Characters: Knights of the Faerie Courts
Though rare in the Dresdenverse at large, a knight of one of the faerie courts makes for a powerful PC concept.
Knight of a Faerie Court
As far as we know, each Court of Faerie-Winter and Summer-have only one knight each, a mortal granted some measure of the power of his or her patron Court and charged with making certain the Court’s interests are well-represented in the world of mortals and beyond. For the Winter Court at least, the position is not generally known to be a long-term one, and employment is terminated on case of death alone.
The Winter Knight and Summer Knight are no lightweights, often catching the attention of the Queens of the Courts for their already well-developed supernatural capacity. But they are bound, body and soul, by deep compulsions to adhere to the word of the Mother, Queen, and Lady of their Court.
Still, the reason these knights exist at all is that they alone possess something unique among the members of the faerie Courts. They have mortal free will, and in this they are able to take action that is flatly impossible for the faeriekind, for the fae cannot act in any way other than accordance with their natures. As such, they are regarded with much more importance than might seem apropos to their (admittedly still potent) supernatural capacity.
Musts: A Knight of the Faerie Court must have a high concept aspect that names the title and mantle he or she has assumed (e.g., WINTER KNIGHT or SUMMER KNIGHT). No other character in the game may hold this same title at the same time as this character. The aspect brings with it all of the strictures and responsibilities the Mother, Queen, and Lady of that Court might place upon the character. It may also mean that the queens can occasionally exercise near-total power over the character-but them’s the breaks. It’s highly likely they know the character’s true name.
In addition, the character must take the following supernatural abilities:
- Seelie or Unseelie Magic
- Marked by Power
Options: Other options abound, such as mixing in elements of a Focused Practitioner, Sorcerer, or Wizard (take note of the potential discount on Seelie or Unseelie Magic in such a case). The character may carry an Item of Power, and may be able to draw upon the power of the courts to exercise Inhuman Strength, Speed, Toughness, or Recovery. Glamours may be possible as well, but are not a given. The player and GM should discuss any such options before the character takes them (and watch those refresh costs!).
Join us next in March as we discuss the lycanthrope.
Would it be possible for a “Squire of a Faerie Court” concept, so you can have multiple of these character playing in the same group?
Though I can see Harry referring to such a concept as “Padawan of the Faerie Courts”.
@Peter: Sure, why not? Once you sit down to run a game, the setting becomes yours as well.
Has there ever been any info about the Autumn and Spring Courts?
@Tush Hog I’d be surprised if there was — they’re examples of “stuff you can make up”, not something sourced from the novels.
That is a great piece artwork, by the way.
@Tush Hog Thanks! It’s only part of the piece — Jennifer Rodgers did the work.
whats the main difference between a knight of the fairy court layout and the emissary of power? oh and i can see the fireworks as a summer and winter knight are forced to combat each other.
@Anthony As we (at least meant to have) noted in Emissary of Power, a Knight of the Faerie Court is a specific *type* of emissary — and a big enough deal that it was worth getting its own entry.
Here’s one for you – is there a set amount of power that one gets for being a Knight, or does it vary according to the wishes of the Queen(s)?
My example is quite plainly this – Harry was offered the position of the Winter Knight. If he had taken it when he possessed the coin, as well as the power he already had, one could argue he could have at least been able to take on The Lady of Winter, if not Mab herself.
Edit: I rephrase: In terms of “taking on” I mean his own power would have possibly been greater than theirs.
@Siggy
Well siggy as knight of one of the courts harry may have power but he would not be able to resist Mabs control over him as knight of her court she could give him power and also take it away.
I point to our Friend above incased in ice as a counter example. But this isn’t the place for arguing semantics – basically, I suppose, I’m asking if whether or not the power given is set or variable according to the power of the recipient or even in general.
I don’t think we have any clear answers on that in the books. It’s entirely likely the power such a knight would wield would reflect their own abilities and tendencies, though. That would seem to make sense. A bit like the way every wizard is different in how they use magic.
i agree with rel fexive and even if he could take on a lady or queen it would still end his in own demise, i’m speaking of the balance that maintains there own weather in the dresdenverse hmm but thats another story… plus this is really off topic from the actual game seeing as how you’d likely just be an npc with that much power.
This is kinda a leap here but couldn’t the wild fey be the spring/fall court. If you thing about it sping and fall are the same thing just backwards. Also the Erlking could be called their king. Also the though of the hunt is catching up to the prey like winter catches up to summer in fall and spring catches up to winter in the spring.(power wise)If you disagree you could always have a wild fey knight. I like to think of him as “The Hunter.”
Spring and Fall are both sort of just transitions between Summer and Winter. I don’t think they have courts.
All depends on what you want in your own game, guys. Once you start running it, the setting’s *yours*.
I’d say the spring and autumn courts would be the wild fae. Such as the erlkings court. He’d a perfect example of something outside of the summer/winter model. With spring fae being a slight bit more nurturing and prone to less violent excesses than autumn hunters.
Would a Summer/Winter Knight affect technology like a wizard/sorceror?
not really. they are not mortal magic users and their magic comes from a different source.
I think it like this. In Harrys case it definedly would affect technology – he is still human wizard albeit he would have extra mojo from faerie to use. Even if he would just be using the fae side of his power he would still radiate and eventually destroy any technology like he would normally do by just standing there. Mayby just by using fae ‘battery’ for juice it would not make it any more faster, but still would definedly cause malfunctions.