal jealousy, his control over shadows. We need for more permanent alliances to be made. Loremasters who
to cement an accord with them as quickly as possible. We are familiar with the legends of the Society of Nidhogg
cannot afford to have them as our enemies. believe that they may be allied with certain Instigators,
• Sabbat — This group seems to be the Unseelie equiv- but many of these so-called “experts” become either curi-
alent in vampiric society. They understand the darkness ously silent or suspiciously absent after they make public
intimately, and they are not afraid to take extraordinary declarations to this effect.
risks — sometimes for no other reason than to prove • Black Spiral Dancers — These werewolves suffer
they can look annihilation in the face and survive. Like from Balor’s taint (if you can call their proclivities “suf-
us, they recognize that mortals are their natural prey and fering”). They are firmly committed to the advent of the
treat them as such. Their Samhain celebrations rival ours dark times, which they call the Apocalypse, and worship
in licentiousness and abandon. They take the coming of a monstrous “thing” known as the Wyrm — possibly an
Gehenna seriously, a fact which seems to make them our ancient, powerful chimera conceived from the earliest
natural allies. They are obsessed with secrecy, however, so nightmares of the first Dreamers. The Knights of the Cold
they must be approached very, very cautiously. Watch have taken a great interest in the Black Spirals,
as have a number of Ritualists, hoping to learn some of
Changing Folk their secret lore. They are great companions for parties
These creatures were once Kithain, but have become of Ravagers. The Shadow Court is allied to them through
so entrapped in their bonds with the animal world that the graces of House Balor, whose kin they claim to be.
they make pooka look like stuffed animals. Werewolves

Chapter Two: The Way of Shadow 35

 • Bastet — If the changing breeds have a nobility, We share several Samhain rituals and celebrate many of
these are their aristocrats. They have cultivated the arts the same festivals throughout the year. An exchange of
of license, hedonism, passion and intrigue. Their love of knowledge and pledges of assistance against the Hidden
secrets is legendary. We can only envy their languorous Ones’ Banality-laden reality might net us a group dedicated
decadence. They serve our purposes when and how it suits to using their potent magic in our behalf.
them. If we treat them right, they make perfect cats’ paws • Cult of Ecstasy — Passion and creative impulses
for our schemes. power their magic. Cool. Ours, too. If any outsiders belong
• Corax — I have heard that these werecrows are among the members of the Shadow Court it is this group.
descended from the Morrigan. If that is anywhere near the They indulge in the same excesses, weaving their own
truth, then they understand both war and its aftermath. sort of Glamour and enhancing their power by pushing
They are keen observers, and if we can reach some accord themselves beyond the boundaries other, fear to cross. We
with them, our network of spies can only profit from their understand and salute that.
reconnoitering. • Hollow Ones — Like us, these workers of mortal
magics seem among the disenfranchised. They see and
Mages embrace the darkness as a road to self-discovery. We may
The Kithain have a long history of strife with human find allies among them.
wizards and witches over their stealing of Glamour to • Hidden Ones — On the one hand, these mages
power their own magic. They are especially hungry for who pass themselves off as scientists are directly responsible
dross, which they have an uncanny knack for locating. for bringing about the Shattering through their worship of
We have lost many glens and faerie rings to their depre- Banality. On the other hand, their mastery of Banality is a
dations. In medieval times, some of them hunted faeries skill which we would do well to learn if we are to survive
for the “Quintessence” in their blood or bones. Like us, the Endless Winter. If we learn nothing else from them,
however, they have suffered from the waning of magic, their tenacious struggle to remake the world according
and modern mages (as they now call themselves) are more to their own vision serves to teach us that we can do the
open to alliances with both Seelie and Unseelie Courts. same. Dealing with them may be courting disaster, but we
Indeed, they hardly seem to know the difference. They have never been too timid to choose dangerous playmates
have several different factions, of which I know only a few. for our games.
• Dreamspeakers — They, like we, have been shunted
aside by the modern world. They, like we, are damn tired of Wraiths
it. Many of them have strong ties already with the Nunnehi In the oldest times, the fae paid homage on Samhain
and other changelings indigenous to the lands they inhabit. to Arawn, the Lord of the Dead and ruler of that part
If they truly work dream magic, then we must exert every of the Underworld called Annwn by the Celtic tribes.
effort to win at least some of them to our cause. Perhaps The Seelie (most of them) have forgotten the bargains
we can convince them that they can win back what has made between our kind and the rulers of the world of the
been taken from them by bringing about massive changes dead. The distinction between a Renegade thrillseeker,
in the world as we know it. After all, most dreams happen a Hierarchy stooge and a Spectre corrupter is entirely
during the night. Who knows what dreams they may find lost on them.
in the long nights of Endless Winter? We remember the deals made for our free passage
• Order of Hermes — It is difficult for me to speak along the Bright Road, but the Unseelie Court does not
objectively of these mages. They were the wizards who have formal relations with any of their factions nowadays.
hunted us and who saw us as little more than fuel for their We know that the spirits of the dead inhabit a realm
magic and experimental victims for their research. Still, only barely discernible to us, and then only at certain
they are the guardians of much knowledge that has been times of the year, making communications difficult, at
lost to us. While I would urge caution in dealing with best. The sluagh are said to be familiar with their ways,
them, it might be possible to launch them like arrows but are unlikely to disclose anything without significant
at some of our greatest enemies within the Seelie Court. compensation.
• Verbena — Like the Dreamspeakers, the witches Although I have not had the opportunity to travel
are in tune with the cycles of birth and death, summer the Bright Road (at least not that I can remember), I
and winter, creation and destruction. They understand have spoken to some who have, and a very few of them
the power inherent in the shedding of blood and the on- remember it and offered me their knowledge of the spirits
going spiral of creation, making them our natural allies. who inhabit the Shadowlands (as the realm just beyond the

36 The Shadow Court

living world is called). It is worth repeating, especially as
wraiths can witness conversations while remaining unob-
served. We would do well to make certain no conspiracies
are overheard and repeated to our enemies. The sanest
response to meeting a wraith is to take precautions and
get weaponry that can fuck them up as soon as possible.
Still, there are some factions who believe they may be
worth allying with.
• Renegades — Even in the lands of the dead, it seems
there are factions who support the principles of chaos and
change and who fight to overthrow the stagnant power
structure of the Underworld. These wraiths are called
Renegades. If there were some means of recruiting them
across the barrier between life and death, we would have
a group of powerful allies.
• Heretics — These wraiths seem to have a lot in
common with the Ritualists among us. They are obsessed
with spirituality in the way that only the dead — creatures
of pure spirit — can afford to be. Like all fanatics, they
can be manipulated through pushing the right buttons. I
have heard that some fae who walk the Bright Road and
linger for a time in the Shadowlands become the focal
points for some of these Heretics. What an army they
would make if we could but open a path for them into
some Seelie lord’s freehold!
• The Hierarchy — Like our entrenched Seelie coun-
terparts, these wraiths represent order and establishment in
the Underworld. They are best left alone, although some
of them may remember the ancient pacts between the fae
and the dead. For now, the danger of becoming embroiled
in their political games far outweighs any advantages they
would bring to our cause.
• Spectres — Dealing with Spectres is like shaving
with a sword, and should be entered into just as carefully.
Their knowledge of corruption and darkness is legendary,
but so is their perfidy. Making deals might be a matter of
who betrays whom first.

The Sons of Adam and the

Daughters of Eve
Mortals are, simply put, our meat and drink. We
need their Glamour, and sometimes, their bodies. They
were put on earth for the harvesting. Some few of them
may, in fact, understand their roles. Those, we admire
and respect. Most of them, however, are like flowers to
be picked, savored while their beauty lasts, and discarded
when they fade.

Chapter Two: The Way of Shadow 37

 Chapter Three:
Chapter Three:
Wheel of the
WheelYear
of the Year
Seasons they change while cold blood is raining
I have been waiting beyond the years
Now over the skyline I see you’re traveling
Brothers from all time gathering here
Come let us build the ship of the future
In an ancient pattern that journeys far
Come let us sail for the always island
Through seas of leaving to the summer stars.
— The Incredible String Band, “The Circle Is Unbroken”

The fae existed long before the coming of Christianity, Seelie, while in actuality holding their own celebrations
and their civilization predates the advent of a calendar when they are in accord with the forces of nature.
created to specify and regularize certain dates for all church Since their calendar depends on changes taking place
celebrations. The modern calendar (and its ancient prede- in the natural world, the Shadow Court’s celebrations may
cessor) is an imposition of order on the cycles of nature, an take place on wildly differing nights depending on their
invention necessitated because people no longer live close geographic locations. Thus, those who live in gentler climes
enough to the earth to regulate their lives by the changing might celebrate Imbolc when the first crocus appear, while in
of the seasons. This is not so for the fae, especially the sidhe. harsher climates, that day may come two weeks or a month
The Seelie have succumbed to the ease of using a later. Were it not for the sidhe’s particular affinity with time,
calendar that may or may not be in sync with nature, but this could cause some problems and misunderstandings; in
one that is easily understood. They hold their festivals at reality, no Unseelie ever misses the excuse for another party.
the times specified and everyone knows when those dates They accept only a few dates decreed by the calendar, which
are — for they can look at their calendars and even mark need to be accounted for because of the Seelie practices that
them on the appropriate dates. The Unseelie have fallen take place on those dates. Among these is Samhain, when
into the same trap for the most part, but some among them power ostensibly passes to the Unseelie, for to do otherwise
— especially the Ritualists and members of the Shadow would so confuse the Seelie that they would stop even offering
Court — pretend to observe the festivals decreed by the the change in mock ceremonies. Additionally, the actual

Chapter Three: Wheel of the Year 39

date of Samhain has become so charged by belief that the
veil between the worlds now thins on that date. The Journey Home
...to turn, to turn will be our delight

Unseelie Spirituality ‘Til by turning and turning we come round right.

— “‘Tis A Gift To Be Simple,” Shaker song
For the Ritualists among the Shadow Court, the cal- Though the accepted dates are given for each of the
endar year consists of a series of festivals and celebrations festivals below, all except Samhain, Midwinter, Carni-
that mark the passing of the seasons and the stages of the val and Pennons are usually celebrated by the Shadow
fae spirit’s journey toward knowledge. As the year turns Court when nature dictates that the time is right. Among
through its cycles, festivals which mark the progression mortals, these ritual festivals were once considered vital
of the year are seen like the spokes in a wheel. Thus, the for the fertility and well-being of the land and the tribe.
Ritualists refer to the circular movement through the Considered as sacred times when the whole clan came
seasons as the Wheel of the Year. While most Unseelie together, they now serve Kithain as landmarks on the
participate in the major festivals, the serious followers road to self-awareness. Many Unseelie, however, still see
of the Pageant spend much of their time observing both them as necessary steps toward preserving the land as well,
greater and lesser holidays. acknowledging that the cycles of nature have spiraled into
Because of their Celtic heritage, the Unseelie of the discord by those who no longer believe in the old ways.
Shadow Court reckon time as their Celtic ancestors did Not every Unseelie is conscious of this great design.
— believing that a day starts with the night that comes Many forget the actual purpose of their journey, falling
before it. In the same way, they see the year as starting into revelry, cruelty, mockery, rebellion and violence for
during the dark months of winter. This represents the their own sakes. There is a powerful allure in complete
spiritual journey that once formed a part of every faerie’s freedom and the philosophy of anarchy. No rules means no
life, the cycle from shadow to light, the spiral upward from limits, and faerie passions have ever been prone to excess.
ignorance and dreams of savagery toward knowledge and Indeed, many argue that Banality first entered the world
redemption. Like the changing cycles of the year, the along with the practice of self-control, putting a damper on
fae passed through the realm of nightmare, embracing instinct and passion. Some Unseelie succumb to the sheer
the darkest elements of self, then journeyed toward the glory of feeling, the celebration of pain and the drinking
light, eventually finding a rebirth in the revelation of of dark Glamour. These never delve into those areas that
their true selves. might lead them through to the light which is the other
The Unseelie Year thus begins and ends with the half of every changeling. Thus, though the original intent
Samhain Festival, a celebration which embodies the of many of the festivals was to mark a faerie’s passage
transformations that lie at the heart of Unseelie beliefs. along the road to revelation, some choose to spray-paint
As human children dress up in scary costumes and vulgarities on the signs instead.
move through the darkening streets in search of treats,
the Unseelie engage in a similar custom — the donning Samhain (October 31)
of costumes — which marks Samhain as special, and sets Figures of corn stalks bend in the shadows
the stage for the rest of the yearly Pageant. To many Un- Held up tall as the flames leap high
seelie, and particularly to the Ritualists among the Shadow The green knight holds the holly bush
Court, donning a costume and wearing a mask are not To mark where the old year passes by.
lighthearted matters. It is a serious, conscious attempt to — Loreena McKennitt, “All Souls Night”
show outwardly the start of an inward journey the Unseelie This ancient fire festival, held when the harvesting
will make throughout the coming year. While the costume season has ended, celebrates the end of summer. As the
may betoken an actual persona they intend to adopt, it is world turns toward the dark half of the year, the Unseelie
usually more subtle and symbolic, signaling a “putting on” begin their journey inward, entering the realms of shadow
or adoption of certain ideas, points of view and philoso- and nightmare in search of knowledge and enlightenment.
phies as much as a change in personality. They can rarely On this night, the Mists part, allowing Kithain a glimpse
see the outcome of this leap of faith, which (somewhat into the otherworlds.
ironically in view of Halloween’s time-honored request by
It is believed that the worlds are mirror images, that
children) may indeed leave them open to a horrible trick
while it is dark in this world, it is light in the other. Winter
or reward them greatly.
here is echoed by a summertime in the otherworld. Thus,
the Unseelie rule during the darkness of this world, but

40 The Shadow Court

during the enlightened time of the otherworld. This belief
shapes the Shadow Court’s claim that now is a time when
they should rule unopposed, as the Seelie did for 600
years. They believe that Arcadia has nearly fallen — not
due to Banality, but because Seelie rule has occasioned
centuries of darkness for Arcadia, a time during which no
fae has sought new revelations or grown in understanding.
They believe that if the Unseelie rule and the darkness of
Endless Winter comes upon the world, Arcadia will enter
a glorious new era of enlightenment, Endless Summer.
Samhain serves as an in-between time for both be-
ginning and ending. Samhain is a period of purification,
a time when the king (who represents both the land and
the people) is sacrificed or overthrown. A fool or a new
king (an Unseelie king) is set in the old king’s place to
symbolize both the ending of the old, outmoded path and
the beginning of a new journey.

Yule (December 23)

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
’Tis the season to be jolly,
Don we now our gay apparel,
Troll the ancient yuletide carol.
— “Deck the Halls,” traditional carol
Yule, also known as the Winter Solstice, is often
celebrated on December 21-22. The Solstice occurs on
the longest night of the year regardless of the date. Many
Unseelie childlings are born during the Winter Solstice or
undergo their Chrysalises at that time. These are thought to
be changelings who thoroughly embrace their darkest aspects,
and who have greater knowledge of how to conquer and uti-
lize Banality rather than being destroyed by it. The Shadow
Court sees these changelings as those who will lead the fae
during the time of Endless Winter. Many Unseelie, especially
members of the Shadow Court, celebrate Yule in a manner
similar to the Christian celebration of Christmas. Greenery
is brought into the freehold and presents are exchanged, but
the symbolism behind the festival is quite different.
To the Unseelie, evergreens symbolize their endurance.
Patiently working behind the scenes, the Unseelie gather
Glamour, planning for the coming Winter while their Seelie
counterparts fritter away the days of summer, refusing to
acknowledge that darkness approaches. Like the evergreen
that lasts throughout the winter, the Unseelie plan to still
be here when Endless Winter again turns to spring.
The presents which the Shadow Court exchanges
at the Solstice are items imbued with Glamour. Many
believe that Glamour must be used to create treasures
that will survive the dearth of creativity which presages
Endless Winter. They give these treasures to one another
in the name of disseminating Glamour to all the Shadow
Court’s adherents.
Chapter Three: Wheel of the Year 41
 Yule is a time for glittering parties that mock both
the inner and outer darkness as well as welcoming cel-
ebrations for the new childlings among the Unseelie
Court. Paradoxically, it is also a time of reflection when
the Unseelie begins to examine those aspects of herself
embraced at Samhain. Thus, the Shadow Court celebrates
the night, reveling in its concealment and perversity, while
acknowledging that the Solstice, as the longest night of
the year, inevitably marks the time when the days begin
to lengthen, driving out the darkness in favor of the light.

Midwinter (January 13)

O Winter, ruler of th’ inverted year,
I crown thee king of intimate delights
— William Cowper, “The Task”
Midwinter is a festival usually celebrated only among
the Shadow Court. Called “Midvintersblót” by the Norse,
it was also acknowledged as the Festival of Brewing among
the Celts. Because of its Norse connection, many Unseelie
trolls consider Midwinter to be their own special festival.
They meet together in secret rites that they share with no
other fae, even others of the Shadow Court.
Midwinter once marked the date by which the human
tribes knew if their stocks of grain would last through
the winter. If the stores were sufficient, mead and ale
were brewed from a portion of the supplies, enlivening
the feasting, dancing and storytelling that took place on
the longest night. If supplies were low, they were instead
conserved and used as food.
Originally celebrated in regions where night covered
the land for almost half the year, Midwinter was concerned
with measuring how long it would be until the snows
melted and spring returned with its lush greenery and light.
Lighting the fires at Midwinter thus became a symbolic,
magical ritual designed to entice the pale winter sun to
reignite in all its summer glory. The warming hearth fire
was the heart of every home, and Glamour-fueled balefire
the heart of every faerie freehold. On Midwinter Night,
kings among the fae sent out firebrands, messengers carrying
brands lit from the royal balefire, to each of the freeholds
within their demesne. Old balefires were extinguished,
and the king’s Glamour-endowed balefire became the
catalyst for the new fires lit during the festival of Imbolc.
Although High King David has reinstituted this
practice in Concordia, the Seelie have failed to recognize
that the kings who long ago sent the balefire to the myr-
iad freeholds were not Seelie (for their rulership did not
compass this part of the year), but Unseelie. The Shadow
Court have not forgotten. Their ancient duties once called
for them to rekindle the depleted Glamour within each
freehold. Today they gather that Glamour in any way they

42 The Shadow Court

must, be it through Musing or Ravaging (or stealing the
balefire from the king’s appointed messengers), and they
hold onto it fiercely, to be used only when the coldest part
of Endless Winter signals that the time has come to relight
the dying balefires that power the creativity of the world.

Imbolc (February 2)
Green Rushes then with sweetest Bents and cooler
Oaken boughs
Come in with comely ornaments to readorn the house.
Thus times do shift, thus times do shift, each thing his
turn doth hold,
New things succeed, new things succeed, as former
things grow old.
— “Candlemas Eve,” traditional carol based on Robert
Herrick’s “Hesperides”
The name “Imbolc” comes from a Celtic word meaning
“butter bag,” and refers to the festival’s celebration of the
return of spring. Held when the ewes lactate just before
their lambs are born, Imbolc is associated with the balefire
and the goddess Brigid, patroness of fire and poetry. This
is during February, when snow still lies on the ground, but
tiny, colorful flowers begin to break through. At Imbolc,
old worn-out fires are extinguished and revitalized with
the king’s balefire. Filled with the strength to resist the
onslaught of Banality, the fire burns away the old, replacing
it with a vibrant, new blaze. The symbolism is not lost on
the Unseelie, who view Imbolc as a time to rid themselves
of negative influences, to burn out that which denies them
the freedom to fully express all aspects of their character
and beliefs, thrusting through whatever impedes their
spiritual growth just as the flowers break through the snow.
Most of the currently reigning kings are Seelie, who
remain caught up in ancient customs without fully realiz-
ing what those practices mean. Thus, the modern balefire
burns less brightly and holds off the ravages of Banality
less fully, reiterating the past rather than replacing it with
something strong and new. To that extent, if for no other
reason, the Shadow Court views its takeover as not only
necessary but vital to the survival of the fae. Only when the
generative, chaotic fires of the Unseelie once again form
the basis of each freehold’s heart can the Kithain survive
the law-abiding, deadening chill of Banality.
Known as Bard’s Day, Imbolc honors Brigid. The Un-
seelie hail the festival as a celebration of both the creative
spirit and the changes that occur during spring. Although
both courts hold bardic competitions, the Unseelie give
higher honor to tales of destruction and woe than do the
Seelie. They recognize that creation can only arise from
destruction. As old patterns are broken down, they provide
the raw materials from which new patterns are built. Imbolc

Chapter Three: Wheel of the Year 43

 is the culmination of the promise made in the dead of winter
that spring would come again and Glamour be replenished
as the Earth reawakens. Imbolc’s association with both fer-
tility and Brigid demands that females take the lead in the
festivities and rites. It is often the women of the freehold
who relight the balefires kindled from the firebrands.

Carnival (February 28)

Met the king and the queen and a company of men
A-walking behind and a-riding before.
A stark naked drummer came walking along
With his hands in his bosom a-beating his drum.
— “Nottamun Town,” traditional folk song of reversals
Carnival is a huge party masked by the mortal cel-
ebration of Mardi Gras. Among traditional Christians,
Mardi Gras marks the last day on which feasting and
self-indulgence of all sorts are allowed before the Lenten
fast begins. In modern times most of the religious overtones
have been lost among the wild, frenzied partying.
Taking their cues from the satyrs’ bacchanal, all
Kithain cast aside inhibitions and embrace total excess and
freedom from consequences for this one night. After the
darkness of winter, such a respite from cares is demanded.
Seelie and Unseelie engage in massive revels, wild exhi-
bitions of Glamour and in the name of merriment and
chaos, the reversal of all that is normal. Like the celebration
of Samhain, Carnival fêtes call for the donning of masks
and the taking on of newer, wilder personas. Shadow Court
celebrations are much like those of the Seelie, except that
they fully realize the importance of installing a drunken
mortal as king in place of the reigning monarch.
Unseelie rulers of the Shadow Court revel in their
roles of fool, seeing in it the freedom to say and do anything
without thought for the morrow. Further, they believe that
the ramblings and insane commands of the newly elevated
mortal hide vital truths within them, which can lead the
Unseelie to a greater understanding of the mortal fears
behind the growth of Banality in the world.
In such an atmosphere of excess and abandon, the
Unseelie Ravage Glamour with both fervor and impunity,
for their actions on this night cannot, by law, be punished by
the Seelie Court. Some use this time to berate Seelie rulers
for their lack of understanding; others plan assassinations
utilizing information they gain about their Seelie enemies
during Carnival celebrations. Some Unseelie, particularly
those of the Shadow Court, believe that the ritual sacrifice
of the mortal chosen to be king of Carnival constitutes
their offering to the Dreaming of a portion of the world’s
creative impulses. The sacrifice also stands in lieu of the
ritual slaying of the king himself to ensure the fertility of
the land (as the mortal’s death guarantees the fertility of the

44 The Shadow Court

landscape of dreams). Unseelie redcaps rarely miss this part believe the festival mimics various early spring festivals among
of the celebrations. They indulge in the age-old custom of human cultures. In many climes, chill winds and falls of snow
dipping their caps in the blood of the sacrifice, and enjoy still testify to winter’s tenacious grip. But in temperate and
what they consider to be an all-too-infrequent delicacy. tropical lands, the last vestiges of winter are in full retreat.
In the southern regions of Concordia, the Greening has
Vernal Equinox (March 21) gained importance among the Seelie Court. It has become a
I come, I come! Ye have called me long. celebration of childlinghood and of the treasures new, young
I come o’er the mountains with light and song! Kithain represent. The Festival of Crocuses, replete with
Ye may trace my step o’er the wakening earth, woven-grass crowns and Morris dances, reestablishes contact
By the winds which tell of the violet’s birth, among the fae with the pastoral days before the Shattering.
By the primrose-stars, in the shadowy grass, The Unseelie in southern Concordia celebrate the
By the green leaves opening as I pass. Greening as well, but in their own way. They, too, realize
— Felicia Hemans, “The Voice of Spring” the importance of their childling population — in particular,
The first of the two “days of balance,” the Vernal those young Kithain who have experienced their Chrys-
Equinox — or the first day of spring — marks a time alises since the last Greening. As new grass and colorful
when light and darkness stand together as separate but crocuses begin to push through the browned stalks of the
equal powers. When the Seelie and Unseelie once shared previous year, so do the Glamour-drenched spirits of newly
rulership among the fae, the Vernal Equinox heralded the “born” childlings signal the birth of fresh insights amid the
beginning of the end of the Unseelie’s reign. Unseelie drab remnants of entrenched philosophies. Each Unseelie
kings and queens began making their preparations for the childling represents the potential for growth and change.
transfer of power that would occur at Beltaine. While the Seelie fae exalt the innocent purity of young
Although the Seelie acknowledge this date, and some life, the Unseelie revere the amoral, “sinless” conscious-
individuals even hold private ceremonies to mark its passage, ness found only among the very young and inexperienced.
they expend most of their energies preparing for what they con- Childlings represent the principle of action without guilt
sider the “real” coming of spring — the Beltaine celebration. or repercussions — for many, the quintessential example
For the Unseelie, the Vernal Equinox serves as a cold of Unseelie life. By honoring the childlings among them
reminder of what they have lost. Many Unseelie pointedly with gifts and reveling along with them in “childish” play,
ignore this date, just as their Seelie cousins ignore the the Unseelie attempt to recapture their own damaged sense
concept of alternating courts. Others spend this day in of uninhibited freedom and remind themselves that they,
meditation, trying to evoke a sense of balance in their lives. too, are just beginning to emerge.
The Shadow Court commemorates the balance of The Shadow Court enacts a special Greening ritual,
light and dark by lighting fires from alder branches at dawn selecting one new childling to serve as the Green Child.
and at dusk. Sacred to the Celtic god Bran, the patron of The chosen childling receives massive doses of Glamour
healing and resurrection, the alder tree retains its foliage along with her Greening presents, and then is set loose to
longer than most other trees, and thus symbolizes the bridge “do her thing.” Her words and actions are carefully recorded
between the seasons. Dawn and dusk, the threshold times by assigned watchers as she celebrates the festival, since
of the day, have more significance on the Equinox than they may contain portents and omens for the coming year.
on other days. Ritualists of the Shadow Court attempt to After the festival is over, the Green Child’s memories
see visions in the smoke from the alder fires of the Vernal are selectively restructured so that she retains no clear
Equinox. They hope these premonitions will guide their knowledge of what she said and did during the festival.
actions during the part of the year when the brightness of
spring and summer drives away the shadows so dear to them. Beltaine (May 2)
Though our songs cannot banish ancient wrongs
The Greening (April 4) Though they follow where the rose goes
And their sounds swooning over hollow ground
I have not yet lived long
Enough to be so young Fade and leave the enchanted air bare,
As the old innocence Yet the wise say that not unblest he dies
Of the eternal spring. Who has known a single May Day.
— Richard Church, “In April” — anonymous, traditional sampler verse
The origins of this end-of-winter festival remain obscure Beltaine — or May Day — marks the time when the
even to the most knowledgeable of Unseelie Ritualists. Some Unseelie surrender their power to the Seelie, relinquish-

Chapter Three: Wheel of the Year 45

ing their rulership of the dark half of the year. As the sun
reaches ascendancy in this world, it plunges into darkness
in the otherworld. Thus, for the Unseelie, Beltaine — like
Samhain — is both a celebration and a wake, a beginning
and an end. While the Seelie light bonfires in celebration
of the summer’s fertile fullness, the Unseelie kindle their
fires like lampposts to light the way of those fleeing the
darkness that has taken hold in Arcadia.
The Unseelie, especially the satyrs and the sidhe, en-
gage in licentiousness and revelry, but within the Shadow
Court, other, more serious concerns take precedence over
sexual romps. In the bonfires of Beltaine, the Unseelie cast
away all they no longer need, be it outmoded concepts
or fading relationships. To them, Beltaine is a time when
oaths are sworn that last for a year and a day, when links are
forged between two opposed things, when their dark half
begins to examine their lighter aspects, and to throw off
those parts of their darkness that they have already worked
through. Summer’s warmth quickens those dormant seeds
which house the Seelie portions of their natures. Like the
Seelie who embrace their Unseelie natures for one night
at Samhain, at Beltaine the Unseelie taste what their
opposite selves are like, if only for a brief moment during
the turning of the wheel. This taste may be what they
seek to recapture during the next year’s rites at Samhain.
Some among the Shadow Court merely play along
with the giving and taking of power as they learn what
the Seelie know of Beltaine. Within the next few years,
they plan to usurp power for the duration of each year.

