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Canada at Midnight 
Changeling: the Dreaming 
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Changeling: the Dreaming  

A History of Concordia 
 
But time has no beginnings and hist'ry has no bounds, 
As to this verdant country they came from all around. 
They sailed upon her waterways and they walked the forests tall. 
Built the mines, the mills and the factories for the good of us all… 
 
Gordon Lightfoot, “​The Canadian Railroad Trilogy​”  
 
The document attached is an In-Character perspective on the history of the Changeling People 
of Concordia, with commentary by its IC author and asides from its editors. Outlining the 
whole of Kithain history is no small task, especially while avoiding the trap of falling into a 
narrow cultural perspective. As you will see, this is not ​the​ history of Concordia, but ​a​ history 
of Concordia with its own perspectives, just as any approach to history necessarily entails. A 
Vampire's perspective on human history might be likened to a time lapse of countless local 
events, filmed at night. A Werewolf’s perspective might best be described as a cycle of lays 
and fables about life in an endless war, without much concern for the details of chronology. A 
Mage’s perspective might resemble a record of affairs most relevant to their various Orders. 
Perhaps the less said about a Wraith’s historical perspective, whatever memory survived death 
coupled with Legion agendas and Maelstroms, the better. 
 
We have a different task. Our aim is to convey a fundamentally different perspective, while 
making clear how the Kithain are intimately involved with humanity's desires, aspirations, 
creativity and despair. Not from 30,000 feet, but right up in your face. Not in time lapse, but in 
slow motion. Not out of time, but in visceral memory. That connection requires a narrative that 
inspires you to ​feel​. Fortunately, narratives are quite good at yielding that outcome. 
 
The information here should not be considered ‘final’ in the sense that further revisions to the 
Chronicle’s history are inevitable. A few individual points may change as we move closer to 
final release, but the overarching themes and events here are reliable. One final note: Doozer 
offers a generally Unseelie perspective, while Antonius and Savanna are of the Seelie and 
Shadow Court, respectively. 
 
This story grew with the telling. We hope you enjoy it. 
 

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A History of Concordia,   
 
 
 
 
Being a Reflection Upon the Great Deeds of Times Past 
 
Along with Commentary and Discussion of Recent Matters,  
 
with Musical Accompaniment by Certain Popular Artists. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Doozer Klunck 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Churchill, Manitoba 
Printing House of Kablam & Matthews 
2020 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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[This Page Left Intentionally Blank]  

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Introduction 
 

T​ here are lies, there are damned lies, and then there is history. That’s what my sainted 
mother used to tell me. I think she was misquoting, or maybe I’m misremembering, but either 
way it strikes me as something to keep in mind as I attempt to put pen to paper and make 
sense of our people’s history. I’m sure there are those among you who will call me a damned 
liar, and to you I say, ‘proooobbaaaably.’ But while individual details might have been 
massaged to fit the grand narrative of my annals, I think that overall you’ll find the document I 
have compiled to be useful. 
 
If you don’t, well, you’ll get over it. 
 
I have attached a small glamour to this folio, containing songs and hymns which I believe will 
add shade and depth to my historical analysis. It is my hope that this new innovation will be 
most edifying to the reader. 
 
I remain,   
Doozer Klunck,
Nocker chrononaut and speculative historian, Goblin Town
January-June, 2020 (12th Year of Winter)

Editor’s note. I have taken some liberties to clean up the ‘nockerisms’ and highlight the most 
obviously spurious points in Mssr. Klunck’s work. While his research is impeccable, I do find 
that at times he does get a bit carried away by his rhetoric, not to mention the many glaring 
omissions.. 
- Savanna Grace, Boggan Editor, in the court of Lady Mariana, Arcadia Gateway 
 
 
Editor of the Editor’s note. Yeah, a lot of this is crap, and I don’t entirely trust our editor friend 
above. The Shadow Court has its own view of history, and it is one that deserves a skeptical eye. 
Perhaps I have grown bitter in my twenty-seven years, but it seems to me that there is an effort 
afoot to reframe our entire history. 

- Sir Antonius ap Fiona, Knight Errant in the court of Caer Angeles   

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Prehistory (Times unknown) 
Max Richter, ​Path 3 7676

W​ here does the history of Concordia rightfully begin? This is the first question the author
must wrestle with in telling a tale such as this, and it is one of the most difficult. Let us take the
easy way out and begin our tale in the earliest days, long before the years were bound into
numbered arrays.

There were not always Changelings. Before us were the dreams of the rocks and the soil, the
dreams of the land itself. Then, over time came the dreams of the living things. Dreams of love
and lust, dreams of hunger and the simple joys of the animals. I wonder sometimes at the
strange empires that walked the earth in those days. Do the Inanimae still sing songs about the
elder days? I wish I knew, but I do not.

Then came the first hominids, and of their dreams perhaps only the horrors of the Fomorians
still tell. Fortunately, it is the opinion of many learned men that Neaderthal and Australopithecus
never sang their strange songs upon our soil, and so the historian can comfortably pass over
the difficult questions they raise in silence.

After the coming of Dreamers to these shores, a bit longer than ten thousand years ago, their
dreams walked naked upon the land for long years. That was the age of the True Fae, the first
Fae, and of them, I must also admit that I have little to add, except this.

The first Fae were born of the​ hopes, dreams and nightmares of humanity. Many were 
worshiped as gods; some were honoured as helpful spirits; some were despised and feared. 
But all of them wielded powers and influence that none of us today can even imagine. 
 
Bound as they were to the Dreams of the humanity that created them, it was natural in the 
temperate regions for these dreams to split between the warm dreams of the summer, and the 
frigid nightmares of the colder months. In Europe, over millennia, this natural bifurcation 
developed into the Seelie and Unseelie courts respectively.   
 
In the tropical regions, this division between Summer and Winter was less clear, and instead a 
split between the dreams of life and death developed; and yet, though not as married to the 
seasons of the hemisphere, the split between the dreams of Order and Chaos grew there as 
well. 
 
The author read Joseph Campbell. Historical theory for Changelings, or sociology? A. 
 
Over time, a balance developed between these Courts, in which they ritually split their authority 
to reflect the dominant dreams of the seasons. Even in realms far distant from the Celtic lands 

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from which we draw much of our nomenclature, this natural division grew and developed along 
similar lines.   
 
Who can say how many thousands of generations rose up and faded in the mists of history 
during this period? Certainly it is a time far longer than all of our recorded history. And yet, if 
one were to speak of the history of the Changelings proper, of the people we developed into, 
that history only began around thirty-five hundred years ago, in the time we have come to call 
The Sundering, and it is there that our tale of Concordia begins in earnest. 
 
To be alive in the dawn times. When the Glamour flowed like a torrent and we ruled this 
world as immortal gods. Best not to focus too much on this period, or I do believe it might 
drive one mad with grief. S.G. 
 

   

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The Sundering (Around 1500 BCE) 
 
One broken promise.   
One broken promise is enough to turn a man  
into a monster. A. 
 
Hans Zimmer, “​Davy Jones​” 
 

A​ s the birth and evolution of the Fae was tied to the emergence of humanity, they have also 
proven to be our greatest threat. Step by step, century by century, we moved closer and 
closer to an unseen cliff. Through the age of Bronze, our power waxed along with theirs, and 
learned scholars at the time had no reason to believe that this synergistic relationship would 
not continue through the boundless years of history that stretched before us. 
 
Physical might, powerful magic and immortality were what separated the Fae from the mayfly 
lives of humanity. Too often, we saw the Dreamers as mere play-things to be used and 
discarded; to be pampered as a pet or hunted for sport. Is it any wonder that tales warning of 
our capriciousness still ring down from those distant centuries? Man hates what he fears, and 
so they started to look for methods which would protect them both from the Fae and from 
other supernatural entities.   
 
Still, we did not fear, though too often they had grown to hate us. In the comfort of this dry 
history, allow me to speak a great truth about these strange apes, so unlike the rest of animal 
creation: in the end they proved themselves to be our betters. 
 
And so the Age of Iron dawned, and with it came the horrors of Cold Iron. A powerful new 
weapon, and one capable of undoing our people utterly. Many responded with a shrugging 
disdain or pompous anger. In our hubris, the most foolhardy of the Fae taught humanity that to 
turn against their gods was to make war upon them. And they did. 
 
Separate from these were the Slow Empires of the Inanimae. At the first Grand Symposium, 
they blamed the ability to craft iron solely upon the Empire of Flames and retreated into their 
hidden glens to make war upon each other.   
 
Others sought to make oaths and bargains with humankind, in exchange for their dreams, 
worship and devotion. For such a price, these Fae protected and assisted the humans. It is 
said that in these times, the Fae taught humans how to work silver and gold, to protect 
themselves from the shapeshifters. This attempt at mutual protection met with varying degrees 
of success, as there were other supernatural beings who did not appreciate the Fae poaching 
their human thralls. 

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Still others sought new lands and new opportunities away from the taint of iron. The mightiest 
of these called forth the Dreaming as a barrier between the human world and Arcadia so that 
no Cold Iron would ever taint the heartland of the Shining Host. It also separated Arcadia from 
the spirit world, where the shapechangers and some few powerful human Dreamers walked. 
 
For many generations, the change was hardly noticed. And yet in retrospect, the change was 
clear. Our dawn days were slowly coming to a close. To paraphrase a poet of the current age: 
It had been the Golden Age. But gold was also the color of sunset, of autumn--and only the 
wisest of the wise could hear the first wailings of winter’s storms. But we will speak more of 
this in the next section. 
 
The Nunnehi had a brief encounter involving Trolls in 507 CE worth noting., as the wrestling 
match of Lars the Blessed and Kahwihta the Rock Giant on the shores of the Hudson is still 
sung about in some circles on both sides of the Pond. Leif the Lucky wasn’t the first to cross 
the Ocean Sea, not by a long shot. S.G. 

The Shattering (1212CE - 1348CE) 

 
The real horror is that you're waiting for the rest of the theme every time, till the end.  
And then it comes--the resolution, and everything is complete again. D.K. 
 
Lucas King, “​Dance of the Dead Fairy​” 
 

F​ ae historians say that the Sundering was a difficult time for the Fae because it started to 
limit their power in the world, but it was ultimately survivable. They adapted to the best of their 
ability. But three cursed events weakened the power of the Fae. Had any of these events not 
taken place, the Fae may still have held onto the majesty and power that they had known 
during those early days. 
 

1212 - The First Cursed Event: War of the Courts 

 
What I've felt, what I've known 
Never shined through in what I've shown 
Never free, never me 

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 So I dub thee unforgiven 
 
Metallica, performed by Twin Harps, “​The Unforgiven​” 
 

I​ n the Northwest of the Old World, the rites of Samhain were enacted as normal, with the 
Seelie indulging in their darker natures, the Unseelie exploring their brighter selves, and the 
court of misrule ruling over the day.   
 
It was one Samhain in particular, though I confess I do not know the exact date, when the 
balance between the courts was broken, seemingly forever. For, in their arrogance, the Seelie 
Court refused to hand rulership over to the Unseelie Court. The Dark Court gave the Bright 
Court until the first waxing of the crescent moon to hand over power, or it would be taken by 
force. The Seelie Court refused, and there was blood. 
 
There are no reliable records of why the Seelie Court refused to give up power. It was 
suggested that they had learned of a plot by the Unseelie to revive dwindling belief and rituals 
performed by humans for the Fae by indulging in wanton terror and the exposure of powerful 
Bygones--something unthinkable to the Seelie mind. It could be that, like in the late 1900s, the 
Seelie Court believed themselves best suited to ensure that the Fae continued to thrive. It was 
most likely a combination of simple greed and power-lust. 
 
