Isles of Darkness Venue Style Sheet

Premise

Right,

I am possibly not the best person to post publicly and get this ball rolling. If I say something and it sounds arsey and whatnot, it's because I'm a grumpy mare most of the time and flowery speaking doesn't really come easy.

There are Directional Courtiers in this Country, we are Free Lost, we are not here to "Take over" or "Invade" or do anything other than join the fight against Them by establishing a stable freehold and using pledges and the like to protect the Free. So. You know. Official line - we are not asshats.

But yeah, so we're establishing a Freehold, we reckon it's the sort of thing that best done with a bit of a 'do'. By which I mean, a foundation ceremony, a swearing in, a celebration... I would say party but then there's those party shy amongst us that would feel awkward. It's a knees up, to celebrate the fact that we're putting this thing together.

So I'm kinda inviting you guys along - we're aiming for the last weekend of May, specifics will follow and whatnot when it goes down. There'll probably be someone more Wordy doing an announcement with the Freehold name and the like soon enough.

But - I know some of you don't like the Directional Courts because you don't understand them, or you do and want to know more, or you've never heard of them and are curious or you just want to roll up eat our food and give us a thick ear. Why not eh? Not like I haven't harped in the past about Seasonal courts I don't understand.

So yes. Last Weekend of May (pencil it in your diaries kittens and cats) in Haltwhistle… Centre of this landmass. Anyone who fancies helping out with bits and bobs in the lead up is probably best off dropping us a line, I know some good folk out there have already offered to wade in and help out with Foundation pledges (thanks Crystal), Swearin' in pledges (Goodenough), helping us get our crap in order (Charlie Tyrrell, Sid the Slater, Rosie, Steampunk, Rosalba, Satrap Sam, Dourif etc)

If I've missed you out it's because I'm a forgetful twat and I'll owe you a pint.

People to contact:

North: Mortar and I think Harry

East: Frake

South: Calamity Brown (if you know him), Rex Black

West: myself, Stitches, Sokol

Rock n Roll
Worthy Black
Court of War

1. = Never Present
2. = Sometimes Present
3. = Often Present
4. = Usually Present
5. = Always Present

Ratings Breakdown

Action: It is rumoured, amongst the Lost of the East, that the founding of a Directional Court Freehold is not only based on a balance between the Courts, but as a barrier to a Gate of great evil. Commonly called a “demon gate”, it is rumoured to be a powerful Trod, which the Fae use more commonly than anywhere else to access the mundane world. So the rumour goes, the Freehold is placed to act as a counter, a barrier to this great evil. Or, perhaps more darkly, the Freehold's founding _causes_ the opening of the Demon Gate… While the Lost are concerned with these rumours, there is the opportunity both for exploration and adventure in a new area of the Hedge, with the issue of displaced Hobs from the Freehold founding, and the invitation being made available to all and sundry. What of the Mad? Those who have lost their grasp of Clarity so far that they rarely leave the Hedge, and when they do, destruction and chaos follows in their wake?

Character Development: With the possible attendance of some of the Mad, and interactions between Hobs and Lost at an all-time level of confusion, the opportunities for personal dilemmas and choices have never been more prominent. With the Mad, the choice is whether to put them out of their misery, and reduce the risk to the other Lost by their presence, or try to heal them and help them regain their lost Clarity. With the Hobs, a society whose structure can often be alien and confusing, will the Lost decide to respond to their requests with martial force, or by bargaining, as happened at the Freehold of Mists?

Darkness: While death is an ever-present concern for many Lost, the founding of a Freehold should not result in mass death and destruction. Should individual Lost decide to react violently to the challenges which face them, whether by attacking the hosts to prevent the Freehold's foundation, or assaulting other Lost they have disagreements with, that is their personal choice. The option for death will always be present, as will the option for more peaceful solutions. Neither is held to be the “correct” path to take, but players must consider whatever path they choose, there will be consequences, which may not be immediately apparent…

Drama: The establishment of a Freehold is not something that happens every day in Lost society, Foundations need laying, Pledges need swearing, certain things need to occur to set in motion the right balance that will allow the system of a Freehold to function. Everything has to be done or when They come by there will be no sanctity at all. When the Courts involved are not your run of the mill affair, when it is the only kind of that Freehold to be established in that Country, tension grows, rumours fly. Already people have said it simply can't be done. Well, if they can do it in the Far East why not here?

