Although changelings may not always like or even respect one another, the majority of changelings recognize their common bond of slavery and escape. Except for the few twisted wretches who work for the Gentry, the one of the few goals all changelings can agree upon is maintaining their freedom from the Fae. As a result, changelings naturally band together for mutual defense and support, to prevent any of their number from being dragged back to Arcadia or enslaved in the mortal world.
Local changeling communities are called freeholds, a name that reflects their focus on self-determination and mutual aid. Changelings who have recently escaped from Faerie are always offered the hospitality of the local freehold. These refugees are treated as guests for as much as a month, or perhaps even longer if they suffered mental or physical harm during their escape. After this initial period of open hospitality, changelings are usually offered a chance to join the freehold.
The decision to join a freehold can naturally be changed later, but is nonetheless of vital import, because membership in a freehold helps determine both a changeling’s loyalties and the contacts she will gain in the changeling community. Although some freeholds that are overcrowded or in turmoil may be reluctant to accept new members, joining the majority of freeholds is a simple act for any changeling not suspected of dangerous insanity, aiding the Fae or similar dire problems or crimes. The prospective member need only swear a pledge to give her services to protect and defend the freehold and its members from the Fae and their allies and to never knowingly give aid or comfort to these enemies.
Almost all freeholds include this clause in their pledges. Many freeholds also include other more extensive clauses. Some expect all who join to agree to aid and defend the members and the freehold as a whole against any external threat, including ones having nothing to do with the Fae. While most freeholds also have a clause that removes this protection if a changeling brings down the force of mortal law against himself, a few freeholds lack this clause and agree to shield changelings from even the full force of the police and courts. Naturally, most freeholds include provisions for expelling Lost who knowingly or sometimes even carelessly bring serious harm or threat of harm to the freehold. Almost all of the older and most traditional freeholds also require members to swear to obey the freehold’s official code of laws and the most authoritarian also require changelings to pledge to obey all of the leaders’ official pronouncements and edicts.
Sacramento
Some Freeholds hide in plain sight, while others hide so well that new arrivals need an invitation and direction to even catch a hint of just where the Lost's stronghold resides.
The Freehold of Sacramento is of the former, and has always been, but with the death of the dragon Fairweather the Lost of Sacramento have taken control of, and are operating an amusement park (Funderland). A self contained space, a fortress for the Lost, but one where mortals come spend their money, and offer up something more precious; Glamour. The park is divided along the lines of the Seasonal Courts, each having their own ride or featured building, so the Glamour is spiced in the layers of the four cardinal emotions.
Much like the world - the Hedge - beside the mundane one, there is a world beneath the park -- prohibition era tunnels, passages and even rooms.
Leadership
To provide structure and to reassure the Lost who remain, and to the Lost who come to Sacramento it was decided that something needed to change. Three new roles were created, The Leader, the Oath Keeper and the Sheriff. The Oath Keeper records and observes all the Pledges made within the Freehold, and the Sheriff patrols the Borders, protecting the Freehold, and enforces the Laws.
- Activities Director - Overall leadership of the Freehold and final adjudicator.
- Notary - Observes and records formal Pledges, and go-to for gossip and news.
- Groundskeeper - Security, law enforcement, Hedge patrols, etc.
To Receive Status 1 within the Freehold, new arrivals must speak with a member of the Hierarchy, or wait until the next Solstice or Equinox to be formally welcomed into the community.
Seasonal Courts
The Seasonal Monarchs form an advisory council to assist the Director, but they may or may not be heeded. While the Freehold leadership does not answer to the Monarchs, neither are they wholly inviolate from them.
- Should a leadership role be vacated, the current Season's Sovereign may assume the role or appoint someone to fill it at their sole discretion.
- At any time (but only once per Season), a Monarch may summon a 'monsoon' - a seasonal wind of change, representing a new poll/pulse-taking for one or all of the positions.