In a less prejudiced account, High King Oberon and his two sister-queens ruled the Fae. The high king 
spent half of the year with his Seelie wife Titania and half with his Unseelie wife. Wherever High 
King Oberon held court was where the rulership was. But he started to fall more deeply in love with 
Titania and would not leave her after Samhain. The resulting war was his other wife’s attempt to 
get her husband back. A. 
 
The resulting war was fought primarily out of the sight of humans; however, it did have effects, 
particularly upon the global climate. In what later became known as the Little Ice Age, the rain 
fell harder, drowning crops and creating floods. Widespread famine soon followed. What little 
food was available was hardly enough to sustain the human population through several harsh 
winters.  

1225 to 1333 - The Second Cursed Event: The Inquisition and the 
Nameless Order 
 

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 A song has lyrics. Music does not. S.G. 
 
Hans-André Stamm, J.S. Bach’s “​Toccata and Fugue in D Minor​” 
 

W​ ar preoccupied the Fae. As such, they did not realize the second event was occurring. 
Two groups of powerful human Dreamers came together and, hoping to better protect 
humanity without the wise guidance of the Fae, they made oaths with the world, setting its 
laws with the strength of iron. The first group is known as the Inquisition. The second group 
has no name that any Fae remembers.  
 
The cynic in me would note that the Inquisition was contrived to seize wealth from their flock. 
But the original purpose of the Inquisition was to eradicate heresy from the Catholic church by 
correcting those who were teaching and living out lifestyles and beliefs that were contrary to 
Christian doctrine. As heresy was both a secular and religious crime, mob justice came for 
those accused. The Inquisition established formal courts to determine whether a person was 
guilty and to mete out punishments. Included in heresy was the making or keeping of any 
oaths with the Fae. Instrumental in these attempts to destroy both heresy and the beings that 
kept people from the Church were the creation of various knightly orders, whose purpose was 
to protect the humans from supernatural beings that they saw as the spawn of the Devil. 
Among these, the Red Order and the Oculi Dei were relentless in finding and killing the Fae and 
those who swore oaths with them. 
 
Less is known about the Nameless Assembly. Attempts to look back at evidence of this group 
have been blocked, save for one message stating that this Nameless Assembly declared war 
upon “Sorcerers, Nightgaunts, Fairie, Boggies, Wytches, Dyvells, Changelings, Werebeasts 
and all Creatures of the Night.” 
 
There is no historical evidence in either secular or religious texts for any of these groups. Also, 

not to push against our common history, but most of that folk memory of the Inquisition 
comes from local royalty cosplaying as clergy. S.G​. 
 
Joan of Arc was known to defend fairies from people who would hurt them, at least that’s what 
Mark Twain said, and he seems like a trustworthy source. A. 
 
With the oaths and actions of those two groups, the force that we now know as Banality 
washed over the world. 
 

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1347 - The Black Death 

Dies irae dies illa (Day of Judgement, that day will)

Solvet saeclum en favilla (dissolve the world in ashes)
Teste davidcum sybilla (as foretold by David and the Sibyl)
Quantus tremor est futurus (What trembling there will be)
Quando judex est venturus (when the Judges descend)

“​Dies Irae​,” Gregorian Chant for the Dead

A​ lthough not officially a contributing factor to the Shattering, the Bubonic plague cut off a 
significant portion of Glamour from the Fae. Humans who had offered their dreams died in 
droves. This robbed the Fae of their ability to replenish the raw power that was being used to 
fuel their war. Conservative estimates state that 100 million humans died of the Black Plague. 
As the Fae did not yet have human bodies, it is reasonable to assume that no Fae contracted 
the plague or spread it. 
 
More importantly, humans looked to other supernatural factors for their aid--specifically, the 
Church. With the Inquisition having started barely a century prior (and in some cases, not 
ending until the 1800s), the humans were given little reason not to turn to the Church for 
healing their bodies and reassurance that, by doing so, they would be granted a place in 
Heaven after death. 
 
In response to this, the practice of saving treasured humans by bringing them into Fae society 
grew in popularity. There was precedent for this, as True Thomas had been living among the 
Fae since he was a teenager in the early 1200s. 
 
Do not take this as advice on how to save a loved one! With True Thomas being a possible exception, 
humans experience Bedlam faster than we do! A. 
 

1348 - The Third Cursed Event: The Abandonment of Earth 

 
I can't escape it  
Never gonna make it out of this in time  
I'm not there quite yet  
What you running for?  
Run at the door  
 
The Strokes, “​At the Door​” 
 

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In response to this wave, the third cursed event occurred. By summer, there was mindless 
panic. Fae of all Kiths ran to the Trods of the Dreaming, seeking the protection of Arcadia. 
Some took everything that they owned. Others took only what they could wear. But none fled 
in greater numbers than the Sidhe. Not all Sidhe abandoned the earth, true, and other Kiths 
ran through the gates ahead of them. But the vast majority of Fae who ran were Sidhe. 
Common lore among the Commoners is that most of those who fled used the Sovereign Art to 
either pass through the Gates first, to keep Commoners off of the paths to the Dreaming, or 
both. It is said that as they slammed the doors behind them, each of the Silver Gateways 
collapsed, sealing the way to Arcadia. 
 
The Sidhe provided leadership to the Fae. The Balefires and energy from Arcadia provided 
strength. The open Trod to Arcadia provided a guarantee of safe haven. Each of these was 
gone now, and the extinction of the Fae on Earth seemed inevitable. 
 
On the other side of the world, the Nunnehi did feel a change when the Sidhe fled; however, 
they did not feel the press of Banality, nor did they feel the need to escape to Arcadia. As 
such, they did not know that the ways to Arcadia had been sealed until colonization began. 
The Mer, on the other hand, knew what was happening, but their homes beneath the ocean 

protected them from the initial assault of Banality. S.G. 

 
Chimerae have their own version of this history, as do the Hsien, if anyone bothers to ask them. A. 
 
 

   

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The Interregnum (1348 to 1969) 
 
Un gelo mi serpeggia nel sen! (A frost is whirling in my breast!) 
Trema ogni fibra! (Every fibre is trembling!) 
Vacilla il piè! (My feet are shaking!) 
Si, presso la fonte meco t'assidi. (Yes, close to the source I'll be for a while.) 
 
The Fifth Element,​ “​Diva Dance​” 
 

1348 - The Establishment of the Changeling Way 

 
Writing about music is like dancing about architecture. D.K. 
 
GlassDuo, Astor Piazzola’s “​Libertango​” 
 

I​ t was the Boggans who both found the Kiths who would otherwise be undone and 
discovered a way to survive this Autumn Time. They learned that to protect oneself from 
Banality, one must clothe oneself in it by taking on the form of a human. With rites and oaths, 
they taught the Fae to merge their souls with those of humans, creating something new. The 
humans noticed. They started to call these Fae Changeling children, because they believed 
their children were stolen away instead of being merged into beings both human and Fae. 
Nonetheless, the term Changeling became commonly used among the Fae. 
 
Protected from the ravages of Banality, the Changelings were able to live human lifetimes, 
being reborn again and again, unless destroyed by iron. Not steel, oddly, but iron, for which 
the Nockers have been very thankful. 
 
It’s nice to see the contributions of the Boggans mentioned here. Too many of our histories 
read as records of the many glorious accomplishments of the Sidhe. Praise be to the reforms 
of our age, that we may recognize all who serve our people with distinction. S.G​. 
 
I just threw up in my mouth a little bit. A. 
 

   

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The New Normal 
Crying Jesus help me  
to feel the love again in my own land! 
But if unknown roads lead away from home, 
Give me loving arms, ‘way from harm. 
 
Kurt Bestor, “​Prayer of the Children​” 
 
 

W​ ith few nobles to lead them, the remaining Kiths made for themselves a new society. 
The first order of business was to end the War of the Courts, which was accomplished with the 
Jerusalem Compact. From this treaty, the Escheat--the golden laws that governed fae Society 
at its most basic level--were reinterpreted to match the new normal. Furthermore, merit and 
skill were recognized more than invested nobility and title. Traditionalists, who fought against 
this, accepted a compromise that leadership would come from merit in keeping the old rituals, 
including the seasonal rites. Most of these traditionalists were Sidhe that had stayed behind. 
These included members of House Ailil, House Scathach and House Dougal. Finally, it was 
decided that the Courts would rule their individual freeholds without a semi-annual transfer of 
power. This had the unexpected consequence of fostering greater cooperation among the 
Commoners of both courts. 
 

The Three Golden Empires 

 
The Silkroad Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma, “​Ascending Bird​” 
 
Conventional European histories of the Kithain would have us believe that the cursed events of 
the Shattering defined life in all the world for the next six centuries. But the truth is far from it. 
For one need only consult the masters of Eshu talecraft and oral history to know about the 
Three Golden Empires, which in the 14th century rose to greatness and produced many 
wonders that the Europeans among our forebears could not have imagined in their isolated 
corner of the world. 
 
Looking first to the center of massive Asia, the Eshu leaders known as the ​Oba​ fared very well 
in the fortuitous absence of the Sidhe during the early days of the Changeling Way. In that 
region, the Eshu cultivated nostalgic dreams of empire left in human hearts by the memory of 
the Golden Horde. They inspired their entire society to dedicate itself to the central elements 
of their own defining dream: vast roads crossing the known world and routes for the trade of 
exotic goods from parts unknown. The Timurid Empire is now known to have been the third 
largest in human history to exist under a single conqueror. The Eshu, and especially their ​Oba 
leaders, quickly raised themselves into strongly influential positions in this new empire, and the 

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epic tales of Genghis Khan were taken up as their own heritage. Doubtless hundreds of Pooka 
made their lives in the wilds of Central Asia along the Silk Road, and Kithain accounts 
preserved from that time recount numerous achievements of Timurid Boggan industry in 
support of sprawling Eshu khanates. The Timurid Eshu were arguably very forward thinking 
leaders as well; thus, scores of Asia’s Nockers achieved great heights in their research of 
pseudophysics and mathematical theories in the curious climate of the ​Timurid Renaissance​. 
 
The less said of the Siberian Redcap raiding bands of that time--and their wolves--the better. A. 
 
The Eshu and numerous indigenous Pooka fared no less well living among the Delhi and 
Bengal Sultanates of India. Although not as vast and unified as their northwestern neighbors, 
Delhi​ was among the most connected (and wealthiest) trading empires in the world, and the 
Bengali​ imperial capital was one of the largest cities on earth. No longer bound by the roads of 
land, Indian Eshu sailed everywhere from the African coast to Malaysia and the fortified city of 
Singapore. On behalf of the ​Oba​, they traded goods, ideas and tales from distant lands, 
bringing wonders and exotic beauty to markets all along the shores of the Indian Ocean. 
 
If ever I clear my desk of the queue of manuscripts, I really must conduct fieldwork to 
determine whether any evidence in the Dreamtime realms corroborates the claim that these 
Eshu ever crossed to Kumari Kandam, a.k.a. Sclater’s Lemuria or Terra Australis.. D.K. 
 