Midsummer (June 23)

‘Twas on the 23rd of June
As I sat weaving upon my loom,
‘Twas on the 23rd of June
As I sat weaving upon my loom,
A small bird sang in an ivy bunch
And the song he sang was the Jug of Punch
— “Jug of Punch,” traditional Midsummer’s ballad
The date for this celebration of the year’s longest day
varies, although a number of old ballads commemorate the
“23rd of June” as the traditional time to celebrate the year’s
turning point. While some Seelie Courts hold festivities
on the day symbolizing the apex of their rule, among the
Unseelie the Midsummer Festival gains its true following.
Midsummer heralds the beginning of the end of
the Seelie half of the year. Nights become longer as the
sun’s might dwindles. Unseelie fae hold Midsummer’s
Eve parties to celebrate the “shortest night” of the year,
using this occasion to reestablish connections with old
allies and to make new ones. In many Unseelie freeholds,
celebrants toast the hope that the coming year’s Samhain

46 The Shadow Court

festivities will see the rightful transfer of power from Seelie
to Unseelie Courts.
Lughnasa (August 1)
There were three men come from the West
The Shadow Court holds its own Midsummer’s Their fortunes for to tell
Eve celebration, during which they entertain new ideas And the life of John Barleycorn, as well.
which affect their dealings with Kithain in the coming They have laid him in three furrows deep
pre-Samhain months. At dawn, Ritualist cliques gather on Laid clods upon his head
hillsides to greet the sunrise on the day which marks the Then these three men made a solemn vow
end of its ascendancy. At parties where members of the John Barleycorn was dead....
Shadow Court are present, the banquet tables often hold And little Sir John’s in the nut-brown bowl
bowls of punch laced with concoctions containing liberal And he’s brandy in the glass
amounts of St. John’s wort, a healing herb which can, in Little Sir John in the nut-brown bowl
large quantities, cause an allergic reaction to sunlight. Proved the strongest man at last.
It is the Shadow Court’s small reminder to the Unseelie — “John Barleycorn Must Die,” traditional
of their commitment to the lightless winter days ahead.
Not even acknowledged by the Seelie, the festival of
Lughnasa (which some pronounce as “lunacy”) is of great
Highsummer (July 17) import to the Shadow Court, especially those of House
A wise man holds himself in check,
Balor, who see it as their own special holiday. Commemo-
But fools and poets run ahead.
rating Lugh, High King of the Tuatha de Danaan, this fire
One must be credulous or sit
feast celebrates both of his sides: that of the quintessential
Forever with the living dead.
sidhe, and that inherited from his mother, Balor’s daugh-
— Scudder Middleton, “Wisdom” ter, a queen of the feared Fomorians. Thus, it celebrates
The Highsummer festivities of the Seelie allow them, both aspects of fire: the shining, creative impulse, and the
for one brief day, to use mortals unashamedly as playthings, ravening, uncontrollable destroyer.
and indulge in jests and pranks. The Unseelie version of Ostensibly a festival partaking of the first fruits of the
Highsummer, however, contains a hint of desperation harvest, Lughnasa also celebrates the cutting down of the
that casts a dark shadow upon their outwardly joyous king. After a golden summer of growth and nurturing, corn
celebrations. and grain are cut down, bundled up, or ground into meal
The hot days of summer mask the swift approach of for the winter, and the remnants plowed under to provide
cold weather, and the Unseelie realize that the year turns fertile soil for the next year’s harvest. At this time, the
inexorably from one season to the next. Glamour is the sun’s strength is decaying as the year turns toward dark days
most important “crop” under constant cultivation, and ahead. The king, as the embodiment of the land, has given
Highsummer represents an early harvest of the dreams of his strength and now becomes a sacrifice to increase the
of mortals to fuel the enchantments of the fae. Unseelie land’s fertility, and prepares it to withstand the ravages of
Kithain immerse themselves in an orgy of Glamour-gath- a long cold winter. Sometimes a queen assumes this office,
ering, holding special Ravaging parties disguised as street taking on the role of the mother who sacrifices herself so
dances and block parties, inviting all mortals in the area. that her children might live. Thus a gloomy ritual of death
The most intense of these celebrations are hosted by House instead becomes a time of joyous celebration of the sacrifice
Leanhaun, who see in Highsummer a license to seize as which allows others to continue and blossom forth anew.
much Glamour from unsuspecting mortals as they can The Shadow Court, seeing the coming of Endless
through their House’s brand of direct inspiration. Winter, realize the importance of such rituals to winnow
Unseelie pooka consider “Pranksgiving” their special out those who have made their contributions and now need
time of year, pulling out all the stops on their prankish to move on, and have taken it upon themselves to enact
natures. Unlike their Seelie counterparts, Unseelie pookas these sacrifices wherever they are able. In the past, some
couldn’t care less about the consequences of their tricks, Unseelie grumps, fearing their waning strength would be
and the resulting mayhem and violence only spur them a burden in the hard times ahead, willingly assumed the
to greater heights of malicious behavior. Many join with role of sacrifice. More often nowadays, the Shadow Court
local beastie packs, reverting entirely to their animalistic captures and ritually slays a Seelie monarch or overlord. To
natures and rampaging throughout the land on their them, this is only just. This is the Seelie time of rulership
version of the Wild Hunt. and taking on the burdens of the harvest sacrifice is their
responsibility. Additionally, the lighter-hearted Seelie
disposition is needed to enrich and warm the soil (or spark

Chapter Three: Wheel of the Year 47

the fires of creativity) throughout the dreary cold of winter. Samhain. Since this no longer takes place, Unseelie Kithain
Though the Seelie have yet to discover exactly what is use this festival to assess their resources for the remainder
going on, some among them have noticed an increase in of the year. This is a time of reflection and reevaluation.
the disappearance of Seelie rulers around this time of year. The Shadow Court holds a special ceremony which
involves the ritual destruction of minor treasures or dross.
Autumnal Equinox This release of Glamour signifies a return to the world of
(September 21) some of the hoarded Glamour gathered against the com-
ing of Endless Winter. It is at once an act of defiance and
Behold, with loaded apple trees the farmer is be-
friended, faith — defiance against the Seelie Court which refuses
They will fill up his casks that have long laid dry. to acknowledge that Glamour’s value lies in its use, and
All nature seems to weary now, her task is nearly faith in the belief that Glamour is a renewable resource.
ended, As human societies once gave back part of their harvest
And more of the seasons will come by and by. to the earth, the Shadow Court ritually gives back some
of the Glamour it has taken.
— “The Seasons,” traditional 19th-century English
carol
The second of the two “days of balance,” the Autumnal
Pennons (October 4)
I have been ready at your hand
Equinox marks the true beginning of the Unseelie half of
To grant whatever thou would’st crave
the year. As on the first day of spring, day and night stand
I have waged both life and land
in equal measure to one another, but this time, darkness
Your love and goodwill for to have.
predominates. Nights will become longer, and the sun’s ra-
— “Greensleeves,” traditional, lyrics written by King
diance diminishes as autumn heralds the coming of winter.
Henry VIII
The Unseelie consider the Autumnal Equinox a time
Held during the halcyon days that hark back to the
of anticipation. Before the Shattering, Unseelie rulers
warmth of summer, Pennons was created by the Seelie to
would prepare for their imminent assumption of power at
48 The Shadow Court
toast the prowess of their knights. Filled with jousts, mock Pennons also presents an opportunity for Unseelie
combats and other martial displays, Pennons is like an to integrate their physical sides with the spiritual and
old-fashioned tournament. Surrounding the excitement mental changes that have taken place over the previous
of the mock warfare are artisans and craftspeople who year. Though the Unseelie flex their muscles, they take
flock to Pennons to display their wares and receive royal care never to allow enough participation to seem a serious
patronage. Storytellers and bards wage their own battles to threat to the Seelie. They wait and watch, building in
see who can best capture the glory and power of the day’s secret, hiding their true strength until the wheel of the
heroes in tale or song. Thus, Pennons is an eshu’s paradise. year speaks in unmistakable terms, telling them that this
Among the Unseelie, Pennons provides an excuse for year the time is finally right.
them to mock the chivalry of the Seelie. Many enter the
lists as black knights to challenge the might and honor Samhain (October 31)
of the Seelie knights. Some small prize is usually wagered Or is it too late
on the affair, anything from a fair lady’s scarf to a knight’s To change the way we’re bound to go?
minor treasure. Unseelie losers are notorious for quitting Is it too late?
the field in huffs and refusing to pay their parts of the Then surely one of us must know.
wagers; the Seelie who does the same, arguing that the — Fairport Convention, “One More Chance”
Unseelie don’t abide by the rules, is fair game for Unseelie And so the world gyres, the wheel of the year turns
minstrels, who make short work of his reputation. once again to Samhain. It is the end of the year, but
The Shadow Court goes one step further; their knights also the beginning. The Unseelie has traveled upon
practice under the very eyes of the Seelie Court, noting the his journey of self discovery. He may have found what
peculiarities and fighting styles of their Seelie challengers. he sought, discovered the Seelie side of his nature or
These idiosyncrasies are chronicled in warriors’ books for slipped further away from understanding. Whatever has
all members of the Shadow Court to study. Also noted are happened, though he has come round again to the place
the strength and types of guards the Seelie nobles have, where he began, he is not the same. The world has moved
and how they tend to place themselves. Anything that on and the dancing spiral of time leaves nothing in its
seems to annoy Seelie nobles is noted as well, and brought wake completely untouched.
out at the next festival to see if it rattles their composure. (For more information on Samhain, see Chapter
From such small intelligences have come many ways for Seven.)
the Shadow Court to exploit the Seelies’ weaknesses,
hoping to gain eventual victory in their war for rulership.

Chapter Three: Wheel of the Year 49

50 The Shadow Court
 Chapter Four:
Chapter Four:
Shadow
Shadow Cour-
Courtiers
tiers and
and Other Unseelie
Other Unseelie
And now at last it comes. You would give me the Ring
freely! In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen.
And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the
Morning and the Night... All shall love me and despair!
— J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Shadow Court antagonists and characters designed

for Shadow Court chronicles come from a variety of
Graybeards
Synthetic chiefs with frozen smiles
backgrounds. Cliques of Ravaging Unseelie revel in the Holding unsteady courses
chaos, while alliances of sinister graybeards orchestrate Grip the reins of history
campaigns against (or covert dealings with) the creatures High on their battle horses.
of the night. Regardless of whether they prefer reckless And meeting as good statesmen do
mayhem or political maneuvering, all Shadow Court Before the TV eyes of millions
changelings have two things in common: disdain for the Hand to hand, exchange the lie —
courts of the nobility, and contempt for the outlook the Afraid to make the Clasp.
Seelie have on life.
— Jethro Tull, “The Clasp”

Seemings The oldest changelings have been known to suffer

a considerable amount of prejudice. In Kithain society,
While radically different cliques of the Shadow Court which values youth and beauty, this minority forms less
have been known to work together to enact their schemes, than 10% of the population. “Grumps” tend to have a
getting the three different seemings of kith to cooperate certain elitism, which often prevents them from giving
on common goals can be difficult. Changelings of each in to the whims of younger leaders, and sometimes drives
seeming have different outlooks on the court, and so any them to the Shadow Court. Much of this is in response
plot that involves all three should hold something of to the bigotry wilders and childlings extend toward them.
interest to each of them. Ageist views, including the idea that only the young can
be creative, are an integral part of Kithain life. In truth,

Chapter Four: Shadow Courtiers and Other Unseelie 51

graybeards also have creativity — they just have a different elderly few who have already been fully accepted by the
style. The Seelie Court glorifies youth and beauty, but aristocracy, and their policies reflect their isolation from
Unseelie grumps and the Shadow Court know the value the real world. They fail to understand the world outside
of guile and treachery. their ivory and crystalline towers. There’s a world outside
While Unseelie graybeards still value passion, their for the taking, and only the boldest can take it. For fae who
passion is like slow-burning embers, not the passing flames seek adventure, the world exists now, and the attitudes of
that wilders know. Banality halts them from trusting too Unseelie wilders reflect that dying world.
quickly, but their deep understanding of it gives them an Fae of this seeming consider Ravaging a sacred mission,
advantage over their brethren. Elders know that this force not a Machiavellian amusement. Their immersion in the
is a weapon that can be used to corrupt others who cannot world makes them far more aware of the problems in the
weather it as easily. Once their curse has been inflicted streets, and Ravaging increases that knowledge. In fact,
on others, they can either win them to the Unseelie way many of them would prefer the world to be cold. Wilders in
of thinking, or destroy them, removing their opposition. the Shadow Court are typically antiheroes who ravage and
Graybeards also have a more thorough understanding despoil the world around them to save themselves. Often
of the “mundane” world and are more likely to balance fatalistic, they have little hope for the future. Nonetheless,
a mundane life with their secretive activities. Skilled at wilders revel in passion and rage freely in a world filled
negotiating with mortals, they often have contacts that with apathy and lacking in empathy.
can help a struggling clique. The most politically astute Shadow Court wilders hold few illusions about
of the changelings have cronies in ever-mutating secret “Prodigal races.” They seek to understand those who
societies who can provide information and assistance. dwell in their world of darkness for what they are. Many
While many largely live in the past, they see their activ- of them disagree with the idea that the other races are
ities as progressive. Although their political impulses are merely lost fae. In fact, they are often eager to mix with
often extreme, they have a vision of the world that’s more the other races. This enthusiasm for “seizing the night”
realistic than the dated and escapist views of the Kithain gives them insights that could benefit their older and
who deign to rule them. more political brethren.
Kithain society has rewritten the history of the Ac-
cordance War, but many graybeards remember a different Childlings
version of history. They’re not as quick to forget the 600 Kidnap the Sandy Claws,
years of madness that followed the disappearance of the Beat him with a stick
nobility. When their fathers and grandfathers opposed the lock him up for 90 years,
return of the aristocracy, nobles who slaughtered “upstart see what makes him tick
commoners” forever stained their hands with blood. Since — Danny Elfman, “Kidnap the Sandy Claws”
outright warfare has failed them, the most insidious revo- The youngest changelings don’t understand the past,
lutionaries faded into the background after the so-called and only dimly understand the present. For childlings, the
“Resurgence.” They have watched and waited ever since. future is everything. Chaos is the promise the future holds,
The time to strike is now. and they delight in it. Whenever there is chaos, there’s
a chance to change things for the better — however you
Wilders might define it at the time.
I’m riding on the edge In Kithain society, childlings are rarely held respon-
while darkness licks my naked skin. sible for their misdoings, and Unseelie childlings push
I want to dream again. this to the limit. They are a curious mixture of innocence
I want to dream, and it’s no sin, and amorality, and Unseelie elders are inspired by their
they won’t stop until you tame your soul. innovative ways, even while they try to trick and exploit
Don’t tame your soul... them. Childlings can be very perceptive, and thus under-
— Læther Strip, “Don’t Tame Your Soul” stand that the world their Unseelie family can offer them
While graybeards are consumed by the hatred they’ve is much more fun than the stentorian and sterile world
learned from the past, wilders desperately try to survive the Seelie nobles want to rule.
in the present. Unseelie wilders have little use for Seel- Childlings value freedom above all else, and the
ie-dominated courts. The Parliament of Dreams is far Shadow Court welcomes this philosophy. Their Ravaging
more concerned with the traditions of the 15th century resembles impish delight rather than communion with the
than the issues of the 20th. It’s an “old boys’ club” for the world, but they are still the most open-minded of the fae.

52 The Shadow Court

Cliques stay away from the intrigues of courts, but only because
their anonymity increases their chances of succeeding
When a Shadow Court clique is formed, it is usually with guerrilla tactics.
for a particular purpose. Like-minded Unseelie band to- Ravaging cliques also prepare for the onset of Endless
gether. Their goals may change over time, but if a clique Winter. Some have developed rituals for obtaining Glam-
is going to defy a world that rejects them and a court that our from unusual places as a way to speed up the process.
reviles them, they had best get their objectives straight The Ravaging Art is vital to them (see “Dark Arts”). These
when they first get together. changelings have a profound knowledge of the world that
A drastic shift in the Shadow Court occurs once a most of their brethren lack, and often undertake a wider
year in the ritual of Samhain. Titles are meaningless for variety of adventures.
more than a year or two, since they are redefined from one The Shadow Court’s second and third goals are gaining
year to the next. Anyone hoping to “break up” a clique an understanding of the supernatural world and preparing
had best move fast when the leaves start to fall, and even for the onset of Winter. Ravaging cliques specialize in
then, the remaining fae can always start another one. these activities.
Cliques have been known to swear fealty to one another,
but they define it by means other than honor. Instead of
living under duress, fearful to gain Banality for abandoning
Pretender Cliques
Pretenders are social climbers who pursue a long-term
a clique, Shadow Courtiers comfort themselves with the goal of overthrowing a freehold and taking the place of
thought that if they betray their clique mates, Kithain those who rule it. Some of these cliques are created to
society, Thallain alliances and betrayed comrades will protect commoner nobles who have been exiled or forced
all exact revenge. to flee their freeholds. As the name suggests, there are
also cliques that fabricate such evidence just for the sake
Graybeard Cliques of taking power and strengthening the presence of the
Graybeards love political manipulation. The contacts Unseelie in a kingdom.
they have, and the backgrounds they draw upon, determine Overthrowing the Seelie nobility is the fourth goal
which pieces are kept on their “side of the chessboard.” of the Shadow Court. Pretender cliques usually have their
They rarely gather in the same place, however, as this own unique ideas about how to achieve this.
would implicate their associates.
Many graybeards deal with the problems of balancing
their mundane lives against their obligations to the Kithain.
Obeisance Cliques
There are Unseelie sidhe who labor under the delusion
Only a few manage to attain wealth and privilege through that they should be the rightful rulers of the Kithain, not
political manipulation or supernatural talents. (After all, the Seelie. The most effective ones manage to convince
trying to Soothsay the stock market doesn’t always work courtiers of the shadows to join them. These fae often
as you might expect.) The most fortunate reside in free- promise the fae who support them positions of authority...
holds, and Shadow Court freeholds require masterminds once they overthrow their rivals, of course. Members of
to keep them hidden. Their webs of communication have this type of clique will all have the same Unseelie sidhe
to suffice for keeping them informed, but they also are as a patron or mentor.
rarely surprised when cliques of wilders or childlings stop
Obeisance cliques sometimes conflict with pretender
by to crash for awhile.
cliques when trying to realize the fourth goal of the court.
The first goal of the Shadow Court is to understand
the world of mortals and shelter those who cannot live in
it. Graybeard cliques excel at achieving this goal.
Ritualist Cliques
Although quite rare, there are cliques that are formed
Ravaging Cliques solely for religious purposes or spiritual exploration. Shadow
Court sorcerers and Dauntain Black Magicians may have
Survival isn’t the only goal of this type of clique. contact with, or even share, a clique with Tremere vam-
Ravaging cliques travel freely with little regard for who pires, Shadow Lord and Uktena Theurge werewolves and
the ruler of a particular faerie kingdom may be. There’s Hollow One mages. More-extreme cliques associate with
more important information to gather, such as the activ- Tremere antitribu, Dreamspeaker barabbi, and even Black
ities of the so-called “Prodigals.” They may have one or Spiral Dancers. Unseelie Ritualists perform ceremonies
two grumps on whom they depend, and may even take to maintain the balance of the world and preserve the
them along as advisors. Most of the clique will typically

Chapter Four: Shadow Courtiers and Other Unseelie 53

darkness within it, but Shadow Court Ritualists favor the Seelie Court and the Kithain, including their futile
exploitative and destructive rituals. attempts to save a dying world. It entails the belief that
Sometimes Instigators (see the Contempt Art and the maybe someday you too will become Seelie again, ready to
Prestige Background) will build Ritualist cliques around reclaim your honor and chivalry — as their society defines
themselves to help them better understand their causes. it — and the delusion that someday, all the darkness in
Since these allies are not bound by traditional boundaries the world will go away, and magic will flood the world.
of belief and paradigm, these groups seek a deeper under- Believing in the fae does not require you to have the
standing of the world. Unfortunately, it is also a far more trust and intelligence of a five-year-old child. The members
dangerous world once these secrets are unveiled. of the Shadow Court lost their innocence a long time ago.
Ritual cliques gain a deeper understanding of the They have no delusions about the way the world is, and
supernatural world, furthering the court’s second goal, yet they try to understand their “true selves”: their instincts
they also guide the spiritual development of the Shadow and impulses, lusts and desires. Shadow Courtiers don’t
Court. The priests of ritual cliques prepare for the revelry compromise with a world of humans. When they Ravage,
of Samhain, the fifth goal of the Shadow Court. they’re more than human. They’re creatures as beautiful
and horrific as they are amoral. They’re Unseelie.
Jamming Cliques
Jammers gather together to make the lives of the Seelie Unseelie Boggans
Court hell. Their goal is not to become rulers themselves, Why do I work so hard to help others? Why does the
but to foster chaos and anarchy. Sometimes this extends king drink expensive wine while I scrub his floors and eat
to other societies as well, including human ones. Jamming potatoes? I don’t really think being poor is making me any
cliques gather extensive information on the activities of more virtuous. I should get paid more for this shit.
a Seelie Court (or another political organization) and Boggans are always Seelie when they emerge from
work to counter its goals. Such interference helps all of their Chrysalises, even though each one has an Unseelie
the other factions of the Shadow Court. taint sleeping within her soul. By continually acting as
While these groups help both pretender and obeisance busybodies and do-gooders, Seelie boggans fanatically
cliques in their agendas, furthering the rebellion of the try to forget any disturbing self-doubts they might have.
masses and spreading chaos and anarchy fulfill the sixth Cynical ones who give in to doubt and fall into their
goal of the Shadow Court. Unseelie Legacies are very ashamed of what they have
become. Some begin to doubt themselves because they
Chaos Cliques feel like they’ve been taken for granted. The worst even
consider altruism to be a path to self-destruction.
One step below the Jamming clique (or above it,
depending on your point of view) are the chaos cliques. Either way, boggans can become very secretive,
Even anarchy is too political a concept for them. and once their propensity
Whether driven by insanity, delusion, or simply a joy for mischief and avarice
of life (and death), their goal is to raise as much hell as increases, they become
possible. Unseelie pooka love this type of clique; most even more se-
trolls hate them. cretive. One
Who cares what the Shadow Court really wants? All of the rea-
hail Discordia. sons Seelie
boggans develop

Unseelie Kithain such extensive

networks of in-
Many of the most talented recruits within the formation is to
Shadow Court come from within the Unseelie Court. ferret out Un-
In fact, it’s not unusual for an Unseelie to try to exist seelie in their
within both courts at once. A changeling can acquiesce midst who are
to the whims of the Unseelie Court by day and secretly masquerading
work for the shadows. as Seelie. Un-
Any Unseelie who descends into the shadows, seelie boggans
however, had best get his allegiances straight right away. in particular are
The Unseelie Court has to compromise with the ideals of watched with

54 The Shadow Court

great scrutiny, and for good reason. These greedy little
bastards have big ears and cold hearts, and what they can’t
get today, they’ll scheme for tomorrow.
Regardless of court, all boggans love to help others
— Unseelie ones just have a slightly redefined version
of what the word “help” means. While Seelie types are
motivated by their need for selfless sacrifice, Unseelie
remember people they’ve helped (whether their help
was asked for or not), and they expect to get something
in return. Economic opportunity is a common motivater,
although some allow their assistance to become more of
a curse than a benefit. If someone is truly down and out,
exploiting their dependence or pretending to help them
while actually driving them to ruin can be a particularly
artful form of Ravaging.
Of course, Unseelie boggans are still capable of being
charitable. No favor extended by one of these fae is ever
forgotten. If someone’s taken advantage of a boggan, he
can carry an epic grudge in return, and if someone who
has received help doesn’t pay up with his pound of flesh,
boggans have been known to extract payment by other
means. First-born babies are an excellent choice, although
there’s still a slave trade in Enchanted young maidens.
More traditional thralls perform household drudgery,
while contemporary slaves provide their masters with
other services.
Systems: Another reason Unseelie boggans often
masquerade as Seelie is to further their talent at gathering
information. The most useful service they provide is effi-
caciously gathering the filthiest of gossip in a household
and providing it to the highest bidder. Through the Social
Dynamics Birthright, they have a talent for figuring out
who’s strong and who’s weak, who’s sleeping with whom,
who’s hiding a dark secret, and so on. If appropriate, they’ll
even present this information to the Shadow Court. Bog-
gans are known for their honesty, so on the rare occasion
when one is hired to spread misinformation in a freehold
(“It’s only a rumor, I’m sure...”), he’d best get his Unseelie
little ass out of there before the Seelie boggans tar and
feather him. If his situation gets too rough, though, he can g e t
always find work with the Boggarts, his Thallain relatives caught in the rotating blades. They embody the worst
(listed below). stereotypical traits of the Gypsies they’re often mistaken
for — including their penchant for scams, deception
Unseelie Eshu and fraud — and will sometimes blame them for their
activities later.
Don’t ask me where I’ve been. Don’t ask me who I
am. Just clear me a place by the campfire and let me go to Unseelie eshu are masters of deception and have been
work. known to spread lies and virulent rumors under a variety
One realm’s mysterious visitor is another’s renegade of false identities. These “lesser Unseelie” will sometimes
criminal. Unseelie eshu not only have an uncanny way of stay with a clique for an extended period of time, divulging
showing up just as the shit is about to hit the fan, but they also their true identities only to other members of their group.
have a knack for disappearing right before they’re about to Their more sinister relatives undertake epic journeys
not to escape retribution for their misdoings, but to flee

Chapter Four: Shadow Courtiers and Other Unseelie 55

 Unseelie Nockers
Seems like you’re having a little trouble with your secu-
rity system, Your Highness.
Unseelie nockers pride themselves on their chimerical
creations as effusively as their Seelie counterparts. When
they interact with physical inventions, they don’t like
to limit themselves to classical inventions. They have
an acute gift for dealing with 20th-century innovations.
Indulging in anachronism is less important than keeping
up with the state-of-the-art technologies.
When fixing physical machines in the “real” world,
nockers have been known to become so attuned to a par-
ticular machine or electrical system that their ward will
begin to take on a personality of its own. When a nocker
is familiar with a device she’ll often begin by giving it a
name. She’ll then create an “imaginary” (read: chimeri-
cal) personality and characteristics for it. The “imaginary
friend” may then have special requests it may demand in
return for specific duties unless the nocker cows it into
submission or uses Arts to manipulate it. Shadow Court
nockers have thus been able to turn modern inventions
against their owners.
Unseelie nockers rarely build physical devices, as
their inventions are often so elaborate that they can only
from be constructed out of chimerical materials. Many of these
their own guilt. contraptions are also designed to eventually disrupt the
They will of- lives of their owners, and nockers who know the Delusion
ten carry a Art (see “Dark Arts”) are able to “program” their creations
dark secret with hidden commands. Unseelie who are jealous of their
in the black- Seelie cousins have even managed to corrupt the chimerical
est depths of their creations of others.
heart and travel to Systems: The Fix-It-All Birthright has one additional
escape their own despair. bonus for Unseelie nockers. During character creation, the
This variety of eshu trusts no Unseelie can choose one 20th-century invention
one, but can sometimes be called as a specialty. She then gets a -1 difficulty on
upon to carry out tasks that even any roll to fix, manipulate, or control that
the most suicidal of Unseelie wouldn’t type of device.
want to be around to take the rap for afterward. Then
it’s off to another kingdom before the pain becomes too
great again.
Unseelie Pooka
Here, bunny, bunny, bunny...
Systems: The Spirit Pathways Birthright allows an Contrary to first impressions, the line of distinction
eshu to take the most adventurous route while traveling, between Seelie and Unseelie pooka can be somewhat
but Unseelie seem to be drawn to the misadventure of blurred. Both types have a love of chaos, simplistic senses
others. Even if they tried to avoid this curse, they’d be of humor and an aversion to truth. The casual observer
blamed for the wake of misfortune behind them, so they might also believe that the difference between them is
might as well participate. If they wind up living out the the type of animal the pooka resembles. One can usually
events of a masterpiece of deception and betrayal, they be sure of reptilian or arachnid pooka, but such creatures
can also use the Talecraft Birthright to gain an extra point are incredibly rare.
of experience... and a story to introduce themselves with
at the next Shadow Court freehold they visit.

