Reading Changeling: The Lost VSS

Country Name: United Kingdom
Region: Southern
Venue: Lost
Lead Venue Storyteller: Edwin Porter-Daniels
Storyteller Contact: nifara@gmail.com

Styles of Play

Action
(Combat and Challenges): 2

Violence between Freehold members is extremely unusual indeed, and generally limited to crimes of passion. Depending on the season, combat is given different priorities and, perhaps unsurprisingly, the majority of violence happens during the summer months. However, the Freehold is always prepared to face difficult challenges if it will help the Changelings survive, especially if the Fae are feared to be involved. The Freehold will not back down, and will provide help to any Changeling, resident or not, if needed against the Fae without endangering others.

Character Development
(Personal Dilemmas and Choices): 3

Changelings are Lost. They were stolen or tricked into Faerie, and they escaped to find their old lives stolen or gone. They have the enormous task of rebuilding their lives, or building new ones from scratch, and they are challenged and threatened by their own strange powers, a link back to their horror in Faerie. Again and again they are forced to choose whether to ignore their past, or use it, to avoid the Wyrd, or embrace it. They have to make decisions which would be nonsensical to mortals, and choose between nightmarish options that pull at them with an insane allure.
Reading is no exception to this, and a little worse than normal perhaps. The Freehold of the Broken Sun is a very strange place, but it is bounded by the world and the natural progression of the year, and the changes and shifts of a more… human… reality. This keeps them safe from the Fae, but not from themselves. They find themselves becoming, if not more Fae, then less human. It is an eternal struggle to hold on to normality, even a shred of it.

Darkness
(PC Death or Corruption): 2

Death is uncommon in the Freehold of the Broken Sun, but it does happen from time to time. Despite all that the founders did to alleviate the dangers of Changeling existence, they are still under threat and it is not to be ignored. However, it is reasonably infrequent and is often shocking. Traditionally, a remembrance ceremony is held for the fallen in January at the beginning of the new year. There the names of those who have died is read aloud, and offerings are sometimes left.
The corruption of Changelings is likewise reasonably low, but again does happen from time to time. Though for the most part the machinations of the court keep the changelings out of the hands of the True Fae and their influences, the unyielding attitude of the Freehold sometimes influences Lost to take a more militant attitude. The numbers of Privateers within the domain are unusually high.

Drama
(Ceremony and Grand Story): 3

The Broken Sun is a Freehold maintaining a strange balance, and formality and ceremony are no exceptions. Though there are formal events and activities that are ever-present within the Freehold – grievance presentation, crowning of the new season, challenge contests – but there is a surprising amount of informality present too. Many monarchs will deal with the matters of the day then move freely amongst the Lost, and whilst court is often formal it is entirely up to the Changeling who currently rules. If a monarch wanted there to be a swimming pool and strippers then there would be (albeit with much complaining) because it is their Freehold. There is a sense of drama to all events in the Broken Sun, but it is sometimes a strange kind of drama.

Intrigue
(Politics and Negotiation): 4

Unlike some Freeholds whose structure is relatively loose and whose inhabitants are more casual with their affiliation, the Broken Sun is a strongly political place. Violence amongst the Lost is almost unheard of, and as such most agreements come about through political manipulation and negotiation. The ruler of a seasonal court is a very powerful person, even more so during their season’s ascendance, and many changelings with a strong sense of duty or a clear idea of how they wish the freehold to be run compete for those positions. Though theoretically any Changeling who stood undefeated would rise to lead their court, any influence they have is based purely upon their skills with the other monarchs and with the Freehold.

Manners
(Social Etiquette and Peer Pressure): 4

Though, as it has already been pointed out, the formality of the court changes with the current ruler, there is a significant amount of pressure within the Freehold to keep to the traditions of the Freehold’s esteemed founders, and members of the seasonal courts are often intensely proud of the achievements of their first monarch. To break the major traditions they put in place would be horrifying to many Changelings, and it is even considered bad form to not act in a way befitting their forebears. The social pressure put upon the Lost to behave in a “proper” fashion is huge, and those who flaunt the past often find it difficult to make much progress within the Freehold.

Mystery
(Enigmas and Investigation): 2

Mystery is something which all Changelings have to deal with from time to time. So much of their past is often a total enigma that many have to confront the possibility of simply never knowing or spending the rest of their lives investigating something which may never yield results. In the Freehold of the Broken Sun investigation is a low priority, and most Changelings are more inclined to solve things through other methods. However, some mystery is likely to come up, and has to be dealt with so it is not exactly a completely unknown phenomena. For the most part, the Freehold deals with issues of a type with which they have dealt before, and thus mystery not the norm.

Pace
(How fast stories emerge, develop and resolve): 3

Stories and narratives are, inevitably, incredibly varied, but for the most part stories are dealt with over a period of a few months, not hours or years. Though there may be long term plots and grand arcs going on, the majority of issues will be solved relatively quickly. However, few issues which actually present the Freehold with worry are fixable instantly, and this means that few things conclude over a single evening.

