I vow to pursue the mysteries of the Thorns until I have mastered every changeling's first and greatest fear, and taken its power for myself.
The Hedge is a strange and mysterious place, a realm of wonder and terror. From the most luscious goblin fruits, to the most horrific hobgoblins, to the occasional wandering Gentry, the Briars conceal uncertainty and odd magic. Some Ashen fae aspire to learn the every secret of the Hedge, to tame this unfathomable realm and to reap its powers. The so-called Magi of the Gilded Thorn are a group of Autumn courtiers devoted to unraveling the ages-old riddles of the Thorns, claiming its many assets, and, perhaps, eventually learning to control its dangers. While the perils of this pursuit are many, the rewards are greater still. Or so the Magi maintain.
Mien
As the Magi of the Gilded Thorn tend to spend more time in the Hedge than is normal for changelings, many of them prefer simple, sturdy garments that are easily mended and, when need be, cheaply replaced. Heavy boots and rough denim or leather is preferred, and several Magi make use of armor. Of course, Hedge-spun raiment is common to those entitled to the Gilded Thorn. Some older or more hidebound Magi prefer the garb of traditional wood-wise folk (ranging from heavy robes, to deerskins, to little more than natural pigments), though these grow fewer and fewer with each passing year, as mortals develop ever more efficient ways of thriving in wilderness environments and the Gilded Thorn eagerly adopts them. Still, in rural freeholds and those based out of less industrialized societies, a considerable number of Magi cling to the trappings of what are, to their thinking, purer and more venerable ways of life.
Upon adopting the Oath of the Gilded Thorn, a changeling's mien often manifests subtle markings suggestive of the Briars: Faint patterns (looking like birthmarks or faded scars in the shape of thorny vines) on one or more limbs, for instance, or small, bloody and painless wounds upon a hand or foot that make it look as though the character's flesh has been pierced by thorns. As the fae's Wyrd grows, these telltale signs also become more evident, as writhing strands of golden thorns slither upon every inch of exposed skin or thorns poke out of bloody divots in the skin, forever wet with blood. These barbs are soft and supple -- incapable of causing harm -- but act as a visual reminder of the Magus' bond to the Briars. Eventually, slender vines may thread from one wound to the next, or small leaves (and perhaps flowers or even berries) sprout from their edges. Some say that the eldest and most powerful Magi are, themselves, almost indistinguishable from the Hedge that they aspire to master.
Wisdom Of The Thorns (Privilege)
The fervor with which the changelings of the Gilded Thorn seek the lore of the Hedge grants them some protection against its deleterious properties. Magi do not receive the customary –1 penalty to degeneration checks made while within the Hedge, just as if they were within sight of an exit at all times. In addition, they may go a number of hours equal to their dots in Wyrd before losing a point of Glamour to the Thorns, and an equal period of time thereafter between each such loss of Glamour.
Among other things, this means that the Magi can delve far more deeply into the Briars than other changelings would dream of doing, enabling them to access some of the choicest goblin fruits, strangest Hedge-beasts, best-hidden trods, and deepest mysteries of the Thorns. Some Magi use this ability to establish Hollows in nigh-inaccessible locations within the Hedge, where they can find the solitude that many of them frequently crave.
Joining
Changelings drawn to the life of the Magi are often curious sorts, unwilling to back down in the face of the unknown or even the frightful. They delve headlong (sometimes with foolhardy zeal) into mysteries, ready and willing to suffer the occasional hurt in the pursuit of forgotten or wholly undiscovered lore. As perhaps one of the deepest and most universal uncertainties of the changeling world, the Hedge represents a powerful, instinctual fear native to the very condition of being Lost. Those drawn to the Gilded Thorn feel a certain need to explore and analyze that fear, to question and challenge it at every turn, until they understand the reasons behind the terror and, in so doing, dispel the hold that it has over their spirits.
Of course, a desire to know and overcome one's own fear isn't enough by itself. Prospective Magi must also have knowledge about basic wilderness survival to thrive in the innumerable environments encompassed by the Hedge. Accordingly, Beasts are common among the Magi, as are Elementals aligned to natural forces associated with the wild places of the world. Changelings of Seemings less inherently connected to the green and growing places, such as Fairest or Darklings, are considerably less frequently entitled by the Gilded Thorn.
