Freehold of River and Sun
From Changeling Venue
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Contents |
The Freehold of River and Sun
One of the oldest cities on the North American continent, San Antonio, Texas, has been shaped by all six of the different nations that have at some point controlled pieces of Texas, along with the myriad Native American populations of the area as well. As such, the city has the feeling of age and of its Wild West past. Changelings often tell stories of hearing remnants of the past while traveling between this world and the hedge.
For Hundreds of years the Freehold of the River and Sun has stood sentinel in San Antonio. The eldest and most established freehold in the city, it was built by La Mission de Espada, and some of the stones from that Church were supposedly used as foundation and cornerstone for the freehold. Before the white man came, a few of the local natives kept it free from brambles and thorns. They knew it as only “the safe place” but it was important and the dreams of that time can be felt even to this day.
Though the city has many small hollows and niches for the fae to hide and sleep in, the Freehold will always be the center of San Antonio's changeling population. A goblin market is almost always found near by and most all of the festivals that mark the passing of time are held in its ancient halls. This may be why Changelings often feel the sense of peace and calm that they do when entering the old Spanish architecture of the Freehold of River and Sun. Within it’s walls, Changelings feel a new sense of belonging, often not felt outside the old limestone and ivy-covered walls. The guardians of the freehold ask only two things of every entrant: to peace-bond any weapon and to cause no harm by action or inaction, to any inhabitant within the Freehold.
A Brief History
Many parts of the city have experienced decay and demoralization as time has taken its toll. As unemployment and too many poor have flooded the southern part of the city, putting even more financial burdens on overworked and sadly neglected city services such as trash pick-up and hospital ambulances. To the northern part of the city, though, these worries are anything other than election issues. Changelings who live in Northern San Antonio find newly paved streets, the best and most fashionable eateries, boutiques, and botox injection services in every shopping mall. In a word, the city is divided along lines of wealth in ways that are far more visible with every passing year.
Passing along the streets and into the hedge, though, San Antonio Changelings seem to find their time split between the very beautiful yet deadly, and very puzzling or puzzling encounters. It is not unheard of for a Changeling to be asked to help the freehold in small to large ways and the hobgoblins of the hedge are fond of bargain for favors to grant safe passage through its thorny corridors.
If truth is found in myth, and San Antonio has over 300 years of myth and stories from over 10 different nations and tribes, then this is a place of many truths, of many stories, and of the clash that happens when those ideas collide. One Changeling said of living in San Antonio, “The air is old here, older than I’ve ever sensed. It’s when the wind changes that I know something is coming….for good or bad, you won’t know until it gets here.”
Who's Who of San Antonio
For members of the Freehold of River and Sun (San Antonio, Texas). Please keep all entries alphabetical. For frequent visitors, see the Visitors section.
Spring Court
- Asharra --- Darkling, Mirrorskin; Spring Queen of 2008.
- Boudreux Rawpaw --- Beast, Broadback.
- Debra --- Fairest, Draconic.
- Gerald Aerieson --- Beast, Windwing.
- Hawthorne --- Elemental, Woodblood.
- Jack T-Bone Skelenington --- Darkling, Nightsinger.
- Jade --- Fairest, Dancer.
- Mariketa Shadowpaws --- Beast, Hunterheart.
- Masked Molly --- Elemental, Manikin.
- Rosaria D'oro --- Fairest, Muse.
- Singing Twist --- Elemental, Airtouched.
Summer Court
- Ash --- Elemental Fireheart; Tolltaker Knight Banneret of San Antonio. Played by Dominic Foxworthy. E-Mail: TheTolltaker (at) gmail (dot) com
- Gregorian Stone --- Ogre, Stonebones.
- Max --- Wizened, Soldier; Tolltaker Knight.
- Paige Smith --- Wizened, Artist;
- Savannah Niles --- Darkling, Mirrorskin.
Autumn Court
- Tallyman --- Elemental;Airtouched;The Autumn King of 2007
- Aelfric Mandrell --- Fairest, Shadowsoul.
- The Apprehensive Weave played by Cody Beitel
- Serenity --- Wizened, Oracle.
Winter Court
- Arcturus Winters (Lord Winter) --- Played by Jon Moody.
- Kaleb --- Wizened, Chiergeon.
- L --- Wizened, Oracle.
- Lucian Sorrow --- Fairest, Draconic.
- Madeline Sellman --- Elemental, Manikin.
- Mercy Grayson (Mercedes "Mercy" Grayson) --- Wizened, Smith.
- Richard Insmouth --- Darkling, Antiquarian Played by Raul Fuentes.
- Stuttering Jack --- Wizened, Smith.
The Courtless
- Corvus --- Beast, Windwing Bishop of the Bishopric of Blackbird as portrayed by Ally Foxworthy US2005116954.
- Krunch --- Ogre, Render
- Sticky Rivers --- Elemental
Local Motleys
- San Antonio Tolltakers
Places of Interest
For those areas known to the Changelings of the River and Sun, both friendly and hostile.
- The Riverwalk - description, including hosility/friendly information
- The Alamo - description, including hosility/friendly information
- Winter Mansion - Home and Freehold of Lord Winter.