56 The Shadow Court

 There are legends of Unseelie pooka who are so terri-
ble that their pranks always result in death or misfortune.
There is no frivolity or joy in the pranks of this deviants,
only malice. Tales of nightmare rides that kill abound.
Unfortunately, no one is sure whether these stories started
with the pooka in the first place.
Systems: Unseelie pooka love hunting for innocents
to ravage, and their ability as confidants magnifies their
talent at Ravaging. The chosen “prey” will often wind up
revealing his darkest secrets to a kindly pooka... only to find
them used against him later as his life is destroyed. After
drawing out the most troubling and disturbing thoughts
within the mind of a human — even if the victim did
not realize those thoughts were there — Ravaging
magnifies these doubts, feeds Banality, and forces
Glamour from the victim’s soul.

Unseelie Redcaps
Stand and deliver! Fight or be eaten!
Learned sages have postulated that two redcaps
who are truly in love are capable of producing a
Seelie redcap as the result of their union, but that
invariably, such an abomination will be eaten not
long after birth. Sages who are adamant that this
faerie tale is true tend to get eaten as well. Redcaps
have a way of attracting a host of filthy lies. Some say
they’re cannibalistic. Some say they eat the weakest of
their young. And some don’t say anything at all — it
might give the redcaps ideas.
Regardless, Seelie redcaps are exceedingly rare,
and the few that exist are despised and hunted by Unseelie
The dif- redcaps. The mere sight of a chivalrous knight with a red
ference between the two cap jauntily perched upon his head is enough to fill an
is largely philosophical. As Unseelie, they know the value Unseelie redcap’s soul with wrath. Their greatest redcap
of following their instincts, and Unseelie pooka have a warriors — Unseelie Black Knights — live for the chance
strong survival instinct. Their animal mien possesses greater to tarnish their armor and spill their blood. As expected,
cunning than their mortal form, so they’ll often carry over Unseelie redcaps fight dirty, training for the day when
animal instincts into their mortal lives. Humans, after all, they can take down a Seelie redcap. The concept of “too
are less ethical than nature’s creatures. violent” is unknown to them, and many of them take
Because they place their own survival first, not even body parts as trophies to commemorate their victories.
the Shadow Court trusts the pooka completely. As part Their intimidation isn’t just talk — in fact, browbeating
of their penchant for trickery, pooka have been known to is a way from them to think up new atrocities to commit
switch sides without a care. Never ask a pooka whether he upon others.
is Seelie or Unseelie without having a method of proving Systems: The Dark Appetite Birthright provides a
it. These critters are often considered loose cannons. The few particularly stunning options in combat, as it can also
best a Shadow Court clique can hope for is that they’ll be used on living creatures. Any time a redcap attempts to
be loyal to their particular clique. That clique will almost use the Dark Appetite Birthright in combat the character
always keep their pooka friend ignorant of any politics must spend a point of Glamour, just as if he were trying
that come along unless the bond between the pooka and to eat something not normally edible. The base damage
the clique goes back a long way. Keeping him ignorant for a redcap bite is Strength + 2 (difficulty 5). Addition-
of temptation helps, too. ally, the character may try to sever an opponent’s limb.

Chapter Four: Shadow Courtiers and Other Unseelie 57

 Everyone is waiting to be awakened into
brave new worlds of pleasure, whether they
realize this or not. Others find bliss in the ecstasy
of drugs and psychic vampirism. Regard-
less of so-called “preferences,” Unseelie
satyrs consider despoiling innocence an
art form. To hell with wisdom. Passion
and pleasure are far dearer.
In romance, not all satyrs limit
themselves to human companions. As
they have close ties with the natural world,
many will indulge in interspecies romances
to commune with nature. Tales of satyr bes-
tiality aren’t too exaggerated — tragos who have
honed and refined their ravaging techniques
seduce or carry out courtly romance
with animal companions. Animal
companions don’t have typical
objections to commitment, as they

Severing a limb with

this ability requires five
successes on a Dexterity +
Brawl roll (difficulty 8), or
three successes if the victim
has been grappled first. This attack inflicts a minimum of
three Health Levels of damage if successful, in addition
to any damage rolled.
Sometimes redcaps like to spit out what they’ve
chewed, and in epic battles, one can see them wielding
the severed arms and legs of their enemies.

Unseelie Satyrs
Straps a little too tight? Don’t worry, I won’t do any-
thing you wouldn’t like, babe.
Boundaries mean little to the Unseelie. Since satyrs
have an undying lust deep in their souls, they seek to
shatter boundaries of sexuality and pleasure in those who
are close to them. The words “perversion” and “deviance”
are curiously absent from an Unseelie satyr’s vocabulary.

58 The Shadow Court

 Unseelie Sidhe
And so the Pageant is renewed again, my friend. No
matter where you run, I will find you. Wherever night
falls, I will wait for you. I am your shad-
ow, and my darkness will envelop you.
Even Shadow Court fae tend to
think Unseelie sidhe are a little extreme.
They tend to fall within two categories:
schizophrenics or epic antiheroes. The
first category is more relevant to Seelie
sidhe nobles. Some have been known
to shift their court from honorable rulers
to Machiavellian tyrants with the merest
stirring of the breeze. Perhaps if they were
in Arcadia, their fragile psyches would
stabilize, but in a world of ethical am-
biguities and lost faith, the Shining
Host is like a glass menagerie waiting
to be smashed.
Antiheroes sink into the dregs of the
Shadow Court. A truly Unseelie sidhe
will treat his Legacy as an epic journey,
not a psychotic aberration. First, he will
grow weary of his Seelie life. Next, he will
tear himself away from all that he held dear,
and then finally he will reject his own nobility
as a weakness and come to terms with the taint
within his heart. All other acts, no matter how
base or ignoble, are merely distractions from the
conflict within himself at this point, for nothing
else truly matters. Some courtiers of the shadows
write this off to typical sidhe arrogance, but it does
help to give the Unseelie concept of the Pageant (see
Chapter Two) its meaning.
They have a weakness, however. It is almost impos-
sible for them to purge themselves fully of their sense of
chivalry. They will deny this, but it has prevented them
have less objection to being leashed than most humans
from fully taking over the Shadow Court. Fortunately for
— though not, of course, all humans.
the Unseelie, their nobility can become as tainted as their
Systems: Bestiality isn’t for everyone. Some satyrs souls, and their sense of honor often becomes twisted and
prefer to get back to nature by studying traditional herbal situational. Unseelie honor is a very personally defined
spirituality, providing their friends with natural blends thing, so a villain may very well redefine what he considers
that over a few hours can lower an individual’s Banality. chivalrous to accommodate his corrupt morality.
The system is similar to the Gift of Pan, but the roll is
A heartfelt appeal to a sidhe’s hidden chivalry may
Intelligence + Crafts (difficulty 7). Any who choose to
cripple her, as most sidhe are egotistical enough to want to
resist do so by making a resisted Willpower roll — most
finish off a rival with style rather than with simple butchery.
of these spiritual meditations are illegal in most states and
Those who undertake the Quest of the Darkest Heart (see
can be revealed by chemical testing. Anyone under the
“Dark Arts”) may try to hide their sense of personal honor
influence of these natural medications has his Intelligence
beyond an image of villainy. Hidden chivalry is the most
reduced by two dots during this time, but gifted mortals can
valuable quality any Unseelie sidhe can possess, and some
see chimerical creations while their vistas are expanded.
have been known to take on Banality if they turn down chiv-

Chapter Four: Shadow Courtiers and Other Unseelie 59

alrous challenges. Then again, some of them would rather However, sluagh don’t know everything, and thus,
be slowly undone by Banality than exhibit chivalry openly. they sometimes need to call on the Shadow Court. Most
The circumstances under which one sidhe would kill importantly, a sluagh is reluctant to betray the shadows
another outright would still have to be rather extreme. because of the valuable information she can gain from
Shadow Court fae have speculated that the only reason them. They seek out revelations and dark secrets, and
why the sixth portion of the Escheat, which prohibits both sluagh and the shadows trade in them freely.
the killing of Kithain, was articulated by the sidhe was As for the possible sources the sluagh employ, it is
because few of them understood what happened to their said by some Shadow Court sorcerers that sluagh whisper
souls after death. The reason why most sidhe either re- so that only the dead may hear them, but whether there
turn as commoners or never return from the Bright Road is a connection between the rituals of the sluagh and the
remains a mystery. dealings of the Restless Dead has yet to be proven. Perhaps
Many Unseelie commoners have little fear of death, they are mistaken.
as they understand the need for reincarnation and the Systems: Some sluagh are said to be able to use
change it brings into the world. Sidhe have intensified their Squirm Birthright to such effectiveness that they
the amount of intrigue the three courts pursue because can slither into small cracks under doors or into other
it destroys enemies slower than cold steel. The ultimate small spaces. Doing so causes the sluagh some damage
victory over another sidhe lies in turning his Legacy to however, (the sluagh suffers one Health Level of damage
serve your cause instead of someone else’s. Within the when attempting this stunt). The difficulty for slipping
Shadow Court, there are often debates of which would under cracks is always
be more efficient: killing them quickly with cold steel, or considered to be 10.
destroying them slowly with Banality. Such debates make
cold nights pass quickly.
Systems: Any Unseelie sidhe has a personally defined
sense of honor, not a publicly defined one. Storytellers are
encouraged to discuss the particulars of an Unseelie sidhe’s
code in private with the person who portrays her after
each session is over. Characters who deviate too far from
this secretive agreement should slowly take on Banality.

Unseelie Sluagh
Can we talk freely? Good. Can you pay my price?
Excellent.
Sluagh have a natural affinity for the Shadow Court.
There are even Seelie sluagh who have an attraction to it. In
fact, sluagh typically show more loyalty towards each other
than toward either court. Many Shadow Court cliques are
used to bargaining with sluagh for information, but they
are somewhat hesitant to speak freely when one is about
unless he, she, or it has been oathbound to a Shadow Court
clique. If a sluagh betrays the Shadow Court, often other
sluagh will harry the traitor. While the shadows know a
few things this kith practices in secret, Seelie Courts tend
to disavow such knowledge.
Sluagh are quite capable of duplicity. After all, they
also live in two worlds: the world above and the world
below. Regardless of their courtly existence, many hold
hidden knowledge about the feeding habits of local
Nosferatu vampires, the location of traps set by Rat-
kin in sewer tunnels, the effluvia created in spawning
pools, the possible mating habits of Black Spiral Dancer
werewolves, and so on.

60 The Shadow Court

Unseelie Trolls
Where were you when my love died? Where
were you when my freehold was in flames? Now
back the hell off before I tear you apart.
Some Seelie trolls are so pure of heart that
loremasters refer to them as “giants.” They
are handsome and noble,
romantic and generous
— and they are the ene-
mies of Unseelie trolls
everywhere. Some
call Unseelie trolls
ogres, though Shad-
ow Courtiers know
the true ogres to be
Thallain, and more
horrible than any
Unseelie troll could
imagine. Unseelie trolls
have been known to be-
come so consumed with
their own self-loathing
that the foulest of them
inflict their suffering on
the world. They are, as
a rule, either unattractive
or hideous, and the worst
are deformed morally as well
as physically.
Trolls, however, always have a fragment
of nobility in them. As opposed to most other
Unseelie, Unseelie trolls are loyal to those
they support, even if they don’t display
their loyalties openly. They aren’t always
immoral — they just dedicate themselves
to somewhat disreputable fae. A troll
who becomes Unseelie will reject his
old loyalties, but he can still develop
new ones within the Unseelie Court or
Shadow Court. No matter how great
the suffering a troll endures, he will
always retain a remnant of his honor.
Unseelie trolls also have a very harsh
interpretation of the word “justice.”
Even the noblest of trolls has a deep and
furious rage sleeping within his breast. Just as the
magma of the earth roils beneath the earth’s crust, so does
gentleness and stoic grandeur sometimes belie a soul in pain.
A troll will give trust grudgingly, and follow it fanatically,
but if he is betrayed, mayhem and suffering may result. Trolls known to embark upon epic killing sprees, leaving a trail of
who become Unseelie after a betrayal of their trust have been slaughtered victims in their wake. The infamy that results

Chapter Four: Shadow Courtiers and Other Unseelie 61

will leave an Unseelie troll in a state of distrust for a long,
long time. Never, ever, move a troll to anger.
Systems: A troll’s Titan Strength does not return until
he takes a new oath of loyalty. When his oath has been
broken by the other concerned party, this is an excellent
rationale for fading into the shadows before exacting
violent revenge.

The Unseelie Houses

The burning bow that once could shoot an arrow
Out of the up and down, the wagon-wheel
Of beauty’s cruelty and wisdom’s chatter —
Out of that raving tide — is drawn betwixt
Deformity of body and of mind.
— W. B. Yeats, “The Phases of the Moon”
Three Unseelie Houses made the journey back to Earth
from Arcadia when the five Seelie houses came through
in 1969. One of them, House Ailil, spread its members
across Concordia and Hibernia (and possibly other regions
as well). The other two (Houses Balor and Leanhaun)
initially limited themselves to entering through Hibernia
(Ireland). Since that time, many members of both Balor
and Leanhaun have left Hibernia and begun infiltrating
Seelie holdings in Concordia, sometimes masquerading as
members of other houses. Some few let their actual house
be known but keep a low profile among the overwhelmingly
Seelie kingdoms of Concordia. What they do in secret is
another story. considered Unseelie, the house which bears his name
The three Unseelie houses have united with Un- is firmly entrenched among the Unseelie and are active
seelie from the other five houses and many Unseelie participants in the Shadow Court.
commoners to form the Shadow Court. Although each Members of House Ailil tend to be masters of
house has its own agenda, they all have some goals in politics, intrigue and manipulation. They are rarely
common — chief among them being the overthrow of fully trusted by other Kithain, even those of their own
Seelie rule. house. They make the most of their talents and have
an innate arrogance and supreme confidence in their
House Ailil (Ay-LEEL) ability to handle any situation and come out ahead.
They love creature comforts, fine clothing and other
Known for their Machiavellian political acumen, evidence of their noble standing, taking these as their
House Ailil is the best known of the Unseelie noble due, but they love power even more than the trappings
houses. The house’s founder, King Ailil, was the hus- that come with it. Ailil often fine tune their Ravaging
band of Maeve, the queen who instigated the Cattle to evoke as much pain and terror from their victims as
Raid of Cooley, in which the great hero Cuchulainn possible, claiming that nightmares produce the sweetest
lost his life. Ailil was an astute politician, a philosopher and most potent Glamour. They have little regard for
and a great student of secret knowledge. Both House those whom they Ravage, believing that there is always
Ailil and House Eiluned hark back to his line. It is said more Glamour to be had.
that Ailil stayed on Earth when the sidhe left in order
Those of House Ailil often have dark hair and eyes.
to preserve its connection to the Dreaming, taking
Regardless of their actual eye color, they are noted for
a new name and gathering around himself a group
having extremely compelling gazes. They prefer dark attire,
of changelings dedicated to protecting his sanctuary
with their favorite combinations featuring black clothing
from Banality. Although Ailil himself can hardly be
set off by silver accessories.

62 The Shadow Court

 Because of their political skills, when they interact
with Seelie Courts, they are often found as advisors to House Balor (BAY-lor)
kings, leaders of political factions and as the real pow- Though it has been forgotten by all but a few of the
er behind the thrones of weaker rulers. Fiefs ruled by eldest fae, the Kithain of House Balor trace their ances-
House Ailil are hotbeds of intrigue and often suspected try back to a line of sidhe who mixed their blood with
of Unseelie and Shadow Court activity even when they that of the Fomorians. Most changelings believe that
are not actively involved. Of course, the word “actively” the house name is simply an Unseelie joke, a slap in the
can have so many meanings.... face to the proud Seelie. The twisted members of House
As a house, Ailil wants to overthrow the Seelie Balor have no intention of disillusioning them. Because
nobility and gain influence in the mortal world. They of this, most Seelie believe that members of House Balor
believe the Seelie have become stagnant and that Ailil are like bad children, that since they are dissatisfied by
is most fit to lead (through the Shadow Court) the their place in fae society, they say and do things merely
fae through the Endless Winter and into the coming to shock their Seelie cousins. Few understand the true
Spring. They are not trying to bring on the Winter, danger House Balor poses.
just preparing to survive it and gain power while doing The house reckons their founder as Lugh of the
so. They plan to allow the Winter to demoralize and Long Arm, grandson of Balor of the Evil Eye, king of
destroy their opponents and seize power when their the Fomorians. Thus, they believe they are doubly royal
foes are weakest. and laugh at the pretensions of House Gwydion. As
The more traditional members of the house are Lugh slew his own grandfather, they believe that they
members of the Purist faction. They see the need to are destined to rid themselves of the weak and foolish
right the balance: The Seelie ruled for 600 years; now Seelie, and take their rightful place as the rulers of the
there needs to be an Unseelie time, then a return to fae. They would then demand tribute from all their
alternating rulership. The younger members and the subjects, and rule the humans as overlords. House Balor
real movers-and-shakers want total Unseelie rule. They believes that the Endless Winter is almost here, and that
control the Reformist party. Many Ailil, particularly
those of the Reformist party, masquerade as Modern-
ists, promising equality to the commoners in exchange
for their loyalty. These are usually marked as cannon
fodder; Ailil has no intention of giving up their noble
rights and privileges.
The blazon of House Ailil is sable, a rampant
dragon argent, between four stars argent. (A silver
dragon rampant between four silver stars on a black
background.)
Boon: Sidhe of House Ailil are expert political ma-
nipulators. All rolls involving Manipulation are made at
-1 difficulty. Members of House Ailil can never Botch
on Subterfuge of Politics rolls.
Flaw: Those of House Ailil come from the line of
kings. Because of their belief in their own fitness to rule,
they are complacent. Members of Ailil take on things
others would shy away from, believing that they will
succeed just by virtue of their own cunning or talent.
They must make a Willpower roll in noncombat situa-
tions (difficulty 8) to admit they are wrong, even when
it is obvious. If they back down from a situation (such
as a battle they know they cannot win), they suffer +
1 difficulty to all Social rolls until they can gain some
sort of victory that restores their confidence and face.
This may take the form of abusing those underlings who
cannot fight back.

Chapter Four: Shadow Courtiers and Other Unseelie 63

a strong hand needs to guide the helm to steer the fae Flaw: All members of House Balor have some sort
through it. They actively work to bring on the Winter of deformity (physical, mental or emotional) that cannot
so they can seize power as soon as possible. be rectified through prosthetics or psychological help.
Most sidhe from House Balor belong to the Reformist Changelings of House Balor can never rid themselves of
party. They want power in both the mortal and supernat- their deformities. As a secondary aspect of their Fomorian
ural world and seek to gather as much Glamour as possible blood, no member of House Balor can have a Willpower
to aid them in their takeover attempt before the Endless higher than 6.
Winter. Some among them see no future for the fae at all
and these follow the anarchists. They care for nothing
but spreading chaos and fulfilling their current desires as
House Leanhaun
completely as possible. Believing they are doomed anyway,
they want to spread the wealth.
(Lee-ANN-an)
Members of House Leanhaun are intimately tied to
All members of House Balor are marked by some mortal inspiration, and are the most Glamour-hungry of
sort of deformity, a throwback to their Fomorian blood. all sidhe. Without Glamour, those of House Leanhaun
Such deformities are not always apparent, nor are all of begin to age rapidly. Cut off for a few months from
them physical. They might also be mental or emotional. Glamour, members of House Leanhaun can go from
Many changelings of House Balor flirt with disaster by childling to grump almost overnight, suffering all the
carrying and utilizing iron weapons as a way of thumbing pain and loss such a change brings in its wake. Though
their noses at the other sidhe. They do not suffer from other fae know that this house is so cursed, they are un-
Banality’s Curse, the frailty of most sidhe. They are aware of the cure for it — a forbidden form of Ravaging
even more likely to fall into fits of depression, however. known as Rhapsody.
Unlike Balor’s burning eye, their deformities give them
The aging effects can be reversed, and aging itself
no special powers.
can be held at bay for an unnaturally long period of time
Members of House Balor can often be found pre- through Rhapsody. This is engendered by particularly
tending to be from other houses (especially Eiluned or creative mortals in response to the Leanhaun’s direct
Dougal). They are highly skilled in both warfare and infusion of Glamour into them. The mortal who is thus
infiltration. Many bide their time, worming their way inspired burns with enhanced creativity, pouring his
into the confidence of Seelie they perceive to be weak
and ripe for takeover, acting as knights, confidants or
courtiers. While some members of House Balor cooperate
with the Shadow Court, the house has its own agenda,
which it hopes to eventually implement. For now,
they act in concert with Houses Ailil and Leanhaun,
content to bask in the prestige of bringing the Black
Spiral Dancers and the modern Fomori into an alliance
with the Unseelie.
House Balor’s blazon is sanguine, a tower, or entwined
by a serpent sable barring a door gules (a black wyrm
entwined around a golden tower and barring a red door
on a field of purple).
Boon: While they are somewhat handicapped by
their deformities, the Fomorian blood of those of House
Balor shields them from the worst effects of iron. Cold
iron still causes members of House Balor some discomfort,
but they take no penalty when performing tasks while in
contact with the metal, nor do they lose any points of
temporary Glamour when struck by iron weapons. This
allows them to carry and utilize iron weapons without
suffering any penalties. If slain by an iron weapon, how-
ever, their faerie souls are destroyed just like any other
changeling’s.

64 The Shadow Court

whole life into his art, be it music, poetry, prose, painting,
sculpture, dance or any other art form. The Leanhaun The Thallain
feed off the Glamour thus produced, often becoming Is this a fairy tale? This can’t be real!
the lovers of those they Rhapsodize, while the mortals There’s fighting all around. They’re shooting in the fields.
become utterly obsessed with their sidhe lovers. Such a They say that values change when hunger or ambition
direct channel to the Dreaming, and the creative and strikes —
emotional outpouring it produces, is very dangerous for Survival is essential, at any cost or any price.
the mortals involved. While they fashion artistic mas- The cartoon animals on Old McDonald’s farm
terpieces, they live all too briefly, burning out with one Are nodding off in hotel rooms with needles in their arms.
rapturous, incandescent flare. The seven dwarves? Ha! There’s only four alive today,
Like their founder, the graceful, alluring and talented And Cinderella is working for the C.I.A...
Lady Leanhaun, once bard to the High King of Hibernia, — Oingo Boingo, “Cinderella Undercover”
those of House Leanhaun are known for their cultured The Thallain have been forgotten for many centu-
ways, beauty, grace and seductive natures. Most sidhe ries, and few of them have been seen on Earth since the
recognize the house’s ability to locate and cultivate the Mythic Age. Most of their ancestors have been spawning
best human artists and Dreamers. They are seen as great in Arcadia for centuries, but when the Shining Host fled,
patrons of the arts. Few Seelie are really aware of the an army of darkness harried the sidhe from the world they
Unseelie nature of this house; those who do know of it lost. As Endless Winter approaches, stories of Boggarts,
are puzzled by it as they have no idea what the Leanhaun ogres, Ganconer and bean sidhe are on the rise.
actually do to gain Glamour. Further, many members of Some loremasters claim that the five races listed below
the house are themselves noted artists. For this reason, are actually Lesser Thallain. They claim that these kith are
those who are known to the Seelie usually hold positions allegedly working as Earthly shock troops for their Arcadian
such as Masters of Revelry or Court Bard. masters. Although they work well as spies, infiltrators or
Most members of House Leanhaun fear that the grunts, they rarely do well in positions of authority, and
Seelie will discover their true natures. Their chief desire supposedly play a secondary role in the Shadow Court.
is to be free of the threat of persecution should the other Unseelie conspirators proclaim, behind closed doors, that
houses ever find out the truth. They want complete and this system of organization is merely paving the way for a
unrestricted access to the kind of Glamour they need, further invasion by Arcadia. Other loremasters consider
and feel justified in taking that which they need to sur- their colleagues to be shifty and deceptive pseudointel-
vive. House Leanhaun believes their goals can best be lectuals who pretend to know more than they actually
brought about through a takeover from the squeamish do, and they are not terribly surprised when one of their
Seelie and the empowerment of commoners. They ad- academic rivals is said to have been eaten.
vocate commoner equality, hoping to make allies who This is much is known, though: Thallain do not have
will protect them from the other noble houses. Most of Seelie Legacies, and they can never become Seelie. In fact,
them are members of the Reformists and the Modernists. each one has two Unseelie Legacies. Their only real moral
There are a number of Ritualists among the Leanhaun, dilemma is deciding which type of feckless exploitative
however, as they feel a great need for the Glamour which bastard to become. The Thallain character must choose
pageantry can provide. which of the Legacies is dominant at a given time.
House Leanhaun’s blazon is vert, a harp, or entwined They do not owe fealty to the nobles, although some
by a thorny rose sable (a golden harp twined with a black of them impersonate Unseelie kith for the sake of their
roses on a green field). own survival. The Lesser Thallain races on Earth have
Boon: All members of House Leanhaun receive been hiding or passing themselves off as other kith largely
an extra dot in Charisma, even if this raises it above a because they are not protected by the Escheat. That system
5. Additionally, all Seduction rolls made by Leanhaun of law is reserved for the European-based Kithain, who have
sidhe are made at -1 difficulty and they cannot botch a forsaken their heritage to masquerade as humans. Thallain
Seduction roll. make no pretense of being human. They are vile, wicked
Flaw: Leanhaun sidhe age unnaturally as a result of creatures, ready and willing to serve the twisted agenda of
an ancient curse cast upon their house. Those who do the Shadow Court. Whether Arcadia is watching or not,
not engage in Rhapsody (See Chapter Six) at least once the Lesser Thallain are listening and waiting.
a week, age one year for every week they fail to do so.