No Kithain account of this era would be complete without describing the third Golden Empire 
of the Eshu in Sub-Saharan Africa. Human historians distinguish the ​Mali Empire​ from the 
Kingdom of Zimbabwe​ due to mundane reasons such as government and the many leagues 
between them. But in Kithain terms, they are better understood as the Citadels of Gold and 
Glamour, respectively. In the early days of the Interregnum, the Mandinka-led Mali Empire, due 
in no small part to the excellent mining traditions of the many Nockers who lived there, was a 
global leader in gold production, and it is said that Musa I, a Malinese emperor who died only a 
decade before the Shattering, was the wealthiest human ever to live. Numerous Kithain of all 
Kiths dimly remember living in this realm of fabulous prosperity. Quite different is the legacy of 
the southern capital of Lusvingo, or ​Great Zimbabwe​. The Kingdom of Zimbabwe hoarded not 
gold, but talent, particularly in the arts and the craft of stonemasonry. More locally mined gold 
funded the construction of massive walls and a royal palace complex out of closely fitted 
stone without mortar. The stones of Great Zimbabwe provided Glamour for local Trolls, Satyrs 
and Boggans for centuries, and they are a marvel of Interregnum engineering even today. The 
Eshu traversed the trans-Saharan routes and the East African sea lanes, connecting the third 
Golden Empire with the others, forming a vast network of power for their Kith in that time. 
 
Ys and Lyonesse would warrant equally grand treatment in any less biased history. A. 

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Toward the Empire of the Turtle

Who could heed the words of Charlie Darwin

Lords of war just profit from decay
And trade the children's promise for the jingle
The way we trade our hard-earned time for pay

The Low Anthem, “​Charlie Darwin​”

 
And thus, as always, time passed. The history of the Kithain became entwined with the 
histories of the Mer and the Hsien in the 1200s, and then the Nunnehi in the centuries that 
followed the European “Age of Discovery.” More details of these meetings are outside the 
scope of this history, but I encourage you to take the time to explore this fascinating time 
period for yourself. It was a time of heroes and villains; and perhaps too often; we were the 
villains. 
 
I once had a lover who was an Irish werewolf. Before Mariana’s Curse, they told me that 
colonization had changed the wolves who lived here as well. I guess that makes sense, it changed 
everything else. A. 
 
Experiments conducted by my reputable colleagues suggest a key metaphysical effect due to 
the fields of archaeology and paleontology. According to their Theory of Anti-Causality, 
humans since Antiquity have placed faith in science; thus, science’s claims of plausibility 
influence the Dreaming. This makes intuitive sense to Kithain science fiction ​aficionados​, but 
its temporal corollary is even more compelling to my own work. Based on my calculations, the 
degree to which a claim about the past achieves a quality of ​truthiness​ t​ o modern humans--if 
by virtue of scientific ​plausibility-​ -the more that narrative actually ​is​ true for the Dreaming and 
its creatures. For example, modern historical and archaeological findings support the 
hypothesis of pre-Columbian contact between North Africa and Mesoamerica, evidenced by 
Mandinka and Arabic linguistic, symbolic and artistic influences found among the Olmecs. As 
this narrative gains credibility among humans, the Dreaming yields to it. It is reasonable to 
suspect that these voyages involved at least some Eshu over the centuries. 
 
Such convolutions the Mssr. undertakes, merely to admit that the Eshu--born travelers, mind 

you--might have made the crossing earlier. Hidebound thinking if ever there was such. S.G. 
 
The diplomatic histories of the Sidhe of Connacht and Ulster make no bones about the fact that the 
Selkies and Mer already knew of foreign lands beyond the Ocean Sea in the Mythic Age . This was 
most likely forgotten by the Commoners during the Interregnum. The Selkies were clearly well 

17
 established on the shores of Newfoundland, Labrador, the Arctic and the Pacific long before any 
European ship ever left sight of land. The thornier issue of whether history as we understand it 
objectively exists is best not considered too seriously. There is such a thing as truth, just as there is 
such a thing as beauty. The mental gymnastics at work here dizzy the mind. A. 
 
One aspect of Concordian history worth some ink here is the discussion of how the Autumn 
People managed to reshape history for so long with regard to the notion of “discovering,” 
“settling” and “populating” a vast continent. In the United States, this became associated with 
a notion still taught in school today: Manifest Destiny. Rare is the time when a Kithain historian 
finds it most appropriate to state unequivocally that such a narrative is a crock of ​ ​. 
However, it is an example of the Theory of Anti-Causality at work. For a time during the 20th 
century, this narrative became artificial nation-state mythology, propaganda, if you will, but we 
Commoners hold an oral tradition that says otherwise. For among our numbers, countless 
heirloom accounts--some even invaluable Dross--give the lie to that story. Examples are not 
rare. Many Eshu were hidden among their African Kinain, who grew close to the Seminoles in 
Florida. Scores of Trolls joined their Kinain families as they platted counties and townships 
across the Great Plains and clashed with indigenous bands. But even well before those times, 
we know for a fact from travelogues and Kinain family histories that numerous Pooka, Redcaps 
and even Clurichauns and Ghillie Dhu plunged into the forests of inner North America using the 
Hudson’s Bay Company and the Louisiana Territory fur trade as reasons to explore--only to 
find those forests nothing close to empty. Anecdotes of these forays and early contacts with 
native peoples (including many interesting types of Fae) are not apocryphal; however, by their 
nature, they are difficult to compile for a historical survey. Indeed, there certainly remain rich 
narratives to be found, if only a Kithain folklorist or ethnomusicologist were to undertake the 
fieldwork. 
 
Due to the inherently lossy nature of Kithain oral traditions through the cycles of the Changeling 
Way, details become reliable for historical research only in the 19th century, when various early 
realms became established and there were sufficient numbers of Kithain in Concordia to leave 
a greater volume of reliable historical evidence. The Industrial Revolution, which arrived 
relatively later to these shores than in Europe, left a particularly rich corpus of primary sources, 
including countless fascinating Kithain cipher-missives couched in the earliest wide-circulation 
newspapers. From this time forward, much more is known with certainty. 
 
No Kith was as in tune with the Industrial Revolution as the Nockers. Throughout the British 
Isles and Western and Central Europe, the particular Nocker mixture of nose-to-the-grindstone 
work ethic and dedication to a high standard of quality had always been a winning 
combination. The numbers of humans, and thus of Dreamers, again swelled in the Concordian 
realms during the 19th century. Nockers rode this upswell of invention and enterprise. As 
Banality made the warm water Northwest Passage increasingly difficult to traverse, Nocker 
muses fed the race to connect coast to coast via transcontinental railroad. Of course, that’s 
also a general statement, as it is fair to say that the Nockers invariably contributed to the 

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growth of human technology. For a more thorough treatment of this Golden Age and its 
fascinating wonders and precedents, I direct you to my informative pamphlet ​Discoveries and 
Innovations of the American ​Old​ New West, From Lightning Rods to Lighter Than Air Travel, or, 
a Concordance of Nocker Patents Filched by Jules Verne​. 
 
Meanwhile, the Pooka cornered the booming market on snake oil and elixirs that would 
cure anything from cholera to the vapors. D.K. 
 
He does (obliquely) acknowledge the depopulation triggered by colonization. But to see him tell 
it, one might believe the railroads were built by ingeniously designed automatons, not the 
back-breaking work of Chinese labourers. The Hsien suffer from no such illusions. S.G. 
 
​Once, after watching Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint in ​North by Northwest​, I decided I would 
try riding Amtrak from San Francisco to Seattle. Boarding, I expected something like a Silver Path 
made manifest on earth. It turns out that their new marketing slogan, “If you enjoy traveling by rail, 
we don’t want you,” is spot on. A. 
 
There is no denying that difficulties and misunderstandings occurred between the Kithain and 
the Gallain and between individual Freeholds as well. A balance was eventually achieved. 
Glamour was available, even if it was not abundant. The decades of Commoner rule stretched 
on into centuries. It is a truly fascinating period of our history; for more details, I refer you to 
my earlier work, ​Kingdoms Without Kings: A Longitudinal Study of Concordia During the 
Interregnum​ (1997), available now from Kablam & Matthews. However, allow me to gloss over 
the salient points of the early 20th century in brief. 
 

The Dawn of Modern Concordia 

 
Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, “​Satan Takes a Holiday​” 

T​ he world had never seen the 20th century before. That may seem a mere pleonasm at first 
glance, but it is actually a powerful statement for the Kithain historical perspective. Most 
centuries since the Sundering featured incremental changes from the preceding centuries. 
Certain pivot points such as the Shattering were fleeting in comparison to the enduring values 
and creeping changes of the ancient and medieval eras. But that changed with the twentieth. 
 

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The world had seen wars before, including a century of war between crowns in Western 
Europe. But the world had not seen the Great War before, not even close. Canada was drawn 
in with the Empire, while the United States entered only toward the end. But the Great War 
spawned a generation of nightmares of death enough to churn many Redcaps’ stomachs, 
coupled with unprecedented changes in technology, popular entertainment, music, urban 
growth and more. In Concordia, the various cantons and shires of the Kithain could not help 
but be affected by these sweeping changes to Dreamers’ lives, for the flavours of their 
Glamour and the natures of their Dross were barely recognizable compared to the fare even 
100 years before. Widespread literacy was completely new at the time, after decades required 
to take root. Then as cities grew, so arose venues of mass entertainment: moving pictures, 
talking pictures, dance halls, modern art, ragtime and jazz music… It was a heady period of 
revelry in denial after the Great War, debased only by the fool notion of Prohibition that ruined 
much of the fun in the United States shortly after the troops came home. 
 
It apparently took something literally called the Great Depression to get America back on the 
bottle, at which point it was too late for a deep, rich buzz. A decade of Dust Bowl and bust 
market poverty did no favours for the Dreamers, and the Kithain hidden among them could not 
avoid the chill. Accounts collected from Commoners of this era suggest that this pressure is 
what drove many Kithain to take shelter among the performers of various circuses. It was the 
heyday of the travelling grotesquerie and the rise of performance art for the masses, who 
starved for any glimmer of wonder in their pitiable lives. Indeed, without much for Kithain to 
lose by “going errant” (or “running amok,” as was another fashionable Concordian term for it at 
the time), this era saw a major rise in travelling professions: circus performers, travelling 
salesmen, itinerant labourers, and migrant farm workers. Although typical humans clung to the 
security of their failing farms or exploding cities, the cleverest of Kithain recognized that being 
“shiftless” was one of the best ways to glean Glamour from a grey and dreary era. In effect, 
the Kithain of Concordia became hunter-gatherers again, and those who had sufficiently light 
feet, quick fingers or silver tongues lived well enough. 
 
It was a time when the Escheat was sorely tested. The Right of Hospitality and Right of 
Rescue were not meant to have drifters come in, ravage the Balefires to nearly extinct embers, 

and be off again. S.G. 

 
It took a second Great War to rescue North America--indeed the world--from the ravages of 
the Depression. All the horrors that came from the Great War and the Depression could not 
prepare those who lived through the Second World War. And yet, inspiration and artistic 
endeavors came, though often in the form of propaganda aimed both at the Axis and Allied 
populace. Such art held a seed of Banality, as true creation was twisted to serve political 
agendas and lead the youth of that generation to their deaths. It was difficult to ensure the 
values that the Kithain held dear continued to be instilled in the general population. Creativity 
and art, of course, but also honour, playfulness, passion, fear of the unknown and a healthy 

20
respect for the natural world. Humankind began to believe they needed only fear each other, 
and innovation and invention had been subverted into making weapons, even in peacetime. 
 
The post-war years of the 1950s and 1960s were a study in clashing values, not unlike the 
Seelie and Unseelie codes. Each decade valued both order and chaos. Order manifested in 
many forms, such as the nuclear family as popularized on television and the new militarization 
against communism, such as the Korean and Vietnam wars. Chaos arose with numerous 
heads as well, including the rising youth culture and hippie movement. The way those forces 
came together gave rise to an unusual dichotomy in the Zeitgeist of the mid-20th century. 
Likewise, the Changelings had come to a new arrangement, utilizing the best of the Seelie and 
Unseelie strategies to cultivate new Dreamers, and in doing so, new dreams. 
 
