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[Let’s Study – C:tL] Fairest

(https://philgamer.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/whiteflower_big
White Flower by
Jason Chan. Click it,
you know you want
to.

The Fairest are the shining stars of the Changeling Courts.  No matter what form or occupation they
dedicate themselves to, these Changelings invariably draw every eye in the room towards them.  While
some celebrities may decry that their beauty is a curse, none understand that cliche more than the Fairest.

The Fairest embody the greatest paradox of celebrity status.  Everyone adores them, but nobody sees them
as people.  The Gentry took them away to make them lovers, sex slaves, entertainment or living pieces of
art.  For all the beauty that the Fairest were given, they were nothing more than a commodity.  Take a
celebrity and strip away everything that made them human, leaving only the showbiz persona and the
makeup and bright lights and get what the Gentry has made the Fairest to be.

It is no wonder then that these Changelings consider their escape to be the hardest, as their picture
perfect existence in Arcadia is another release from the dreary reality of being human.  Much like the
bliss of animalistic ignorance experienced by the Beasts, or the zen-state of “being” experienced by the
Elementals, the Fairest had to scrape together their identity by looking at the depressingly normal state of
human existence.  Only by restoring their mundanity did the Fairest find their way through the Hedge.

But just because they were able to exit the Hedge, doesn’t mean that they don’t carry the broken dreams
of their time in Arcadia with them.  Like washed out movie stars, the Fairest often have an inflated sense
of self, which may manifest in the callous cruelty by which they may use people around them.  When
winning hearts comes as easy as it does to the Fairest, one can’t help but be just a little bit mean.
Callous Beauty

The Fairest take many forms.  While some embody beauty as a visual aesthetic, others find their ability to
allure and enthrall in leadership, influence and the arts.

The Fairest are broken down into the following Kiths:

Bright One – Changelings born of light, the Bright Ones radiate beauty that can literally  brighten up a
room with their presence alone.
Dancer – Grace and Motion personified, the Dancers enthrall their audiences without the need to rely
on  something as vulgar or crass as mere words.
Draconic – Leadership is the forte of the Draconic, and those of insufficient willpower are helpless to
do anything but prostrate themselves at his feet.
Flowering – The term “earthy beauty” is insufficient to describe the Flowering, whose very nature lulls
others to a sense of security and well being.
Muse – The muse gives birth to beauty.  By inspiring obsession and fanning the flames of passion
within their mortal thralls, the Muse drives them to outdo themselves, reaching ever higher to
emotional heights where they burn out of flourish at her whims.

Of all the Seemings, the Fairest are among those who rely most strongly on their Social dominance.  This
leads to some very interesting situations as the Fairest are both simultaneously respected and feared.
Many other Changelings have wondered about how much of their good opinions are real, and which are
manipulations of their Fairest companions?

 ARTICLES
 CHANGELING: THE LOST
 LET'S STUDY
 ROLEPLAYING GAMES
 WORLD OF DARKNESS

3 comments

1. Hikkikomori says:
MARCH 18, 2010 AT 10:06 PM
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Hmmm… so… what’s the difference between the Bright Ones and the Muse?

One inspires lust, while the other sparks love?

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2. loquacious says:
SEPTEMBER 22, 2010 AT 9:23 PM
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My take on the Bright Ones was that they were akin to Will-O-Wisps, Flickering Faeries, or Dancing
Flame types. Muses are more like- Helen of Troy (the face that launched a thousand ships) or Mona
Lisa; or living embodiments of statues, artwork or other artistic/musical endeavors.

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pointyman2000 says:
SEPTEMBER 22, 2010 AT 9:35 PM
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Hey, nice!

I like the idea of living embodiments of art as muses. Definitely evocative.

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