Chapter Four: Shadow Courtiers and Other Unseelie 65

 Wild and wicked Unseelie The very spirits of
pooka regress toward their the Earth are ashamed of
primitive states when their the secretive activities
true seemings are revealed. of beasties, and thus
The worst of these are not the Mists cover their
capable of shapeshifting activities within an
into animals, but instead hour after they are
transform into hideous perpetrated. Mortal
monsters. No two beasties witnesses are consumed
are alike, and some exhibit with madness: They
physiological tendencies succumb to terror and
heretofore unseen in na- flee. After an hour
ture by mortals. Like has passed, they will
pooka, beasties can only remember very little.
shift into or out of their Seelie have an innate
true forms when no one hatred of beasties, and
is watching them. will attack them on
Not all beasties have sight. Their battle lust
the stereotypical “fur and will subside after an hour,
crooked teeth,” and not all however, and they will
of them are mammalian in forget what has enraged
origin. Some are reptilian or them. Within an hour
alien, while others speak of after a sighting, other fae
evolutionary routes that were or supernatural creatures
never meant to be followed remember these mon-
by sane sentients. Jagged sters as wild animals.
teeth, matted fur, crooked Their true forms can
nails, shining scales and only be remembered in
wretched skin become nightmares, which often
more noticeable when haunt their victims.
a once-charming Thal- Once a month, for
lain shifts into his beastie the duration of one
form. All of the aspects of night, entire packs of
the form don’t have to be beasties will take on
fully functional, though; their true forms and
their main use is for Ravage. Childlings will
scaring the bejeezus out refer to this as a Wild
of their enemies. Rumpus, while grumps

66 The Shadow Court

and wilders refer to it by making inhuman, guttural
growling noises. Once enough destruction and suf- Affinity:
fering has been wrought, they fade back into their Nature
banal forms until summoned forth again. Some
Ritualist cliques possess methods of directing these Birthrights:
packs to enact their wills. • Beastie Form — Like pooka, beasties can spend
The humor of beasties is of the most vile and a point of Glamour to shift into their true forms. They
depraved variety, and it is almost always deadly. must be alone to do so. Shifting back doesn’t cost
When a beastie Ravages a mortal, her prank will a point of Glamour, but it still must be done alone.
usually culminate in the death of her prey. Pooka find • Gaia’s Mercy — Within one hour of the per-
them oafish and gross, but there is, unfortunately, petration of beastie violence, witnesses will forget
one further complication: When not associated with what they have seem, remembering only distorted
the Shadow Court, they can still disguise themselves stories of wild animals.
as Unseelie pooka. They will keep the darker part
of their natures in check until the time to Ravage
comes again.
Frailties
• The Hunt — Seelie have a innate hatred of

Appearance: beasties, and any who cannot score at least three

successes on a Willpower roll (difficulty 9) will attack
As mortals, they are wild-eyed and undisciplined. them on sight — assuming they recognize them for
Their primal nature is difficult to mask, even in a mor- what they are.
tal seeming. In faerie mien, they are easily mistaken
for Kithain pooka, and will even have a few animal
characteristics. In beast form, they are the stuff that
Quote:
Grrrr…
nightmares are made of. Few outside the Shadow
Court have the sanity to elaborate beyond that.

Chapter Four: Shadow Courtiers and Other Unseelie 67

 Boggarts place the well-being of their kind above productivity or the acquisition of wealth is in need
the concerns of all other creatures. With a talent for of a re-education. In particular, they have no sym-
getting organized, a very industrious spirit and an pathy at all toward humans. While Kithain boggans
endless amount of greed, Boggarts can swarm over can be quite empathetic to the suffering of others,
any opportunity like a horde of rats. Although they Thallain Boggarts delight in inflicting pain on mortal
are quite willing to help the Shadow Court, they victims, either physically or economically. Trapped
serve themselves first and foremost. They’ll tolerate in a world of men, they see making humans suffer
other fae, once they’ve been properly managed and as just revenge. Traditional Boggarts used to make
organized, of course. A warren of Boggarts will only tricking men and enslaving Enchanted women top
defer to the leadership of a fae of another kith as long priorities, but they’ve learned another way of life
as their demands are met and they’re compensated over the last decade.
— in one way or another. Contemporary Boggarts are inherently collectiv-
Although they’re no strangers to hard work, ist creatures, and they love to create warrens (also
they have difficulty understanding the needs and known as communes, cultures or communities). These
ideals of other fae. Anyone who can’t understand were once burrows below ground, but modern Boggarts
now gather in apartment complexes, condos or
tract-housing developments. If only a few of them
are present in a warren near a freehold, they’ll try
to recruit Unseelie boggans to their cause (while
disguising their true natures) and eventually
convince them of their superior work ethic.

68 The Shadow Court

 They love to create complex shifting hierarchies involves managing her chosen business. Boggarts
of politics among their kind, and remember them in only have to sleep about two hours a night, so many
great detail. As more Boggarts gather in a warren near of them “moonlight” (during the day or night) in
an Unseelie freehold, they’ll want political power human jobs. As more of them gather together, their
on that level as well, eventually electing a Foreman work will get shoddier and more dangerous. One
(or Administration) to watch out for their interests. Boggart might have the best of intentions, but a pack
Profit is the bottom line, and they stash what they of them will ruin the poor saps they’re helping while
can underground out of habit. they maximize short-term gains.
Once organized, the commune of Boggarts can • Pack Mentality — These creatures have a way
hire themselves out to perform acts that are grotesque of tracking down others of their kind, and they’ll
enough to make any human look twice — hence the often try to recruit Kithain boggans away from their
name “Boggart.” The kindest of their Administrations courts. They can “sniff out” an Unseelie boggan with
can rationalize and justify the most ludicrous of op- three successes on a roll of Perception + Kenning
tions, and organize the manpower to make it a reality. (difficulty 5). Any Boggart character will also know
The worst of them, the Freelancers, hire themselves how to get in touch with at least a half-dozen of his
out to disreputable sorts, and are capable of carrying kind and, once per adventure, can recruit them to
out the most shocking atrocities without batting an alter, “improve” or destroy a location with a successful
eyelash. Need a wall painted in human blood? Do roll of Intelligence + Politics (difficulty 7). This may
you need someone to prick the body of a sleeping not require hard labor. During downtime, it’s assumed
beauty with 1000 pins? Send for a few Boggarts. Just that the character will perform similar tasks for the
make sure they’re paid on time. rest of his coworkers/comrades.

Appearance: Frailties:
In human mien, these creatures actually look • Greed — When presented with an unguard-
like normal humans of average height. Away from ed item of wealth, they must roll versus Willpower
mortal eyes, they’re thieving little dwarves with (difficulty 9) to avoid stealing it. If they fail this
ruddy skin. As a Boggart gets more desperate for roll, however, their fingers will take on an adhesive
riches, his faerie mien will appear fouler and blacker. texture, lowering their difficulty for the Dexterity +
Ears get pointer, noses get longer, and bare feet get Subterfuge roll that follows by one. In larger warrens,
stealthier. The worst have to hide tails inside their this is called “redistribution of wealth,” or, in some
britches. warrens, “new compensation programs.”
• Callousness — Boggarts cannot use the Em-
Affinity: pathy skill to understand humans, although they
can use it to harm them. They don’t understand the
Actor
social dynamics of humans or fae who live outside of
Birthrights: corporations, although they do have alliances with
the occasional opportunistic boggan. It’s useful to
• Industrious Comrades — Like Kithain bog- have scouts and headhunters.
gans, Thallain Boggarts can perform any physical
labor in 1/3 the normal time, although they have
learned to diversify their business opportunities.
Quote:
Here now, you’ve only got one woman in charge?
Choose a business specialty during character creation;
And she wasn’t elected? Bah! We’ll soon sort that out,
that character gets a -1 difficulty on any roll that
mate.

Chapter Four: Shadow Courtiers and Other Unseelie 69

 Bogies give the sluagh a bad name.
They delight in killing and often have Appearance:
a very ritualistic approach to such activ- Bogies have no regard
ities. A bogie usually has a craving for for human life, as they
a certain type of fluid or organ in the consider humans to be an
human (or nonhuman) body. Whether evolutionary mistake. In human
they drain blood, suck bone marrow mien, they appear as famished or be-
or eat feces, their victims are usually draggled mockeries of the mortal
burned or desiccated afterward. physique. They often resemble
Bogies who are not able to fully in- either flabby and rotund dorks,
dulge have to remain content with or skinny and pock-faced losers
snacking. Dissecting and devouring with tangled hair and body odor.
the intestines of a household pet, This is largely in mockery of the
or licking the wounds from a body Kithain innovation of adopting a
that’s been whipped into uncon- human form. In faerie mien, they
sciousness will have to suffice. are warped, pale and grotesque. In
Sluagh may shelter these light, they stoop, breathe through
Thallain cousins, and perhaps even their mouths, and make odd sounds,
make a few trades to keep them occasionally secreting ooze from their
well-fed. Bogies will not die if their palms. In darkness, their eyes and pupils
exotic tastes are not fulfilled, but will dilate to twice normal size, their teeth
after a week or two of abstinence, will sometimes chitter, and rugose gills will
their hunger will increase. Today, flutter as they exhale. No wonder they have
a globule of mucus will suffice, but to hide their true forms.
next week, you’ll find one perched
on a human’s chest, sucking away. Affinity:
Bogies do not have to whisper, but Scene
do so to impersonate sluagh. They only
speak up in the presence of the Shadow Birthright
Court, or when impersonating mortals. • Spawned in Darkness — Once each
It is rumored that sluagh hire such day, a bogie can vomit up a cloud of foul, inky
abominations to slaughter those who blackness. More talented bogies can exude this
betray them, though there is nothing from their nethermost regions. This odorless,
to substantiate this. undulating mass of dark tendrils will drift

70 The Shadow Court

slowly, increasing the difficulty of any who try to Frailties:
see through it by 2. This is usually used to cover • Curse of the Weaver — There is an easy way
their more furtive activities, such as climbing along to distinguish a bogie from a sluagh — bind him.
walls and ceilings. They cannot contort their bodies as sluagh do, and
• Hatred of the Weaver — By using a point they lose one Health Level each hour they are bound.
of Glamour, a bogie can become invisible to tech- They cannot stand the thought of being confined,
nology for one hour. Undetected by electronic and will screech, writhe and suffer a Health Level
security systems (which malfunction when they’re each day they are confined. Whenever inside, they
around), video cameras (which pick up static), and will always make sure they have an escape route.
even bright lights (which flicker or shift like the
lighting in an old German Expressionist film), the Quote:
bogie can go about doing whatever it is he’s not Sooo... you wish to know my secrets, do you? Well,
supposed to do. be prepared to pay the price.

Chapter Four: Shadow Courtiers and Other Unseelie 71

 These close cousins of as they consider themselves
Unseelie nockers are often artistes. Unseelie nockers
mistaken for them, but don’t really care, as they
they hide their more artis- usually pass off their Thal-
tic talents. While nockers lain cousins as incompetent
create chimerical devices assistants. Still, goblins take
or personalities, goblins pride in their work, and once
delight in building phys- one of the grump goblins
ical machinery. Nockers announce the fashion for
are pleased by creation, the current season in a
but goblins are masters particular season, they are
of destruction. They are eager to prove their (obviously
commensurate scavengers misunderstood) brilliance,
when they start to scrounge for even if it means destroying
materials, and are known for part of the local freehold in
their twisted applications of the process.
their skill at artifice. To them,
manufacturing mayhem is an
art form.
Appearance:
In human mien, many goblins
Weaponsmithing is one of resemble science nerds or geeky,
their specialties, although gob- collegiate types. They tend to be
lins will usually have a “fashion” shorter than is normal for most
for a current season, just as cloth- humans. In faerie mien, they
ing designers do. One season, are rarely over three-feet tall,
the fashion will be destructive with greenish or brownish
toys that capture the hearts of skin and pointy ears. Don’t
their owners before wounding trust them.
their owners; the next, “hard-
ware as weaponry” will be all
the rage. Affinity:
As is the case with Prop
most Thallain, Seelie have
difficulty distinguishing Birthrights:
them from their Unseelie • Mayhem — At the
Kithain cousins. Goblins beginning of each story, a
are deeply offended by this,

72 The Shadow Court

goblin can construct a physical device capable of Building insane contraptions from scratch is easy;
unleashing mayhem. The Dreaming will mask it fixing human inventions is difficult. They are
as a somewhat improbable device (“What the hell sometimes mistakenly referred to as “gremlins.” By
is that?”), but it will actually inflict real injury if spending a point of Glamour a goblin can cause any
wielded properly. Before the adventure is over, it mechanical device to malfunction, usually in the
will break down catastrophically, hopefully injuring most dangerous manner possible. The goblin need
the right people. Additional devices constructed only touch the device to successfully use this ability.
during the chapter will inflict less than three dice
of damage.
Creating a goblin device requires a roll of
Frailties:
• Destructive Flaw — Just as anything a nocker
Intelligence + Crafts, with a variable difficulty. creates will have a flaw, so will the creations of a
Jury-rigging or crafting a weapon that does 3 dice goblin. However, this flaw almost always has violent
of damage has a difficulty of 6; increase the diffi- and destructive results. Fools consider this to be typ-
culty by one for each extra damage die the device ical nocker incompetence, while wise fae mistrust all
is supposed to inflict. A number of goblins can pool Unseelie nockers to begin with. Goblins have been
their dice and use extended rolls to build larger known to make toys that maim and kill, furniture
and nastier devices — as long as no one makes a that injures its owner (“Have a seat, Duke”), and
mistake. (Any group of goblin apprentices worth explosives of such cunning and deviance that their
their salt can change the average Ford Pinto into a victims are stunned more by their ingenuity than by
war machine.) When the device eventually breaks their ability to inflict injury.
down, the number of successes on that first roll also
reveals the number of additional damage dice that
the device will inflict. Quote:
You will note that the harsh lines and structural
• Gremlin Urge — While nockers have the
rigidity of the explosive chamber is contrasted by the
ability to fix things, goblins have no such talent.
more rococo elements in the wiring of the detonation
device. What do you think, apprentice?
Heh, heh, heh, heh! Yeah! Yeah! Boom!

Chapter Four: Shadow Courtiers and Other Unseelie 73

 Ogres have no hope of redemption, and know how to hit it. They have the social graces of a
even worse, many of them are indistinguishable lecherous, drunken lout 10 minutes before the closing
from trolls. They are completely without honor, of a local bar, and in the presence of beautiful faeries,
and exploit the weak. They hunger for flesh, they have the drool to prove it. It’s still possible for an
and care little for where they obtain it. Violent ogre to be quick-witted, however. Once the punches
and ill-tempered, they are soon cast out from start flying, they can be absolute geniuses when it
freeholds if their true nature is divulged, even if comes to smashing things. They actually do have a
their identity isn’t. survival instinct, and can even muster the deviance
Notorious bullies, ogres only respect one thing: to impersonate trolls. They’re just mistaken by most
strength. Political strength as being really stupid trolls.
threatens them even more,
mainly because they don’t

74 The Shadow Court

 Allowing ogres to organize in their own cliques is
also considered to be a Very Bad Thing. Ogre leaders Affinity:
don’t stay in command for very long unless they’re Fae
very light sleepers and exceedingly good with whips
and chains. Without more intelligent (read: subtle) Birthrights:
fae to lead them, they’ll fall into fighting amongst • Smells Like Chicken! —The easiest thing for
themselves. an ogre to puzzle out is “who’s evil and who isn’t.”
Nonetheless, they do have talents that aid the They can smell Thallain before they see them and
Shadow Court, beside strength and skill in a fight — can tell the difference between a Seelie and an Un-
their heightened senses assist them in finding other seelie. With a successful roll of Perception + Kenning
Thallain. If a bogie has killed a dozen children over (difficulty 6), they also use a sort of “idiot-savant”
the last month, or if a sidhe noble is being seduced by ability to sense a person’s general emotional state. If
a Ganconer, an ogre has the best chance of finding successful this will give the ogre an advantage in any
it. For this reason, the Shadow Court shields the few situation (the ogre receive -1 to the difficulty in any
ogres in this world. opposed action involving the subject).
One other type of ogre is worth mentioning at • Strong As Oaks — Ogres get an additional
this point — the Ogre Hag. Double-crossing an ogre two dots of Strength during character creation, even
lieutenant is fairly easy, but fooling an Ogre Hag is if this puts them above a Strength of 5, and they can
nigh impossible. The closest human equivalent would never botch a Strength roll.
be a cross between the stereotypical mother-in-law,
any given mom on a really bad day, and the worst
grade-school teacher you’ve ever had. Unspeakably
Frailties:
• Dumb As Rocks — When creating an ogre,
hideous, yet preternaturally cunning, Hags demand
you must pay twice the normal cost to increase the
respect among ogres. They get it.
Intelligence Attribute, both when assigning Attribute
points and when spending freebie points. (Thus, when
Appearance: assigning Attribute points, you must pay two points
As mortals, these monsters actually do a fairly for each point of Intelligence you wish to add; and
good job at impersonating humans, albeit slovenly when spending freebies, you must spend 10 points
and crude ones. Childlings act like snot-nosed bul- to raise Intelligence a point.) This rule also applies
lies; wilders are typically thugs who’d find Beavis to raising Intelligence with Experience.
and Butthead intellectually stimulating; graybeards
tend toward pot-bellies and shaggy beards hiding
raw bits of meat. Once in faerie mien, they actually
Quote:
Now I smash you, little man….
weigh much heavier and might gain (or lose) six to
12 inches.

Chapter Four: Shadow Courtiers and Other Unseelie 75

New Background: • • • Pretender
You hold a title within the Seelie or Unseelie Court,
Prestige at least that of a knight or squire. This gives you one dot
in Title as well, but your position is a tenuous one. If it
Jacques de Molay, thou art avenged!
— allegedly heard after an execution during the ever gets out that you’re in the shadows, you’re done for,
French Revolution but because you’re so valuable, jammers and anarchists
generally will not mess with you. Your goal, of course,
The Shadow Court doesn’t recognize titles, but it is
is to use the information you have to bring down those
possible to gain Prestige within the court. Trying to hold
who are “above you” in station within the other courts.
on to power for too long is seen as asking for trouble, but
stepping down occasionally is often taken as a gesture of
humility. A courtier will probably not know who is more • • • • Mastermind
than one or two levels above her station, but she’d be Not everyone who plots and schemes has this back-
foolish to exploit anyone below her. ground, but Instigators come to you more often than
Prestige will not last longer than your compatriots. You belong to a secret
one year; if a changeling doesn’t get society of at least five others (a few
promoted at Samhain, he’ll lose samples are in Chapter Five), and
at least one level of Prestige for you trade favors freely. Through
the next year. In fact, since your connections, you also have
the court is always changing, an automatic three dots in
there is no guarantee that Resources. You also receive
this Prestige will last be- regular correspondence from
yond the first few sessions. others: at the beginning of
It is, though, the level of each session, the Storyteller
expertise you naturally will have a few choice bits
gravitate toward. Consider of dirt for you.
it your reputation.
•••••
• Condemned Instigator
You are firmly entrenched You recruit others into
in the court. Although you’ve the Shadow Court, although you
had your chance to return to your cannot condemn them without the
former life, you’ve forsaken it. You’re level-five Contempt Art: Condemnation.
eligible to learn the Dark Arts, and when You’re slowly learning more about the more
dealing with fae who have property or power, they’ll hidden secrets of the court. Representatives from (at
usually defer to you as a representative of your clique. If least) two cliques also fill you in regularly on their activities.
you don’t have this background, you’re just running with When you gather at least five Kithain in one place, any
a clique until you’re recognized and Condemned by an Perception-based roll to interpret your ceremonies is at a
Instigator or turn Seelie again. If you don’t (or can’t) take difficulty of +3. As you get more proficient, your talents
this during character creation, your Storyteller may award will improve. (This Background is used by Storytellers who
your character this first background point after you’ve want to play high-powered political games, not chronicles
been accepted and condemned or after you’ve (hopefully) about newly formed cliques!)
survived your first Samhain. If captured, you’ll take your own life to avoid divulging
secrets. If you fail to do this, other courtiers will either
• • Guardian rescue you or take your life anyway. (Have a nice afterlife.)
Within your territory, you watch over an important As an added bonus, you have the assistance of at least two
location. This might be a freehold, a city block or a place masterminds. Unfortunately, there are always Instigators
of economic importance. Perhaps you own a gun store more powerful than you.
or a basement large enough to cook up some chemicals. Give the cliques who consult with you a lot of slack.
No one messes with your turf, and you keep cliques You do not rule them. If, for a moment, you think you do,
well-equipped. the backlash is going to get nasty.

76 The Shadow Court

Chapter Four: Shadow Courtiers and Other Unseelie 77
78 The Shadow Court
 Chapter
Chapter Five:
Five: The
The Dark
Dark ArtsArts

Hunted by men in suits,

You have your reasons to hide.
Slapped by the safety net,
The truth they will provide.
You’re guilty... you’re guilty... you’re guilty...
Of murder in the first degree.
— Klute, “Guilty”

The Shadow Court has developed Arts that reflect

their violent, sinister and devious natures. The two Contempt
most-commonly learned Dark Arts — Contempt and Attribute: Wits
Delusion — are only available to members of the Shadow While Unseelie nobles have been known to use the
Court. This knowledge has been jealously guarded, and Sovereign Art, some have chosen instead on countering
typically a fae cannot learn these abilities until she has it with their knowledge of the Art of Contempt. Com-
been indoctrinated into the Shadow Court with a ritual moners within jamming and pretender cliques have also
involving the level five Contempt cantrip: Condemnation found it useful. There has been much debate over whether
(see below). Anyone can be recruited by the Shadow Court, commoners outside the Shadow Court should learn its
but only the most deviant and useful stay with them long intricacies, but for the nonce, only commoners in the
enough to learn these abilities. shadows practice it.
Use this knowledge wisely. It’s taken 600 years to
acquire it.

Chapter Five: The Dark Arts 79

• Mockery
Unseelie commoners and childlings often have dif-
ficulty disturbing austere court proceedings, but Unseelie
nobles and Shadow Court allies are able to work around such
limitations. Before a Seelie court begins, the seneschal or
chamberlain will cast the level one Seelie cantrip: Protocol
on the area where the proceedings are held. Unseelie who
know this cantrip can overcome protocol and “bend the
rules” to their will.
The Mockery cantrip is used as an opposed roll to the
session’s Protocol roll. Unseelie nobles who fail this are
bound by the strictures of the proceeding — as the seneschal
sees them, of course. Whispering to compatriots, speaking
out of turn, demanding the floor, grandstanding, or even
challenging others to immediate duels is unheard of. A
Shadow Court ally who overcomes Protocol will be able to
get away with such tactics, and the Seelie will most likely
believe that the interruption is perfectly proper. After all,
such behavior is expected of the Unseelie.
If the Mockery cantrip is cast on a proceeding of an
Unseelie Court, an effect similar to the Protocol cantrip
will occur. The leader of the meeting can make draconian
pronouncements without facing opposition, demand that
Kithain with conflicting interests settle their differences
with brawling and duels, attempt to browbeat Seelie
attendees into kneeling and kowtowing, and so on. A
more sinister variant of the normal protocols applies.
Such tactics, however, build resentment in the victims of
tyranny in much the same way as Seelie arrogance angers
the Shadow Court.
Realms:
You have many different choices as to how you will
interrupt proper etiquette and Protocol. Note that a fae
can only attempt one of these at the beginning of the
proceeding; any later in the proceedings, the attempt
will not work.
Actor — A mortal affected by Mockery will consider
the proceedings ridiculous. Even if Enchanted, she will
refuse to participate, and instead stands up for her own
rights. Note that everyone will know that someone in the
room is responsible for this.
Fae — A member of the Shadow Court is now free of
the oppressive nature of the Protocol cantrip.