Though there were great trials and tribulations, the Kithain managed to survive, and at times 
thrive, by recognizing the ways in which humanity was growing, and inspiring them to reach for 
greater and greater pinnacles. At this time in history, three inventions converged, resulting in 
the largest upset in Changeling history since the Shattering. These inventions were the 
television, the rocket ship and the space suit. 
 
And a bunch of hippies getting stoned. S.G. 
 
They called themselves flower children and advocated free love, yet all too often what they experienced 
was not so much love as deep disappointment and burned-out minds. A.   

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The Resurgence - 1969 to 2000 
Verstoßen sei auf ewig, (Disowned may you be forever,) 
Verlassen sei auf ewig, (Abandoned may you be forever,) 
Zertrümmert sei'n auf ewig (Destroyed be forever) 
Alle Bände der Natur (All the bonds of nature,) 
Wenn nicht durch dich! (If not through you!) 
 
The Magic Flute​, “​Queen of the Night​” 
 

M​ uch of this period is lived history. It helps to think of this in terms of people and 
experiences rather than objective time. For instance, some African societies sort people into 
three categories: the ​living​ (each of us spends a brief time here), the ​sasha​, who lived recently 
enough to be recalled by those still alive, and the ​zamani​, whose lives have fallen out of the 
personal memories of those still alive. Writing history about the ​zamani​ and the ​sasha​ are two 
distinct undertakings. The beliefs of the living determine (in part) what we can say about the 
other two groups, but the ​sasha ​occupy a particularly prickly niche of space-time. 
 
There are Legends, and even a few Freehold-bound Wilders, who recall watching that moment 
when Armstrong took his first halting steps onto the moon. There are veterans of the 
Accordance Wars who stand among the Balefires. There are current members of the 
Parliament of Dreams who were appointed when High King David himself first established that 
esteemed body. When viewed through the lense of nostalgia, it is considered, albeit mostly by 
the Seelie, to be a golden era. They recall grand quests through the Dreaming and helping to 
propel humanity to the highest form of artistic endeavors for the benefit of both Changeling and 
human society. In reality, it was a time filled with political intrigue, instability and murder. 
 
This is an oversimplification of several very complex and interconnected issues. The return of 
the Sidhe brought both old magics and old understandings of the world that resonate with the 
soul of most Changelings. This includes the desire for a feudal-like system of government, 

potentially coming from the fact that we are born out of the dreams of mammals. At the 
same time, 600 years of social development occurred in both human and Changeling society. 
Balancing these two factors to create a mostly stable governmental structure was, potentially, 
High King David’s greatest accomplishment. His greater failing is that it required an 
individual with enough charisma and understanding to ensure it continued to work properly. 

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 Like many failed religions, once the leader had left, sustaining the government and ensuring a 
steady supply of Glamour using the established methods was an exercise in failure. S.G. 
 
I am trying to be gracious, but the potential b​ on mots​ threaten to overwhelm me. After all, what 
does this make our beloved High Regent? And where is the rest of this section? I sense the hand of 
our beloved editor above at work. A. 

1969 - The Moon Landing 

 
They say there is a kind of spirit music in the world 
That plays for all eternity is round the sun it turns 
If we could preserve it on a record made of gold 
It could last a billion years or more 
 
Jim Moray, “​Sounds of the Earth​” 
 

O​ n July 21st, the world seemed to pause in wonder as a human took his first steps on the 
moon. Balefires flared and Glamour was abundant as humanity pondered the possibilities of 
this. It was enough to unlock the gates to Arcadia, briefly, and five Houses of the Sidhe 
returned--most free, some in chains. The reality of Banality came upon the Sidhe with 
frightening speed, and they went to the nearest vessel of safety they could find--humans. 
Unlike the Commoners’ gentle merging of souls, the Sidhe replaced the human souls with their 
own. Whether accomplished through temptation or force, these human souls were displaced 
into the Deep Dreaming. 
 
The Sidhe brought with them ancient Arts and lost Treasures. They returned to Freeholds that 
had been left dormant and forgotten. They came to established Freeholds expecting to take 
up their old positions of rulership. In some cases, Commoners welcomed the return of the 
Sidhe as the rightful leaders come home after a long absence. However, the majority of 
Commoners harboured resentment and contempt for abandoning them to the Autumn World 
and refused to recognize the leadership of the Sidhe.   
 
When recounting events of the Accordance Wars, we Concordian Kithain often focus narrowly 
on the battles and contest for holdings, especially freeholds, between Commoner forces and the 
returning Seelie Sidhe Houses, for these are the tales we remember and tell each other. In 

23
retrospect, I think it worth reflecting not only on the fact that our cousins the Nunnehi did 
not get involved in our conflict, but why.   

 
   

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 When the Sidhe returned, the Nunnehi were already deeply embroiled with a grave threat 
undermining their own communities that arose from the Banal forces of the Autumn World. 

This threat was not limited to Canada, but in Canada, it later came to be known as the 
Sixties Scoop​. They responded through a variety of methods, including protests and reclaiming 
of land, such as the ​Occupation of Alcatraz Island​ and the ​Wounded Knee Incident​. When 
dealing with Nunnehi today, wise Kithain do not forget to acknowledge the trauma they are 
still healing from and offer aid where they can. S.G. 
 
Most Freeholds do not take part in the same issues that the Nunnehi take part in, unless it directly 
affects the Freehold. I think this is a mistake, because the Nunnehi are still fighting battles against 
Banality that we aren’t. We could help them, and authentic First Nations art can hold a lot of 
Glamour. It could be a win-win, or it could be my biases showing. A. 

1970 to 1975 - Beltane Massacre and its Aftermath 

 
I can't believe the news today 
Oh, I can't close my eyes 
And make it go away 
How long? How long must we sing this song? 
 
U2, “​Sunday Bloody Sunday​” 
 

T​ o appease the Commoners, a meeting was called by the Sidhe to establish the rules of 
governance. One the first of May, they met in the city of San Francisco. It was a trap. Instead 
of negotiation and parley, the Commoners were met with Cold Iron and magic. The Sidhe 
believed that an overwhelming show of force would cow the Commoners into submission. In 
this, they were gravely mistaken. 
 
For six long years, the Accordance War burned across our lands: years of sorrow, of battle, of 
falling hope, of attrition, of victories and of endings. Ever protected by the Mists, the human 
World reported these battles as gang warfare and riots. It was towards the end of the war that 
the commander of the Sidhe army ​Dafyll ap Gwydion​ was Undone, and a new leader 
appeared--a Foundling named ​David Ardry ap Gwydion​. As proof of his right to rule, he held 

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in his hand the lost sword ​Caliburn​, known to humans as ​Excalibur​. With him was his sister, 
Morwin Ardry ni Gwydion​, and the human T ​ rue Thomas​, who was blessed with the gift of 
prophecy and cursed to never tell a falsehood. The first words ​True Thomas​ spoke when 
David Ardry​ appeared wielding ​Caliburn​ were, “Behold! Thou dost look upon thy king!” 
 
It took time for ​David ap Gwydion​ to consolidate his rule and even longer to heal the breach 
that the Accordance War had created between the Sidhe and the rest of Concordia. He met 
with the Commoners, heard their concerns and made reparations for the wrongs done to them 
during the Durance and during the war. He convinced the Noble Houses of his right and ability 
to lead and the necessity of compromise. Perhaps most noteworthy of all, more even than the 
political acumen of the new king, was the steadfast support of the Trolls that held the fledgling 
peace together. It is worth the aside that, for all of the old King’s genius, without that crucial 
reinforcement, all his plans would have been nothing more than dead words on a forgotten 
page. 
 
Perhaps his greatest act of genius was the founding of the Parliament of Dreams. Its authority 
became the instrument of unification and the binding of the eight kingdoms into one grand 
continent: Concordia.   
 
Say empire. You can say empire. S.G. 
 
Parallel but separate from the Kithain’s war, the Nunnehi fought their own battles against the 
coming of Winter. Quite apart from the Kithain's war, the Inanimae called for another Grand 
Symposium, which eventually reinstated the Empire of Flame, and the power of the Slow 
Empires waxed. 
 

   

26
The Rule of High King David - 1975 to 1995 
 
Sleeping Beauty​, “​No. 1 March (Entrance of King Florestan and Court)​” 
 
The first few decades of ​High King David​’s rule were a time of optimism and hope. The 
Parliament of Dreams was working as had been intended, and Commoners were given a voice 
and a vote on the workings of their leadership. Of course, this historian notes that there were 
still the occasional back room “accidents,” and most Sidhe found it difficult not to fall back 
upon old habits. Slowly, after the initial enthusiasm for the project had worn off, discontent 
began to fester beneath the surface. 
 
It began to be recognized by the Commoners that the Parliament of Dreams had created a 
false sense of egalitarianism. Admittedly, this was a falsehood that all factions had eagerly 
accepted as truthful, but it was a useful illusion nevertheless. The Nobility still maintained an 
overwhelming majority of seats in the Parliament, and efforts from the Commoners to push for 
more equal representation were lost in committee or delayed until some distant date. 
 
Day to day however, the Nobility ruled with enough restraint that the illusion of equality was 
maintained. Kithain from across Concordia almost universally came to believe that they had a 
voice and representation in the highest government of the land. Issues that could not be 
solved by the local Baron, Count or Duke would be brought to the Parliament and, it was 
hoped, sympathetic ears. 
 
At the practical level, policies were enacted to ensure greater access to the Balefires and the 
rediscovery of Freeholds. This ensured the survival of many Changelings, while the 
court-supported cultivation of Dreamers ensured prosperity.   
 
With an occasional sidelong glance, the Changelings kept a hopeful eye on their Dreamers. 
Having seen the transformative effects in the previous decade, many of us hoped that as the 
space programs grew and mankind spread into the Solar System, so too would the Glamour 
flow freely. Nockers especially worked to inspire scientists in the astronomical community to 
reach farther. After years of setbacks, delays and general loss of interest, as well as the 
Challenger disaster of January 28, 1986, it was generally acknowledged that if Humanity was 
going to the stars, it was not going to be any time soon. For years afterwards, all matters 
related to space were met with seemingly insurmountable waves of Banality. 
 
David was a good man, perhaps even a great one. ​But he was not a god​. We forget this at 

our peril. The hagiographies that spring up all round his name like he was the Great King 
who was Promised to Save Us All grate at the nerves. The current notion that he’s going to 
rise from the dead and usher in the new Spring is just absurd foolishness. Better left as 

27
rumours for children than something the adults in the room take seriously. David isn’t coming 
back to save us. He did his work, now he rests. We must save ​ourselves​; no one is coming 

from the depths of the Dreaming to do the job for us. S.G. 
 
Let me say this quietly: it is for the best that the human world has kept itself bound to the Earth 
and the little bits of space above the atmosphere. I have heard hushed whispers about the things that 
sleep undying between the worlds, and my sleep is often haunted by worry about what a fumbling 
hand might wake. A. 
 

1999 - In fair Verona, where we set our scene. 

 
"Check this out!" 
"Teacher's getting his smart on!" 
Not subtle whispering and gasps. 
"He can't do that." 
 