Intrigue: The Directional Courtiers have certainly made their presence felt in the past six months, but it certainly hasn't all been positive. They are, unarguably, different from what the Free Lost of the UK are used to with their Seasons. But the Directional Courts want to settle, they want to establish themselves, hell they've invited all and sundry, for better or worse, to the Foundation of their Freehold. They've welcomed people to come and understand them, come and say what they want to say, speak their minds and clear the air. The Directional Courtiers themselves have plans for negotiations of Peace with other Freeholds.

Manners: Peer pressure? From the Free Lost of the UK? NEVER! Always... you mean. Everyone is constantly judging each other, bringing each other up on slips or faults – or they simply just get themselves involved in other peoples business. Someone is always watching and someone will always pass comment. In a small, odd society like this, it's unavoidable.

Mystery: It is an unexplored part of the UK for the Lost, the Directional Courtiers chose Haltwhistle because it is the Geographical centre of the Landmass of England/Scotland and Wales. They've sent a couple of people into the Hedge to investigate, but who knows what else could be out there? What was here before, if at all?

Pace: A number of stories will end at the founding of the Freehold, those stories which have been quietly brewing for some time, and now will explode into more direct limelight. Others are intended to progress beyond this event, and actions taken here will have consequences which ripple outwards in the longer term.

Theme

The theme of this event is beginnings – the foundation of a new Freehold, a new style of Freehold, one which has not previously been recorded in the UK as a whole. How will this impact on the Lost of the UK? Will they choose to work with the new Freehold, accepting its differences, or will they try to sabotage the event, ensuring the supremacy of the Seasonal Courts within the UK?

There is also the risk of another type of beginning with the founding of this Freehold. The rumours of the mystical “demon gate” are known to only a few, and it is unclear what the future would hold for the UK should such a gate appear.

Mood

The mood is intended to be one of Hope, of new beginnings and new foundings. The Lost of the UK have endured many trials in recent months, and now, with the foundation of a new Freehold, with new beliefs and structures, the Lost have the chance to come together, talk and learn the ways of other Lost without violence.

While there is the ever-present looming threat of violence, from disaffected Fetches, from warlike Hobs, from those Lost who seek to ensure that the Directional Courts gain no firm foothold in the UK, the founding of any new Freehold is a momentous event to be celebrated, not feared.

Setting

Haltwhistle – The Geographical centre of England/Wales/Scotland – the core of the countries, where the Directional Courtiers have decided to set up shop. It's hardly the most glamorous of locations, but home is home.

There is also the opportunity to go exploring in the local Hedge of the area, where the PCs may stumble across the original denizens of the area, their villages, gardens and perhaps defences…

Storytelling Mechanics

Rules

Lost uses White Wolf's World of Darkness, Changeling: The Lost, Changeling: The Lost supplement books and The Isles Of Darkness' Rules Addendum.

Pre generated PCs will be available if you contact the lead ST no later than 22^nd May. These characters will be provided with reasons to be at the IC event and be given plot lead ins to ensure they have reasons to interact with the other characters present.

If your character has access to NPC retainers or martial forces and you wish to have them available for this event, full details of these retainers or martial forces and character sheets where appropriate must be supplied to the ST team by 22^nd May or they will not be able to be accessed at the event itself. Likewise if your character has access to military-grade weaponry, this must be brought to the attention of the STs by 22^nd May.

Starting Glamour for the event will be ¾ of your pool, rounded down, PLUS appropriate merits such as Harvest. If you wish to submit prior to the event a downtime action undertaking Glamour Harvesting in the local area, please email the STs. Such emails may result in plot cookies being provided (as well as further Glamour).

Proxy guidelines

Visiting Character Guidelines: A complete character sheet with the signature of the player's ST. A full XP log and Approval codes for any special approval items. A Time limit to consider the character i.e. 72hours before play

Experience award guidelines

Attendance and Downtimes - As per the Isles of Darkness rules supplement
Roleplaying a Flaw - As per the Isles of Darkness rules supplement
Roleplaying a Derangement - As per the Isles of Darkness rules supplement