Category:Emerald Hills

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IC Description

This County serves a mix of Seelie and Unseelie characters, all united for survival in Winter and against the predations of the Shadow Court. The VSS focuses on the struggle to work together for the sake of survival even in the face of adversity and disagreements, as well as exploring the mysteries of the World of Darkness and the Dreaming.

VSS Boundaries

The VSS covers all of Eastern North Carolina, from Greensboro to the coast, per domain boundaries. The main focus will be the Research Triangle: Chapel Hill/Carrboro, Raleigh Durham, Apex, Cary, etc. but other areas may be used for various plot purposes.

VSS Freehold Details

Emerald Hills

Location: The Balefire, and thus the Freehold, is housed in Raleigh NC in an historic home built in the early 1900s. Built from granite and brick in a Châteauesque style, it has a tall hipped slate roof and features an offset, conical-roof tower, two-story projecting bay, and wraparound arcaded porch. Also on the grounds are a playhouse, stable, and former servant's quarters.

Dreaming Name: Emerald Hills

Freehold Type: Balefire 1, Standard Stock Location (5)

Description

Residents of the county in good standing will be allowed to take respite at the Freehold and its Balefire so long as they follow local laws and ordinances.

A library is known to be located at the Freeholding here which has been said to contain knowledge of the Fomorians alongside several hundred tomes of other gathered history and knowledge.

Local Laws & Customs

• Visitors are expected to bring an offering of food or drink for their hosts. Dross will also be accepted.
• Respect should be given both ways; being of noble birth does not afford respect without giving it in return.
• Willful destruction of Freehold property and holdings will beget punishment.
• Noise should be kept to a reasonable volume while on Freehold property - both to protect the privacy of the kithain and to respect the delicate ears of the Sluagh.
• No books from the library are to be removed without explicit permission of local leadership.
• No offered food may be refused.
• Only those having sworn the Oath of Belonging will be provided Glamour from the Balefire unless otherwise determined by local leadership.
• If a Vassal is judged guilty of a crime, and they escape punishment, their punishment shall be visited upon their immediate Liege.
• Any who steal a Dreamer from another Changeling shall owe a debt to the rightful Owner.
• Any Changeling who takes responsibility for a Chimera shall share in their crimes.

Rumors

• The food here is said to all either be rotten or have interesting effects.
• The Bloody Baron is said to hate fragrant flowers and become ill-tempered with those who bring them within the Freehold.
• Seelie & Unseelie holidays are held in high regard and often celebrated with a variety of festivities.
• The Freehold does not tend to be very friendly toward members of the Shadow Court. While base respect and civility is given, it is a terse and strained respect easily stripped upon the slightest infraction.

Timeline

Mid 1300s -- Abandoned by the Sidhe and stuck in the Autumn realm, the kithain of the area took to the privacy and relative safety of the woods and forests. They inspired what imagination they could in the local tribes through small acts of wonder and influence over their dreams, crafting local myths and legends through their actions. One group of Boggans, seeing the need in other smaller surrounding areas, began traveling to offer aide to other holdings and Freeholds. Resident Eshu began chronicling local stories so that they not be lost to time and death of those who would not make it through being cut off from the Dreaming.

1585-1587 -- Now known as the Lost Colony, the interactions between a small number of open-minded colonists and local tribes sparked a burst in glamour as shared discovery of the different methods by which these different peoples had learned to survive over the years brought new thoughts and ideas to the local Dreamers.

1776 -- Declaring independence from Great Britain sparks a period of abundant glamour as Dreamers dream of freedom and new horizons.

1853 -- The first State Fair is held near Raleigh, bringing with it a burst of excitement and glamour. The Kindling Stone is attuned by local changelings and lit into a new Balefire. Various trials and tribulations saw the Balefire rise and fall over the next century.

1959 -- Creation of the Research Triangle Park. New research and ideas abound.

1969 -- Moon landing. With renewed excitement and glamour coursing the world over, the local Freehold benefits from a period of abundance and growth. Several Trods opened and spread throughout the area, and travel between the Freeholds was more common. The Balefire which had begun to dwindle to kindlings bursts into life once more.

1970 -- With the reappearance of the Sidhe comes a power struggle among the local leadership. While glamour is still abundant, the locals find themselves in many terse meetings and discussions over the shift of power, even as battles rage in the Accordance War over these same conflicts on a larger scale.

1972 -- The Sidhe are pushed back from the East coast and the commoners find themselves basking in a period of victory. Using the nobles’ own tricks against them, the local Counties remain free of significant noble reign for some time.

Treaty of Respect -- With the end of the Accordance War, the local commoners open their doors more willingly to some nobles once more.

