City Politics
Changeling: The Dreaming
Seelie
Overview: Kansas City, while not the heart of the Kingdom of Grass, bears some importance to Concordia. While there are few if any freeholds in the city or area, important Trods pass through the region, and it has fallen into the local Duchy’s hands to protect them. While the nobility concerns itself with this, the commoners do their best to watch over the city’s Dreamers. They have noticed that far too many have been gobbled up by the city’s Prodigals or worse, Fomorians (or things like those ancient foes).
Infrastructure: The local Household is dominated by Dougal fae. Though there are a few Sidhe, most in the Household are Trolls and a few loyal (and useful) Nockers. The Julius Maer Household numbers about 25 fae. The commoners are prevalently Sluagh, Boggans, and common Trolls, though Pooka and Satyrs (as well as the occasional Eshu passing through) can be found. Most of the commoners keep to themselves, but an occasional motley comes together. The Seelie commoners in the city number on average about thirty.
Current Goals & Conflicts: As noted, the maintenance and guardianship of the Trods is the primary concern of the nobles. Their territory extends deep into the local Dreaming and their attention to mortal affairs is fairly dim. The commoners are more attentive, but their lack of organization only makes them so effective. The Seelie overall have weak influence among humanity, but are assuredly the masters of the Near Dreaming. The Dougal, it should be noted, have almost no interest in Little Asia. No Trods pass through there. However, much more secretively, the Cat’s Cradle has approached the hsien in the past and may again in the future.
Key Locale: The Julius Maer Duchy is located in Caer Yocuna, which is fully in the Near Dreaming. It is a fair-sized but secluded Dreaming-bound freehold (level 3). The only gate into the Dreaming-bound estate is found at the Black Rock, an abandoned gold mining town, now a lucrative “ghost town” tourist attraction on the southeastern outskirts of the city. From and through there, a Trod leads to the Trajo Fair Hearth, a tiny commoner mew that doubles as an old Italian restaurant in Little Italy.
Unseelie & Gallain
Overview: With the Seelie nobles so focused on the Dreaming, Unseelie have grown strong in the city. Their rapaciousness only adds to the city’s dark veneer. The only firm counter they have observed is not the Seelie commoners, but the unofficial alliance between those Seelie and the local Nunnehi.
Infrastructure: The Unseelie appear to be only be a loose rabble of mean Redcaps and badmouthed Nockers. They seem to have no real agenda. But in fact, House Leanhaun schemes behind their activities. In the city’s inner shadows, the Unseelie are strong, numbering a total of 40 to 50 changelings on average. But as urban realms give way to the grasslands, the Unseelie’s sway is weak. The Nunnehi are strong: two dozen or more fierce Canotili and cunning Tunghats have the more shadowy Kith boxed into the city.
Current Goals & Conflicts: The present Unseelie are unable to leave the city. Though it would be so easy to ignore the Dreaming-entrenched Dougal, a sort of cabin fever has descended over the Leanhaun. They now subtly direct the Unseelie commoners to opening the way (that is, freeing up Trods). But with the Seelie commoners tirelessly protecting (selfishly hoarding, as they say) as many Glamour sources as possible, and native Gallain “mindlessly” protecting the wilderness beyond, there is little hope. On the side, a mobile freehold, Ailil-controlled, is found along the Blue River. The Unseelie who run this pleasure boat are fairly open to visitors but few Seelie tempt fate with the sly Ailil in charge. Known as the Dame Fortune, its fae crew seems detached from the city’s politics. This may be, however, a charade. The Nunnehi are fairly simplistic in life-style and anachronistic and distrustful of Kithain nobles in attitude. They were once allied with AIM (American Indian Movement), but that group has faded off from the public scene and with it the local Nunnehi’s interest in general mortal affairs.
Key Locale: The Unseelie commoners have safehouses throughout the inner city. The noble household of Cat Rauth is found not far from the Crossroads Chantry, actually, in one of the many manses of Rolling Hills. There is no freehold there, however. The Dame Fortune is such a place of Glamour, but is restricted by the Unseelie who run it. Those who would access its magic must often perform a task for the boat’s captain, Lady Morganna ni Ailil.