80 The Shadow Court

 Nature — An animal will behave in a way that will one (mortal or fae) to revolt. Alternatively, if a noble is
disturb the proceedings. using an object to command Dictums, and you know what
Prop — Draconian nobles ban an object present at it is, you can nullify the effect.
the ceremonies from being used in what they see as an Scene — The setting of a Dictum no longer matters,
“inappropriate manner.” How dare they! If you’re successful, or an individual will become disobedient once he reaches
you may use the object as you see fit. a specified destination within the next 24 hours.
Scene — An aspect of the area where the proceedings
are held will create a disturbance (the lights will go out ••• Insolence
at just the right moment, the fireplace will burst into an Insolence can be used to inspire groups of people to
inferno, etc.). This is extremely useful when storming a riot. It’s useful at raves, rock concerts, labor negotiations,
courtroom. lynchings and other such entertaining gatherings. For
each success, one individual will be herded by the user
•• Disobedience into attacking something or someone else. (You can’t,
An individual affected by this cantrip will show a unfortunately, choose whom that will be!) Anyone affected
flagrant disregard for authority for one scene. It will not by this magic can attempt to resist by using Willpower
cause those effected to assault authority figures, but it may (difficulty 8).
result in physical acts of violence. Once-logical arguments This cantrip can also be used to negate Grandeur.
will seem shallow, and warnings or dictums against certain If a fae can overcome the effect of Grandeur by normal
courses of action will seem offensive. This can be resisted means, she can rally others against it. Only one Shadow
with an opposed Willpower roll. Court fae can attempt Insolence; if that individual fails,
If a noble is nearby, this Art can instead be used as a the others are on their own. For each success, the caster
counter to the level two Sovereign cantrip: Dictum. Un- lowers the difficulty for everyone else present to oppose
seelie nobles have been known to use Dictum, but usually Grandeur by one. If the shadow fae gets four successes,
prefer to use it only on so-called “Prodigals,” or members everyone in the area is immune to it — the remark or
of other races. It’s opposite, Disobedience, can be used to display was timed well enough to negate the commanding
inspire a commoner, mortal or animal (depending on the presence of the noble.
realm) to reject the Dictums of nobles. Before this com- Realms:
patriot has an audience (or a conversation) with a noble, Again, actor and fae are the most useful, but guessing
the Unseelie can give a few words of wisdom to bolster correctly with one of the other three can have surprising
his or her (or its) confidence. For each success, the user of consequences.
this cantrip lowers the difficulty of the disobedient one’s Actor — Mortals are no longer intimidated by au-
Willpower to resist Dictum by one. If the user gets four thority figures.
successes, the commoner is immune to commands for the Fae — Changelings and other enchanted creatures
duration of one scene. are incited to be insolent.
Since Shadow Court cliques are more prone to in- Nature — A herd of animals can be forced to stampede.
teracting with other supernatural races, this cantrip can Alternatively, if you can guess what a noble must touch
also be used to overcome some vampiric Disciplines (such in order to use Grandeur, you can overpower it.
as Presence) and particular werewolf Gifts that affect the
Prop — If used against Grandeur, the noble looks like
mind. This is at the Storyteller’s discretion.
a fool wielding such an obvious crutch. Anyone Kenning
Realms: is now aware of how dependent the noble is on the prop.
Of course, the actor and fae realms of this cantrip are It would be a shame if someone stole it later.
the most useful, but an inventive revolutionary can make Scene — A noble’s place of safety or a place associated
good use of the other three. with authority (e.g., police station, university) is no longer
Actor — A mortal becomes disobedient. quite as formidable. Let’s get ‘em.
Fae — A commoner is immune to pronouncements
and will feel disaffected. •••• Devil’s Advocate
Nature — An animal no longer answers the com- A Devil’s Advocate can use oratory to convince a
mands of its owner. crowd of just about anything — for one scene. Anyone
Prop — An object (such as the famed “bloody shirt”) who listens to a speech made with this cantrip must
that can be used as evidence of misdoing can inspire some-

Chapter Five: The Dark Arts 81

roll Willpower against a difficulty of the orator’s Wits that the changeling renounce her former bonds, condemn
+ Contempt. her to further Banality.
The cantrip also has a specific application. If an If an Instigator is present at any other ceremony
Unseelie is present as a Geas is being executed, he or secret gathering, he can shield the members of a
can use this cantrip to petition for a reexamination of conspiracy. Any who have not been Condemned will
the grievance before the Geas is performed. The Geas have difficulty understanding what is going on. All
cannot be prevented, but the noble enacting it can be Perception rolls are at +3 difficulty. If the Instigator can
asked to reconsider. The Geas will then be postponed attain five successes on a Condemnation roll, the details
until a later trial. of the ceremony will be cloaked in mystery. Witnesses
The Bunk is always more or less the same if the will have mental visions of metaphors of what is trans-
second application of this cantrip is used. The advocate piring, and later will probably think they were drugged,
must give a speech explaining why the subject should hallucinating or insane.
not be affected by the Geas. If the advocate scores more
successes than the noble enacting the Geas, the subject
is free. Even if it doesn’t work, though, the workings of
a Geas also allow a Willpower roll later (see the Geas
cantrip for more details).
Realms:
Actor and fae are the most direct appeals. The other
three only work as counters to a Geas if the noble is using
the same realm or if an item of the appropriate realm is
Delusion
Attribute: Manipulation
the subject of the oratory. The Mists themselves have been one of the most useful
allies the Shadow Court has. Unseelie changelings hide in
••••• Condemnation a fog of doubts and uncertainties, of half-truths and inse-
This is an unholy ritual of the Shadow Court. It is curities. Perhaps the world recognizes that there must be a
always used with elaborate ceremony, as it defines an indi- balance to all things, and hides what is necessary. Maybe the
vidual’s standing within the Shadow Court. At Samhain, world is too tainted with despair and suffering to allow the
only a few individuals, called Instigators, are considered innocent to witness the horror that is occulted there. True
worthy of learning this cantrip. knowledge is often as ephemeral as a dream, as elusive as a
At Samhain, Condemnation is used to declare new nightmare that is forgotten by the light of dawn.
titles of authority within the court, as well as to declare
whom the Instigators for the next year will be. Many of • Innocence
these ceremonies are protected by the Samhain Mists. Hiding secrets is a valuable ability. This talent is used
Some will only remember them within their subconscious to obscure them. It will counteract attempts at mindread-
minds, and others will forget them completely (for more ing, divination, or other abilities used to ascertain the
information, see Chapter Seven). truth about the activities of a now-“Innocent” Unseelie.
At other times of the year, Instigators can performs Remember, Glamour is capricious, so this Art is not
various ceremonies, such as recognizing a newly formed entirely foolproof.
clique, casting out a member of the Shadow Court and Note the number of successes attained when Inno-
subjecting his memories of it to the Mists, or recognizing cence is cast. Regardless of what Art or talent is being
a changeling as worthy of learning the Dark Arts. This used, anyone who wishes to pry into this secret with
“high priest” of sorts always appears in a mystical disguise. magical means must first overcome these successes. The
The ceremony of Condemnation is performed with duration is one day, so Shadow Court fae who “live lies”
energetic ritual. The fae who wishes to be fully accepted often practice their Bunks for this ability at the same time
into the court must renounce his former ties of allegiance. each day. This ability also interferes with House Gwydion’s
An Instigator must gather information about what the ability to see through lies.
fae must condemn. The recruit insults former loved ones Realms:
or authority figures, and pictures and portraits of rivals Actor — Knowledge of a mortal is hidden.
are spat upon and burned. Devious Instigators will even Fae — Information about a commoner or member of
uncover a petitioner’s former oaths, and, by demanding the Shadow Court is protected.

82 The Shadow Court

 Nature — Secrets concerning a beast (or beastie)
are protected.
Prop — The location of an object is hidden. Nursemaiding
Scene — I don’t know what you’re looking for, but The Facade cantrip has another useful applica-
you won’t find it here, fool. tion, a historical one. In grim fairy tales, changelings
have been known to abduct young children or
•• Facade beautiful lovers and place mischievous fae in their
place. The legend is based on fact, and the practice
This cantrip is used to disguise one’s appearance. You
is currently called “Nursemaiding.” When a clique
must use a mask, veil, cloak, make-up or some other method
notices someone who might be useful, entertaining
of obscuring your appearance to enact this cantrip, and
or invigorating, they might find a faerie to take his
the Facade will fade over time. This is overly elaborate if
or her place who looks vaguely like their prey. The
you want to impersonate someone for five minutes, but
Facade cantrip makes this easier.
it’s quite useful if you’re on the run or infiltrating a court.
Once the convert has been abducted and En-
Erecting a Facade requires two steps. First, the Kithain
chanted, the changeling hiding behind the mortal
must perform a Bunk that disguises her appearance.
Facade will have a chance to either raise a little hell
Manipulation + Subterfuge (difficulty 7) determines the
or act all angelic before disappearing. Children do
ingenuity of the disguise. Next, the changeling performs
disappear, after all, just as beautiful young women
a ritual to hide her true identity. This costs three points
run off with absolute assholes, and strapping young
of Glamour, but it lasts a long time. For each level the
lads allegedly run off to “find themselves.” Under the
character has in Delusion, add an additional success to the
care of their Nursemaids, infants suck at the teats
disguise. If you attain more than 10 success, the disguise
of Ogre Hags, lusty maids receive proper education,
will be impenetrable for one week before it begins to fade.
and young men learn secrets that will haunt them
(In other words, attaining more than five successes on your
later in their darkest nightmares. If they’re lucky,
first roll can be most efficacious.)
they’ll “find their way back” after they’ve been
Even the best Facades slowly erode. This cantrip can ravished or Ravaged. If they’re unlucky, well, we’ll
be maintained one day for each success; each day, the hope that whatever misfortune they found was of
number of successes is reduced by one. Someone must their own choosing.
suspect that you are in disguise before he can see through
the Facade. Once he suspects, a simple Perception-based
roll (difficulty 7) will suffice (e.g., Perception + Intuition, ••• The Mists of Memory
Perception + Subterfuge — this is the Storyteller’s call).
The Mists do not always carry the moral objectivity
One such roll can be attempted each day. If he gets more
that the Seelie would like them, too. A disreputable fae
successes than you do, your cover is blown. Members of
may manipulate them to cloud the minds of others. The
House Gwydion get a -1 difficulty to this roll. You cannot
roll is always Wits + Realm (difficulty of the subject’s
enact the same Facade twice.
Willpower). Some individuals have special talents or
Realms: abilities to resist this. The depth of this magical effect
Actor — You can disguise an enchanted mortal. depends on the number of successes.
Fae — You can disguise yourself if you are a commoner One success = what was said during the last scene
or a member of the Shadow Court. Two successes = the events of the last scene
Nature — Helpful if you really need to disguise a plant Three successes = the events of the last hour
or animal, otherwise it’s pretty damn useless. More than
Four successes = the events of the last day
one horse thief has found it handy, though.
Five successes = any one memory
Prop — You can erect a facade for a noble, but only if
you give him an additional, visible prop to help him “get There are five things this Dark Art and the following
into character.” Maybe it’s a walking-stick or a distinctive Art cannot overcome: the loyalty of a troll, the chivalry
hat. As long as he keeps the prop, the Facade works. of a sidhe, an oath, a geas, or true love.
Scene — A noble can use Facade on himself, but Realms:
only if he stays within a certain area, such as a city block Actor — This either concerns or affects a mortal,
or within the walls of a castle. As long as he doesn’t leave enchanted or otherwise.
the area, it will even work in the bedroom. Fae — This either concerns or affects a changeling.

Chapter Five: The Dark Arts 83

 Nature — Could have been a puppy, could have been Realms:
a horse. I’m not sure. The different Realms add a number of intriguing
Prop — I think I saw it somewhere. No, I’ve never variations.
seen it. Actor — This can be used against a mortal, enchanted
Scene — Never been there. Never done that. or otherwise.
Fae — This can be used against a commoner. If you
•••• The Depths of Will want to affect a noble, you’ll need the prop or scene realm.
Although difficult to enact, fae with this Art can Nature — This involves an animal used in the mis-
convince one willing listener to undertake an enterprise sion. Hope someone knows how to handle the animal
that is not directly harmful, and then forget about that in question.
activity afterward. (“You must take this to the duke. It’s Prop — This involves an object a commoner or noble
important.”) In addition to any other Bunk used, the can- will use in completing the mission.
trip must also involve an explanation of why the activity Scene — This describes the destination of the
is important. The explanation does not need to be true. mission.
This explanation usually takes one scene.
If the listener is willing to obey, he or she will then ••••• The Darkest Heart
undertake the activity. If the listener wants to resist, he This is an oath as serious as a geas. Powerful court-
or she must roll against Willpower (difficulty 7, resisted iers undertake it of their own free will; weak Seelie
by the Art + Realm roll for this cantrip) or burn a point are recruited, condemned, and sent on this quest by a
of Willpower to do so. Once the activity is performed, ritualist or an Instigator. This quest requires a co-con-
the Mists will erase all memory of the enterprise from the spirator who knows the cantrip of the Darkest Heart.
participant’s mind. When a changeling has performed an act — willingly,

84 The Shadow Court

unwillingly or unwittingly — that she later regrets, she There is a legend of a Seelie sidhe who felt such great
may come to terms with the memory by hiding it in the guilt over the last 600 years and the advent of the Ac-
darkest depths of her heart. She cannot speak of it until cordance War, that he undertook this quest and became
her quest is over, and the memory of the act is hidden. Unseelie. The Instigator also directed a clique against
This quest lasts for one full year and cannot be lifted at this noble over the next year. The sidhe overthrew his
any time other than Samhain. tyrannical Seelie brother, traveled into the Realms of
The fae undergoing this quest will descend further the Dead (because he had condemned his darkest rival
into her Unseelie Legacy, but with one reservation: She to undergo a Geas there) and returned, led an assault
will retain her memories and feelings about that one against a Black Spiral Dancer Hive, and built a freehold
incident, and they can’t be taken away from her. Only in its place. No one knows the end to the story, because
the sin or transgression that drove her to undertake the it is alleged that the sidhe is still on this quest, and will
quest will compel her. If she repeats that sin, she gains be until the end of the world.
a permanent point of Banality and the quest is over. As Realms:
long as she doesn’t violate that stricture, she can try to In addition to this, the fae must undertake a Ban that
perform a penitent act to atone for what she has done. involves an aspect of her quest.
She must then confess the act to an Instigator; until that Actor — Harming a mortal involved in the trans-
time, she is under a self-inflicted Ban which corresponds gression is forbidden.
to the Realm involved. Fae — Harming a changeling involved in the trans-
Her true self is hidden away. She may never speak of gression is forbidden.
the sin or transgression until the next Samhain, at which Nature — Harming a type of animal involved in the
point she will speak of what she has done to atone. At transgression is forbidden.
least one Instigator (preferably the one who recruited her)
Prop — The penitent one may not use one of the
must witness this. If she succeeds, she will lose a permanent
objects used in the transgression.
point of Banality as her heart is lessened by the burden
of guilt. She is forgiven. If she fails, she is condemned to Scene — The penitent one exiles herself from the
her Unseelie Legacy for another year and must try again. locale where the transgression was committed.

Chapter Five: The Dark Arts 85

86 The Shadow Court
 Book
Book Two:
Two:
Chapter Six:
Chapter Six:
Storytelling
Storytelling
The music says “rise!” It says “kill!” Why blame it on
me? I didn’t write the music!
— Charles Manson

Building a chronicle for Unseelie characters requires a addressed. Troupes whose players are focused on long-term
balance between short-term concerns and long-term goals. character development will also need guidance through
In the short term, there are issues involving mechanics the intricacies of the Pageant. And of course, not every
and technique. It isn’t easy to balance scenes that involve troupe will stay Unseelie forever, so some prefer to stick
Ravaging and violence against stories fraught with intrigue to Shadow Court adventures as “one shots.” However
and adventure. In the long term, the troupe also has to you want to play it, from gray to pitch black, the night
consider where the characters are headed. Is your story an will remain as dark.
epic about a hero who’s fallen from grace, or is it a chance
for your otherwise-noble characters to act like absolute
bastards for a few sessions?
Epiphanies
Revolution and rebellion can be forces of change,
To assist you with your technique, this chapter includes
but when they run out of control, the result is chaos and
some rules clarifications and suggestions for “dimming the
suffering. Unseelie fae embody change, and the most re-
lights” in your Unseelie chronicles. Epiphanies are partic-
bellious of them unleash it wherever they go. Their world
ularly difficult to execute in Changeling, and fine-tuning
is a world without boundaries, without restraints, without
them for Unseelie characters takes a bit of practice. Another
censorship, and without oppression. They are the true
complication is inherent in customizing Bunks for darker
anarchists, for wherever order is built up, they will tear it
types of stories. Since the types of rules your troupe will
down. Wherever there is a weakness to be exploited, they
use will affect the moods of the stories you tell, developing
will find it and use it to their advantage, all in the name of
these two Storytelling skills will expand your repertoire.
liberating what they hold dear. Even if this brings Banality
Once the short-term concerns are resolved, building into the world, it furthers their own power.
the structure of your stories becomes somewhat easier.
Bringing the force of change into the world is part
Shadow Court chronicles, like any other, are as long
of the Glamour of their lives, and it supplies them with
as you want to make them. For players who want to
their eminent magical energy. The simple applications of
undertake epics, the subject of “snapshot” chronicles is

Chapter Six: Storytelling 87

Ravaging are rather straightforward, but for Storytellers In modern times, this pact has become somewhat
who prefer more detail in their chronicles, more elaborate darker. The strength of Banality has grown in the world,
mechanisms are included. and spreading it more rapidly brings the onset of Endless
Winter. In these final days, an Unseelie can actually gain
Ravaging: The Simple Method Glamour by giving a mortal Banality. After all, most mor-
An Unseelie can Ravage successfully once each day tals find it easier to deal with winter once they’ve become
without too much risk. The simplest approach for this is acclimated to it. When Endless Winter arrives, all of the
to allow each player to make one Ravaging roll for each Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve will be prepared, and
day of game time. Abstracting this part of the story makes none of them will know the difference...or care.
concentrating on the main plot much simpler. The most straightforward Ravaging technique is a simple
If an Unseelie has “hunted” successfully that day, she psychic assault, which is easy to enact once the Unseelie has
shouldn’t be allowed to Ravage further without some roleplay- developed a relationship (of some variety) with the mortal.
ing. In addition, flooding a changeling’s soul with too much The actual psychic act is usually performed in private, and it
Glamour brings her closer to madness and increases her risk ultimately has a detrimental affect on the individual. Brief
of falling into Bedlam. For each successful Ravaging roll after social contact between the predator and the prey is all that
the first, a character is brought one step closer to Bedlam. is required. This can be as tame as an intimate conversation
The first success will have no effect other than bestowing or as involved as an evening of wild sex. Some destructive
Glamour. The second success will take the fae immediately relationships have been known to become more elaborate.
to the first stage of Bedlam. If the fae is already in the first Tragic love affairs, false tutelage, economic exploitation and
stage, she stays there. If the fae successfully Ravages a third hostile confrontations are all examples.
time that day, or if she successfully “hunts” within 24 hours
of hitting the second stage, the full effects of Bedlam begin. Storytelling Ravaging
Unseelie have been known to give in to self-destructive The Ravaging roll doesn’t have to take more than a
epiphanies, and when they do, they often take innocent few minutes of game time, but there are several ways to
mortals down with them. The Shadow Court has little expand upon these opportunities as parts of a chronicle.
objection to this as long as the fae doesn’t reveal her true The first is to have a cast of mortals who are frequently
alliances, but Kithain who Ravage too freely are sometimes visited by the Unseelie. Members of the clique have both
accused of belonging to the shadows. positive and negative influences on the lives of these people.
Storytellers who like to build scenes around “hunting” They pay the most immediate price for the crusade that
are welcome to use the expanded rules listed below. To the Unseelie lead.
begin with, Unseelie will often have a highly developed If a character has the Dreamer Background, the play-
method of Ravaging known as an Emotional Threshold. er may choose to describe a few of these regular victims
Fae don’t have to use such methods to successfully stalk during character creation. They don’t have to be artists;
their victims, but if they do, their final Ravaging roll is any mortal will do. Visits with these individuals become
at a -1 difficulty. ongoing subplots. Over the course of a chronicle, particu-
Note: An Unseelie can spread chaos and despair as much larly sadistic players may watch these mortals’ lives degrade.
as he likes, but the player specifies when the character is actually The esteem of the Ravager improves, but her victim pays
attempting to Ravage. She can limit her die rolls, but doesn’t the price. Squeamish players may prefer, however, to just
have to limit her fun. Even if the plan succeeds brilliantly, the go off and “hunt” immediately after a session, and consider
character may only pick up a few points of Glamour, but acting the details of how they do it irrelevant.
out the role of a force of chaos is more important. Characters who are on the move don’t have the luxury
of being able to visit the same mortals repeatedly. If this
Psychic Assault is the case, the Storyteller may have to weave a few more
Ravaging works like a dark pact. It gives an Unseelie “Ravaging scenes” into each session. The player and Sto-
power, but there must be sacrifice involved. In the crudest ryteller briefly describe transactions in which the character
of these rituals, this involves destroying a mortal’s life. interacts with a mortal to the mortal’s detriment. If this
The practice goes back over 600 years — back to when becomes tedious or tiresome, then this is easily abstracted
the division between the Seelie and Unseelie Courts was into a dice roll each session, but the Storyteller always has
clearer. In those times, Unseelie preyed upon humanity, the prerogative of throwing in a Ravaging scene when she
furthering their own power by bringing about suffering and feels the pacing of the story requires it.
destruction. After all, such things brought about change.

88 The Shadow Court

Ravaging Thresholds roleplay an emotional scene based on a particular goal.
Remember, if you choose this route, this involves extensive
Psychic assault is the easiest method of Ravaging, but roleplaying. If the Storyteller feels like a Ravaging scene
some changelings have more exotic tastes. Storytellers has no emotional strength, she shouldn’t ask for the final
who want to add a bit of detail to these scenes can allow Ravaging roll. Using this method, for instance, if a character
characters to specialize in particular methods. The act itself with the Create Anger Threshold attacks a random stranger,
centers around a certain emotion that relates to Banality. and he rolls to hit three times and says, “I’m angry! I’m angry!
An Unseelie’s specialty will often be the result of her own And he hates me!,” the Storyteller has every right to say,
emotional trauma (e.g., lost love, violent punishment or “I’m afraid that won’t work.” Instead, a wilder lover might
prolonged poverty.) There are two ways to implement tell her mortal prey about her latest infidelity, or a graybeard
this; Emotional Thresholds help either one. A character employer might announce the latest company layoffs.
can still Ravage without the Threshold, but he’ll probably In either case, the ultimate goal is to flood a mortal
get a little more Glamour if he crosses it. with Banality. This involves exploring the facets of what
The first approach is the story-driven method. These this force is and how you and your troupe choose to define
goals are used as simple plot devices integrated into the main it. Although the characters are destructive, the players
plot. Each changeling chooses her “prey” for that story, and have a chance to discuss how Banality is recognized and
as long as the character succeeds in her goal for that session, spread. Thus, creation once again comes from destruction.
she gains Glamour at the end of it. Acting out the Ravaging Players should choose one Ravaging Threshold for
scenes then becomes incidental. This works more along the their characters during character creation. No character
lines of a subplot than a dramatic interlude. As long as the can ever have more than one Ravaging Threshold, though
story’s conditions are met, the Ravaging succeeds. a character who begins the chronicle without one may
The second approach is the (somewhat more difficult) attain one, or a character’s Threshold can change during
dramatic method. The point of the Ravaging scene is to the course of a chronicle.

Ravaging Thresholds
Exhaust Creativity: The character delights in exploiting others or is contemptuous of the talents of those who are more
creative than he is. He employs others to create for him, but ultimately, this art is corrupted, buried or wasted. The dreamer
then burns out, wondering why he wasted his time on such frivolity. The emotional version of this Ravaging involves berating
someone’s creative accomplishments.
Destroy Hope: The character is somewhat fatalistic and Ravages by destroying hope. This might involve watching over
someone in a hopeless circumstance who is ready to give up fighting. The predator regularly convinces or talks the mortal out of
taking action to improve his or her life. The emotional version of this involves encouraging fatalism and destroying self-esteem.
Destroy Love: The character no longer has illusions of love, and she gains strength from preventing others from finding
it or trusting in it. She’ll often have a repertoire of techniques for “breaking people up,” such as seducing someone’s significant
other, providing photographic evidence (real or fabricated) of infidelity, sending flowers with a note that only says “good-bye...”
and so on. As long as the prey’s attempts to fall in love fail, the Ravaging works. The emotional version of this might actually
involve acting out a romance that’s gone awry.
Create Anger: You pride yourself on maintaining your composure, and thus delight in driving others to anger. By wearing
down an individual’s self-control, you ultimately drive him toward self-destructive acts of violence. The emotional version of
this is not recommended unless your players enjoy yelling at each other.
Break Trust: You must break the trust that exists between two people. You’ve had your trust broken, and now others must
suffer as you have. Your prey will ultimately trust no one, becoming isolated from the world. Masterminds and Instigators sometimes
do this on a grand scale. The emotional version of this would involve acting out a scene in which a violation of trust is revealed.
Exploit Dependence: You pride yourself on your self-sufficiency, and you flaunt it by making someone else dependent on you. This
might be a neglected child, a teenager you supply with a steady supply of cheap video games and bad food, or a kept lover who worries
about satisfying your needs. You are slowly destroying someone who is dependent on you, and as she wastes away, you feel more fulfilled.
An emotional version of this involves lying to your charge and explaining how she must remain in the safe haven you have created for her.
Destroy Illusions: You’re jaded, and the sight of anyone who is still innocent disgusts you. This type of Ravaging is easiest
to enact with childling characters, who have been known to get “good kids” in trouble and discourage the activities of servants
of both Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. The emotional version involves revelation of a harsh truth.
Inventive players and Storytellers are encouraged to come up with additional Thresholds. In the process, the troupe
defines Banality more thoroughly.

Chapter Six: Storytelling 89

 Ravaging Locations
I was the third brother of five,
Doing whatever I had to do to survive.
I’m not saying what I did was all right.
Trying to get out of the ghetto was a hell of a fight.
— Bobby Womack, “Across 110th St.”
Sometimes a clique will repeatedly stalk in the same “hunting ground,” and the effect on the people who frequent that
area will in turn have an effect on the neighborhood in which they live. There are also Ravagers who can drain the Glamour
from an urban area itself, increasing its decay and entropy. Regardless of which of these methods is used, either one can have
drastic side effects on a location.
Ravaging an urban location involves slowly destroying it. If you do this correctly, you contribute to a number of factors:
the crime rate begins to rise, vandalism is more common, destructive drug use and the drug rate escalates, the amount of trash
proliferates, the police response rate goes down, and so on. Ravagers who despoil urban locations (that is, those who use the
Scene Realm) can try to directly increase the occurrence of such events. They’ll make up whatever rationale is necessary to
justify vandalism, crime and anarchy.
Ravaging more than three people a week in the same neighborhood will also start to have an effect on that locale. How much
the Storyteller wants to play this up is a judgment call, but it will be compounded by Ravagers who are despoiling the area directly.
Insidious Shadow Court cliques will actually Ravage a neighborhood to strike at the influential individuals or occult forces
that own or manipulate the area. If a rich fat-cat is making a fortune off the supermarket down the street where he’s jacked
up all the prices, for instance, he needs a few robberies to force him out of business. Maybe someone else will sell their goods
cheaper next time. If a Ventrue vampire is gaining influence by controlling the local businesses, hurting the neighborhood
indirectly harms the undead crimelord controlling it.
Even more insidious cliques will encourage supernatural activity this way. If an Unseelie sluagh wants to help restore a
wraith haunt, spreading a little entropy will encourage the spirits of entropy to come back. The consequences may be a little
different from what the group expected, but that’s a chance that has to be taken in some circumstances. Unseelie value chaos,
but the side effects of such tactics are not easily controlled.
Note that if the Ravaging in a neighborhood is getting out of control, other supernatural races may be able to tell that
something magical is going on. Mages with Entropy Sight, wraiths with Deathsight, Malkavians with Auspex, and the Silent
Striders with Spirit Sight are all good candidates. None of them, however, will find it terribly obvious that pissed-off Unseelie
changelings are the culprits. The easiest way to stop Unseelie is to catch them red-handed raising hell in your part of town.