- El Teatro de la Ghalleon - Children Theater.
- The Last Page - Rare Book Dealer.
The Courts of San Antonio
Historically San Antonio has not had a system of courts. The Freehold of River and Sun served as a general meeting place but no formal government existed. In the Fall of 2007, a formalized Seasonal Court System emerged. Each season elects a King, or Queen, that decides on the group of Councilors who will assist him or her in running the city. It is expected that the ruler will appoint a group that represents each of the courts, but with the change of rulers throughout the cycle, each season has been left to decide on their own.
During the Autumn months of 2007, the Autumn King Tallyman, an Elemental of Air, there was a ruling council composed of a changeling from each court.
The Spring Court (Rules from the Vernal Equinox until the eve of Summer Solstice, generally March 20th-June 20th)
The Summer Court (Rules from the Summer Solstice until the eve of Autumnal Equinox, generally June 21st-September 21st)
The Autumn Court (Rules from the Autumnal Equinox until the eve of Winter Solstice, generally September 22nd-December 21st)
The Winter Court (Rules from the Winter Solstice until the eve of Vernal Equinox, Generally December 22nd-March19th)
Recent Events
- October 2007 - The local changelings gathered out of concern of the growing number of missing Lost. From this initial meeting, a formalized Seasonal Court System emerged resulting in the first Autumn King of San Antonio, Tallyman.
- November 2007 – A Beast Court emerged from the woods of McAllister Park to present itself to the newly formed seasonal court. Let by the Bee Queen of the Sweet Harvest, Her Majesty Belana, a Beast Venombite, they pledged their support to the Autumn King.
- December 2007 – The last month of the year passed uneventfully for the Lost of San Antonio. Everyone shivered as the first seasonal change from Autumn to Winter was felt and reflected in the local Hedge for the first time.
- January 2008 – The newly elected Winter King, Arcturus Winters, opens his Hollow and invites everyone to attend his coronation ceremony where the Crown of Autumn Leaves was transformed into the Winter Crown of Ice.
- February 2008 – The Hobgoblins of the Hedge make their presence felt as they grow braver and venture forth to see if the rumors are true about a formal gathering of Changelings in San Antonio. A Darkling Antiquarian, Richard Insmouth, is accused of murdering one of them, a Goblin named Dorian by his brother, Kalen. Richard is later acquitted of any wrongdoing and the gathered Lost are able to return Dorian to his final resting place.
Rumors
- Most of the missing Lost of San Antonio are from the Winter Court.
- The Freehold Caretaker, A Levinquick named Devlin, was seen hanging a new painting in the Commons Hall of the Freehold of River and Sun. It is a painting of Autumn King Tallyman and his Seasonal Councilors.
- Ray’s Taco House has the best tacos in all of San Antonio! He gives a 50% discount to all Beast Changelings.
- The Autumn Court has done well to advance the popularity of the Seasonal Courts in San Antonio.
- The Spring Court is mobilizing the homeless of downtown San Antonio into an army using the soup kitchens and shelters they operate to recruit.
- The Freehold of River and Sun is the only truly safe place in San Antonio for the Lost… but it is haunted too.
- Someone or … something is killing gang members in record number this Winter.
- The disappearing Lost of San Antonio have been losing their lives in a secret Summer Court Fight Club.
OOC Information
ST Contact Info
- VSS: "Once Upon a Time" - Approval #USA-SC-LC-0802-86616
- VST: Will Broderick - US2007060164 - changelingthelost@gmail.com
- DST: Travis Kearns- US2005022936 - sanantoniodst@gmail.com
- Domain: TX-059-D Civitas de Immortalis
Coming to San Antonio
PROXY RULES
Players who wish to proxy their characters into the venue may do so by providing the VST notification no later than 48 hours prior to the game. The player wishing to proxy in simply needs to provide the VST with a complete character sheet and experience point log, explanation of the character’s attitude, personality and motivation for attending the game, as well as declaring the character’s intentions and reactions to possible situations.
In addition, a proxying player is encouraged to find a local player to play their character for them. Please remember that you are asking the ST staff to play your character and make it as easy for us as possible.
TRAVEL RISKS
San Antonio is fairly reachable through most mundane means such as the I-35 corridor, the San Antonio International Airport, as well as the downtown bus and train stations. Travel through San Antonio can be monitored with various Merits (i.e. Status) that have been selected by Changelings of the city. Contacting locals with your plans will increase your ability to safely travel through the area and will help alleviate some of the paranoia of the local Courts. While travel time via the Hedge may greatly reduce the overall travel time, the benefit may be offset due to the inherent dangers that lie within.
VISITING CHARACTER GUIDELINES
Player characters from outside the Domain are allowed and encouraged to attend any and all San Antonio Changeling games. All characters and item cards must be approved by their own ST prior to the game starting, or they will not be approved for play in the venue. Approval numbers will need to be presented on all items that visiting characters wish to bring with them into this VSS. The VST reserves the right to deny approval, in part or whole, any items or characters that he feels will unbalance the game.
SITE INFORMATION
As soon as our DC and I are able to obtain a new site for our Changeling Game, I will post that information here. Stay tuned, folks...