Take the Lead,​ ​first tango scene 
 

T​ hen, as in all great tragedies, things fell apart. Beginning with that most sought-after state: 
being in love. ​Faerilyth Nimania ni Eiluned lin Ardry​ is a divisive woman in Fae history. There 
is no doubt that she loved ​King David​ and that he loved her. But their marriage caused 
scandal. This was due in no small part to ​King David​ proclaiming ​Faerilyth​ to be his High 
Queen and co-ruler of Concordia. ​King David​ had previously named his heir to be ​Princess 
Lenore​, and this development left the line of succession in question. Also, the Princess had 
been the protégé of the despised ​King Meilge​ of the Kingdom of Willows. Finally, there were 
rumours among those with Titles that she was friends with members of the opposite Court--a 
practice still not done among the Nobility. 
 
High King David​, eager to introduce his new queen to the people, arranged for a grand tour of 
Concordia mere weeks after their marriage to begin at ​Faerilyth’s​ home, the Kingdom of 
Willows. He left the throne under the trusted guardianship of his sister, ​Duchess Morwen 
Ardry ni Gwydion​. As she always did when ​David​ left, ​Morwen​ promised to hold the throne 
for him and to act with justice until she returned its burdens to him. 
 

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After a grand masquerade that welcomed the High King and Queen, ​David​ disappeared. 
Suspicion immediately fell upon the new Queen from none other than ​Duchess Morwen​ and 
Queen Mab ni Fiona​. It soon became apparent that three camps were formed--one who 
believed ​Faerilyth​ was the true High Queen, one who believed that ​Morwen​ was High Queen, 
and one who believed ​Princess Lenore​ should ascend the throne immediately as High Queen. 
 
Heartbroken, but still faithful to her husband’s dream, ​Faerilyth​ continued the grand tour. She 
preached the dream of Concordia and the Parliament of Dreams at every freehold she visited. 
Furthermore, she called for volunteers to take an oath to find her husband--oaths that motleys 
from each of the three camps willingly made. As two camps were entrenched in the Kingdom 
of Apples--where the Parliament of Dreams lies--​Faerilyth​ was warned that she was not 
welcome by either Commoners or nobles, so she took refuge in the Kingdom of Willows. 
 
On the second of April, ​Duchess Morwen’s​ forces attacked both ​Faerilyth’s​ and ​Lenore’s 
supporters. ​Princess Lenore​ quickly went into hiding and ​Faerilyth​ issued calls for 
cooperation in realizing the dream of Concordia so it could to thrive into the next century. In 
spite of this, ​Faerilyth’s​ defenders responded with deadly force. Not officially at war, the three 
sides began to stockpile weapons and armor. Some of the greatest of the war machines used 
by all sides were created in Kayver Cliff, who officially had declared neutrality. After the war, 
Kayver Cliff was found to have the largest stockpile of Dross in all of Northern Ice. 
 

July 5 to July 11, 1999 - The Week of Nightmares 

 
Mais oui on se connait bien  
T'as même voulu t'faire ma mère hein  
T'as commencé par ses seins  
Et puis du poumon à mon père  
Tu t'en souviens? 
 
Stromae, “​Quand c’est?​” 
 

I​ n July of 1999, reports began to circulate of a nuclear accident in central India. I can only 
summarize that the resulting fear and horror of being burned alive was what spawned 
monstrous Chimerae throughout the whole of the Dreaming. Attempts to domesticate these 
Chimerae for use in combat has often resulted in the Chimerical Death of any Changeling 
involved. This does seem to loosely fit with the results of the Chernobyl explosion a decade 
earlier, and yet the Chimerical effects of this event seem to have been much more widespread. 
 
After the nuclear accident, Sluagh noted that fewer ghosts were seen among them, and a red 
star appeared upon the horizon. Dubbed the Eye of Balor, masters of the arts of Soothsay 
proclaimed that the star was a sign that the Long Winter had nearly arrived. Perhaps 

29
coincidentally, it was also rumoured that a path to Arcadia had briefly opened and the Adhene, 
a group of Fae hostile to the Kithain, had emerged.  
 
These events do not seem to be causally related, but their shared emergence over such a short 
timespan points to some terrible underlying event which this historian has been unable to 
unearth. 
 
There are some scars that take several lifetimes to heal, and this is one of them. That being 
said, the Dreaming in that area was destroyed, as were all of the Changelings, Freeholds and 
Treasures in nearby Bangladesh. There are officially no records of why these events happened. 
Furthermore, it was decided among Changelings throughout the world that this was not an 
event to be looked into. Unofficially, House Eiluned rarely looks away from a mystery and 
one expects they have delved deeper into this than has been heretofore acknowledged. S.G​. 
 
Remember how I said a lot of this is bullshit? Case in point. First, millions of people are dead, and 
they barely get a mention?! And there is no way that the explosion was an accident. For one, five 
minutes of research reveals there weren’t even any nuclear power plants in that area. Oh, and let’s 
not forget that no one can actually be anywhere near ground zero for a few thousand years without 
getting sick and dying. Second, those rumors about the Adhene? Not rumors. These are fae without 
bodies, can possess people and are very dangerous. Kill-on-sight type dangerous, regardless if they are 
possessing your human friends or not. Third, twenty some-odd years later, and these Chimerae are 
still here. They are wild, strong and are literally made of fear. A.   

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The Gathering Storm - 2001 to 2008 
 
Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle, 
Les souvenirs et les regrets aussi 
Mais mon amour silencieux et fidèle 
Sourit toujours et remercie la vie 
Je t'aimais tant, tu étais si jolie, 
Comment veux-tu que je t'oublie? 
 
Yves Montand, “​Les Feuilles Mortes​” 
 

2001 - The Evanescence 

A​ nd then the Towers fell. With David missing, the high and the mighty were focused on the 
vacancy of the throne. They should have looked at the Dreamers. For the fear that gripped the 
world in those weeks and months was at least as powerful as the moment when man landed 
on the moon. Dark Glamour filled the earth, and blackened Trods opened, bringing fierce 
Chimerae, ​ ​ ​and many more of the dread Adhene into the human world. At the same 
time, Banality held a tighter grip upon the imaginations of humanity. But even in those days 
the Balefires still burned, albeit a bit dimmer. Musing still occurred, though it was a bit harder, 
and the Eye of Balor shone bright in the sky. But was it a warning, a promise, or a prophecy? I 
have heard so many conflicting theories about that strange star, I dare not commit to just one 
on the page. 

2002 to 2003 - The Rising Fears 

 
The radio is on  
And Houston knows the score  
Can you feel it, we're almost home  
Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay!  
The crew compartment's breaking up 
 
The Long Winters, “​The Commander Thinks Aloud​” 
 

H​ igh Queen Faerilyth​, reasserting ​Princess Lenore​ as heir, appeared publicly as often as 
possible. Even so, it became apparent that she was slipping into Bedlam. She spoke of her 
husband returning “soon,” and of how all would be well if cooperation between the Kiths and 
the cultivation of Dreamers continued. 

31
 
And yet, the foul practice of Ravaging continued unabated. Chimerae were killed, not just 
during honourable quests, but so that the Kithain could eat their flesh and consume the 
Glamour within them. Treasures, once prized, were broken to steal the Glamour they 
contained. Dreamers grew fewer, as desperate Changelings of both Courts turned the 
brightest of human Dreamers into nothing but empty husks of themselves. “Glamour is free” 
became an ironic turn of phrase, as did “love conquers all.” 
 
Mirroring the events that led to the Resurgence, where humanity reached the Moon and 
returned as heroes, many members of the Seelie and Unseelie courts view the Columbia Shuttle 
disaster of 2003 as the event that ended the Resurgence. Some efforts to bring modern 

technology into the Freeholds resulted in radios, television and even working computers. As 
such, the explosion of the Columbia Shuttle was seen live in many freeholds, resulting in at 
least three balefires that went out due to an influx of Banality and Ennui. A new policy was 
quickly pushed through the Parliament of Dreams commissioning Nockers to develop an 
automatic time-delay for anything that would be broadcast live, so that, should other tragic 
events happen, the system could be automatically shut down. S.G. 
 
We always knew Ennui was a danger, but only in these late days did it become something that could 
wipe away entire Freeholds in a single moment. We were weak, and we were getting weaker by the 
day. I was too young to understand what was happening at the time, but I recall my adopted father 
coming home at night and just weeping uncontrollably.. It is good that new generations rise up, and 
the waters of Lethe wipe away our memories of the lives we have lived, or I believe the weight of all 
those tears would drown our whole world. A. 

2004 - The Treaty of Northern Lights 

 
Beatrice Deer and Pauyungie Nutaraaluk, ​Inuit throat singing 
 

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B​ eing unable to receive Glamour from Balefires, the Nunnehi approached ​Queen Laurel 
with a new treaty. If the land that had once been theirs and was not yet touched by Banality 
were returned to them, a share of the Glamour would be shared with Caer Frost. As such, the 
Duchy of Salmon (Alaska), Land of the Gyrfalcon (Northwest Territories) and Duchy of Fireweed 
(Yukon Territory) became insolvent, and the Territory of Aqsarniit was established.   
 

   

33
2005 - The Return of High King David 
 
御天下半百之久 ​(Govern the kingdom for over fifty years) 
选贤臣 任能将 (​Choose capable minister, pick valiant general) 
覆江东云雨 尽风流 ​(Overturn the situation of the southeast. How talented and admirable!) 
问古今 兴亡事 ​(Throughout history, the rise and fall of things) 
 
Zheng Drum and Ming, “​權御天下(洛天依) (Sun Quan The Emperor-7247-DNC)​” 
 

F​ or most, 2005 signaled the hope that the scale was beginning to swing back in our favour. 
For against all odds, ​High King David​ returned. With open arms, the Kithain welcomed him, 
and none more so than ​High Queen Faerilyth​. And yet it became clear that the man who once 
led Concordia had different priorities than he’d had 30 years prior. Over the next three years, 
sweeping changes were made to the governance of Concordia. One of the most puzzling was 
a proclamation that was passed in the Parliament of Dreams, where a team of Boggan 
researchers were tasked with rediscovering how they had created the Changeling Way. 
 
It was not known at the time that he was preparing for war. 
 
Looking back at his behaviour in those days, and the mystery of his long absence, I am left 
with the conclusion that he saw some sign that all he had spent his life working for was going 
to be taken from him. Either he did what needed to be done to ensure survival of his subjects, 
or he dragged all the motley bands of Faery into a suicide mission in a futile effort to rage 
against his own fate. We may never know for certain, though I sometimes hope that some 
scrap of what happened during his long sabbatical will finally piece together his motivations. 
 

2007 - The Third Recession

 
Cleaning up today 
Found that old Zeppelin shirt 
You wore when you ran away 
And no one could feel your hurt 
 
5 Seconds of Summer, “​Ghost of You​” 
 

F​ or the third time in under a century, Dross lost its ability to hold Glamour indefinitely. Even 
in Freeholds, one was not sure if the piece of art one held would continue to inspire or become 
worthless paint on canvas. All attempts to restore Dross to its original state to date have failed, 

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ruining this precious resource. To preserve Dross, ​Duke Rocco​ sponsored a motion that 
research into the restoration of Dross be suspended until further notice. The motion passed, 
but reluctantly. 
 
The efficiency of Dross to hold Glamour has been linked to economic recessions such as 
what occurred in the early 1980s and depressions such as the Great Depression of the 1930s. 
Statistically, less art is produced during periods of economic bust, as humans focus on the 

pursuit of basic necessities such as food, rent and heat. It is theorized that the humans’ value 
of art corresponds directly to the ability of Dross to hold onto motes of Glamour. S.G. 

Something else must be happening with the Dross. Humans ​need​ art more during these times. In 
fact, they love it more! It makes our jobs as Muses harder. A. 

