Changeling
The Parliament of Dreams
- from The Right Honourable Place : A History of the Parliament of Dreams by Dewey St. John Flanders, satyr.
Though the Accordance War still raged in 1971, High King David saw the need to build hope. He accomplished this through construction of the Parliament of Dreams, a legislative body that would allow representation from all freeholds with over fifteen kithain. Moreover, he encouraged smaller freeholds to band together to meet this minimum number, thus extending representation far and wide over Concordia. In this fashion, he was eventually able to create what no Kithain monarch had ever accomplished before, a governing body that was roughly half sidhe and half commoner. Some members of both sides rejected the notion of such a Parliament; after all, it went against the Traditionalists' most cherished notions of the divine right of kings and noblesse oblige. How could the common folk understand the responsibilities of leadership, asked critics. But the High King insisted, and no gesture could have won him more commoner support than this. For this reason and others, David ap Ardry ap Gwydion will forever bear the accolade of "commoners' king."
Presently, the Parliament acts more as a strong advisory council, and the mood of the body is essentially coalitionist. Seldom can any sidhe gain a clear upper hand, as there are many splitsbetween sidhe and commoner, political impulses and commoner political standpoints and, of course, Courts. Laws passed are not necessarily binding throughout Concordia, though wise monarchs follow at least the spirit of the law. Some of the most stalwart commoner supporters include the boggans, who comprise about fourteen percent of the Parliament.
Commoners who are politically self-destructive, calling themselves moderates or radicals, lead the main domestic opposition to the Parliament of Dreams. They deny the age-old traditions of allowing a sidhe majority rule and claim that Kithain deserve representation based on the numbers of their kith in Concordia rather than sidhe dominion. What these dissenters fail to realize is the long-standing political expertise the sidhe hold so dear. They fail to see that those who are most skilled, rather by rature or experience, should be the ones in charge. Should these politically inept commoners ever gain the upper hand, the Parliament would surely be in jeaopardy of extinction.
- from the pamphlet Advocates : Pay Heed to the Farce of Courts! by Vlad Rogodov, redcap:
What fools we be if we continue to accept the inequalities of the Parliament of Dreams. Fellow Advocates, you can see how warped the very setting of the political body remains, after all these years! A mere 5% of the Unseelie populace holds seats! 'Tis the way the Unseelie prefer it, most Seelie claim. Well, let me assure you, 'tis not so!
You who call yourselves Kithain, pay heed, particularly those among you who love the word tradition: in the ancient past, half of us were Seelie and half Unseelie. Are you ignoring the old ways by refusing to allow the darker side of the year to gain ascendance? More importantly, are you denying the Unseelie fae their equal and rightful chance for having their day in Parliament?
If so, you are silencing half of your own soul.
The Matter of Titled Commoners
Not surprisingly, outlooks on titled commoners are as varied as the Kithain themselves. Many sidhe and not a few commoners take traditional, conservative perspectives on the issue. Moderates who straddle the fence are the second largest group, while extremists at either end of the political spectrum are the smallest minority.
Sidhe traditionalists have three basic rules relative to titled commoners. Rule one: Once a commoner, always a commoner. Rule two: the sidhe, not the commoners, are meant to rule. Rule three: If you're foolish enough to have doubts, see rules one and two.
Sidhe reformers, on the other hand, judge people as individuals; if someone has a title, they presume the person deserves it until she proves otherwise. For now, sidhe do hold most of the ruling positions; however, they can't govern without the will of the people, and that means the support of the commoners. By giving titles to deserving commoners, these sidhe believe they can maintain that strong support.
Sidhe modernists take a practical tack. They acknowledge that this isn't the ancient world. Traditionalist sidhe and the stodgier commoners need to get with the program and realize that all Kithain are in the same leaky boat on a sea of Banality. Clinging to the distant past will get everyone in trouble.
Like the sidhe, untitled commoners are sharply divided on the issue of their own people having titles.
Conservatives think having a title might be okay, if it was given for some extraordinary reason such as bravery in battle. But the bottom line is that commoners aren't cut out to be rulers. That's the sidhe's baliwick, and commoners need to stay out of it and stop being upstarts.
Moderates acknowledge that the sidhe are meant to be the lords and ladies of all the fae; it's been that way since the dawn of time, after all. On the other hand, the ancient ancestors of the Kithain couldn't have predicted events such as the Shattering and the way commoners took the reins of command. What's needed in these modern times, the moderates say, is a balance between the sidhe, who have an inborn ability to rule wisely and well, and the commoners, who know far more about the mortal lands. Titled commoners can help bridge the gap between commoner kith and noble sidhe.
Radicals have a simple and predictable rhetoric: Commoners are equal to the sidhe in every way, and just as likely to make good rulers. Keeping the commoners down is criminal and must be stopped, by any means necessary.
Greetings, Lady Liam.

You did express Interest recently in Arranging your Court that it might run Smoothly and Well. In the interests of the Stability of this Barony, I submit a Humble Proposal and Elucidation of the variety of Courtly Posts and Functions necessary for one well-held. In addition, I recommend that all Appointments be Grandly Done, in Public, that those who hold these positions might find a Pride in them, and that those who do not shall look upon them with Envy in their Hearts. This often leads to the better Performance of those who fill the following Roles in the Pageant, as they will think the better of Striving Well, rather than risk losing their Coveted and Prestigious post to their 'Lessers.'

Herald.
It would be adviseable for a Noble of your Standing to hold two Heralds in her employ. A herald stands as Messenger and Envoy, delivering Word from one Noble to another. Note that this is different from the duties of a Reeve, who acts as the Noble's Intermediary with the local Commoners. As such, a herald must be Well-Versed in Heraldry, Etiquette, Expression and the Ways of the Nobility of the Fae. It is also of Great Import that a Herald can deliver both the Words and the Spirit of any Missives intended by their noble. To this end, a pooka makes a poor Herald.