1990 -- The iron grip with which the newly established Count lords over the County sets many commoners on edge and less inclined to friendly relations with their noble-born peers.

1996 -- The passing of the Olympic Flame through Raleigh spurs excitement among the locals, but the later destruction of Hurricane Fran dampens spirits. The reign of dreams shifts to a reign of nightmares for a brief period.

1997 -- The Carolina Hurricanes become the city’s first major league sports franchise, creating another local burst in glamour.

2000 -- Winter settles over the world. Local commoners become increasingly unsatisfied with the reign of the Iron Count.

2002 -- Isolde, Pops, and Hecate move into the area and begin establishing themselves among the locals.

2004 -- The reigning Duke died in the same battle where King David was lost, and the next highest ranking noble - Countess Isolde - was put into Chimerical death by an arrow on our own side. This set the local Freehold(s) into a state of disarray as commoners and nobles alike tried to settle lines of leadership, struggle with suspicions of who amongst their prior friends were still to be trusted, etc.

Late 2004 -- With so many lost in the recent battles, the local Balefire begins to lose strength, this loss becoming more rapid as Endless Winter sets in.

Early 2005 -- Duchess Isolde, formerly a Count in the Red Branch Knights, stepped into her new role over the Duchy of Carolina and set to organizing both the Emerald Hills and other Freeholds within her purview after the upset of the Shadow Court exposing themselves enmasse and the loss of prior important leaders.

Late 2005 -- Duchess Isolde names Liam Rowan Murphy III - a member of her fealty chain - to the role of Baron over the Emerald Hills to help tend the Balefire and bring together the locals. Hecate is named Seer of the court some few weeks later.

2004 - 2007 -- The locals struggle over the next several years with the effects of the chaos left behind by loss of leadership and other locals in the great battles of 2004, and the shift of power. Rogue chimera become a more frequent problem, relations between the courts are strained, and several Balefires throughout the County are lost.

2010 -- Inaugural Hopscotch Music Festival brings a new annual event that local Kithain can look to for some measure of excitement and fresh dreams.

Mid 2018 -- Liam Rowan Murphy III becomes Count over the local areas surrounding Emerald Hills per the order of Duchess Isolde.

Late 2018 -- Mister Friendly is sworn to Count Liam Rowan Murphy III and takes on the role of Baron, quickly earning the moniker of ‘The Bloody Baron’ because he is shown to have a might makes right leadership style, and punishes transgressions with violent aggression.

Salt Reaches

Location: The Salt Reaches Barony is located on the Eastern coast of North Carolina. Between dwindling numbers, Endless Winter, and natural disasters, the Barony of Salt Reaches is not faring well in recent years. Their Balefire was lost in the early days of Endless Winter and they often find themselves struggle against the various ongoing threats that face Kithain everywhere with not enough strength to push these problems back, but holding on enough to keep them barely at bay.

Dreaming Name: Salt Reaches

Freehold Type: No Balefire, Stock Location (4)

Description

The Freehold is located within Edenton, set in a home on stilts above the water along the coast. While not particularly large, it provides comfort to those in need and the locals are welcoming of those who may visit - even if only because they hope for some aide in their ongoing plights.

Local Laws & Customs

• Generous and warm hosts we may be, but bring harm or threat and find cold and deadly response.
• Harm brought to any kinain allowed within the Freehold’s grounds will be deemed as harm brought to the freehold itself.
• Destruction of Freehold property will incur payment due. Debts unpaid, we collect by force.
• Theft of a Dreamer incurs debt to the rightful beneficiary of their dreams.
• Laying claim to a Chimera is also laying claim to their actions.

Rumors

• The Salt Reaches is welcoming so long as you treat its residents with respect, but crossing them has been known to see people disappear into the ocean never to be seen again.
• The Salt Reaches has gone through a cycle of death and regrowth over the years, now largely made up of those who have traveled to its shores over time and come to call it home with a hope to see it raised to new heights.

Timeline

Mid 1300s -- A group of Bogans from what would eventually become the Emerald Hills traveled to the beginnings of this and other struggling groups to help provide glamour and other assistance after the Shattering. Some of these Boggans remained and their memory remains as some of the first long-standing residents of this Freehold. Traveling Eshu brought and collected stories here much like in other holdings throughout the area.

1970 -- With the Moon Landing and the return of the Sidhe, the Balefire in this Freehold returned to life for a time. It was fiercely protected and tended by the group of Boggans that then - and now - call this Freehold home. The Eshu who resided here held strong against any Sidhe who may seek to take up residence, the other locals standing alongside them in the face of those who had abandoned them in darker times.

2009 -- The local balefire sputtered out and died despite all the efforts of the local residing kithain. The Boggans who hold the heart of this freehold managed to keep everyone banded together despite the encroaching cold of Endless Winter.

