Lord Sumorsǣte
From Changeling Venue
Contents |
Lord Sumorsǣte, Lord of the Crystal Castle
Lord Sumorsǣte is not a cruel lord, not by anyone's standards. In fact, he is most beloved by the people of his summer land, or so it is said and so the servants repeat. He lives in a castle made of crystals upon the highest Hill in the land. His land is fertile and bountiful and beautiful, for Lord Sumorsǣte loves beauty, and an abundance of beauty, above everything else. He keeps nothing around him that is not beautiful. He is known to go out of his way to the mortal world to seek out objects and people of beauty and finds human emotions and customs intriguing. It is rare that he makes the barbaric move of kidnapping a human, but rather, he will make a deal with the human--something they want in exchange for a life with him. Whether or not he manipulates their lives to this point, he will not say, and it is impolite to ask.
The Castle Upon The Hill
As far as his guests can tell, the crystal castle upon the hill runs itself. Delicious food and drink appear when they turn their back, their rooms are always the perfect temperature, and their pillows and blankets are always fluffed. It is said that the castle has a thousand room, a hundred fountains (some of which flow with wine), and vast gardens of fruits and flowers. When night falls, candles, torches, and fireplaces seem to light themselves so that there is no darkness wherever the Lord or his guests or pets might choose to wander.
But even in Arcadia, magic cannot do everything, and when magic fails, there are hands.
Below the marble and crystal floors of the castle is where the work of the castle happens. Here are the kitchens, the laundries, and the great bellows that keep the castle as warm as sunshine during the winter. Here forgotten pets toil and work, day and night. They cook and clean and mend and polish and keep the castle above the hill beautiful and wondrous.
Those Who Lived Above or Below the Hill
Please feel free to use Lord Sumorsǣte as your keeper, but please contact Jane for more details as much of this is in her head at the moment.
The Lord dotes on his pets that live in the castle upon the Hill, but those who fall below the Hill are truly forgotten.
- Cinder - Cinder was once Lord Sumorsǣte's favorite pet, but a boon was called upon him and he sent her away to a dark, shadowed castle that warped her and stripped her of her beauty. She fell below the floor and into the kitchens deep below the Hill.
- Martin Pearl - Martin was a guard and soldier Above the Hill, and enjoyed his time there for the most part. In the end, the woman he loved (a Dancer) lost favor with Lord Sumorsǣte and he sent her away. Martin escaped to try to find her, but was pursued through the Hedge before he could do so. Character Retired
Inspirations
- Round Table knights of Arthurian legend (nobility with airs of chivalry)
- Beauty's Release by A. N. Roquelaure (think of ornament-pets and silent servants)
