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escheats and codes
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Escheats and Codes
The Escheat
The Escheat is the Law of all of Kithain— its litany encompasses the traditions of the Changeling races. All Changelings, whether Seelie and Unseelie, are held to it by the Sidhe rulers and commoner wisemen and woodwives, for it forms a foundation of Changeling society.
1 The Right of Demesne
A lord is the king of his domain. He is the judge and jury over all crimes, large and small. His word is law. A noble expects obedience from his vassals and respect from all others. In return, a noble respects those lords superior to him.
2 The Right to Dream
Mortals have a right to dream unhindered by our needs. The Dreaming will die if we steal directly from the font. No one is allowed to use Glamour to manipulate the creative process. Although you may inspire creativity in the mortal mind, it is forbidden to give direct instruction or to infuse a human with raw Glamour.
3 The Right of Ignorance
Do not betray the Dreaming to Banality. Never reveal yourself to humanity. Not only will humankind hunt us down for our wisdom and our power, it will overwhelm us with Banality and destroy our places of power. The more humanity knows, the more ardently it will seek us, draining the world of Glamour and petrifying our essence with its basilisk's gaze.
4 The Right of Rescue
All Kithain have the right to expect rescue from the foul grip of Banality. We are in danger together and must strive together to survive. Never leave anyone behind. Kithain are required to rescue other faeries or any creature of the Dreaming trapped by those who serve Banality.
5 The Right of Safe Haven
All places of the Dreaming are sacred. Kithain cannot allow faerie places to be endangered. All those who seek refuge in such places must be admitted. Freeholds must be kept free of both Banality and worldly violence.
6 The Right of Life
No Kithain shall spill the lifeblood of another Kithain. No Kithain shall bring salt tears unto the earth. No Kithain shall take from the Dreaming one of its own. Death is anathema.
Code of the Seelie Court
The Seelie have a reputation as the guardians of fae traditions. They see themselves as peacekeepers, proponents of courtly love, protectors of the weak and embodiments of the ideals of chivalry. They tend to be conservative in outlook. Seelie changelings place honour above all others virtues. They also value courage, truth, beauty, justice, and despise oathbreaking, cowardice and other dishonourable behaviours.
Death before dishonor.
Chivalry still lives. Honor is the most important virtue, the source of all glory. Personal honor must always be kept stainless. Sometimes death is the only path which can erase a mark of dishonor.
Love conquers all.
Love lies at the heart of the Dreaming. True love transcends all and epitomizes what it means to be Seelie. Courtly love best expresses love in its highest form, although familial love and love of companions also serve as pure embodiments of that exalted virtue. Anything is permitted in the name of true love.
Beauty is life.
Beauty is a timeless, objective quality that, while it cannot be defined, is always recognized for itself. Beauty is the muse of creation, the ultimate flowering of the Dreaming. Once found, it must be protected, for it is both eternal and fragile. To die in the service of beauty is an honor and a privilege.
Never forget a debt.
One gift deserves another. The recipient of a gift is obligated to return the favor. Likewise, a curse should be returned in kind. An oath of friendship should be answered with a corresponding oath. Never refuse to aid anyone to whom you are indebted. Never forget a kindness... or a cruelty.
Code of the Unseelie Court
The Unseelie stand for change and impulse. They have a reputation for fostering war and madness, for reaving where the Seelie nurture. They consider stagnation, adherence to worn-out traditions, repression and censorship as crimes against freedom. They take roles as the harbingers of change, breakers of rules, and advocates of free thought.
Change is good.
Security does not exist. Circumstances tumble like leaves in Autumn, making kings into peasants and peasants into kings. Nothing is certain in such a world. Embrace change, ride it, or die.
Glamour is free.
Glamour is worthless unless used. Hoarding it is senseless, as so long as humans exist there will be more Dreamers, hence more of it to take. Take as much as you need, by whatever means you desire.
Honour is a lie.
Honour is a fairy tale constructed to cover the essential emptiness of most traditions. Only through enlightened self-interest can any truth be attained.
Passion before duty.
Passion is the truest expression of the fae spirit. Follow your instincts and impulses. Live life to the hilt and damn the consequences — they will come about regardless of what you do anyway. Youth passes like a dream so enjoy it while you have it. Death can strike at any moment, so live without regret.