2021 - The Freehold is maintained by an odd mix of locals who have come together over the years. The core group within this Freehold that tends to be more influential is said to be made up of a pair of Bogans, an Eshu, a Piskie, and a couple of Selkies.

The Fort

Location: Fort Bragg

Dreaming Name: Death's Forge

Freehold Type: No Balefire, Stock Location (5)

Description

The Fort is located within North Carolina’s Fort Bragg, an area the residents find to be defensible and well suited to their particular interests and pursuits. Little is known about how the locals operate in recent years except that their population is made up almost entirely of Shadow Court, with a smattering of Unseelie. Those Seelie who may have previously resided in the area have since moved on, or been run out.

Local Laws & Customs

• Violators of the Freehold grounds will be made an example of.
• Mortals are not to be allowed on Freehold grounds.
• Theft of Glamour is akin to theft of life.
• Visitors must meet with the local Baroness or one of her designees within 24 hours. Violators will be captured and questioned.
• Destruction of Freehold grounds is an act of war.

Rumors

• The most well-known occupants of the Fort are said to be made up of Nockers, Pooka, Redcaps, Sidhe, Sluagh - almost all of them members of the Shadow Court, and those who aren’t are Unseelie.
• Seelie find themselves unwelcome within the Fort.
• The Nockers of the Fort are well suited to the creation of weapons and armor.

Timeline

2021 - The Freehold is made up largely of Shadow Court members with an eye toward keeping what they’ve claimed as rightfully theirs, both within the Fort and beyond. They are envious of the Balefire that still burns at the Emerald Hills, and this is said to be one of the reasons for their hostility toward many visitors. Though perhaps it has more to do with whatever they might be hiding or working on.

OOC Information

Theme: Survival in the face of adversity

Mood: Tense Unity

Style Elements

ACTION & ADVENTURE: 3
DRAMA & CEREMONY: 4
CHAR. DEVELOPMENT: 5
MYSTERY & INTRIGUE: 4
DARKNESS: 4
HUMANITY/MORALITY: 3
PC DEATH: 2

Storyteller Notes

Schedule: 3rd Saturdays of the month
Check-in: 6PM EST
Game on: 7PM EST
Game off: 11 PM EST

As a storyteller, I tend to be more focused on intrigue and character growth, morality, etc. I run less combat than a lot of other Storytellers players may be used to, but not so little that it should not be a consideration, and generally retain at least one person more versed in combat to assist as needed. We maintain a Discord Server for online scenes and/or games when necessary.

VSS Rules:

Attachment to VSS

*Characters must be played primarily on home VSS (attending live games, or regularly taking part in downtimes).
**Characters must be attached to VSS to hold an IC position of authority.
*Must be a member of the Southeast Region or regularly able to attend to hold an IC position of authority.
**If absent for 3+ months, positions of IC authority may be stripped or taken over.
*PCs belonging to members outside the SE Region are allowed entirely at the discretion of the VST.
*PCs who are not portrayed for 4 months in any forum will be marked as inactive in the database (at ST discretion). Player must contact VST staff before reactivating the PC in order to discuss the state of the venue and IC reasons for their PC having been missing. Inactive PCs do not count toward venue caps.
*In the case of an attached PC being portrayed live on another VSS, the VST must be informed within 48 hours after game start, and preferred to be informed before game start.

Character Sheets

*Database is to include a copy of full Character Sheets with full exp log, including creation expenditures.
*Built using the current MES addenda and sanctioned materials.
*Focus on roleplay, but remember that mechanics support it. Match sheets to concepts; good roleplay and mechanics are not mutually exclusive.
*Inconsistencies between sheet and roleplay may be addressed by ST staff. Socially / Mentally superior characters should have a sheet that supports such, for instance.

Downtimes

*Must be turned in by 11:59pm Wednesday before game to take effect before / at game. Particularly lengthy or complicated downtimes requiring extensive response or setup should be sent at least one week before game.
**Submissions after 12am Thursday before game may not be processed until after the game date and will take effect at / by the next month’s game. This includes XP expenditures and affected flaws.
*Will refresh on the first of the month, unless otherwise noted by merits, powers, etc.
*Players may submit a Standard Operating Procedure for monthly downtimes that will occur whether or not other actions are submitted. These have to be on file and acknowledged by the Storyteller.

Downtime Scenes

*Ensure to CC emails or provide a log to the VST @ raleigh.dreaming.vst@gmail.com  .
**This is meant to protect both the VST and Players if any conflict arises.