In July, ​Faerilyth​ stood before the ​High King​ in the Royal Court and announced their marriage 
was dissolved. She said that the man she had married all those years ago was not the same 
man he had become. It is said that at that time, a brown bird appeared on her shoulder, 
silently demonstrating her status as an oathbreaker. Those loyal to ​Faerilyth ​quickly had her 
removed from the Freehold and brought to the Kingdom of Burning Sun. There it was 
discovered that her oath as High Queen appeared to remain intact. 

   

35
Winter’s Dawn - 2008 to 2019 
 
Amelie​, “​Yann Tiersen​” 
 

2008 - The End of Autumn 

Après quelques incantations de druides et de magie 
Toute la tribu, le glaive en main courait vers l'ennemi 
La lutte était terrible et je ne voyais que les ombres 
Tranchant l'ennemi qui revenait toujours en surnombre 
Mes frères tombaient l'un après l'autre devant mon regard 
Sous le poids des armes que possédaient tous ces barbares 
Des lances, des haches et des épées dans le jardin d'Éden 
Qui écoulaient du sang sur l'herbe verte de la plaine 
 
Manau, “​La Tribu de Dana​” 

B​ etween April 8 and June 17, a final Grand Symposium was called by the Inanima who first 
gave the power of crofting to mankind: ​Prometheus​. The Codex Primeval was updated and 
the Empire of Flickers--those who were crofted into forms of electricity--was recognized. The 
united Slow Empires went to the Parliament of Dreams, intent on warning their cousins that 
they felt the encroachment of the Long Winter. They were ignored. And so, as they had done 
during the Sundering, the Inanimae peacefully departed deep into the Dreaming. 

High King David​ also left the Autumn World--only he had an army at his back. For he 
believed--and had convinced his people to believe--that if the agents of Winter, the Fomorians, 
could be defeated, then the Long Winter would be held back indefinitely. If not, then the 
Fomorians would cloak the earth in unending Banality. At Camp October, hundreds--if not 
thousands--of Changelings, as well as other Prodigals gathered by the King’s agents, 
mustered to prepare for battle. I was there, and the sight of those spears glinting in the 
morning sun... it is a sight that will remain in my heart forever.   

The first reports from the front were of overwhelming success. The strategy that General 
Destiny Manx put into the field that day had completely taken the Fomorians by surprise. 

With growing confidence, the High King led his personal vanguard to pound upon the very 
threshold of the White Court’s citadel. I think of that moment, that last moment before Autumn 
ended. The Gwydion rage, the claws of the Fianna, the bloodied axes of the Trolls, the 
magicks of the Fairy Cats, all standing together. I think of that moment, and I weep. 

36
We do not know exactly what happened next. Of all the forces that went with David on his 
fateful sortie against the Citadel, the only survivors were Prodigals who later forgot everything 
they had seen. But one imagines a growing horror as the endless waves of abominations 
rolled out of that place. One imagines a diminishing wall of spears, slowly reducing upon the 
High King himself.   

And then he fell. His whole army felt it happen. We felt oaths shatter and Glamour fade, we 
saw the Fianna werewolves marching away from the battle in an ordered array. We felt the 
crush of utmost despair. ​High King David​ was dead. 

All seemed lost, until the sound of horns came across the Dreaming. A host of Changelings, 
led by ​King Meilge​, rode across the plains of battle, bearing the standard of the Shadow 
Court. As the Shadow Court is aligned with Winter in a way that other Fae are not, the 
weapons of the Fomorians were like wheat on stone against their armour. Although the day 
could not be won, if it were not for what has come to be called the Revelation of the Shadow 
Court, no one would have left that battle alive.   

In the closing moments of that battle, the Samhain Princess ​Mariana ni Ailil​ led a small band 
of volunteers on a suicide mission to attempt to recover the corpse of the fallen High King. 
Only five returned from their quest, but they did return with what little remained of his human 
body. Over the next week he would lie in state in Central Park, his body burned on a pyre in 
accordance to his wishes. 
 
Soon after the burial, it was said that ​High Queen Faerilyth​ died of a broken heart. Whether 
said broken heart was caused by a knife in her back, I cannot say with certainty. 
 
The Long Autumn had finally closed, and Winter came upon the lands of Concordia. 
 
This is also the year that the Eye of Balor was no longer seen in the sky, even with powerful 
telescopes. Humans, since they could see the Eye, made a note of when it happened. I talked to other 
people who were at Camp October, and we all agree--it disappeared when King David fell. I don’t 
know why that disturbs me so much. A. 
 

The Ascendance of the Shadow Court 

 
Amherst Symphony Orchestra, Antonio Vivaldi’s “​Winter​,” first movement 
 
When I hear this, I can only think of a milk commercial. A. 
 

37
S​ eptember 1, 2008: It was, in some ways, understandable that ​King Meilge​ claimed 
regency immediately after the passing of ​High Queen Faerilyth​. He had the popular support 
of the members of the Parliament of Dreams, and most notably, on three separate occasions 
he refused the crown of the High King. High Kings were for the Spring, he proclaimed, and he 
was merely a caretaker through the cold of Winter. Long had the Shadow Court been 
preparing for this ultimate moment; and it was oft declared in Freeholds throughout the land 
that they knew the secret ways that would enable all to survive through the coming years. 
 
And indeed, High King or not, the newly empowered ​High Regent​ ​Meilge ​immediately wielded 
sweeping authority in continuing the policies that ​High King David​ had enacted. Some 
critics--when brave enough to speak criticism of him--noted that the changes were deeper and 
more widespread than anything ​David​ would have dared proposed. 

On November 1st of that year, as the embers of the Samhain revels died away, members of 
both Courts were shocked to see that a plurality of those seated in the Parliament now openly 
wore the colours of the Shadow Court and publicly acknowledged their allegiance to that 
formerly secret society.   

2009 - Meilge of the Nine Hostages and the Seelie Rebellion 

Et dans le bruit, je cours et j'ai peur 

Est-ce mon tour ? 
Revient la douleur 
Dans tout Paris, je m’abandonne 
Et je m'envole, vole, vole, vole, vole, vole, vole, vole, vole 
 
Indila, “​Dernière Danse​” 
 

I​ t was the ascendance of the Shadow Court. Only a few months after the passing of the old 
High King​, they openly controlled the Parliament, and their apparent leader ruled over all. But 
as is so often the case when power comes into the hands of those not accustomed to it, they 
did not yet understand their limits. Even the most loyal defender of that Court must 
acknowledge that in the events of 2009, which I now recount, they simply went too far. 
 
It was in the spring of 2009 that many of the most powerful Counts and Dukes were 
summoned to New York City for private consultations with the new ​Regent​. These nobles 
were tricked into staying far longer than they had originally intended. A simple one-day 
meeting soon lengthened with tenuous offers of positions in the Royal Court and other high 
honors used as a carrot to keep them away from their homes. For reasons that were unclear at 
the time, many of these honoured guests found themselves slipping into Bedlam.   

38
 
Their perception of time was warped and their focus was held by the pageantry and petty 
rivalries of court. Imperceptibly, they began to shift roles, becoming every day less guests and 
more prisoners.   
 
During the same period, nine children of the heads of the Noble Houses were brought into the 
protective custody of the High Regent. There was nothing subtle or coy about this move 
however; the nine were openly hostages to ensure the good behavior and loyalty of their 
parents. It is notable that of the political houses, Eiluned, Balor and Leanhaun were exempted 
from this cruel policy. 
 
With the nobles who would have opposed ​Regent Meilge​ ​otherwise occupied or neutralized, 
laws were passed concerning the regulation of how Glamour was to be collected. The 
cultivation of individual Dreamers was to be limited, so as to not accidentally burn them out. At 
the same time, heavy taxes of Dross were levied under the rationale of bolstering the 
Concordian Treasury after the late High King had spent most of it on his invasion of the White 
Court. 

It is to the credit of the Nobility that they openly objected to these measures. Protests were 
organized and ignored. Diplomatic outreach was attempted and disregarded. 

On April 1, a small group of Seelie Wilders attempted to protest with a show of force, to 
encourage those in power to roll back the draconian new taxes and release the many 
prisoners. There were even rumblings that the ​High Regent​ would be forcibly removed from 
power and replaced with ​Princess Lenore. ​Unfortunately, these rumblings provided the 
pretext the ​High Regent​ required to make an example of them.   

All were tortured and cruelly put to death. Under this torment, one of the Wilders revealed the 
name of their organizer: ​Duchess Morwen ni Gwydion, ​sister of the deceased​ High King.   

On May 13, ​Morwen​ was quietly arrested for high treason. The trial was broadcast on the 
Nocker’s new invention: the Dream Strom Streamer. By her own admission, ​Morwen​ called 
into question the legitimacy of ​Regent Meilge​ and his “reforms.” She called the Shadow 
Court-controlled Parliament of Dreams a mockery of what her brother had lived and died for. 
Her last words before she met the executioner’s axe were to encourage all those who owed 
fealty to her, and the Seelie Court, to oppose the Shadow Court and all that it stood for, to hold 
firm to the Seelie Code and at the last, to reclaim the Parliament in the name of ​High King 
David​. 

In response, ​Regent Meilge​ proclaimed that the Nobility of the Seelie Court would need to 
prove their loyalty to the Parliament of Dreams by bending the knee and swearing fealty to 
defend the edicts of the Shadow Court’s Parliament. Those without title were welcome to 
swear as well, but none within the Shadow Court would force a Commoner to swear an oath 
unwillingly. And to prove the dedication that the Shadow Court had to the Commoners, each 
member of the Shadow Court would be compelled to renounce any traditional title they held 
above the rank of Knight, save for ​Regent Meilge ​himself. When asked, ​Regent​ ​Meilge 

39
stated that he must hold on to his title so that he could pass the throne of Concordia to 
Princess Lenore​, after which he swore to renounce his title. He gave the Nobility, both 
Shadow Court and otherwise, one month to comply.   

Unfortunately, this attempt at an olive branch was far too little, too late. 

While the now openly Shadow Court nobles readily complied with their orders, by mid-April, 
the other nobles who had refused to bend the knee were in open rebellion. Led by members of 
the Shadow Court, the Wild Hunt for these Seelie nobles was composed mostly of Commoners 
from each Court.   

Those who were captured and still refused to bend the knee were Undone, for ​Meilge ​hoped, 
should the nobles eventually be reborn, that they would come to a wiser conclusion. The 
Unseelie ​Duke Rocco​ met privately with ​Regent Meilge​ and extracted a promise that, should 
he publicly swear fealty to ​Meilge​ directly, his wife ​Queen Laurel ni Fiona​ would not be forced 
to bend the knee. These terms were publicly acknowledged in the Parliament of Dreams. It is 
expected, however, that more was involved in this agreement than was made known at the 
time. 

It is to her credit that Queen Laurel has never abused the trust that the High Regent has in 

her. S.G. 

Queen Laurel's leash might appear to be the longest of them all, but anyone who knows our House 
will tell you it is far shorter than you could ever imagine. A​. 

The revolt, such as it was, no longer had the strength to truly jeopardize the power of the 
Shadow Court, and many of the Changeling rebels took refuge with old allies in the Garou 
Nation. The hunt for these so-called Seelie Exiles continued for some time. However, by the 
end of September, all of the Seelie rebel leaders were captured, Undone or in hiding under the 
protection of other Prodigals. The rebellion was over. 

As a result of the Seelie rebellion, and its disruption of the chains of fealty, the borders of the 
Kingdoms were essentially redrawn, for reasons that will be explained in my upcoming work, 
The Geographies of Concordia with a Special Focus on the Transitional Events of Recent 
Decades. 

Expected publication date, March 2023. D.K. 