Rhapsody destructive ritual. For each success attained in creating

the work, a Seelie can gain one point of Glamour or an
The last variety of Unseelie epiphany is strictly forbid- Unseelie can gain two. Members of House Leanhun are
den by the Kithain. A changeling can imbue a mortal with the most entertained by these works of art — they can
so much raw Glamour that she burns out her creativity in gain three points of Glamour for each success.
one final glorious burst of creation. The artist or dreamer Working Rhapsody to create art, however, is strictly
will create one last masterpiece, burning out completely illegal in Kithain society and heavily punished. In the
in the process. real world, the price is even more costly. For the artist,
This requires the expenditure of one to five points of the end result is a life as a despondent, suicidal wreck. She
Glamour. It’s easiest if several members of a clique par- will never be able to create anything worthy of note ever
ticipate. The mortal makes a Manipulation + Expression again. Some artists are driven to self-destruction by this
(or other appropriate roll) and adds one success for each thought. Her works of art are sometimes given to Seelie
point of Glamour. The end result cannot be more than nobles as gifts. The artists are presented later.
10 successes.
The resulting work of art will then have Glamour
within it (it is considered a special form of dross). When
the work is destroyed, the Glamour will be released.
Unseelie Bunks
Although Changeling can be a game of many moods,
Divide the number of successes attained when the work one of the most difficult aspects of running an adventure
was created among the changelings participating in the with a darker mood and atmosphere — such as a Shadow

90 The Shadow Court

Court adventure — is finding appropriate Bunks for your and how much the player is re-creating. How, exactly,
players. For instance, a skillful Storyteller might spend 10 do you make a bag of chicken bones and burn it in front
or 15 minutes setting up a tense scene in which a pack of of someone? Can you use a level five Wayfare Art if you
redcaps are stalking the King of Pacifica, but if he has to don’t have a geode or a broadsword handy? The Bunks
ask the leader to stuff three Krispy Kreme doughnuts in listed here add an extra level of difficulty: Some of them
his mouth right before everyone’s combat Bunks go off, are too reckless to be fully re-created in a living room or
the effect of the story can be lost. Unseelie live a little (God forbid) the open gaming room of a convention. To
differently. compensate for this, there are methods for making your
Bunks will always seem a little silly, but it is possible sessions safer and saner.
to compensate for this. Different Storytellers tailor the If a Bunk is easy to re-create, both the player and the
Bunk rules to their particular troupes. Some Storytellers character can enact it in the same way. For instance, if the
like to use the lists of Bunks as guidelines, inventing new character is required to throw rose petals in the air, and the
Bunks on the spot — after all, no list is absolute. More player just happens to be sitting at the gaming table with
sinister Storytellers prefer to let the other players make a rose in her teeth, re-creating the Bunk is quite easy. In
suggestions of what a particular Bunk might be, particu- the game, the character showers someone in rose petals;
larly if a cantrip is being used in an unusual way. Both of in the real world, the player does exactly the same thing.
these approaches are recommended for Shadow Court Unfortunately, such synchronicity between game and
games, since they help tailor Bunks to be appropriate for life is usually pretty rare. If a player is required to “eat the
the scenes in which they’re used. wax of a candle that has burned for seven days,” finding the
appropriate “material components” to enact the Bunk can
Re-creating Bunks in the Real World be awkward in the extreme. In this case, the troupe might
Achieving a mood of realism in a dark game is admi- have props handy to represent the materials required. For
rable, but some players have been known to get confused instance, if the Pricking of My Thumbs Bunk requires you
over how much of a Bunk the character is performing
Chapter Six: Storytelling 91
to prick your finger and spill blood on the floor, stabbing •• Erasure: Draw a picture of the target of your Bunk
an orange with a pen or holding a tube of fake blood in and erase part of it.
your hand would be saner. ••• Poetic Justice: Write a short stanza about your
The ingenuity here lies in finding clever props and victim’s misfortune.
using them in ways that don’t seem overly silly. Even if the •••• Condemnation: Crawl around the room whis-
effect is not quite what you intend, a resourceful alterna- pering the horrid fate you wish for your enemy.
tive is much better than accidentally setting fire to your ••••• The Stolen Kiss: Kiss the hand or cheek of the
living room or suffering blood loss. If the props are well person sitting next to you.
chosen, the Storyteller may allow an additional success
(just as if the character had used a point of Willpower)
for the cantrip.
If you don’t have adequate props, or if a Bunk is too
dangerous to reenact (“You want me to set fire to what?!?”),
a player may always choose to mime a Bunk instead of
actually acting it out. If the enactment of the Bunk is
impressive enough to warrant a standing ovation, increase
the number of successes by one. Simple, yes? Good. Now
Legerdemain
• Grasping Hand: Crush something in your grasp.*
put down that broadsword.
•• Puppet: Dangle something on a string.
Bunks and Combat ••• Unctuous Habit: Caress your left hand with your
One last complication involves the use of Bunks in right, twirl your mustache, or carry an animal on
combat. Some Bunks are just too elaborate to pull off during your shoulder.
a fight. To this end, a number of Bunks specifically useful (Alternative: A stuffed animal will suffice.)
during combat have been included. These are marked with •••• Sticky Fingers: Pour honey over your fingers. *
asterisks. A Combat Bunk can be performed during the (Alternative: Use soda instead.)
same turn as another action. If the dice system is used, ••••• By the Pricking of My Thumbs: Draw blood from
divide the Dice Pool between the roll for the Bunk and your fingertip and leave three drops of it on the
the roll for the attack or dodge. If the card system is used, ground. *
subtract the number of successes for the Bunk from the (Alternative: Squeeze the juice out of something.)
Dice Pool. Otherwise, assume that a character can perform
a combative version of the Bunk in one turn, and that any
attacks will have to wait until the following turn.
Strength of Will: If a character is attacked while using
a Bunk, and that character does not have dice available
for a dodge, roll Willpower. If the number of successes on
that roll exceeds the amount of damage taken, the Bunk
still succeeds. Primal
• Burn, Baby, Burn: Set fire to something.
Arts and Bunks •• Lick It: Lick something lasciviously. *
Without further ado, here is a set of Bunks to get •• Primitive Instinct: Pound on something like a
you started: drum and chant. *
••• Leave Me Alone!: Stare psychotically and growl
at another person in the game for 30 seconds.
•••• Shatterstorm: Break a glass bottle. *
••••• Defacement: Change a picture of one thing into
a picture of something else.

Chicanery
• Veiled in Darkness: Draw a black cloth over
someone’s eyes.

92 The Shadow Court

Soothsay Wayfare
• Condescend: Pat someone on the head. * • Earthquake: Jump off your chair onto the floor. *
•• Shattered Visage: Draw a picture of someone and •• Flash!: Emit a bright burst of light by a method of
tear it up. your choice. *
(Alternative: Just pace for three minutes. It drives (Alternative: Use flash paper or gradually dim
gamers crazy.) the lights in the room throughout the course of
••• Ambient Aroma: Burn a stick of incense. the story and then suddenly turn them up to their
•••• Tides of Time: Quaff all of a large drink without brightest.)
taking a breath. ••• Fire, Walk with Me: Leap through flame.
(Alternative: Hold your breath for 30 seconds, or (Alternatives: Dangle a miniature of your char-
down a 12-ounce soda in one gulp.) acter over a cigarette lighter, or leap over people
••••• Taroticum: Give a Tarot reading. lying on the floor.)
(Alternative: Pretend to give a Tarot reading.) •••• Immolate: Draw a picture of where you’re stand-
ing, then burn it.
••••• Flashing Blades: Slash two blades together, as if
sharpening them. *
(Alternatives: Use butter knives, chopsticks or
pencils.)
••••• Paper Chase: Chase an innocent bystander
around the room. (Alternatives: Chase someone
Sovereign who is watching the game, but not participating,
• Crack the Whip: Make the sound of a whip around the room.)
cracking. *
•• Attention: Clap your hands three times and
whisper your request.
••• The Battered Childling: Mutilate a doll.
•••• Entrance Denied: Seal the door that leads into
the room you’re occupying.
(Alternative: Use tape or stack chairs.) Contempt
••••• Soliloquy: You’ve got the stage for three entire • I Know My Rights: Make a flag and burn it.
minutes. Stand before a crowd and explain why •• Prodigious Digit: Extend your middle finger.
you’re such a bastard. ••• Power to the People: Get at least five people to
(Alternative: Stand on your chair and declaim, chant a slogan.
or turn out the lights, stand in a spotlight, and •••• Approach the Bench: Make a mockery of a
give your pitch.) courtroom scene.
••••• Indoctrination: Lead a procession with chanting
and candles.

Chapter Six: Storytelling 93

 Antagonism 101
Any fairy tale has a villain. No two Unseelie are
exactly the same, but whether you’re telling a story
about a nine-year-old kid who dips the pigtails of little
girls in glue or a mastermind who’d burn down a city
Delusion block to inconvenience a rival, all adversaries have
• Poker Face: Beam at someone innocently. one thing in common: they have a reason for doing
•• Grand Masque: Hide behind a mask or veil. what they do. The better the villain’s motivation
••• Tale of Woe: Make up a tragic tale to gain is, the better the story becomes. Ogres aside, “evil”
someone’s pity and complicity. does not mean “stupid.”
•••• Rationale: Explain why your request is absolutely In physics, an object in motion will stay in
necessary. motion until acted upon by another force. The same
••••• Confession: Kneel and confess your transgres- applies in drama. Regardless of whether you portray
sions before another fae. a protagonist or antagonist, the character will have
goals and pursue them unless someone opposes
The Final Option her. The character requires a motivation for doing
Of course, if you still think acting out Bunks in your this. If it’s a good reason, the story makes sense; if
game is inappropriate for your adventure, you can, as al- the antagonist’s actions are just an obstacle for the
ways, feel free to drop the reenactments from your game. hero, the story is weak. Make sure you can justify
Your characters can still use Bunks in the story even if your adversaries.
your players don’t in real life. The real judge of whether
a Bunk succeeds, then, is how well the players can incor-
porate describing a Bunk into a story. If you’re too serious Snapshots
for this sort thing, then tell the story well, and leave the It’s possible to portray the evolution of a character
games of Simon Says to another troupe. over time without running a game every day for the next
few months. Epic adventures often work best if you let a
Shadow Court lot of downtime pass between sessions. Staying focused
on a long-term structure by using “snapshots” develops
Chronicle Structures the story as a whole, tearing us away from a chronicle
structure where we follow the characters from day to day.
So what are you going to do with this hefty book,
anyway? The Shadow Court gives us quite a few avenues For instance, suppose we want to base a chronicle on
of exploration for Changeling chronicles. From their point a Seelie sidhe who has lost his true love and fallen into
of view, they’re heroes; from the viewpoint of any other the Shadow Court. We’d like to see how he grows over
campaign in this game, they’re potential antagonists. the course of a year, and in the end, he’ll either fulfill his
Recruit or oppose — the choice is yours. Unseelie Legacy, find redemption, or be destroyed. Along
If you choose to recruit, the structure of your chronicle the way, other Unseelie (that is, other characters) will aid
depends on how long you want to be. Snapshot chronicles him on his “Villain’s Journey.” Short of sitting down and
help you develop elaborate ideas, one-shots work for re- writing a five-volume fantasy series, how are we going to
ally brief ideas, and adversary troupe chronicles develop pull it off?
more complex ideas. If your players are really attached First, get a rough idea of how long the chronicle is
to their characters and prefer long-term campaigns, the going to last. Do your players want to leave it open-ended?
mythic structure of the Hero’s Journey is an excellent way If so, the same amount of time — say, one week or one
to explore character development with greater nuance, month — can pass between each session. The goal for each
as long as you add in a few special touches for Unseelie session would be to tell a full adventure each afternoon,
characters. Plan out your structure now. You’ll reap the leaving enough time at the end for the players to explain
rewards later. what their characters will do between adventures. The
drawback with this structure, however, is that we may
never get to a satisfying resolution.

94 The Shadow Court

 If the chronicle has a finite number of sessions, we
can plan out what times of the year the next few chap-
ters will take place. This plays off one of the strengths of
Changeling: We’ve got a detailed calendar for Kithain
society. In this example, we might set up a session focused
on Samhain, a three-session chapter set around New Year’s
Eve, a political session that takes place during Beltaine,
and a very dangerous mission set during Midsummer that
will take at least two sessions. That’s seven afternoons of
gaming so far.
Since we want to have a resolution to test the leader
of the clique after all he’s been through, let’s set the last
session during Samhain again. Either the character has
learned from his journey (and resumes his Seelie life as he
pursues his Seelie Legacy) or he’s failed (and is condemned
to live out his Unseelie life, shut out from his higher ideals).
There are other possibilities, of course; he may decide that
being Unseelie is more truthful than being Seelie; he may
have messed up so badly that he’s sacrificed; the members
of his clique become Seelie and he doesn’t, and so on. We
don’t need to describe every detail every step of the way,
but by taking snapshots during different times of the year,
we can guess where he’s headed.
Of course, a snapshot chronicle doesn’t have to end
once the resolution is complete. We’ve still got a troupe
of characters, and we can shift the focus for the next
chronicle. Perhaps two of them fall in love and have their
passion tested by the interference of an Instigator. Maybe
the rest of the clique decides to set up one of the other
fae as a pretender and takes over a freehold. Or maybe
they just ally with a Sabbat pack and act as Jammers for
the next six months. Keeping a long-term goal, aided by
the structure of the Unseelie calendar, makes it possible.

One-Shots
Any troupe needs a change of pace once in a while.
A one-shot is a chance to make the most out of your nasty
ideas for Unseelie characters. The advantage here is that
you can be as vile as you like without having to fully suffer
the consequences. How many times have you spent months
playing a character until you get to the point where you
don’t want to risk her future anymore? In Live-Action
gaming, there’s an old saying: “Win big or lose big.” This
is part of the fun of a one-shot. Who says surviving means
“winning,” anyway? Go for a blaze of glory in a one-shot
and risk everything!
A one-shot doesn’t need to be just one session, and it
can still fit within the structure of your overall chronicle.
Since Shadow Court characters are often antagonists for
nobles and Seelie, the hell your players raise in one week
with a group of previously generated characters in a one-

Chapter Six: Storytelling 95

shot can set up the problems their regular characters will
fix for the next three or four sessions. Maybe you’ve been
hearing stories about a riot that broke out in Los Angeles
while you were resting up in your freehold in San Fran-
cisco. Who says your troupe can’t take a closer look and
tell the story of the riot for an evening? The background
of your chronicle grows, and everyone gets a vacation in
the process.
One word of caution: This type of adventure can have
a very high body count. If you set it in the same location
as your regular chronicle, you may lose a few high-level
background characters in the process (unless they’re either
tipped off or really clever). If it’s set in another related
location, however, it sends out the message that the
Shadow Court is lethal without destroying the politics in
your ongoing chronicle.
A great advantage to this type of adventure is that it
can challenge your roleplayers. For anyone who’s afraid of
getting “typecast,” it’s a chance to break out of the mold.
That’s a really nice pristine Seelie sidhe princess you’ve
got there, but can you play a redcap anarchist as well?
One-shots are chances to explore and push boundaries,
and that’s what Storytelling is really all about.

Adversary Characters
If your Shadow Court players want to interact with
Seelie or Unseelie Court characters in the same troupe, a
rather intriguing way to have them interact is as Adver-
saries. There are several ways to go about this:
The first method is to have courtiers sit in on the
same sessions as the other characters. If you wish to
preserve their secrecy, you’ll need a number of secret
conferences and passed notes to pull it off. Overtly, the
betrayers or recruiters describe what the other characters
would not mind seeing; covertly, they manipulate behind
the scenes. This requires more “intellectual” Shadow
Court characters.
The second method is to run a parallel story between
the two groups. This is rather difficult, but the chapter on
Storytelling in Changeling: The Dreaming gives some
advice. It does help if the people involved can separate
player from character. The saying, “I know about it, but
my character doesn’t,” goes a long way. One word of
caution: Although it is tempting for players to reveal plot
details “out of character,” it can destroy the integrity of
the story. In addition, have the combat rules on standby.
If the shadow clique is really good, you won’t be forced to
end everything with a massive brawl.
The third method involves constructing a story that
allows two groups to encounter the plot separately. One
night, you describe the Shadow Court version of the story;

96 The Shadow Court

the next, the Seelie Court tries to pick up the pieces. For became fae, the Seelie world the hero knew before he met
instance, a jamming clique might heist a magical item from with tragedy, or the Unseelie world the protagonist knew
the duke one night, and a group of characters who serve before he was recruited. In a troupe, this is easiest when
him might try to pick up clues and track them down in the story focuses on one character at the beginning. The
the next session. The reverse is also possible: The Seelie other characters are either along for the same ride or hold
Court might spend an evening trying to convince the duke importance in the protagonists’ lives. The ordeals ahead
that he needs better security in his freehold before they will test the relationship between the clique members, so
leave on another adventure; the next session, the courtiers encouraging a strong bond between the members of the
break in and attempt an assassination. clique now will make the chronicle easier to run later.
The more you try to combine these three methods, The Call to Adventure and Refusal of the Call:
the stranger the stories will become. Before long, you’ll be The call, in this case, is an event that encourages the hero
passing messages that say nothing at all (to throw players to turn away from the path of light and descend into his
off guard), throwing in a second Storyteller to narrate Unseelie Legacy. This will be different for a mortal than it
critical confrontations away from the rest of the troupe, will for a Seelie or Unseelie changeling. In each case, the
and revealing at the last possible moment that the duke call is the same: a pivotal event that destroys the life the
whom the jamming clique is trying to assassinate is a hero once knew, or a tragedy or revelation that showed
character one of the players portrayed three months ago. him the path of villainy.
Take notes, be fair, and let the bodies fall where they may. Establishing the temptations of the character’s
Unseelie Legacy makes this easier. What is it about the
A Brief Guide to the character before the Chrysalis that establishes that pos-
sible destiny? People often live in denial regarding their
Villains’ Journey flaws and imperfections, and it takes quite a bit to turn
an otherwise sane and gentle person into an outlaw, a
The classical model for a Shadow Court chronicle
beast or a rake. Every person, however, has the potential
is the archetypal Hero’s Journey. Myth and destiny
to take that path.
have a strong resonance in the world of changelings.
The freedom that’s offered by an Unseelie Legacy — Meeting with the Mentor: The mentor in this type of
the chance to truly discover one’s self, no matter how story is usually the leader of a clique, a mastermind or an
horrific that self may be — beckons the character to Instigator, depending on the value of the potential recruit.
follow a path of darkness. The trick here is to decide whether the information the
mentor gives is true (justifying the despicable acts the
Fae usually have the freedom to decide whether
characters will perpetrate) or false (leading the characters
they wish to follow a path of light or darkness. Following
on a journey through treachery and perception).
a Seelie legacy involves giving in to one’s nobler ideals.
Seelie heroes pursue honor, uphold chivalry, and believe One common technique is to orchestrate the recruit-
in love. An impure world, however, does not always re- ment and frame a Seelie or a member of the nobility for
spect these ideals. When they fail (and they often do), a the tragedy. Instigators and masterminds who use these
wounded changeling gives in to mistrust, skepticism and types of techniques Ravage on a grand scale, and pulling
doubt. He embraces his darker nature and turns toward off these plans benefits both them and the Shadow Court.
his Unseelie Legacy. This is perfect hook for adventures in which characters
are Unseelie only for a brief while. They pursue revenge
For heroes, the realization of an Unseelie destiny is an
against their alleged enemies, find out the truth later,
exploration of the darker side of the self. In the paradigm
and then strike back at the bastards who used them. In
of the Hero’s Journey, falling into an Unseelie Legacy is
the process, they redeem themselves and rise back to
like the “descent into the underworld.” The hero is tested,
their Seelie fate.
and if he returns to the normal world, he is stronger and
wiser because of it. Unfortunately, not everyone escape There are also chronicles in which the actions of the
from the underworld. Some remain Unseelie by choice, Shadow Court are easily justified. Seelie have a great deal
preferring to trust in instinct, passion and the impulse to of pretense, but it doesn’t always mean that they’re fair...
change. The stages of the journey, based on the “12-step or even right. The Seelie part of a changeling’s soul may
chronicle” in the rulebook, are described below. be forgiving, but if the resentment that slumbers in his
breast becomes too great, only the Unseelie shadow can
The Ordinary World: The first stage of this type of
pursue revenge. If the Shadow Court has spies nearby,
chronicle is set in the ordinary world. This is either the
they’ll aid the changeling in his revenge.
mortal world in which the protagonist lived before he

Chapter Six: Storytelling 97

 Crossing the Threshold: Whether the villain who was once their friend and ally. Either way, someone
joins a gang, a conspiracy or a cult, the first threshold or something is going down. By facing the adversary, the
on the villain’s journey is usually the perpetration of characters face themselves and question their values.
the first crime. The villain needs to prove that he is The Reward and the Road Back: By this stage of the
capable of committing acts that would have shocked story, you should have a good idea whether the characters
his former self. The first hit is the hardest, but once it’s will transcend their Unseelie natures and resolve the
done, turning to a life of indecency and exploitation chronicle as Seelie fae, or remain wicked and recalcitrant
becomes almost natural. for a long time. There can never be hard-and-fast rules for
The expanded rules for Ravaging suggest other ways something as ephemeral as transcendence. Overcoming
to set up this first threshold. In the main plot, the clique one’s flaws depends heavily on character motivations.
will have an objective to achieve in this first adventure. Again, no villain or shadow acts without a motivation.
Within the subplot of each character, the first time an Once a fault is redressed, a wound is healed, vengeance
Unseelie Ravages reaffirms the relationship between the is attained, or love is found again, the motivation for the
villain and the world. The world has treated the villain shadow is gone.
badly, and now he strikes back. He justifies what has been There are a few devices, however, that help Story-
done to him by inflicting suffering upon others. tellers deal with this denouement. To begin with, when
Tests, Allies and Enemies: This is the longest stage of discussing experience points at the end of a session, one
the journey. Once the path is set, the long descent begins. popular question involves asking what the character has
Fortunately, you’ve got quite a few “hooks” on which to learned. This is an excellent time to focus on where the
base the plot. Take a good, long look at the Backgrounds character is headed. If the truth is consistently revelations
of your characters, consider how the supporting cast ties like “There’s no honor among thieves, after all,” or “Never
in, and consider how to test your characters’ Legacies. trust in love,” that’s a good sign that a Seelie revelation
The second set of hooks you have are the seven tenets of won’t be coming up anytime soon. In fact, some players
the Manifesto. Which portions do the characters uphold? hate morals of any size or shape, and allowing them to
What kind of clique are you building? By unraveling revel in the Shadow Court places them in their natural
the threads of plot that are set before them, they’ll drift element. Better stock up on black candles.
toward their biggest challenge: whether to emerge from Still, the wrap-up at the end of each session is a
the underworld. chance to look at the road map of your chronicle and
You’ll also need to plan out who your adversaries will examine the terrain ahead. When you’re approaching
be throughout this part of the chronicle. The characters the end of your story, this is even more crucial. Talking
will need to slowly learn who their opposition is, so this about the high points of the session, discussing how the
may involve a little bit of the “concept of the week” tech- characters might develop, and discussing the motivations
nique. If you pick one or two sets of adversaries, you can the characters pursued brings everything into focus. By
build on these concepts without vitiating the chronicle. the time the end of the chapter or chronicle arrives, the
If you throw in too many potential adversaries, the players player and the Storyteller will have a feel for whether
will settle on learning about a new sourcebook for each the character will remain loyal to the shadows or awaken
adventure or taking on the Monster of the Week and from the nightmare.
leaving the game at that. The Final Threshold and the Return: This sets the
The Innermost Cave: The first few adventures set catharsis of this type of Shadow Court chronicle. The
the stage for the hardest challenge, which is the lowest final threshold, in this case, is an evaluation of the hero’s
point of the villain’s journey. The characters grow closer destiny. Does he want to continue to be Unseelie, or has
by overcoming adversity, developing their psyches and he overcome it? In this type of chronicle, the character
shadows, and refining their skills. In the Innermost Cave, doesn’t actually have to return to the world he knew. If this
facing the most challenging adversary also tests their souls is the case, the villain is on a long, hard ride into Endless
and spirits. The hardening of their hearts that has taken Winter unless he is redeemed in your next chronicle. Either
part over the last few adventures has been set up so that balance is restored, or the villain meets a tragic fate and
they can be strong for this part of the journey. remains condemned.
The Supreme Ordeal: Layer after layer of plot peels Again, the Unseelie calendar also helps set up this
away to reveal the ultimate force behind the scenes. This denouement. Society — whether that’s the Seelie Court,
might very well be the Mentor who started the villains on Unseelie Court or Shadow Court —recognizes the final
their descent to begin with, or it might be a powerful Seelie

98 The Shadow Court

changes in the characters. In the end, the hero is able than one clique has been Undone by Banality cooling off
to take what he has learned and bring it back into the in a prison cell. If a mastermind betrays a reckless clique,
world. In the process, you redefine what it is to be Seelie he’ll gain Glamour, and no one else will mind. Careful
or Unseelie, but more importantly, you redefine what it is and stylish fae gain Prestige, but overly reckless maniacs
to be human. That, after all, is what creating good stories are repeatedly used as stooges, until they’re finally cast
and living myths is all about. aside. Then their surviving cliquemates gain a reputation
that’s hard to shake.
A Final Word Second, it’s worth repeating that the Pageant isn’t
simply a matter of killing your enemies outright. Powerful
Like many dark games, Shadow Court adventures
Shadow Courtiers who live for the thrill of the hunt would
can be placed in two categories: violent and nonviolent.
rather eliminate their opposition with style. After all, that
If it is truly your heart’s desire to turn Changeling into a
makes gaining Glamour so much easier. Slowly destroying
bloody, violent splatterfest, there’s not much in the way
a rival by spreading Banality around him is a much more
of rules that can stop you. If you really thirst for blood,
satisfying taste of revenge then having some thug shoot
a few black dots on your character sheet aren’t going to
him in the back of the head. Destroying an enemy’s life
stop you. An insidious Storyteller, on the other hand, can
until he turns Unseelie and becomes your pawn is even
make your life a living hell.
more satisfying. Why kill when you can corrupt? Murder
First, it’s worth noting that those who kill often wind invites investigation, but no human investigator can arrest
up pawns for those who do not. Psychotic kill-crazy luna- someone for wielding Banality.
tics often wind up holding smoking guns for masterminds
Then again, maybe your troupe prefers to spray blood
who can manipulate them. In short, they become stooges.
on the walls. To each his own. Eat some red meat, watch
Shadow fae who kill too freely are just asking to be used
some zombie films before the game, and then roll dice
and discarded. Remember that a mastermind can help or
for four hours. Enjoy. But if you start to tire of killing,
hinder a clique. If the police happen to show up at just
remember that there’s an alternative.
the wrong time when a clique is in action... well, more

Chapter Six: Storytelling 99

100 The Shadow Court
 Chapter Se-
Chapter Seven:
ven:Samhain
Samhain

Let the Wild Rumpus start!

