And so I give myself over to the will of the freehold and act on its behalf to ensure that the games and festivals of old are honored. I am a humble servant.
The Magistrates of the Wax Mask pretend that they are not a noble order at all, but are instead servants of the people acting in the interest of the freehold’s greater good. This is true, to a point, but hardly depicts the full nature of this order.
The Magistrates help to ensure that a Court keeps up its Contracts and pledges with the changelings of the freehold, providing them with the proper festivals, games and other events. Such events are critical to many freeholds; while some events are nothing more than mere celebrations, others are about renewing treaties and pledges with the world at large. If three sows aren’t sacrificed in the town square during the Harvest Festival, then the True Fae will have an easier time finding their lost changeling servants. If the Summer Court fails to hold its blood-soaked animal fights in the tunnels beneath the city, then Autumn will come earlier that year and the Court of Fear will have greater power.
Enter the Magistrates, who have a long legacy of providing the Courts with their aid in regard to such events. In many freeholds, this grants the Magistrates of the Wax Mask considerable power. Technically, the Magistrates have no allegiance to one Court over another, but sometimes this order finds itself composed predominantly of members from one Court, and this gives that Court substantial influence. The Magistrates aren’t nearly as charitable and impartial as they’d like the freehold to believe.
Mien
Many Magistrates dress professionally and humbly. Some wear simple suits and dresses, others plain robes. Not all resist dressing flamboyantly ― after all, they are the curators and creators of some of the greatest and most necessary events held by the freehold. The chance to enter the spotlight for a time is compelling to some, though other Magistrates often frown upon those that give into such brazen urges.
A Magistrate’s mien changes in one substantial way: the slowly oozing wax mask that the changeling may don over his normal face. The mask is largely faceless and featureless, with dollops of fresh wax occasionally breaking open and running in rivulets down the length of the face. Sometimes, the mask takes on the color schemes of whatever Court is in charge at the time ― green for Spring, reds and oranges for Summer and so forth. However, a telling sign is that a Magistrate belonging to one Court above others often finds that his wax mask reveals his allegiance: even if the Court of Fear is currently in power, if the Magistrate belongs to the Winter Court, his mask may show the icy blues and hoarfrost whites of his own people.
Waxen Violet ●● (Privilege)
The violet ― that small, purple flower with the sweet smell ― is sometimes considered a symbol of one’s humility and trustworthiness. That is, at least, how the Magistrates hope it will be perceived, and this token goes a good way toward ensuring that. This small flower, preserved in a thin coating of wax, is a token that one pins to his clothing (or skin if he’s willing to suffer a pinch and a few beads of blood). When activated, the Violet gives off a pleasing aroma that seems to linger around the Magistrate. Those who are within 50 yards must succeed on a Resolve + Composure roll, and must achieve successes that equal or surpass the Magistrate’s Wyrd score. Failure to do so indicates that the Magistrate appears ― as the flower suggests ― humble, and ultimately trustworthy. He gains +3 Social dice against those affected. The effects of this token last for the remainder of the scene.
Action: Reflexive
Drawback: The Violet has its effect on the changeling who uses it, as well. Except for him, the effect is somewhat soporific. The lingering aroma has a sleep-inducing effect that, while thankfully delayed, is still quite potent when it finally strikes. The changeling has two remaining hours left awake after using the Waxen Violet. If he does not find a place to sleep before that time, he will collapse into slumber unless he spends a Willpower point. That Willpower point only earns him a single turn, however (though several points can be spent to grant several turns). Once asleep, the character sleeps for eight hours straight. If at any point he’s forced awake during this time, he suffers a –2 dice penalty on all rolls until he is able to go to sleep and finish his eight hours.
Catch: In addition to the Drawback, a mortal or other character using this token without the requisite Glamour expenditure or Wyrd roll suffers one lethal wound upon its use. The Violet literally numbs the flesh beneath where it rests and “drinks” a wound level (its petals turning deep reddish-purple in the process). This wound always leaves a small, puckered scar shaped like a flower.
Joining
The official “party line” for becoming a Magistrate is that those who wish to join the order may join the order. No tests, no trials. One’s interest in serving the freehold by performing a rather rigorous job (and a known time-sink) is enough to warrant entry.
It doesn’t always work that way, however. The truth is that, in many freeholds, the Magistrates represent a rather exclusive club. Those within the order possess a great deal of potential power, even though it’s not meant to be such a socially profitable endeavor. Membership in this order is also perceived as a springboard to greater roles within the Courts or freehold, and the Magistrates know that “not just anybody” deserves access to that opportunity.
And so, they tend to freeze out potential Magistrates of whom the current Magistrates don’t approve. They make life difficult for such a novitiate (before he makes the pledge to become a Magistrate), or ignore his requests entirely. They never act so obviously as to make threats, but threats often become implicit in their actions.
Of course, that’s not to say a character can’t join the Magistrates after they’ve written him off. He simply has to play them at their own game, and find some leverage against them. Either that, or meet with their approval in the first place.