 
It was at this time that many Redcaps, who have traditionally been associated with the 
Unseelie Court (and other unsavory movements to topple power), found themselves in an 
uncomfortable position. Having suddenly landed on the same side as the authority of the 
Shadow Court, many faced a crisis of conscience. Which aspect of their original dream should 
take precedence: the dark shadows beyond the safe light of the village or the opposition to 

40
civilized authority? Many joined the Shadow Court, reveling in the former. But after the Seelie 
rebellion was put down, a group of Redcaps unexpectedly swore allegiance to the Seelie Court 
quite publicly. The face of “The Man” had changed, but they would remain true to their 
recalcitrant natures. The majority of these also wore the standard of a new society called the 
Knights of the Tilted Windmills. Staunch supporters of the existing Seelie leadership, the 
Knights came under scrutiny from their fellow Redcaps from the beginning for choosing a 
Court so unaligned with the Kith’s traditional values and from the Seelie for not coming forward 
before ​the rebellion. 

A glorious year. To be alive in such times. Many of us count out years from this, such were 
the marvels of Autumn’s End. S.G. 

 
History is always written by the winners. Let’s come back to this in a century. A.

2010 to 2013 - The Years of Adjustment 

Join in the rebuilding 
Sing loudly at your labor 
Make friends with the new guys 
Be nice to your neighbor 
Profess keen interest in the welfare of the state 
Taste everything they feed you 
Say it tastes real great. 
 
The Mountain Goats, “​Until Olympius Returns​” 
 
In the wake of the previous year’s overreach and the rebellion that followed, a palpable tension 
hung in the air throughout Concordia. Many Changelings were fearful that the outburst of 
violence that had been unleashed was only the overture of a symphony of blood that would 
soon wash over the lands. 
 
And yet, calmer heads prevailed. While not quite undoing the measures that had caused such 
an uproar, a more conciliatory tone was notable in the communications and proclamations 
coming out of New York City. The reviled Dross Tax was allowed to sunset, and the 
membership of the Shadow Court openly adjusted to their new role, not as active leaders, but 
as a check on the authority of the old Nobility.   
 

41
For the Nobility’s part, it was clear that they no longer possessed the strength to rid 
themselves of their Shadow Court masters. While true power no longer belonged to the 
Nobility, the Shadow Court had been unable to strip them of its symbols. And so as the 
seasonal festivals were held, they were overseen by the same Nobles they always had been. 
When a trial was held, it was the old Counts and Dukes who sat in judgment. But always by 
their side sat an advisor from the Shadow Court, quietly whispering in their ear what would be 
tolerated. 
 
This was the new political reality. Slowly the naked power plays were cloaked in the regalia of 
tradition, and it is to the credit of all parties that an outright war between the old order and the 
new never occurred. There simply was not enough Glamour to support it, and always there 
was the fear, in the cold of Winter, that there was a great doom ready to crush the Changelings 
of Concordia down into the dust. 

2014 - The Year of Hoarfrost 

She's just a girl, and she's on fire 
Hotter than a fantasy, lonely like a highway 
She's living in a world, and it's on fire 
Feeling the catastrophe, but she knows she can fly away 
 
Alicia Keys, “​Girl on Fire​” 

P​ rincess Lenore​ was not openly critical of the decisions that the Shadow Court-controlled 
Parliament of Dreams made; however, as she became a Wilder, she demanded more 
justification of the reasoning behind their decisions before they were implemented. She called 
for logic, proof of concept and short trials before the Parliament of Dreams wholly embraced 
policies. The Shadow Court acceded to her requests, and ​Princess Lenore​ either supported 
the initiatives or did not express opposition. On April 2, when travelling from the Parliament to 
her home, she and her two guards were attacked by eight wild animals. The guards were 
killed. The princess survived, but still bears the marks of that fight: a missing arm and thick 
scars still visible on her neck. The two assailants that died in the assault were found to be true 
wild animals; however, the other six attackers were not found. Pooka fell under suspicion, but 
it was noted that anyone with sufficient knowledge of Metamorphosis or Sovereign could have 
been responsible. ​Princess Lenore's​ first public appearance after the assault was nearly two 
months later in late June, where she displayed a fully functional brass arm and hand. Her 
off-the-shoulder dress made a statement without needing to speak a word. 

Meanwhile, Nockers had spent months planning in secret. At the end of November, it was 
announced to the Parliament of Dreams that the Nockers had installed a program on a Mars 

42
Rover, which would be launched soon. They were extremely excited about this development, 
though the measure only received a smattering of polite applause from the assembly. 
 
It was around this time that the final break with the Fianna Werewolves occured. Bitterness left 
behind from their abandonment of the battlefield on the day of the ​High King​’s death had 
never truly faded, and when​ Lady Mariana ni Ailil​, the self-styled “Samhain Princess,” cast her 
curse upon their kind, most agreed that the fickle Werewolves had it coming. In political 
circles, many considered this retribution for the Garou Nation’s protection of many of the Seelie 
Exiles, while others more inclined to gossip whispered of a disastrous love triangle. However, 
the exact reasons for her cursing our Prodigal cousins have remained shrouded in secrecy for 
nearly a decade. 

2015- The Year of Ice 

 
If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied 
Illuminate the ‘No's’ on their Vacancy signs 
If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks 
Then I'll follow you into the dark 
 
Ben Gibbard, performed by​ Kurt Schneider,​ “​I Will Follow You Into the Dark​” 
 

A​ fter much pressure from members of her Court, ​Queen Laurel ni Fiona​ crowned her 
husband ​Rocco King of Northern Ice​ as co-ruler on August 14th. As a wedding gift, the king 
and queen asked the ​High Regent​ to release the Freeholders whom he had hosted upon 
taking power. He agreed, and by the end of the year, half of the freeholders had been released 
with binding oaths of loyalty. Of the fate of the others, there is still some debate. Many were 
released in subsequent years, while others are said to have Forgotten themselves, but rumours 
have always persisted of secret prisons tucked away in dark places within the Dreaming.   
 
Nonsense. S.G.  
 
Several of the children and heirs of the High Lords were sent home, while others are still 
considered ​Regent Meilge's​ honored guests to this day. 

2016 - The Year of Investment 

You are my ally, you're my worst enemy

My confidante and my catastrophe

Dynazty, “​The Shoulder Devil​”

43
 

A​ victim of cyberbullying’s rather public death prompted a movement of Commoners to 

reflect on modern art and communication styles and both their positive and negative 
connotations. On one hand, a greater number of people were consuming art. On the other 
hand, most of that art was monotonous, formulaic, mindless entertainment barely worthy of the 
name. Discussions regarding what to do about this were commonplace across the Freeholds.   
 
"Lord, what fools these mortals be." A. 
 
These debates were overshadowed by a measure decreed by the ​High Regent​, one which 
altered the very fabric of our culture. On May 1st of that year, an unprecedented number of 
non-Sidhe were elevated to positions of nobility. There had always been non-Sidhe among the 
Nobility of course, mostly Trolls such as ​Duke Topaz​ of the Kingdom of the Feathered Snake, 
but this move drastically changed the old balance of power in Concordia. 
 
“With a stroke of a pen, and after generations of strife, the Accordance War is finally over. 
Finally, we are one people again,” said the ​High Regent​, as he signed the proclamation. 
 
He had to do it. Make no mistake. The Sidhe would never forgive him for what he had 

done to take power, and the Shadow Court always found its strength not from their Noble 
Houses, but from the many kith and kin who resented the old order. A masterstroke of both 
propaganda and good policy.  
 
Oh, as a tangent, is he just going to let David Bowie’s death pass uncommented? I can’t say 
for certain that he was one of us, but… S.G. 
 
Penmanship does not make nobility, and I must confess I am reminded of Julius Caesar packing the 
Roman Senate with new men who would only be loyal to him. Though I must admit: many of these 
new Nobles have served with distinction. It may be that this is for the best. We have not always 
been as wise with power as we could have been. And Bowie was absolutely a Sidhe. A. 
 

44
2017 - The Second Fomorian War 
 
Ohé, partisans, ouvriers et paysans, c'est l'alarme. 
Ce soir l'ennemi connaîtra le prix du sang et les larmes. 
Montez de la mine, descendez des collines, camarades! 
Sortez de la paille les fusils, la mitraille, les grenades. 
 
Choeur des militaires victorieux, “​Le Chant des Partisans​” 
 

S​ ince the Shadow Court revealed itself, its elite guards, the Grand Grotesques, have been 
ever visible near ​High Regent Meilge​. They often appear as if they were masked and silent 
statues, always on guard for threats to the ​Regent​. They have been trained in martial art 
techniques that have become like destructive Cantrips. Due to their efficiency and enduring 
loyalty to the Shadow Court, gaining membership into the Grand Grotesques has become a 
goal for many martially oriented Kithain, not unlike becoming a member of the Navy Seals. 
 
Disappointment came to many Changelings who believed that science and art could work 
together, when NASA admitted that the Mars Rover only sang happy birthday once. Even 
then, it was an experiment the NASA scientists did simply to see if they could do it. Said one 
scientist, “There is no scientific gain from the rover playing music or singing ‘Happy Birthday’ 
on Mars. In the battle between song and science, science always wins.” 
 
It was around Midsummer that the first reports started appearing of strange cyclopean figures 
seen in darkened shadows of the Near Dreaming. Fear spread that the White Court of the 
Fomorians were scouting out the Freeholds for an all-out assault. It was believed by the wise 
that the Fomorians were patient creatures who would not strike against Concordia until the 
snows of the mundane winter fell upon the land. Scouts and seers throughout the lands 
investigated these strange visitors for some time before the truth of imminent Fomorian 
invasion was finally confirmed. 
 
Though terror spread at their coming, there was comfort in the belief that there would be some 
time yet before their hammer blow fell upon the land. Forces were marshalled and battle plans 
were drawn up. ​Destiny Manx ​herself came out of her self-imposed retirement and was, along 
with ​Duke Topaz​, given co-command over the preparations for war. 
 
In mid-July, the Freehold of Caer Silva in Buffalo, New York, fell silent. A delegation from the 
Kingdom of Apples sent to investigate was horrified by what they found. The Freehold had 
been utterly destroyed, and the piles of gnawed bones inside gave mute witness to the horrific 
fate that its inhabitants had met. 
 
There would be no more time for preparation; the Second Fomorian War, as it came to be 
called, began in earnest. Across the lands, battles were fought against these nightmare giants. 

45
On those battlefields, the enmity that had grown up over the past decades was forgotten. 
Seelie Sidhe warriors were buried alongside Shadow Court Redcaps. Their blood, the 
denizens of Concordia remembered, was all the same colour. 
 
Meanwhile, investigations across the Near Dreaming discovered a terrible truth. In the desert 
of New Mexico an old Trod was found, one which reached back through to the White Court 
itself.   
 
High Regent Meilge ​himself, with ​Lenore ​and ​Mab ​by his side, led the assembled forces of 
Concordia in a desperate battle to destroy that Trod before the Fomorians could cross over. 
Many were killed or captured, but in the end a fierce holding action led by ​Duke Topaz​ allowed 
the forces of Concordia to break the Trod. Although many Fomorians remained in the Near 
Dreaming, they were cut off from reinforcement. 
 
The few who were on the Trod when it broke described a staggeringly large Fomorian force on 
the other side waiting to come through, a force large enough to be a threat to the entire world. 
Though they were unable to pass now, it was unquestionably true that they would try again, 
somewhere else, some other time. 
 
To many, this was the moment that the chaos of the last twenty years truly ended. Though 
many were lost in the fighting, and the looming threat of the Fomorians would haunt the 
nightmares of all Changelings, Concordia’s spiritual fissure was finally healed on that New 
Mexico battlefield. 
 
