The County

The County of Radiant Hope The County of Radiant Hope is a promising County that encompasses the lands of, and around, the mundane city of Prospect, CA. While the political climate has been rumored to have previously been unstable, the current Count Leras and Countess Ionae have made strides towards the future prosperity of the County. The County is typically viewed as Traditionalist with Reformer leanings, though with the nobility both of House Fiona major concessions are made for the benefit of the commoners. Those of the Seelie and Unseelie Court are both welcome within the County.

County Nobility Introduced Nobility Known To The County Sir Fenwick Baron Jynx, Baroness Shiva Count Leras, Countess Ionae, Sir Jackson, Squire Liazaelyn Sir Fenwick None County Court Bards: The bard serves as the lorekeeper and storyteller for not just the court but the whole of the County. Tales are collected from the whole of the fiefdom to be recited during certain festivities and particular events. These should bring pride to not only the nobles but the commoners as well. Champion of the Lions: The grand champion of the Tournament of the Lions, an annual Tournament held at Lion's Reach. The Tournament attracted artisans and warriors from far and wide to compete. The victor holds the title for the rest of the year and is renown for their battle prowess. Quite often the Champion is sought out for training by eager students. In addition to this, rumor has it that the Champion is also a key element for defense of the County. Chancellor: Chancellors serve as their lords' right hands, governing their lieges' lands in their absence and helping protect the fiefdoms from attack. Their intimate knowledge of the workings of their masters' freeholds and lands usually earns them the trust and respect of their lords. Few chancellors abuse this confidence; in return, many receive almost as much honor as their masters. County Seer: The County Seer is a Kithain well versed in oath, lore, and chimera. Some of their duties overlap with the Personal Seer, but they have particular command during special faerie rituals. Guardian: Every powerful throne has a shadowy figure that stands behind it to listen and ensure that which stands remains standing. The Shadow Guardian is obviously this. She listens and she ensures that whispers of secrets contain nothing of Faerie within it. Rumor and speculation abound concerning her other ways of protecting her territory. Herald: Heralds serve as messengers, diplomats and couriers to their lords. This gives them a certain amount of diplomatic immunity when interacting with the courts of other nobles, so long as they pay the proper respect to their superiors in status. They are responsible for summoning up commoner levies when fiefdoms are endangered and bringing forward those who are newly arrived in a fiefdom for proper introduction. Personal Seer: Skilled in magic and advising their lord in these particular matters, the Personal Seer is primarily concerned with magical defense and scrying. Reeves: Reeves act as official liasons between a noble and the commoners who dwell within that noble's fiefdom. They also fill the position of advocates for commoners, often appearing in court to press a commoner's claims or voice a complaint. Should objection be found in a ruling, one can approach the Reeve and the matter will be respectfully reconsidered by the nobility. The Reeve must be agreed upon by both the commoners as a whole as well as the nobility. Scribes: Scribes serve the vital function of transcribing not only court proceedings, but also of recording any memories members of the court may have of Arcadia or their past lives. This act is done in the old style, written on parchment and vellum with quill and ink in chimerical tomes bound in griffin or boar hide. Many scribes also illuminate their texts to create works of beauty and repositories for Glamour. Stewards: Stewards are responsible for a fiefdom's resources, organizing and governing their lord's assets. They control household finances, disperse chimerical and 'real' weapons and guard court treasures. Stewards also train and manage a household's staff. Thanes: Thanes are commoner warriors who have sword loyalty to their lords. They are charged with hunting for Glamour for their masters. Some lords see the advantage of placing bands of thanes on the field of battle, since these warriors are often more effective in war than noble knights. Many thanes who organized the resistance during the Accordance War now serve the lords they once opposed. The nobility's acceptance of these rebel leaders helped smooth relations with the commoners. Often, a noble will find support among commoners in her realms as long as she treats her thanes with honor and respect. Troubadours: Troubadours are the musicians and performers of a noble's court. They also lead the court in the practice of courtly love, acting as chroniclers and go-betweens. Often troubadours are themselves involved in the amorous machinations of the nobles. They perform their own works, the ballads of the past and specifically commissioned songs in honor of their patrons or a paramour. Escheat The Escheat as ruled by Count Leras and Countess Ionae, and blessed by their Graces. The traditions that make up the Escheat form the basic laws of Kithain society. Believed to have originated among those wise faeries who lived closest to the Dreaming, they were recorded after the Sundering as a way to ensure fae survival in the face of inexorable change. Passed down and enforced by the nobility, the Escheat's tenets are respected by both Seelie and Unseelie nobles (though each Court has variations on how it interprets each principle). The Escheat is not enforced by Glamour, but instead carries the force of law, tradition and custom. Occasionally the Dreaming works its own chimerical subtleties around the Escheat, making certain that its rules are kept or forcing those who break it to reap the consequences of their actions. Freeholds

Territories Barony of Astral Seas: The County Seat, official Barony held personally by Count Leras and Countess Ionae of House Fiona. Lion's Reach and The Sideshow is found within it. Motleys Nearby Counties/Nobility Notable NPCs Plot Threads