Description of the local Venue

The Freehold and the Broken Sun was founded in 1736 by four changelings who were desperate to make a safe life for themselves and others. Edward and Mary Crow and John and Lucy Magpie all had very different idea about how it was best to survive against the Fae, but that did not stop them from working together to ensure it.
They recognised that all of the seasonal courts were valuable, but that they relied upon the support of the other. No one court should dominate the freehold, and to ensure this the rule of the court should change with the seasons. Edward became the first Summer King before ceding control to his wife Mary, the Autumn Queen. John was crowned the Winter King that year before passing rule to Lucy who rose as the Lady of Spring, after refusing the title Queen.
The court shifted with the turn of the year, and the freehold flourished. More and more Changelings came to join the Crows and Magpies. There were a few incidents – in 1748 two Darklings were attacked and dragged screaming back into Faerie – but the Freehold survived without real incident until, in the winter of 1763, Edward died of old age leaving the summer court without a King. To find his successor, a great tournament was held where the summer court wrestled and leapt and fought for the crown.
That has been the pattern of the monarchs for almost two hundred years. Any Changeling who wishes to rule must challenge the current monarch to a contest. The summer court fights, Autumn cast great magics, Winter sneak and creep, and Spring create the most beautiful and joyful things they can. No one may challenge a monarch whilst they hold the throne of the Broken Sun for the freehold must be strong, but anyone may challenge a Monarch in the seasons their rule lies fallow.
There are a few strong traditions in the Freehold, but for the most part the current monarch determines how the court behaves. Some of the past rulers have been incredibly formal, whilst others have stepped down immediately once they have heard grievances and then walked amongst their subjects. There are, however, five major traditions which the Freehold abides by, and they are more or less unbreakable. The first is the shifting of the courts with the year, and this act alone keeps the Freehold safe from the Fae… or at least, safer than they would otherwise be.
The second tradition is that each month the Freehold should meet and the current monarch should hear grievances and worries of the Changelings resident therein. It is a time for the Freehold to come together, for challenges to be issued, for everyone to share ideas and beliefs and to help with problems that may have arisen. The third tradition which is held dear is the yearly trip of the court to the Kelber’s Market, a large Goblin Market which is unusually friendly towards Changelings. This still causes consternation amongst some of the more suspicious members of the Freehold, but the relationship is long and illustrious. The market is surprisingly reliable considering the normal practice of such establishments, but this merely means that everyone involved benefits. The fourth tradition is to honour Lucy Magpie’s decision to reject the title of monarch and merely be “Lady”. Whilst the other seasons claim the title of either King or Queen, the Spring season only ever claims the title of Lord or Lady.
The last tradition is the tradition of challenge. When a Changeling’s court is in fallow (i.e. is not ruling the Freehold) they may challenge the current monarch to a suiting contest to try and prove they deserve to lead their court. A contest must be observed at a meeting of the Freehold, and counts as a grievance to be addressed to the ruling monarch. When these traditions are followed, the Freehold flourishes, but when they are ignored disaster often strikes. Some believe that the original monarchs made a secret contract to bind these traditions, but there is no proof of this.

Storytelling Mechanics

Details:

NO combats/PC on PC violence allowed after 10pm.

ST calls are FINAL on the night. Disagreements can be passed up along the chain, with objections noted.

NPC Creation Guidelines: All NPCs will be created within the bounds of the creating ST and approvals guidelines.

Proxy Play:
Standard rules apply for all proxies. STs must be informed in advance as per the addenda.

Positions of the Freehold

Monarch of the Court – Every court is led by a monarch who, during their season, leads the Freehold. Summer, Autumn, and Winter all have a King or Queen, but the leader of the Spring Court refers to themselves as the Lord or Lady of Spring.

The Bargained – A Changeling chosen by the ruling monarch at the time of appointment to negotiate with markets and hedge-folk. This position is for life, or until voluntary retirement.

Gatherer – The Changeling who provides the venue for the monthly meeting and prepares for them. They have no power over the gathering, but Changelings are expected to behave themselves there anyway and it is unusual if there is trouble.

Common Events of the Freehold

Ascension of the Season – At the beginning of each month, the throne is left empty by the previous month’s incumbent, and the new season’s monarch ascends. The only words which are traditionally exchanged during this ceremony are “I give you the leaves of the new season for your crown” and the reply “I shall wear them until they change once more”.

Grievances – A time must be given over once a month to hear the grievances and problems of the court, and this period is announced with the words “I shall now hear your troubles, open you heart and I shall open my mind” and concluded with the words “Til moon has danced once more, your hearts are clear.”

Challenges – A formal challenge for the leadership of a Seasonal Court is issued with the words “I wish to wear your crown”. The ruling monarch then, when all are gathered, announces the beginning of the challenge with the words “Shall your be the best of time. Begin your dispute knowing that we will watch and judge you. In challenges where there may be no clear winner, the ruling monarch decides.

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