Nerd Dice: Shadow Court Background

While the members of the Shadow Court aren't precisely antagonistic toward the Motley per se, they are working counter to the Seelie power structure and do whatever they can to trip up the Count's or the Baroness' plans.

Principally, this includes several strategic alliances with various Nunnehi groups in the area. Many of the raids on Changelings are planned out by both the Shadow Court and Nunnehi leaders, though carefully orchestrated to obfuscate Unseelie involvement. Most aren't privy to this knowledge.

To additionally obscure their doings, the Shadow Court also shifts power structure constantly. Layers of apparent power and true power fold and overlap beneath the figurehead "titles" known to all on Samhain Eve. Those who are closer to the true motives and activities of the Shadow Court see that apparent leadership shifts every few months. Many suspect there is a hidden hand pulling the strings of these more secret leaders, but no-one-- not even the figureheads-- knows who it might be.

Current Power Structure

The known leaders of the Shadow Court from last Samhain's ceremony (known to both the Seelie and Unseelie kithain in the area) are as follows. Of course, since Beltaine is long past, these honorary titles have ended until next October 31st.

Lady Baria, The Lady of Fire and Ice

Unseelie Sidhe Wilder of House Balor

Lady Baria has flaming red hair and scarlet eyes but a contrasting icy demeanor. She is a cruel and power-hungry tyrant, and though the Seelie hate her and don't dare trust her, they tolerate her membership in the Shadow Court, believing it to be the token rule of one night in their tradition. Taking advantage of her house's unique qualities, she carries a small iron dagger on a belt around her waist. Most Changelings are outright terrified of her. She always wears a glove on her left hand, and it's whispered the hand beneath is a deformed claw.

Lorcán Baine, The Grey Lord of the Silent Strike

Unseelie Wilder Sidhe of House Scathach

Although truly a commoner, Lorcán maintains a token title in the Shadow Court. His true involvement in the group is much hazier. His personality is a slippery one, although he clearly has his own agenda. He keeps a very polite exterior and seems to go along with whomever he's with, but often his actions belie his demeanor, and he seems to always get what he's after in the end. A fierce fighter, he loves attacking chimerical monsters and testing his battle skills against them. He is an object of much fascination with House Eiluned, since he seems like a tempting link to the secret knowledge of that house's excellent but elusive soothsayers, the Morphean Oracles.

Sir Karver, Knight of the Delicate Table Manners

Unseelie Redcap Wilder

Karver is a surly, tall, but unusually attractive Redcap. However, his somewhat handsome face is usually distorted by a horrible grin full of his sturdy, huge, blindingly white teeth. He is known to have excellent dental hygiene and impeccable table manners -- although true to his kith, he still does eat anything. Before he became a "Knight" of the Shadow Court, he was simply known by his name, but he loves to lord his title over others, even though it is now the Seelie half of the year. No one really seems to feel like arguing about it with him.

Mister Mirtch

Unseelie Boggan Wilder

Mister Mirtch is the dirtiest, scariest looking boggart in Whitcombe County. Although not a titled member of the Shadow Court, he always seems to be running errands for one of its members. Mister Mirtch hates any appearance of weakness. He feels that anyone who tries to make him/herself out as a victim is simply manipulative and lazy; trying to blame others for their own problems and misery. Mister Mirtch often does not very nice things to people who behave like victims, often in a way that smack of, to him, poetic justice. He also is an excellent crafter and makes very useful, if somewhat ugly or twisted or warped tools and implements that seem like they were drawn like Tim Burton.