This was the first time I actually started to believe, in my heart, that we were going to survive this. 
Damn the Shadow Court, damn them to the fires of Hell, but on this day… they earned my grudging 
respect; and I’m not quite sure what to do with that feeling. It may be that they are what is 
required for us to get through the current crisis. Don’t tell them I said that. A. 
 

2018 - The Year of Courtly Grace 

 
Trust I seek and I find in you 
Every day for us something new 
Open mind for a different view 
And nothing else matters 
 
Metallica, performed by Apocalyptica, “​Nothing Else Matters​” 
 

46
Q​ ueen Mab​ wasted no time in capitalizing on this good will. Through a series of strategic 
displays of courtly pageantry, she proved herself an example to the other Nobility in how to 
cement the cooperation between the Courts as the new normal. 
 
Included was the creation of a new knightly order: the Ardent Scouts. Composed of members 
of each Court, their mandate was to patrol the Dreaming for any signs of Fomorians. Warning 
the Courts is their stated priority; however, several members of the order believe it is possible 
to dispatch small groups of Fomorians​ ​before they can amass into a horde. It is whispered at 
court in Tara-Nar that this imperative has been quietly delegated by ​Regent Meilge​ to ​Duke 
Topaz​. It seems a reasonable explanation for why the duke focuses the energies of the 
Kingdom of the Feathered Snake on internal stability and readiness rather than the games of 
Concordian politics. 
 

   

47
2019 - The Year of Changes 
 
Do you worry that you're not liked? 
How long 'til you break 
You're happy 'cause you smile 
But how much can you fake? 
 
Our Lady Peace, “​Superman’s Dead​” 
 

I​ n a desperate attempt to return to Spring, Commoners from the Kingdom of White Sands 
slaughtered three dukes and three duchesses. They attempted to reenact the ancient tradition 
whereby leaders were sacrificed to ensure a bountiful year on the feast of Imbolc. The 
Commoners who led these sacrifices were promptly found, tried and put to death by Cold Iron. 
 
In June, three of the heirs of the High Lords of the Fallen World, who had been released from 
the protection of the ​High Regent​, disappeared: ​Prince Augustus Lammon ap Liam​, 
Princess Octavia Sacson ni Daireann​ and ​Prince Magnus Taroth ap Scathach.​ The 
Parliament publically treated this as a potential breach of the Right to Dream and dispatched 
messengers to all Freeholds to find them.   
 
For the safety of us all, and for the maintenance of our tenuous peace, information about the 
whereabouts of these royals should be reported to Parliament immediately. S.G. 
 
Near the end of the year, the “Cat’s Cradle” society was discovered and branded as an 
organization that promoted treason. Two members of the “Cat’s Cradle” were identified and 
currently remain imprisoned until they reveal the names and locations of other members. To 
date, they have not talked. 
 
 

   

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Present Day 
The line it is drawn, the curse it is cast 
The slow one now will later be fast 
As the present now will later be past 
The order is rapidly fading 
And the first one now will later be last 
For the times they are a-changin' 
Bob Dylan, “​The Times They Are A-Changin’​” 
 

A​ s we come to the end of our story, I would ask that you indulge this old historian with a 
moment of reflection. As I think through the history of the last century, I believe it is important 
to put into context the larger tale that is playing out. Not just our story, but the story of the vast 
human multitude as well. After all, you don’t have to be a Monad theorist to know that we 
Kithain and the Dreaming as we know it fundamentally depend on the Dreamers.   
 
The earliest dreams of humans still influence the topography of the Dreaming and provide the 
DNA of our various Kiths. We can see the inertia of these millennia everywhere we look. But 
that does not mean that the momentum of this new age is any less relevant--quite the 
opposite. Beyond all the internal changes to Kithain society since the end of the Resurgence, 
even this time of scarcity has a wide range of new and innovative expressions of Glamour, 
whether we like them all or not. Survival is knowing where to find it, as well as when traditional 
expectations may lead one to bark up the wrong tree. 
 
As much as we may hate to admit it now, we Concordian Kithain benefited immensely during 
the final blaze of prosperity that heralded the last days of Autumn. The joy of economic 
excess, mixed with the darker fears of the Cold War, provided rich and varied veins of Glamour 
everywhere you looked--one need only watch the top ten MTV videos from 1984 to see that 
even the humans knew this on some level. For a time--​High King David​’s time--Concordia 
rode this wave of plenty. But that time has passed, along with its economic surge, its Cold 
War and its Space Race. 
 
Harvesting Glamour has become increasingly challenging in the ensuing series of recessions 
and with the rise of the stay-at-home Entertainment Age. Some of our oldest Kithain still 
remember a time when live concerts, theatre productions and art film screenings were popular 
forms of mass entertainment, a time when a Changeling could simply buy a ticket and go home 
glutted with fresh Glamour drawn from the Dreamers directly. Some Commoners from before 
the Second World War used to wage turf wars over urban centre cinemas for this very reason. 
But as the Digital Era lures people back to the privacy of their homes, it’s become rather more 
challenging to access that type of Glamour, even for the best music and films. 
 
Since the end of the Boomer prosperity, the arts have been in danger of finally being left 
behind in favour of drab history and long division. This has compounded in the modern age 

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with the consolidation of entertainment empires. One of the great threats to Concordian 
society today is the pop music industry. Pretending to virtues of “access” and “user choice,” 
it’s become driven by market algorithms, statistical analyses, and repetition of forms that “sell.” 
Even the humans know that ​pop music is ruining​ ​their capacity for musical experience. Back in 
the early days of the Resurgence, music was measurably more experimental and adventurous, 
while today the ​Millennial Whoop​ ​bombards our vinyl record Dross stockpiles like Joshua’s 
horns at the walls of Jericho. Across the board, pop music production has begun to replace 
artists with CPUs. Some of the sharper human minds have caught onto this and create 
awareness by demonstrating how​ ​AI can totally replace artists​, but it’s like shouting into a 
Digital Age capitalist hurricane. Mark my words--Kithain society needs to be on the forefront in 
this existential fight for the life of musical Glamour itself. 
 
I hate to say it, but our dear author is showing his age and his bias here. The Glamour is 
still there, waiting to be found if you are bold enough to go looking for it. S.G. 
 
This is why such events as community theater shows, RenFaires, folk festivals, and historical 
re-enactments so greatly need our patronage and protection, for in these places, the purest creative 
variety in music, crafts, and performing arts is preserved in a manner that is personal and visceral for 
Dreamers. Even the most chillingly pragmatic Unseelie should recognize that these havens are for us 
like the Svalbard Global Seed Vault at Spitzbergen is for human heirloom crop varieties-- 
an essential public service for the preservation of natural, living variety. A. 
 
Epic cinema, likewise, had become formulaic. However, it had the unintended consequence of 
demonstrating its source material, comic books, as being a legitimate form of creative process. 
The humble comic has moved from a medium that would have a potentially funny joke in the 
last panel to a medium that shows the new mythology in the form of superheroes. Likewise, 
slice-of-life graphic novels, be they comedic, tragic or somewhere in between, have become 
an accessible medium for youth who would rather spend time browsing the Internet than 
browsing a bookstore. I am particularly fond of the use of graphic novels to bring history to 
life, and had I the talent for art, I would attempt a Rapture for the second edition of this work. 
 
The less said about self publishing, the better. Many of the e-books that have been published 
on the platforms supported by multinational digital publishing companies could use the 
assistance of a professional editor before exposing it to the public in exchange for money. My 
contact information is available through Kablam and Matthews. S.G. 
 

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Of course Nockers are excited about comic books. I have yet to meet one who wouldn’t die on the hill 
that a “Planet X” villain and filming in black and white would enhance any story. So typical. A. 
 
People now carry mini-supercomputers in their pockets, giving them access to established 
worlds of information and entertainment. This is promoting new forms of accessing these 
worlds, including attempts at virtual and augmented reality. As seen with the creation of the 
Internet, the creativity in expressing these new forms of access are not (yet) subject to the 
Banal constraints that are found in modern music, film and art. Some forward-thinking Kithain 
believe it is possible for Dreamers to safely and directly access the Dreaming through VR. 
Parts of the Dreaming have changed so as to appear more like a video game than the 
hyper-realism that we have been used to over the past centuries. Depending on the part of the 
Dreaming you are in, you could experience the blocky graphics of vintage games or the 
uncanny valley​ ​look displayed upon the newest graphics cards.  
 
❄ 
 

C​ hangeling society, for the first time in nearly a generation, has found itself in a place of 
relative peace. The long struggle to hold onto Autumn is over, as is the succession crisis that 
followed the death of ​High King David​ and the ascension of the Shadow Court. Ill feelings 
remain on all sides, but there is also the understanding that the war between the old order and 
the new has been resolved, at least for now. The Seelie have returned home, and the Shadow 
Court has accepted that it must acknowledge the trappings of the old Nobility’s power. But 
most of all, for the Commoners, who have suffered through these hard years with the patient 
resignation of the damned, there is something else, and something new: the realization that the 
past is gone. The Concordia of twenty years ago is as much a relic of the past as the Roman 
Republic, and it could no more be brought back into existence than Cicero and Cato could be 
raised up from the dead.   
 
We are a people who are used to looking backwards, relishing cherished dreams of a golden 
age forever just outside of living memory. But as I look back over the events of the last 
decades, with the knowledge that some of my readers may well be living in a world a hundred 
years hence, I find myself optimistic, even hopeful. Though it took the final destruction of the 
old world to get us here, finally we have no choice but to look forward. If we do not destroy 
ourselves, if the fragile peace between Commoner, Nobles and the Shadow Court can hold, if 
the White Court does not ravage the world, if humans can continue to dream, then yes, we 
have a future again. 
 
And so these are my closing words. For good or for ill, Winter has come upon our people; and 
to the surprise of many, we can endure its chill. The day we long dreaded arrived and fell 
behind us into the ever-widening gulf of the past. Everything changes, and so long as you can 
survive, life goes on. We know that now. Nothing is Endless.   

51
 
Not even Winter. 
 
 

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Appendix
 

Dramatis Personae 
High Regent Meilge ap Eiluned ​- High Regent of Concordia, former King of Willows.
High King David Ardry ap Gwydion​ - The late High King of Concordia (North America). 
High Queen Faerilyth ni Eiluned ​- The late High Queen of Concordia. 
Princess Mariana ni Ailil ​- Court Magician to High Regent Meilge. 
Duchess Morwen Ardry ni Gwydion​ - Sister of High King David. 
Princess Lenore ni Dougal​- In theory, heir to David Ardry, in practice she has remained an 
apolitical symbol of unity. 
Queen Mab​ ​ni Fiona ​- Eldest fae in Concordia, ruler of the lands around Tier na Gier and 
fierce supporter of David. 
Queen Laurel ni Fiona​ - Seelie ruler of Northern Ice, living in Caer Frost (in Saskatchewan). 
Duke Rocco ap Beaumayn ​- Unseelie husband of Queen Laurel. 
True Thomas​ - A human bard who has been living with the Fae since ancient times, blessed 
with the gift of prophecy and cursed only to speak the truth. 
Duke Topaz ap Gwydion​ - Seelie ruler of the Kingdom of Feathered Snake, rumoured 
bankroller of the Ardent Scouts, one of the most renowned generals in Concordia. 
Destiny Manx ​- Seelie Troll, old and wise, scarred by a thousand battlefields, another of the 
most renowned generals in Concordia. 
Prometheus​ - An ancient Inanima of the Slow Empire of Flames. 
 
 
 

 
 

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