— Max, Where the Wild Things Are

The winter equinox marks both the beginning and trological factors have been ignored over the centuries, so
ending of the Unseelie calendar. Since the Shattering, the Samhain is now celebrated on the same day of each year.
rituals of Samhain have become more and elaborate. By The night before, Unseelie pooka, beasties and redcaps
tradition, many freeholds and kingdoms will have festivities mark the importance of October 30th with vandalism
that are similar, yet the commoners and shadow courtiers and arson. The madness of Hell Night is the result. Ram-
in each one will flavor each event with their ingenuity, paging in the streets, the assembled cliques will choose a
deviance and perversion. few select locations for sacrifice. These may be chosen by
Because the veil between the two worlds is thin, very masterminds beforehand, but more often than not, the
few of the individuals present at Samhain ceremonies will tradition of Hell’s Night is a way to gain Glamour and
remember what has occurred. This applies to other super- Ravage before Samhain proper begins.
natural creatures as well. Only Instigators who possess the
proper sorcerous rituals, and Ritualists who are protected Trick or Treat
by them, will recall what has occurred. Of course, they Mortals are well acquainted with some of the traditions
will use the information to their advantage later. What of this night. Schoolteachers throughout the U.S. lecture
is hidden will become truth, and exploiting secrets builds on how common villagers made precautions against evil
new truths. spirits with pumpkins, plates of food and vigilance. As a
result, human children and childlings alike have a chance
Hell’s Night to dress up in spooky costumes and gorge on candy until
As has been detailed elsewhere, the festivities of they puke. Such is the way of mortals. The true stories of
Samhain often begin on the night before. The exact as- Samhain have been twisted to commercialize the event,

Chapter Seven: Samhain 101

and tamed for the “mother-approved” version of one of find out what their people think of them. Unfortunately,
the greatest nights of the year. Despite this, even Unseelie common folk are brighter than most members of the ar-
commoners mix a little Halloween decorations into their istocracy give them credit for being. They choose instead
Samhain proceedings, largely to maintain a facade of to use such opportunities to misinform their superiors.
normalcy, and to mock the holiday itself. The Samhain Mists play tricks on this night, though, and
Childlings love this time of year, especially when nobles find it easier to disguise themselves while Samhain
they have the chance to misbehave. Smashing pumpkins, is in effect. For one night, they have the freedom to go
soaping windows, and scaring human children are only the where they will and do what they please. Any roll to affect
beginnings. Unseelie with the Facade cantrip will give hu- a disguise is made at a -2 difficulty.
man children a taste of what the evening should really be. The Samhain Mists will eradicate memories of what
Disguising themselves as promising mortals whom they’ve nobles attempt, but it also assists their enemies. If a
watched throughout the year, some changelings live up to commoner finds a noble in disguise, it is common to ask
their names by switching places with human children on a boon of him. This is actually letting the noble off easy,
this night. The rest of the changeling’s clique will offer since rivals who find nobles at this time typically have
some sweet Glamorous treats and bring their guest along more pointed requests. If the boon has not been fulfilled by
for the ride. The inspiration found on that night brings dawn, commoners will track down the noble, and extract
nightmares for months to come. payment by more physical means.
Unseelie nobility typically do not participate in this
Hide and Freak activity. They relinquish their titles as well, but they have
Members of the Seelie nobility who want to display more somber rituals to attend. These reach their peak (or
humility often go into disguise as well. At other times of nadir) with the Ritual of the Eidolon, which begins early
the year, nobles who pretend to be commoners do so to in the evening and concludes around 3 or 4 a.m.

102 The Shadow Court

The Masque or a member of the nobility will sway the voting. The titles
awarded are the same in the hierarchy of the Unseelie
While this practice is not required, some freeholds
Court. Seelie commoners are eligible as well, but only
adopt the tradition of providing disguises for everyone
if they have undergone the Descent (described below).
present. Since identity is a tenuous concept at best, it is
easily discarded on this night. Highly talented masquers Crowns and capes of papier-mâché and rags are
will provide facades for guests to adopt, while more inge- presented, and all bow before the nobility of the Shadow
nious masterminds will provide facades that are so clever Court. In less-civilized circles, the nobles wear bones
that few realize they are even present. By morning, these and strips of flesh, and their crimson robes are dyed with
lesser facades will fade away. (Up to five can be created for human blood. Saving up for such festivities takes a long
one point of Glamour on this night of lies.) Romantics of time and a great deal of discretion. Fortunately, human
the Masque legacy have been known to re-create famous sacrifice is not as prevalent as it once was. We are indeed
courtly romances on this night, mocking and satirizing fortunate that we live in a world that is too civilized for
them every step of the way, and some even go so far as to such activities.
take on the facades of courtly lovers to steal or ravish the
objects of their affection. The Feast
Unseelie commoners also demonstrate their hospi-
Mock Court tality at this time of year. For the commoners in most
By tradition, this night is a chance for commoners to freeholds, this involves multiple tables of food. The nature
recognize fae who have escaped the notice of their betters. of the freehold influences what the feast will be. Some
Common folk who are nominated for such titles have a feasts are elegant repasts, with roasted pheasants, lightly
chance to prove their worth by word or by deed. Since all toasted Samhain cakes, and several bottles of wine. Once
is forgiven — and forgotten — on the following morning, the feast is underway, however, guests who rebuke such a
this is the best time to confess transgressions against the pretense at culture will descend upon the feast with bottles
nobility. Declaring retribution or revenge against a Seelie

Chapter Seven: Samhain 103

of ketchup and jars of mayonnaise, ripping apart food with result. Honorary clique members will be corrupted or
their fingers and starting epic belching concertos. enlightened, depending on your point of view. By dawn,
Not everyone feasts in this manner. Childlings love the guest will return to his Seelie Legacy, but the rest of
to collect mountains of candy and sugary goodies, while the clique may be impressed enough to recruit him later.
redcaps are more than pleased to build temples of meat Members of existing Unseelie cliques decide whether
at which other fae can worship. For satyrs, the traditional to switch alliances on this night and form new cliques. All
feast involves sexual indiscretion and orgies of the most oaths of bonding are off. It’s common for long-standing
elaborate kind. It is not uncommon for this to eventually cliques to reassemble, but witnessing the mock tourna-
interrupt the main feast; after the first few hours, many ments and bonfire storytelling sessions may change an
of the foodstuffs present are incorporated into the orgy. Unseelie’s mind.
However, this is not required. On this night of passion, To settle up old scores, long-standing grudges between
gluttony and lust are seen as virtues, and so those who members of a clique must be settled with mock duels.
would not normally indulge, or who are forbidden against Part of the structure of the duel, however, depends on
indulgence, will revel. the ingenuity of its parameters. Shadow duels are usually
There is a variety of tournaments on this night, fought with chimerical weapons, and these are often of
and the eating competition is only one of these. Satyrs elaborate design. Nockers and goblins offer their wares
and others who pursue debauchery have a tourney of as party favors this night anyway, so the challenger must
their own, called the Satyr’s Feast. The goal of their choose the weapons, and the challenged must choose the
tournament is to see who can lead the most chaste and location. Secrecy is advised, but the Samhain Mists work
innocent individuals across the most sexual thresholds overtime tonight, so mortals who thought they witnessed
on one night. The converts can be enchanted, but all duels with razor-edged boomerangs on rooftops or chainsaw
participants must be willing — it is a contest of seduction duels in gutted buildings can’t fully believe what they see.
as well as technique. Enchanted mortals are the usual Later, they remember these antics as typical Halloween
delicacy in a Satyr’s Feast, even though some tragos prefer shenanigans instead.
to get back to nature.
It is traditional for the redcaps to have their feast Bonfire Storytelling
at a separate table. These staunch warriors have a long At midnight, the bonfires are lit, and loyal Unseelie
night of tournaments ahead of them, and despite their and corrupt Seelie alike compete by confessing their
voracious appetites, gorging does tend to reduce one’s greatest misdoings of the year. Lying is an option, but it
fighting prowess. Piles of half-eaten food are set aside for is traditional for a corrupt noble of House Gwydion to
their feast, along with broken furniture, scrap metal and observe the ceremonies. Members of House Eiluned rarely
other delicacies. In the unlikely event that innocents are participate at all. It is not uncommon for less-eloquent
killed on this night, there will be a pile of a few bodies for fae to choose champions to tell their stories for them.
ogres and redcaps alike, after the bodies have been used to Many aspiring cliques will choose a skilled storyteller
decorate the crowns and robes of less-civilized freeholds. to join their clique for the next year to witness their
accomplishments.
The Descent The stories that receive the greatest oration, biggest
Seelie who value their purity had best stay away from celebration, or highest number of sexual propositions are
Samhain revelry. Any who witnesses the events of this night then referred to private audiences. Instigators make a point
will be tempted to give in to their Unseelie Legacies for one of being present, since they often consider these stories
night. Resisting this requires a Willpower roll (difficulty 9) when deciding whom to award Prestige to and whom to
and at least four successes. Seelie who overcome this first condemn to lesser ranks. Once the new titles have been
roll must attempt it again for each scene they witness. If chosen, Instigators participate last of all. The Instigator
they watch part of a ceremony and flee, however, they are who has achieved the greatest accomplishment for the
fair game for cliques who didn’t find the revelry of Hell’s year continues for the duration of the next year. The
Night to be enough. others are reduced to masterminds or guardians to make
It has thus become a popular pastime for cliques to way for new rulers.
hunt down Seelie on this night, regardless of whether they
have witnessed ceremonies or not. The taunting and mind Goblin Artifice
games they indulge in will often result in a Seelie losing Nockers and goblins love to compete, and as is typ-
his temper or composure. The Descent is the inevitable ical of many social gatherings, one or two goblin grumps

104 The Shadow Court

will announce the “fashion” for the gathering anywhere
from one week to one month beforehand. The ceremony
that results usually involves a great deal of destruction, Die, Asshole!
as many of the goblin’s creations don’t last beyond that It’s really tempting to try to get away with murder
night. Less-valued creations are offered as “party favors,” — literally — on this night. This is one reason why
but the most imaginative are detonated for the pleasure wiser Seelie stay away from larger Samhain celebra-
of the Mock Court. tions or only indulge in small, intimate gatherings.
A separate category in this tourney is the manufacture One note of caution, though: Even if you don’t
of chimerical weapons. These devices are tested in the believe in the Escheat, you’ll still take on Banality
tourneys, although spectacular backfires are considered for killing other fae on Samhain. The Bright Roads
just as valuable as capacity to injure. Trolls, redcaps and are busy on that night, and the Shroud can incur a
ogres who barter for these items do so at their own risk. “backlash” against fools who traffic with death too
The more exotic weapons have a greater potential for freely. Murdering a changeling on this night earns
impressing a crowd, but young apprentices find a steady you one point of Banality whether you’re Kithain
trade in manufacturing chimerical polearms and elabo- or Thallain, although some Storytellers will set this
rate chimerical swords. More discriminating patrons will at two or three points if they want an especially
purchase old near-dead cars and have them chimerically bloodless evening. In addition, the Samhain Mists
“detailed” for that night, transforming them into chariots will erase clues from extreme crimes from mortal
and siege engines. Glamorous items produced over the last eyes, but faerie eyes (or ogre noses) may pick up a
year can be offered as payment, although many nockers try few hints. Then again, conditioning someone else
to work their way into prestigious cliques by offering their to kill is another matter entirely....
works of art as samples. By the time dawn arrives, most of
the scraps and remains have been salvaged.

Chapter Seven: Samhain 105

The Mock Tourneys
The knights of the Shadow Court are chosen at the
annual Mock Tourney. There is a variety of categories
Weapons of Dishonor
Lucky (or unlucky) changelings may manage
in this competition, although all weapons employed are
to come away from the festivities with a few “party
chimerical. The first few events typically involve wrestling,
favors” or prizes.
bare-fist fighting and boggan-tossing. It is possible to win
either by defeating all of one’s adversaries, or by impressing
the crowd with innovative carnage. Each winner receives
Goblin Chainsaws
a title, which is good for the next year. This is one commonly used “weapon of dishonor”
at Unseelie gatherings. Although this goblin device
The weapon-based categories employ chimerical de-
is similar to a regular chainsaw, modifications have
vices, most of which are provided by nockers and goblins.
been made to the teeth mounted on the chain. A
The results of each event are recorded on goblin parchment
wide variety of sharp objects, such as razor blades,
and presented to one of the Instigators present. Thus,
bits of glass, severed forks and steak-knife tips, are
many warriors of the Shadow Court are given titles that
welded to the chain. Using this impossible-look-
they will not remember until weeks later when they are
ing contraption requires a Dexterity + Melee roll
informed by Instigators. In particular, the Grandmaster of
(difficulty 8). It inflicts up to Strength + 7 dice of
Double-Chainsaws and Grand Carnage Knight titles are
damage (depending on how well it’s built), but if the
held with great esteem.
attack roll is botched, each 1 will inflict one level
The last event of the night is car jousting, a tradition of damage on the user. While chimerical chainsaws
that dates back to the late ‘50s. This event usually involves only give the illusion of removing limbs with more
the assistance of squires, although some trolls have been than five successes, these puppies actually do it. Are
known to tear the roofs off vehicles and steer one-handed. ya feeling lucky?
Motorcycles and buses are also allowed, as are chimerical
Using two Goblin Chainsaws at once (“Floren-
mounts. The wreckage is then salvaged by the goblins,
tine Technique”) increases the difficulty to 9 and
who put it to good use.
requires you to split your Dice Pools. It does look
Recruitment impressive, though!
Masterminds and Unseelie eshu travel freely through-
out all the events looking for potential recruits. Repressed
Goblin Blunderbuss
This black-powder weapon is a favorite at parties.
and neglected Seelie who fall into the festivities are prime
You can load with anything, including pieces of junk
candidates, as they often display their true potentials.
that fly off an exploding Goblin Chainsaw. Dexterity
Seelie who undergo the Descent, nonetheless, are still
+ Firearms is the skill to use it, and if you succeed,
rather tight-lipped about their Seelie allies.
roll up to seven dice of damage (again, depending on
Unseelie who are not yet members of the Shadow how well it’s built). If you should ever botch, you’ll
Court are sought out and observed during this time. It take the brunt of the damage from its catastrophic
is not necessary for an Unseelie to be condemned before breakdown. Goblin marksmen are often covered with
joining a Shadow Court clique, but those who have a variety of entertaining scars.
demonstrated their disdain for the Seelie and the nobility
are often contacted at this time.
There are also distraught individuals who seek out Instigation
the Shadow Court for vengeance or enlightenment. Powerful fae come out of hiding to meet personally
Commoners with vendettas contact cliques in the shadows with their contacts at this time. After rituals of sacrifice,
at this time in order to petition their grievances. Nobles confession and ceremony, they decide who is most qual-
and sidhe who have fallen into despair or tragedy are ified to work as Instigators over the next year. Secret
approached by Unseelie who offer a chance to follow societies shift their alliances, and hidden oaths are made
the intricacies of the Pageant. Seelie who undergo the for the upcoming year. Grand schemes are discussed, and
Quest of the Darkest Heart find it easier to set out on their vendettas are plotted.
paths veiled in mystery, and so Samhain is an excellent
Instigators also discuss at this time whether the seven
time to start.
tenets of the Manifesto have been advanced, and they some-

106 The Shadow Court

times have lengthy debates over interpretation. Finally, them good fortune. As there is never human sacrifice at
times and places are set for drop points and meetings, and these events, the few survivors that are left after the crowns
their conclave disbands for more personal rituals. Only a and robes of human body parts have not been made are
select few are invited to these gatherings, but preparations not ceremonially butchered at this time. Of course, the
for the year are made during Samhain. ogres and redcaps first must clean up after the feast of dead
bodies that did not occur.
The Sluagh Ritual of the Dead
As sluagh delight in secrets, they are eager to hear The Legend of the Heavens
the revelations of the dead at this time of year. Gathering There are legends that the most powerful Unseelie
near suspected haunts, graveyards and other places that are in Arcadia can return to Earth at this time, but only for
important to the deceased, they invite wraiths to join them one night. As part of their pact, however, they cannot
in ceremony. Deals and alliances are made, although few appear in their true forms. The most devoted members
last beyond the following Samhain. Sluagh never forget of the Shadow Court are contacted by them at this time,
the oaths they make during this time of year, although and can converse with them about the progress made on
they sometimes forget the circumstances that prompted Earth. Prophesies have confirmed that the darkest of the
them. The Shadow Court is often paranoid about the Unseelie cannot return to Earth until Endless Winter
dead, but sluagh have the freedom to make deals without has been made a reality, and so the most successful In-
interference or concern from the court. stigators of the Shadow Court receive guidance at this
time. Childling Thallain spies consider this possibility to
The Ritual of the Eidolon be more thrilling than Christmas. As with many events
Early in the night, Unseelie nobility attempt to com- heavily obscured by the Mists, these visions are quite
municate with fae who are lost in the lands of the dead. elaborate and surreal. Use of the Gremayre Background
Black avians descend into the chambers where their rituals clarifies the meaning of these visits and identifies them
are perpetrated, and fae whisper questions and information for what they are. Receiving an emissary from Arcadia
to these eidolons. They seldom return before three or four is considered a signal of honor.
in the morning, and so nobles often sequester themselves
before they retire for the night as they wait for a response. The Final Mystery
Quill in hand, they write down the responses they receive, It’s not really a party until someone gets broken.
although many of these dreamlike notes appear quite — attributed to a writer residing in Seattle
cryptic the following day. (In general, anything written As the first rays of dawn appear, the Mists are at
down or recorded electronically slowly dissipates before their strongest. Save for the Instigators and their rit-
dawn.) If deceased fae have requests to make, the living ualists, none remember what they have seen. Those
will respond again before daylight overtakes them and who vaguely remember often have brief glimpses, often
send the eidolons on their way again. obscured as visions or allegorical metaphors. Some seek
out the Gremayre for truth, but portents are hard to find.
Prophecy (Characters will only be able to deduce the truth from
Soothsayers of the Shadow Court will also try to clues they find on themselves, even if players remember
predict... or verify... tragedies to occur over the next year. the evening quite well.)
The difficulty for any Soothsaying that bodes ill-fortune is The Instigators remember, though, and they carry out
at a -3 on this night. Ritualist cliques typically make one their foul plans in the months that follow until Samhain
of these predictions each hour, and deliver them to the returns. Save for the mysterious blood-stains that the
newest Instigators at the end of the night. They are never Unseelie boggans love to clean up, the scrap metal that
able to accurately predict whom the next Instigators will goes to the goblins, the odd sores and telltale bleeding
be, however. The events of this one night are too drastic shamefully hidden by Seelie guests, and the complete
for even Soothsayers to predict fully. absence of any ceremonial victims left over, the ritual of
An hour or two before dawn, the Soothsayers will Samhain remains as a nightmare hidden in the depths of
then hold a ceremony for the newest Instigators, wishing the subconscious... for another year, at least.

Chapter Seven: Samhain 107

108 The Shadow Court
 Chapter
Chapter Eight:
Eight:
Notorious
Notorious (and
not sosonotori-
(and not notorious)
ous)Kithain
Kithain
Gallery of to shock the older fae out of their complacency. When that,
too, failed, Yrtalien renounced his loyalties to his elders and

Notorious Kithain declared war on the rulers of Arcadia.

Although his armies, composed of some of the realm’s
You have had all that money can give you, strongest and boldest warriors, battled fiercely and bravely,
But that wasn’t enough. they could not stand against the united forces of the ruling
You became a thrillseeker... thrillseeker... thrillseeker... houses. Many of Yrtalien’s companions surrendered or were
Kill for a thrill. captured. Finally, Yrtalien and a handful of trusted comrades
— sampled by Ministry in “Assassin” made a glorious final stand. As a last resort, the prince of
House Ailil attempted to force open a doorway into the mortal
Yrtalien of House Ailil world, hoping to unloose a tide of Banality into Arcadia, so
(The Forsworn Prince) that it would be forced to reunite with the mortal world to
recoup what Glamour it could.
Until the Shattering forced his departure — along with
the other sidhe — from the mortal world, Yrtalien ap Ailil was He was taken before he could effect his scheme and
just another dissolute son of an Unseelie house. Granted, he brought before the rulers of Arcadia for trial and punishment.
claimed descent from Ailil himself, through one of the house The other rebels, too, were tried and sentenced to exile in
founder’s many sisters, but blood alone did not distinguish the mortal world. Yrtalien’s punishment, however, because of
him from any of the other members of his line. In Arcadia, the enormity of his crime, was unique. Declared “forsworn”
however, Yrtalien soon found himself the ringleader of a by the kings and queens of Arcadia, he was sentenced to
group of young sidhe lords and ladies, sons and daughters perpetual imprisonment in a halfway realm constructed
of royal blood who balked at the stultifying courtliness and of Glamour, and placed between the Dreaming and the
stagnation that surrounded them. As the eldest son of House mortal world. From that solitary prison, he could dimly
Ailil’s ruling queen, Yrtalien stepped naturally into the po- perceive the goings-on in both worlds, but could interact
sition of spokesman for a growing portion of the Arcadian with neither of them.
fae. At first, he argued with the rulers, trying to convince Years passed. How many, he could not say, for time meant
them that Arcadia could not remain shut away from the nothing in a realm of timelessness. He found that he could
mortal world. When his words were met with contempt, he gather Glamour from his own suffering, achieving epiphanies
and his followers precipitated a series of incidents, intended from his misery. Little by little, his power grew until he was at

Chapter Eight: Notorious Kithain 109

 lower classes was escalating. Only slightly better off than the
beggars and the common laborers, Etienne’s family worked
hard just to survive. Etienne underwent his Chrysalis in the
summer of 1789, amid the uproar that accompanied the
storming of the Bastille.
A nearby motley of Unseelie trolls, redcaps and nockers,
already in the process of sating themselves on the creative
anarchy that surrounded them, felt the surge of Glamour that
encapsulated Etienne and rushed to his side. They found the
fledgling redcap in the throes of his transformation, beset by
a group of soldiers who were venting their outrage at the mob
on an apparently helpless target. By the time they were able to
rescue Etienne, the new changeling’s face was a bloody, pulpy
ruin that even healing Glamour could not completely repair.
From that day forward, Etienne became an avid supporter of
the cause of revolution, finding his thirst for blood and sav-
agery more than satisfied in the social upheaval that marked
the French Revolution and the subsequent Reign of Terror.
In 1792, Paris saw its first guillotine. Etienne was en-
last able to make contact with a sorceress of House Eiluned in chanted with the instrument and quickly insinuated himself
the Kingdom of Pacifica. Eventually, he was able to effect his into the ranks of executioners. Calling himself “Le Visage du
escape from his prison and entered the mortal world, where Peur” (The Face of Terror), the redcap delighted in doffing
he could begin anew to seek a way to forcibly unite Arcadia his executioner’s hood long enough to allow his victims a
with the world of humanity. Unfortunately, his isolation in a quick glance at his scarred and mangled face, his private
Glamour-drenched environment drove him over the edge of revenge for what he suffered during his Chrysalis. He took
sanity, transforming a once shrewd and eloquent rebel into a special delight in the execution of those aristocrats exposed
maniacal tyrant wracked by the throes of Bedlam. by his kenning as Kithain. To them, he would announce that
his guillotine’s blade was tipped with cold iron. This was not
Etienne duBois (The Face of true, but Etienne reveled in the look of sheer despair on the
faces of these doomed fae.
Terror) Like so many others during those bloody and fickle days
Born to a Parisian cobbler in 1771, Etienne duBois grew that marked the Reign of Terror, Etienne eventually found
up during a time when anger toward the French aristocracy’s himself accused of treason and slated for execution. He and the
high-handed arrogance and ignorance of the state of the few remaining members of his motley fled Paris for the French
countryside, where they established a dubious reputation as
highway robbers. Stories of the foul deeds perpetrated by a
band of outlaws led by The Face of Terror soon made their
way into popular folklore.
Etienne’s death has never been documented, although
rumors abound that he met a fate both vicious and bloody.
Many Unseelie commoners — redcaps in particular — regard
him as a folk antihero. In areas of the world that are wracked
by civil disorder and public rioting, there are always rumors
among the fae that The Face of Terror has been reborn.

Tyria Winter
Unlike most of the members of House Leanhaun, who
emerged from the Dreaming in Ireland in 1969 and chose
to remain in Hibernia, Lady Tyria felt the siren call of the
Summer of Love and made her way to San Francisco. Her
own musical talent and her affinity for musicians quickly
drew her into the midst of the rock and roll revolution that
was transforming the sound of popular music. Calling herself

110 The Shadow Court

Tyria Winter, she became the female singer of a psychedelic
band called Winter Solstice. To avoid having to interact
with the sidhe of San Francisco, she passed herself off as a
member of House Liam, claiming to eschew her nobility in
favor of associating with the commoner Kithain. Upon the
few occasions where Winter Solstice shared a stage with
Aeon, the band led by the Fief of Goldengate’s Duke Aeon,
she managed to minimize contact with the Seelie duke.
Winter Solstice might have attained national prominence
had it not been for the bad luck that seemed inextricably to
strike its most talented musicians. Within a year of its in-
ception, the band’s lead guitar player, Johnny Light, suffered
a nervous breakdown and left to join a religious cult. His
replacement, Darren Gilmore, died within six months from
a drug overdose, just after producing a trio of the band’s best
songs. The dynamic guitar virtuoso, Malcolm Frawley, who
became Tyria’s lover, lasted just over a year. Many of the band’s
followers noted that Tyria’s incessant worry over Malcolm’s
health took its toll on her, for she aged visibly during the
time she and Malcolm were together. His untimely death at
21 from a massive coronary surprised no one who was familiar Edna Bayler (Edana of House
with the freewheeling lifestyle of the band. Strangely enough,
Tyria seemed to recover her youthful vigor and beauty after
Balor)
Revolutions need money, and since her return to the
Malcolm’s death.
mortal world, Edana of House Balor has made it her job to
Eventually, Tyria’s best efforts to bring talented mu- find the necessary capital to support armed insurrection in
sicians into her band began to fail as rumors spread that Northern Ireland and a half-dozen other countries. Edana
members of Winter Solstice dabbled in black magic and chose well when she selected a mortal body to house her faerie
that the band itself was under the influence of a curse. Tyria nature. As the heiress of a prominent Anglo-Irish family from
moved the band to Los Angeles, where she has found a new County Derry, she enjoys the luxuries of the privileged class
cache of talent to prolong her youth. Except for Tyria, all while secretly siphoning off portions of the family wealth to
the original members of Winter Solstice are now deceased. purchase munitions, weapons, explosives and other supplies
Having learned her lesson the first time, Tyria now makes for her current favorite terrorist groups. In addition, her talent
her way through the most talented and stage-shy session for fundraising (both in Europe and America) has benefited
musicians in the city. the Shadow Court as well, allowing its members to stockpile
their own caches of specially made iron weapons.
A dark-haired beauty with a natural eloquence that
enables her to charm others into giving her money and
promising favors, she has become one of the Shadow Court’s
chief recruiters and apologists. Those Kithain to whom she
speaks find themselves longing for the freedoms and cama-
raderie she promises as members of the Shadow Court. Some
have embraced their Unseelie natures simply to be allowed
to remain in her vicinity. Such is her charisma that many
believe she is in love with them, too — even in the face of
proof to the contrary.
Clad in long skirts, peasant blouses and colorful shawls,
she embodies the picture of Irish beauty. The skirts also conceal
the deformity that is part of her birthright as a member of
House Balor — a twisted ankle and foot. Wearing a special
boot, she manages to move gracefully despite the slight limp
she cannot hide and the slowness of her progress.