Approvals

*All approvals above Low will require a filled and approved CCD, and appropriate questions from Regional & National. Mechanics, or source location at the very least, must be included when applicable.
*Approvals are a privilege, not a right. Be responsible with them or they will be removed. Any such decisions may be appealed as per the MHB.

OOC / Rules Disputes

*Questions about rules should be kept succinct. ST makes final determination in all rules calls.
*Do not disrupt scenes with OOC arguments. Books / mechanics can be discussed after scenes, but before end of game, if needed should a potential rewrite be necessary.
*Excessive OOC chatter, commentary, etc should be kept to OOC areas. 
*In online games: All OOC chatter, commentary, or questions should be kept to OOC Channels or Private Messages whenever possible.

Know Your Sheet

And be ready to supply book and page number or addenda source for anything on it.

Soft RP / Mediation

The ST is the final arbiter of all Mediated resolutions. There is no such thing as soft RP.

Visitors

*Should inform ST 48 hours in advance.
**Visitors not following this rule are subject to VST discretion.
*Must have Character Sheet, including:
**Exp Log.
**Approval Numbers.
**Any relevant descriptions of alternate forms and similar abilities.
**Relevant mechanics or sources.
**Equipment List (esp. Weapons, armor, vehicles, magic items, etc)
**Relevant precast mechanics, with addenda rulings.
**If PC is using Alt ID? What level?
**Means of travel and arrival.
**Intentions while on the VSS.
*An agreement to the following statement: “I have read and understand the VSS for the NC-006-D Changeling the Dreaming Game. I also understand that my visit or proxy to this venue may be terminated at any time, and that I will be contacted for additional information if required.”
*Player must bring / email copy of sheet and exp log for ST retention, must provide VST and DC information, and inform their local VST of proxy.
*Will follow Proxy policy for any duration beyond the length of game.
**Any Equipment / Precasts / Etc not logged before game/scene start are allowed at VST Discretion only, and must be logged with the VST before use.

Proxies

*There is no such thing as a soft proxy.
*Must be sent 48 hours in advance.
*Proxies sent after this period are are subject to VST discretion.
*Must include character sheet with all considerations listed in Visitors section and:
**Combat instructions (PvE).
**Intended length of stay.
**This applies to interaction of PC assets with the VSS as well (retainers, allies, etc)
**National Policy will be used for any Proxy-based CvC, and followed to the letter.
**No scenes, actions, or consequences are sanctioned until approval is provided by both the local and home VST (or DST as necessary).

Live Game Proxies, Additional Notes

*Must be sent to the VST and DST at least 48 hours in advance of all games if the character is to be physically present at the game session.
*Will not be accepted without the name of the player who will be portraying the character included in the proxy. Storytelling staff will not portray proxied characters at game sessions. People may only be representing one character sheet at a time.
*It is assumed that your character will act in accordance with your given morality, unless otherwise noted by the player.
*It is assumed that proxied characters will not enter into any binding contracts, and will not give away or abandon any special equipment or powers, unless otherwise noted by the player.
*It is assumed that the proxied characters will not knowingly act friendly toward, or traitorous with, the venue antagonists, unless otherwise noted by the player.
*It is assumed that, when faced with danger, the proxied characters will not fight to their death, unless otherwise noted by the player.
*It is assumed that if you give instructions contrary to any of the above assumptions that you are willing to have the character suffer the consequences for their actions, including, but not limited to, character death.

CvC

CvC is a part of the game, but the ST staff reserves the right to deny CvC if they feel it is unwarranted. If you are planning to have a ‘Killbox’ take place on the VSS, please inform ST staff in advance so we can be prepared. ST staff reserves the right to require said killbox be run before / after game, or in downtime so as not to disrupt game for long periods for other players.

Other Considerations

*If the VST has to be pulled in to run chops on a sex-related scene, there is a high likelihood of desanctioned PCs.
*VST is given 48 hours after game in which it is wholly at their discretion whether or not to respond to any game-related communications / questions.
*Should any member of the VSS voice that they are uncomfortable with RP happening nearby that is perverse / sexual in nature, player(s) will be asked to tone it back. Second offense will result in ST / Coordinator action up to, and including, disciplinary action.
*Should the ST be responsible for more than two groups, they reserve the right to designate a temporary aVST / Narrator to run additional scenes.
*Players are expected to treat officers, as well as other members, with civility and good sportsmanship at all times. It is expected that players will demonstrate maturity and consideration for the fun of others, especially when engaging in destructive or lethal roleplay or CvC.
*OK Check-Ins, the option of Mediation & Soft RP Mechanics, etc are in full effect..
*In the case of online resources, IC Channels will be locked outside of game times. Should they not be locked for some reason, they are still not to be used outside of official game times without prior approval.

This is the Emerald Hills category.