Seer.
The Seer or Gruagagh of a Court stands as Advisor and Soothsayer. While this Post, in its most Formal sense, is not a Necessary One, it does by times prove Useful. No Court May Hold more than one Seer or Gruagagh, and no Barony might house more than one Gruagagh's Tower. In Time, should this Barony prove itself to have a Need, such a figure shall Arise on their own.

Chancellor.
As the holder of the Throne of Shining Waters, and the Free Hold in which it rests, you are in grievous need of a Chancellor. The holder of this respected Name acts in all ways In Your Interests, speaking for their Noble when sais noble is not Present. Should you find that once Again you are to be called Away from your Throne for Great Duration, with little Notice to your Citizens; should you choose Yourself to act in Standing for the Parliament of Dreams; should Aught Happen whilst you care to your Clay Life, the Chancellor speaks Your Words and acts with Your Intent. In all ways they Represent You in your Absence. Such a post is Essential. Moreover, the Chancellor must be one who has Fully your Trust, who holds no other Allegiances, who shall always be Present at your Throne, when you are absent, and who shall Betray neither you nor your Throne.

Steward.
The Steward is a Valued Personage at any Free Hold. It is they who act as Storekeeper for all Products and Properties of said Holding. Both Bale Fire and Armoury, Nockerwork and Cookery, all those Treasures, Chimerae, and Dross which make up the Possessions of that Hold are under the Aegis of the Steward. They see to it that the Waariors are well Fitted, that those Injured are tended by the Fire, that No Thing goes Absent in the dark of the Night, by Light Fingers or by Political Machinations. A Free Hold should have a single Steward for its Care.

Reeve.
As the Herald stands as a Nobles Voice to others of the Nobility, so the Reeve stands as a Noble's Voice to the Commoners under Her Care. Pronouncements and Announcements, Hue and Cry or Quiet Levying, these are the Care of the Reeve. Where a Herald is sent to Call to the Knights of a Fiefdom, the Reeve is sent to gather the Thanes, and other Common Warriors for Battle; where a Herald takes word of a Noble Sainday to those of House and Hearth, the Reeve gathers the Common Folk of the Fiefdom to celebrate their Noble's Joy. Unlike the Herald, the Reeve has little need of Noble skills, rather having the Necessary Ability to speak with the Commoners on Common Ground. A Barony of this size is in need of but a single Reeve.

Thanes. Knights.
These are the Warriors of a Fiefdom. Within your Lands you have already I am told a "knight" to stand for your Name, an eshu to champion your Cause. Your Fiefdom deserves a Gathering of Three, Three Knights or Thanes, to Serve it and Protect. Know that Titles easily given are Easily Abandoned in Duty and Honour. Commoners are born to Thanedom, and stand well in that place. Trolls bound by Honour are solid Thanes, any Seelie with a strong Arm and strong Heart can do the same. Knighting is best reserved either for Those to Nobility Born, else for Exceptional Valour in Defense of this Fiefdom, else it shall be seen as of No Consequence, and you should find that Baronial Title would be that Next Desired. Also, 'though this Your Eshu stands Errant, it is the Practice that a Knighting be Accompanied not only by Fealty, but also by a Fealty-Gift of Sword and Hold. Such Glamour is not a simple matter to Come By, in this Darkened Age. In all, I should Recommend You a pair of Thanes to stand guard at your Door, to stand Beside your knight in the Heart of Battle, and to Defend your Barony from All that Imperils it. Reward those who Prove themselves Strong and Devoted.

Foresters.
Though less a Concern in Well-placed Fiefdoms who Border only on the Edges of the Holds of Others, the Forester is Essential to those whose Borders run against the Wild Woods and Far Dark of the Wilderness. With so few Near, this Fiefdom needs Skilled Kithain to Patrol its Borders against Perils From Without. Pooka often stand well in this Regard, for where they are not Well Adapted to the Perils of Court, those which Haunt the Edges of Civilization are more in their Demesne. In truth, I Recommend allowing this duty for Any Pooka who enter your Borders and Swear Fealty - that they be Granted the Name of Forester of the Barony of Shining Waters, Angherad's Forester, given leave to Guard against Banality and Dangers From Without, to Act {not Speak} in the Baroness' Name in the Performance of Said Duties. This grants them Leave to Explore this Barony, to Enter any Fiefdom within your Lands, to Use their Natural Talents to their Greatest Advantage.

Scribe.
Each Fiefdom holds History in its Grasp. Our History is Lost to us. Our Legend is being Built once more from the First Stone. None must let the Tale escape from Memory, for Memory is all that Remains us, and the Tale is all that we are. Your Barony needs a Scribe, Lady, one who can Willingly, Impartially, and Well, Record the History of this Demesne as it Transpires. We Must Not Forget.

Jester.
There is one Post within each Fiefdom which is of Serious Import, and which Belies its Name. The Fool is no fool, but rather holds within his Duties to Seek Out and Betray all Banality which carries the Court to Danger. To Guard against the Autumn-folk, to Watch against the Dauntain, to Seek those Lost or Prisoned or Forgotten in Winter's Crushing Grasp. They are the Eyes and Ears of the Court against Banality. Most often a Pooka holds this Name, for Their Senses are Sharp to the Autumn's Tang.

These Your Court needs, Lady Angherad, of House Liam the OathBroken. These you must Find within your Demesne. Ten Names for Strong Hearts and Strong Minds. I Wish you the Moon's Fortune.

- Halfdan ap Kinrowan ap Dougal, Knight of the Queen's Own, in Her Majesty's Secret Service.

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