Chapter Eight: Notorious Kithain 111

The Littlest Beastie Now you’re big. You’re five, and in your new home,
you know how to take care of yourself. The nice troll who
Quote: Monsters aren’t scary at all, unless it’s dinnertime. runs your freehold gives you all the spaghetti and Oreos
Do you want to join us for dinner? you want, and when all the other children are away, you
Prelude: Mommy told you there’s no such thing as get to play with the rest of the monsters. You never have
monsters. Why didn’t she believe you? It’s such a shame to keep your fur combed or wash your claws, and you get
that you had to introduce her to the Thing under your to say and do anything you want, as long as the grumps
bed. And why did she have to go into your closet when don’t catch you at it.
your new group of friends were so hungry? Roleplaying Hints: Playtime never ends. You’re a
Concept: Your best friends when you were little lived wild animal, indulging in whatever you want and doing
in your television set. The coolest of them were the mon- whatever you please. If this helps out your clique, though,
sters. Daddy wasn’t really a monster, not like Mommy said they’ll keep you around for when the fun really starts. You’re
he was, but when he took his bottles of whisky somewhere innocent, but amoral. In short, you’re free.
else, Mommy was too sad to play with you. She kept you Ravaging Threshold: Destroy Illusions
in your room and never let you be free. Equipment: Scary children’s books, a backpack, a
fuzzy puppet and half a bag of cookies.

112 The Shadow Court

 ™

Changeling: The Dreaming™

Name: Court: Unseelie (Shadow Court) Seeming: Childling
Player: Legacies: Rogue/Savage Kith: Thallain Beastie
Chronicle: Political Impulse: Motley/Society:

Attributes
Physical Social Mental
OOOOO
Strength______________ Charisma___________
Wicked OOOOO Perception__________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Dexterity_____________ Manipulation________OOOOO Intelligence_________ OOOOO
Stamina______________
Excitable OOOOO Appearance_________OOOOO Wits_______________OOOOO

Abilities
Talents Skills Knowledges
OOOOO
Alertness_____________ Crafts_____________OOOOO Computer___________OOOOO
OOOOO
Athletics_____________ Drive_______________ OOOOO Enigmas____________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Brawl__________________ Etiquette_____________OOOOO OOOOO
Investigation_____________
Dodge_______________ OOOOO Firearms____________ OOOOO Law________________OOOOO
Empathy______________OOOOO Leadership__________OOOOO Linguistics__________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Expression____________ Melee_______________ OOOOO Medicine____________OOOOO
OOOOO
Intimidation__________ OOOOO
Performance____________ Mythlore____________OOOOO
Kenning______________
Monsters OOOOO Security______________OOOOO Occult_______________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Streetwise_____________ Stealth_____________ OOOOO Politics_____________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Subterfuge_____________ Spooky Woods OOOOO
Survival____________ Science_____________OOOOO

Advantages Realms
Backgrounds Arts
__________________
Chimera OOOOO Delusion OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
Actor OOOOO
__________________
Gremayre OOOOO Chicanery OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
Nature OOOOO
__________________
Prestige OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
__________________
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
__________________

Other Traits Glamour Health

OOOOOOOOOO Bruised o
____________________
____________________ Hurt -1 o
oooooooooo
____________________ Injured -1 o
____________________ Willpower Wounded -2 o
____________________ OOOOOOOOOO Mauled -2 o
____________________ Crippled -5 o
oooooooooo
____________________ Incapacitated o
____________________ Banality Experience
____________________ OOOOOOOOOO
____________________ oooooooooo
____________________
Goblin Arsonist
Quote: You want to know why I do this? Look into the flames, and you’ll find all the answers
you want.
Prelude: No one listened to you when you were growing up. The world around
you seemed wrong, but there was nothing you could do to change it. Whenever you
tried to put your thoughts into words, you could never really express how you felt. Now
at least you can find a way to make people listen, even if they don’t know it’s you.
The world’s a powder keg, and you’re lighting the fuse. After your family died
in a fire you didn’t start, your life changed forever. Drifting from one job to another,
you harbored a rage you couldn’t’ express, but the first conflagration you started
brought you out of your Chrysalis.
Concept: You’re an artist with flame. You’re an expert at kitchen
chemistry, and the devices you construct impress the de-
tectives who are trying to track you
down. That little blaze you pro-
pelled into the police station
didn’t dissuade them, but now
that you’ve moved to another
state, you’ve bought yourself a
little more time. The freehold
that protects you is helping
you by keeping you steadily
employed. Your clique has a
message to spread. The world
has to wake up, and you’re the
wake-up call.
Roleplaying Hints: Fid-
get occasionally when no one
is listening to you. Whisper to
yourself until you absolutely
have to speak, and then burst
out with ideas and emotions.
Your life is the same way. It’s
nice and quiet when you need
to be silent, but when your cre-
ations speak, everyone listens.
Ravaging Threshold:
Create Anger
Equipment: Trench coat,
chemicals of choice, lead pipe,
sunglasses, your favorite lighter
and really fast tennis shoes.

114 The Shadow Court

 ™

Changeling: The Dreaming™

Name: Court: Unseelie (Shadow Court) Seeming: Grump
Player: Legacies: Bogle/Fiend Kith: Thallain Goblin
Chronicle: Political Impulse: Motley/Society:

Attributes
Physical Social Mental
OOOOO
Strength______________ Charisma___________OOOOO Perception__________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Dexterity_____________ Innocent OOOOO
Manipulation________ Intelligence_________ OOOOO
Stamina______________OOOOO Appearance_________OOOOO Wits_______________
Exploitative OOOOO

Abilities
Talents Skills Knowledges
OOOOO
Alertness_____________ Crafts_____________
Fire! OOOOO Computer___________OOOOO
OOOOO
Athletics_____________ Drive_______________OOOOO Enigmas____________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Brawl__________________ OOOOO
Etiquette_____________ OOOOO
Investigation_____________
Dodge_______________ OOOOO Firearms____________OOOOO Law________________OOOOO
Empathy______________OOOOO Leadership__________OOOOO Linguistics__________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Expression____________ Melee_______________OOOOO Medicine____________OOOOO
OOOOO
Intimidation__________ OOOOO
Performance____________ Mythlore____________OOOOO
Kenning______________OOOOO OOOOO
Security______________ Occult_______________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Streetwise_____________ Stealth_____________OOOOO Politics_____________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Subterfuge_____________ Survival____________OOOOO Science_____________
Fire! OOOOO

Advantages Realms
Backgrounds Arts
Contacts
__________________
OOOOO Delusion OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
Actor OOOOO
Dreamers
__________________
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
Prop OOOOO
Prestige
__________________
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
__________________
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
__________________

Other Traits Glamour Health

OOOOOOOOOO Bruised o
____________________
____________________ Hurt -1 o
oooooooooo
____________________ Injured -1 o
____________________ Willpower Wounded -2 o
____________________ OOOOOOOOOO Mauled -2 o
____________________ Crippled -5 o
oooooooooo
____________________ Incapacitated o
____________________ Banality Experience
____________________ OOOOOOOOOO
____________________ oooooooooo
____________________
Eshu Revolutionary
Quote: Excuse me, ma’am, are you a registered voter?
Prelude: Why has the Man always been down on
you? Maybe your politics are a little extreme, but your only
crime is drifting into political groups that need your help.
You inspire them, and then some “incident” tears it all
apart. It’s like the last 10 years have been one long dream.
Now that you’ve changed, the Dream has become real,
and the game is played for higher stakes.
Concept: You’ve spent too many nights sleeping
in the back of your car, crunching through books
on political theory, and arguing in coffeehouses. If
it wasn’t for your knack with people, you’d have
crashed and burned a long time ago. As long as
you don’t argue politics with the people who
offer you food and work, you’ll get by somehow.
If you don’t, you’re going to have to work some
“joe job” until you can get back on your feet.
Once you’ve settled in, you adjust your
political theory to get in with one of the local
fringe groups. Since you’re very eloquent, you
eventually manage to recruit them to your
way of thinking. A little Glamour and a
few Dark Arts help with this. By the time
you’re finished, you’ll have a group of mortals
willing to fight for you, and if they burn out
in the process, you can always move on to
the next town.
Roleplaying Hints: First, establish who
can protect you for the next few weeks. You’ve
got to focus on your relations with your clique
first, and the mortals who are going to help you
further your goals will follow.
Ravaging Threshold: Break Trust
Equipment: A 10-year-old car, half a tank
of gas, a trunk full of bumper stickers, T-shirts
and pamphlets, and a road map.

116 The Shadow Court

 ™

Changeling: The Dreaming™

Name: Court: Unseelie (Shadow Court) Seeming: Grump
Player: Legacies: Schismatic/Wayfarer Kith: Eshu
Chronicle: Political Impulse: Motley/Society:

Attributes
Physical Social Mental
OOOOO
Strength______________ Charisma___________OOOOO Insightful OOOOO
Perception__________
OOOOO
Dexterity_____________ Engaging OOOOO
Manipulation________ Intelligence_________ OOOOO
Stamina______________OOOOO Appearance_________OOOOO Wits_______________OOOOO

Abilities
Talents Skills Knowledges
OOOOO
Alertness_____________ Crafts_____________OOOOO Computer___________OOOOO
OOOOO
Athletics_____________ Drive_______________OOOOO Enigmas____________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Brawl__________________ OOOOO
Etiquette_____________ OOOOO
Investigation_____________
Dodge_______________ OOOOO Firearms____________OOOOO Law________________OOOOO
Empathy______________OOOOO Leadership__________OOOOO Linguistics__________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Expression____________ Melee_______________OOOOO Medicine____________OOOOO
OOOOO
Intimidation__________ OOOOO
Performance____________ Mythlore____________OOOOO
Kenning______________OOOOO OOOOO
Security______________ Occult_______________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Streetwise_____________ Stealth_____________OOOOO Politics_____________ OOOOO
Fringe
OOOOO
Subterfuge_____________ Survival____________OOOOO Science_____________OOOOO

Advantages Realms
Backgrounds Arts
Dreamers
__________________
OOOOO Contempt OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
Actor OOOOO
Prestige
__________________
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
Scene OOOOO
Resources
__________________
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
__________________
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
__________________

Other Traits Glamour Health

OOOOOOOOOO Bruised o
____________________
____________________ Hurt -1 o
oooooooooo
____________________ Injured -1 o
____________________ Willpower Wounded -2 o
____________________ OOOOOOOOOO Mauled -2 o
____________________ Crippled -5 o
oooooooooo
____________________ Incapacitated o
____________________ Banality Experience
____________________ OOOOOOOOOO
____________________ oooooooooo
____________________
Machiavellian Manipulator
Quote: There are no absolutes in politics, love or war — only sides. I can show you how to be on the
winning side.
Prelude: You suspect you were exiled from Arcadia for “political” reasons. Not sur-
prisingly, you have spent most of your time in the mortal world insinuating your
way into the halls of power — or as close to them as you can get. You hold
memberships in the Shadow Court, the Beltaine Blade, and a half-dozen
mortal and changeling organizations dedicated to various kinds
of one-upsmanship. It doesn’t hurt that your sidhe beauty
attracts all the wrong kinds of attention from those who are
begging to be used.
Concept: As a member of House Ailil, manipulating
people is in your blood. Your role in the Pageant dictates
that you undermine the preconceived notions of loyalty,
honor and trust. Entrenched attitudes and blind adherence
to ideals are anathema to you, and you seek to open the eyes
of all around you to the true nature of the world — your
idea of the truth, at any rate. You show a different face to
each, reveling in their ignorance of your true goals. When
they finally tumble to your deceptions, the revelation is
all the sweeter for their former trust in you.
Both mortals and changelings are your pawns, and you
enjoy moving them about from cause to cause without ever
giving away your true allegiances. You derive satisfaction
— not to mention Glamour — from running the show
from the shadows, then eventually unveiling the web of
lies, broken promises and dirty dealings you have made
them a part of. Vampires would cry blood tears to have
your manipulative touch.
Roleplaying Hints: There are a lot of chumps in the
world and you can spot them a mile away. You always
get closer, though. It’s so much easier to use someone
who trusts you. Set them up and watch them fall. The
name of the game is to come out on top any way you
can — and forget the losers trampled underfoot. Pick
them up and dust them off a few times before abandoning
them, though — just so they’ll think you really care.
Ravaging Threshold: Destroying Illusions
Equipment: Copy of The Prince, cellular phone, stock reports, com-
promising photos of several prominent movers and shakers

118 The Shadow Court

 ™

Changeling: The Dreaming™

Name: Legacies: Riddler/Courtier Seeming: Wilder
Court: Unseelie (Shadow Court) Romantic Legacies: Climber/JongleurKith: Sidhe
House: Ailil Political Impulse: Reformist Motley/Society: Several

Attributes
Physical Social Mental
OOOOO
Strength______________ Charisma___________OOOOO Perception__________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Dexterity_____________ Manipulation________OOOOO Intelligence_________ OOOOO
Stamina______________OOOOO Appearance_________OOOOO Wits_______________OOOOO

Abilities
Talents Skills Knowledges
OOOOO
Alertness_____________ Crafts_____________OOOOO Computer___________OOOOO
OOOOO
Athletics_____________ Drive_______________OOOOO Enigmas____________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Brawl__________________ OOOOO
Etiquette_____________ OOOOO
Investigation_____________
Dodge_______________ OOOOO Firearms____________OOOOO Law________________OOOOO
Empathy______________OOOOO Leadership__________OOOOO Linguistics__________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Expression____________ Melee_______________OOOOO Medicine____________OOOOO
OOOOO
Intimidation__________ OOOOO
Performance____________ Mythlore____________OOOOO
Kenning______________OOOOO OOOOO
Security______________ Occult_______________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Streetwise_____________ Stealth_____________OOOOO Politics_____________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Subterfuge_____________ Survival____________OOOOO Science_____________OOOOO

Advantages Realms
Backgrounds Arts
__________________
Gremayre OOOOO Contempt OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
Actor OOOOO
__________________
Political Connections OOOOO Delusion OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
Fae OOOOO
__________________
Prestige OOOOO Sovereign OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
Scene OOOOO
__________________
Resources OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
__________________

Other Traits Glamour Health

OOOOOOOOOO Bruised o
____________________
Intrigue OOOOO
____________________
Disguise OOOOO Hurt -1 o
oooooooooo
____________________
Bureaucracy OOOOO Injured -1 o
____________________
Psychology OOOOO Willpower Wounded -2 o
____________________ OOOOOOOOOO Mauled -2 o
____________________ Crippled -5 o
oooooooooo
____________________ Incapacitated o
____________________ Banality Experience
____________________ OOOOOOOOOO
____________________ oooooooooo
____________________
Satyr Edge-Dancer
Quote: Light the fires! Let us dance to the end of all things and the coming of Endless Winter.”
Prelude: You were always drawn to the arts and to those who created lovely items, danced gloriously and sang rapturously.
Too drawn. Some called you an arts groupie; you just wanted to show your appreciation in the most intimate way you knew
how. After your Chrysalis, when you became a satyr for the first time, you understood why.
Then something went wrong. You began feeling under the weather. Many times you would awaken with no memory of
your true self. No one knew what it was called at first; by the time it was given a name, it had progressed too far for any sort
of healing to help you. In bitterness, you dance to the end of yourself and all that you hold dear. If it is all to end, you don’t
care about preserving yourself as long as possible or what happens to the world around you. Experience everything you can.
You don’t have much time left. Sure, you’ll be reborn, but who cares? That will be some other time, some other you. Let the
dark revels begin! Welcome to the Unseelie side of your nature.
Concept: You take risks, always pushing the envelope. You
don’t care what others think of you and you’ll say whatever
comes into your head regardless of who it offends. What the
hell? What can they do to you, kill you? You’re dying anyway.
Why not go out in style?
Roleplaying Hints: Be the first one into any new situation.
Have utter disregard for the proprieties. Court danger. Insist on
experiencing new things — especially if they might kill you.
Eat fugu fish; drink belladonna. Dance out on the ledges
of skyscrapers. Hunt werewolves armed only with your
silver tea service....
Reaving Threshold:
Courting Death
Equipment: Usually none.
You prefer to pick up stuff along the
way as you need it. Things are more
exciting that way.

120 The Shadow Court

 ™

Changeling: The Dreaming™

Name: Court: Unseelie (Shadow Court) Seeming: Wilder
Player: Legacies: Fool/Troubadour Kith: Satyr
Chronicle: Political Impulse: Anarchist Motley/Society:

Attributes
Physical Social Mental
OOOOO
Strength______________ Charisma___________OOOOO Perception__________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Dexterity_____________ Manipulation________OOOOO Intelligence_________ OOOOO
Stamina______________OOOOO Appearance_________OOOOO Wits_______________OOOOO

Abilities
Talents Skills Knowledges
OOOOO
Alertness_____________ Crafts_____________OOOOO Computer___________OOOOO
OOOOO
Athletics_____________ Drive_______________OOOOO Enigmas____________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Brawl__________________ OOOOO
Etiquette_____________ OOOOO
Investigation_____________
Dodge_______________ OOOOO Firearms____________OOOOO Law________________OOOOO
Empathy______________OOOOO Leadership__________OOOOO Linguistics__________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Expression____________ Melee_______________OOOOO Medicine____________OOOOO
OOOOO
Intimidation__________ OOOOO
Performance____________ Mythlore____________OOOOO
Kenning______________OOOOO OOOOO
Security______________ Occult_______________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Streetwise_____________ Stealth_____________OOOOO Politics_____________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Subterfuge_____________ Survival____________OOOOO Science_____________OOOOO

Advantages Realms
Backgrounds Arts
__________________
Chimera OOOOO Chicanery OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
Actor OOOOO
__________________
Dreamers OOOOO Contempt OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
Fae OOOOO
__________________
Gremayre OOOOO Soothsay OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
Prop OOOOO
__________________
Resources OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
__________________

Other Traits Glamour Health

OOOOOOOOOO Bruised o
____________________
Seduction OOOOO
____________________
OOOOO Hurt -1 o
Art oooooooooo
____________________
Philosophy OOOOO Injured -1 o
____________________
Theatre OOOOO Willpower Wounded -2 o
____________________ OOOOOOOOOO Mauled -2 o
____________________ Crippled -5 o
oooooooooo
____________________ Incapacitated o
____________________ Banality Experience
____________________ OOOOOOOOOO
____________________ oooooooooo
____________________
 Sluagh Childling Assassin
Quote: ...And his head went smush! Just like
that.
Prelude: Saturday morning cartoons, vid-
eo games, comics and ninjas. You loved them
all — as long as you could turn down the sound
and watch the cool stuff scroll by. You decided
early on that killing the “bad guys” was fun. Bad
guys are anyone who is on the “other side,” mostly
those stuck-up Seelie. Your Chrysalis came early,
and you found your calling: the silenced bullet in the
dark, the unseen wire stretched across the next to the
top stair. For a nine-year-old, you’re doing pretty well.
Three kills this year already!
Concept: You are a member of the Children’s
Crusade, recruited just after your Chrysalis by older
members of the society because of your lightning
reflexes, delight in “scoring high,” and utter lack
of conscience about your actions. To you, killing
is just a game — like all the other games you are
so good at. For all you know, after you leave the
scene, your victims just get up, dust themselves
off, and pull themselves together, while someone
pushes the Reset button.
Roleplaying Hints: Point your finger at
people and mouth the word “bang” (quietly).
Sneak up behind people and follow them around like a
shadow until they notice you — then whisper “Gotcha!”
Get close to people and give them hugs (very tightly around
the neck). You’re always practicing. Someday you’ll have
the highest score of all!
Reaving Threshold: none
Equipment: Bag of gummy worms, slingshot and iron
pellets (kept in a bag), pocket Nintendo (TM), silenced
pistol that looks like a squirt gun

122 The Shadow Court

 ™

Changeling: The Dreaming™

Name: Court: Unseelie (Shadow Court) Seeming: Childling
Player: Legacies: Peacock/Wayfarer Kith: Sluagh
Chronicle: Political Impulse: Motley/Society: Children’s Crusade

Attributes
Physical Social Mental
Strength______________ OOOOO Charisma___________OOOOO Perception__________ OOOOO
Lightning Reflexes OOOOO
Dexterity_____________ Manipulation________OOOOO Intelligence_________ OOOOO
Stamina______________ OOOOO Appearance_________OOOOO Combat Nerves OOOOO
Wits_______________

Abilities
Talents Skills Knowledges
OOOOO
Alertness_____________ Crafts_____________OOOOO Computer___________OOOOO
OOOOO
Athletics_____________ Drive_______________OOOOO Enigmas____________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Brawl__________________ OOOOO
Etiquette_____________ OOOOO
Investigation_____________
Dodge_______________ OOOOO Firearms____________OOOOO Law________________OOOOO
Empathy______________OOOOO Leadership__________OOOOO Linguistics__________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Expression____________ Melee_______________OOOOO Medicine____________OOOOO
OOOOO
Intimidation__________ OOOOO
Performance____________ Mythlore____________OOOOO
Kenning______________OOOOO OOOOO
Security______________ Occult_______________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Streetwise_____________ Stealth_____________
Hide OOOOO Politics_____________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Subterfuge_____________ Survival____________OOOOO Science_____________OOOOO

Advantages Realms
Backgrounds Arts
__________________
Chimera OOOOO Delusion OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
Fae OOOOO
__________________
Gremayre OOOOO Legerdemain OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
Prop OOOOO
__________________
Mentor OOOOO Wayfare OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
Scene OOOOO
(ever-renewing OOOOO OOOOO
__________________
Treasures bubble gum) ___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
__________________

Other Traits Glamour Health

OOOOOOOOOO Bruised o
____________________
Search OOOOO
____________________
Disguise OOOOO Hurt -1 o
oooooooooo
____________________
Sewer Lore OOOOO Injured -1 o
____________________
Technology OOOOO Willpower Wounded -2 o
____________________ OOOOOOOOOO Mauled -2 o
____________________ Crippled -5 o
oooooooooo
____________________ Incapacitated o
____________________ Banality Experience
____________________ OOOOOOOOOO
____________________ oooooooooo
____________________
124 The Shadow Court
 ™

Name: Legacies: Seeming:

Court: Romantic Legacies: Kith:
Chronicle: Title: House/Motley:

Attributes
Physical Social Mental
OOOOO
Strength______________ Charisma___________OOOOO Perception__________OOOOO
OOOOO
Dexterity_____________ Manipulation________OOOOO Intelligence_________ OOOOO
Stamina______________OOOOO Appearance_________OOOOO Wits_______________OOOOO

Abilities
Talents Skills Knowledges
OOOOO
Alertness_____________ Crafts_____________OOOOO Computer___________OOOOO
OOOOO
Athletics_____________ Drive_______________OOOOO Enigmas____________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Brawl__________________ OOOOO
Etiquette_____________ OOOOO
Investigation_____________
Dodge_______________ OOOOO Firearms____________OOOOO Law________________OOOOO
Empathy______________OOOOO Leadership__________OOOOO Linguistics__________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Expression____________ Melee_______________OOOOO Medicine____________OOOOO
OOOOO
Intimidation__________ OOOOO
Performance____________ Mythlore____________OOOOO
Kenning______________OOOOO OOOOO
Security______________ Occult_______________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Streetwise_____________ Stealth_____________OOOOO Politics_____________ OOOOO
OOOOO
Subterfuge_____________ Survival____________OOOOO Science_____________OOOOO

Advantages Realms
Backgrounds Arts
__________________
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
__________________
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
__________________
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
__________________
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
OOOOO OOOOO
___________________ ___________________
OOOOO
__________________

Other Traits Glamour Health

OOOOOOOOOO Bruised o
____________________
____________________ Hurt -1 o
oooooooooo
____________________ Injured -1 o
____________________ Willpower Wounded -2 o
____________________ OOOOOOOOOO Mauled -2 o
____________________ Crippled -5 o
oooooooooo
____________________ Incapacitated o
____________________ Banality Ravaging Threshold
____________________ OOOOOOOOOO
____________________ oooooooooo
____________________
 ™

Household:_____________________________ Political Impulse:________________________

Leige Lord:_____________________________ Sain Day:______________________________

Merits & Flaws

Merit Type Cost Flaw Type Bonus
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Experience
Total:_________________________________ TotalSpent:___________________________
Gained From: Spent On:
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
Birthrights/Boons Frailties/Flaws
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
Combat
Weapon Difficulty Damage Conceal Range Rate Clip Brawling Chart
Maneuver Roll/Difficulty Damage Actions
Body Slam Dex+Brawl/7 Special 1
Grapple Dex+ Brawl/6 Strength 1
Kick Dex+Brawl/7 Strength+1 1
Punch Dex+Brawl/6 Strength 1

Armor
Class:_____________Rating:____Penalty:_______________Description:_______________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
 ™

Vassals Oaths Broken

__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________

Holdings Oaths Sworn

__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
Dreamers Contacts
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
Mentor Retinue
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
Possessions
Gear (Carried) Chimerical Items
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
Treasures Chimerical Companions
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
Freeholds
Location Description
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
 ™

History
Prelude
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date Ennobled:________________________Secret Societies:_________________________________________________
Cliques:____________________________________________________________________________________________

Appearance
Chronological Age:_______________________Mortal:______________________________________________________
Apparent Age:________________________________________________________________________________________
Date of Birth:________________________________________________________________________________________
Chronological Age:___________________________________________________________________________________
Hair:_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Eyes:____________________________________Fae:__________________________________________________________
Race:_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nationality:__________________________________________________________________________________________
Height:_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Visuals
Oath Bonds Chart Character Sketch
 ™

The Secrets of Winter

Tear aside the veil and learn the sinister secrets of the Shadow Court. Discover their dark
rites and forbidden Arts. But beware —the Unseelie do not take kindly to those who pry into
their affairs.
The Shadow Court is a complete guide to the Unseelie for both players and Storytellers.
This book offers a wealth of information — from playing Unseelie characters to running Un-
seelie chronicles. It offers everything from new Arts, kith and noble houses to secret societies,
Unseelie festivals and customs.

The Shadow Court includes:

• Three new Unseelie Houses of the sidhe.
• New Arts for Unseelie characters.
• A wealth of information on the history and culture of the Unseelie Court and the more
sinister Shadow Court.

ISBN 1-56504-710-9
WW 7005 $18.00
5 18 0 0

9 7 8 1 56 5 04 7 10 5
Printed in Canada