Changeling

The Sacramento freehold has been a fragmented story so far since its inception during the California Gold Rush when the first Lost settled; each one arriving with numerous reasons and secrets. No matter their differences however, they each belonged to one of the Seasonal Courts and when the freehold was finally established, it was under the unified banner of the Seasons; Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. Naturally, there were grudges and intrigue but these were often overcome due to the pledges sworn.

That was until the Autumn King decided he must continue to rule and refused to give up his throne, his crown, to the Winter Queen. In that one moment, the Wyrd snapped as the freehold erupted into war as past wrongs came to the fore and Changeling blood was spilled.

It was at this time when trods began to open up across the freehold and in a tidal wave of nightmares, the Gentry swept in with Hedge beasts, hobgoblins and loyalists under their command, killing and capturing as many fae as possible before the remaining Sovereigns rallied together to make a stand. However, they were still pushed back further into the freehold, always on the defensive and readying themselves for one final battle.

Then, from beyond the Hedge came three strangers. Two represented the Dawn and Dusk whereas the third was of no Court; a balancing force. Together, they aided the Seasons in their war and fought the Gentry, pushing them back into the Hedge and as the freehold pledge was re-founded and the trods closed, the True Fae returned to Arcadia. In the aftermath, the outside Courts left after the Seasons had settled once more while the balancing fae remained behind, to watch from inside the freehold.

Time moved on as fae came and went, Sovereigns rose and fell and all the while, the Gentry remained a distant, if terrible, memory. Now, it seems that strife has arisen once again in the freehold. The Summer King killed by a Loyalist while his replacement is growing mad on paranoia. The Spring Sovereign banished for breaking a powerful oath and leading to the new Spring Queen to take the throne in a coup, leaving the Spring Court in bitter disarray. The Winter Queen is accused of being nothing but a shallow bitch whereas the Autumn King ponders his next move, wise to the city's previous Dread Lord's mistake. Amongst it all, the Gentry have been spotted outside the mortal world, travelling through the Hedge that surrounds Sacramento.