I did some work this morning on the courts, but ran a little out of steam and didn't want to force it, because I want each of the courts to seem interesting.
Overview & History
Cloria is ruled by the Council of Courts, the numbers of which have fluctuated over time. Typically, the Council holds no more than five seats. However, there is a distant and dark time spoken of in Cloria's history where there were a full ten seats and ten separate courts. Historians write that this time was one of chaos and anarchy, where disputes on jurisdiction and land happened often. They say that the far too numerous numbers of Courts is what caused the [[The Great War of Courts]].
Since the end of that war there have been no more than five Great Courts. Another dark time spoken of in the history of Cloria is the time when there were only two great courts. When rebellion and turmoil boiled up because many members of the Seeded felt that they were not represented. Violent revolts ended up with the founding of at least one of the current great Courts.
The Council of Courts rule the Kingdom together, and anything that would affect the entirety of the Kingdom they all have equal say in. Thus having an odd number of Courts is typically seem as stabilizing for the Kingdom for that means there will be no ties. However, each of the Courts has their own demesne within the Kingdom where they rule in absolute-- save for those few laws that are universal.
In the Demesne of Blaze, the southwestern most territory, it is considered illegal to enter a shop while having no intent to make a purchase. A small fine is usually leveled if anyone can be bothered to prosecute. In the Demesne of the Glacier, the most northern territory, one may window shop and browse all they please, but on the other hand shopkeepers are not allowed to turn anyone out of their shop simply because of their appearance-- discrimination against the poor is illegal. While theft is illegal within the entirety of the Kingdom-- though in the different domains the punishment for theft may be very different.
Court of the Blaze (Fire/Air)
Ruler: Sera Agatta Embers, Queen of the Blaze
Second: Elijah Whitten-Embers, Consort of the Blaze
Domain: Demesne of the Blaze, southwestern territory of Cloria.
Climate: Humid, hot, tropical.
Trade Goods: Citrus (orange, lemon, lime), grain (corn, wheat), livestock (cow, chickens, horses).
The Court of the Blaze is one of the oldest currently serving Courts, having been established some four hundred years ago. The Williams family has been the ruling family for three quarters of that time, when [[Sera Agatta Embers]] and [[Amos Emberborn-Frost]]'s great, great, great, etc grandmother challenged the then King of the Blaze in the sacred Rite of Cultivation. It is said that Queen Agatta Embers burnt the old King, whose name has been lost to time, to nothing but ash a bit of bone. No one challenged the Williams nor her daughter. Over the years people have gotten bold, but all have failed.
Elijah Whitten-Embers is from a family as old as the Williams, and some would say he is just as strong as the Queen. So there was worry (and excitement) when he challenged Sera to the Rite of Cultivation. Only they fell into Symbiosis during their fight and created a fire storm that burnt down the Coliseum, and leading to the interruption of the fight and Sera taking [[Elijah Whitten-Embers]] as her husband and Consort.
Court of the Glacier (Water/Earth)
Ruler: Amos Emberborn-Frost, King of the Glacier.
Second: ???
Domain: Demesne of the Glacier, further north territory of Cloria.
Climate: Cold, dark, snow most of the year.
Trade Goods: Potatoes, livestock (Elk, sheep), timber, and ore.
The Court of the Glacier is the youngest of the five Courts, having been established only within the last hundred years. And in that time no royal family has had a chance to be established. Only one ruling King has managed to die of old age and pass the throne onto his daughter. Only to have her challenged and disgraced by [[Amos Emberborn-Frost]] ten years ago. After his sister inherited the throne from their father, he made his move upon the Court of the Glacier, winning the Rite of Cultivation and banishing Queen Emilie Frost from the kingdom.
Amos has faced at least three challenges in the past year, and has defeated them all. But the last one was very close, and it is believed he almost lost. So there are many within the court who think they can defeat him... and many who are resentful that an Emberborn is ruling the Court of the Glacier. He isn't Earthborn or Waterborn and it's an insult... Even if he is Ice-Seeded and one of the strongest Ice-Seeded they've ever seen.
Court of the Mountain (Earth/Air)
Ruler: Sascha Hillside, Monarch of the Mountain<br>
Second: ???<br>
Domain: The Mountain Runs, middle territory of Cloria.<br>
Climate: Cold, mountainy.
Trade Goods: Ore, stone, timber, live stock (sheep, goat, and chicken).
The Court of the Mountain is said to be the oldest Court within the Council of Courts. It has also been the most sable of courts, even more so than the Blaze. For the Stone family have been ruling its court since it's inception shortly after the end of [[The Great War of Courts]], and it is said that it persisted during [[The Lean Era of Unrest]] where there was only one other Court. The Stone family is an old, old dynasty. The throne has been past from family to family for as long as anyone can remember at this point. Only once or twice has it not gone to a direct child, but even then it has gone to a cousin or an uncle with children. The Hillside Throne has been in the Stone family for a long time.
Save Sascha Hillside has no children, and a distinct lack of relatives who aren't elderly.
Court of Basalt (Earth/Fire)
Ruler: Mielle Sands, Empress of Basalt
Second: ???
Domain: Isles of Basalt, a large chain stretching from the west to south coasts.
Climate: Temperate to tropical.
Trade Goods: Fish, volcanic glass, glass, sand, and tropical fruits (pineapple, papaya, mango, etc).
Cobalt will think of something interesting about the Court of Basalt here. Surely.
Court of Storms (Air/Water)
Ruler: Tristan Storm, Sovereign of Storms
Second: ????
Domain: Forest of Storms, south eastern territory of Cloria.
Climate: Temperate, wet.
Trade Goods: Lumber, livestock (cows, sheep, ox, pigs), fish (cold water), and vegetables.
Something interesting about the history of the Court of Storms here.
Hoozah!