Waykeepers
They know who is in the Freehold and who isn't. They know who offers their services for what, and which types of people they are allowed to tell of it. They know what the other subgroups do, and who leads them. They know the Councillors, and how to find them. They know the laws of Hospitality like the backs of their hands.
In short, it is the responsibility of the Waykeepers to be the public face of the Freehold, to serve as guides and go-betweens, to act as diplomats with strangers and visitors, and to serve as messengers to other Freeholds, wherever they may be.
Most importantly, they know what they are, and aren't, allowed to say.
Waykeepers are often members of the other Freehold subgroups, and it is a position with a fair amount of risk and visibility.
History
One of the first groups formed by the fledgling Freehold, the keepers of the Wayhouse have, to date, been instrumental in smoothing the way among the few and scattered Lost already present in the valley when Fate's Harvest formed.
As of September 2016, they have yet to face their first true challenge.
Requirements to Join
Recruits are expected to have a working knowledge of how to keep their feet out of their mouths when dealing with strangers. In mechanical terms, this probably translates to at least a few dots scattered through Social skills which don't relate to terrifying people and pissing them off.
A good understanding of Freehold law is also a requirement, along with a firm grasp on precisely what is, and isn't, permissible by the pledge all members swear.
Non-Changeling members of the Freehold may join, but may never hold rank above Waykeeper.
Rank Structure
Waylord
- Qty: 1
- Duties: The Waylord (or Waylady) is responsible for the leadership and coordination of all other Waykeepers, and holds a seat upon the Freehold Council. He or she is responsible for hosting monthly meetings, and for disseminating and managing new information, policies, promotions and disciplinary action.
- OOCly, they are given Head powers over the Wayhouse +faction.
- The Waylord is ICly required to remain within reach of Freehold leadership at all times, should an emergency require their particular expertise. To facilitate this, a token is handed down from leader to leader: a small, folding silver pocket knife with a carved bone handle.
| Waylord's Blade
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| Dots: |
4
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| Activation: |
1 Glamour or +roll Wyrd. Drive the knife's inch-long blade into the meat of your thigh, doing 1L.
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| Mask: |
A simple silver folding pocket knife with a one-inch blade, dingy, tarnished, with a stained bone handle.
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| Mien: |
A gleaming silver folding pocket knife with a one-inch blade, its handle carved of creamy white bone. A complicated sigil is inlaid in silver wire.
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| Power: |
If used within forty miles of its corresponding sigil, once the blade is solidly seated in your thigh, a rush of icy cold sweeps over your body, darkening your vision. When you can see again, you will have been transported to within five feet of the sigil inscribed within the Waylord's private chambers at the Wayhouse. If used beyond the 40-mile boundary, you have a knife stuck in your thigh and nothing to show for it.
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| Drawback: |
When next you sleep, you will relive every personal failure you have ever made, and remain trapped in steadily escalating, physically and mentally exhausting nightmares for a full eight hours. Take a -2 penalty to all rolls using Mental attributes or skills until you have had a full night's sleep.
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| Catch: |
Completely submerge the knife, handle and all, in your own blood. This will require at least 2L of damage, but does obviate impaling yourself on the blade.
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- Waykeeper Influence Level: 5
Hand
- Qty: 2
- Duties: The Hands are second in command, and there are always two, chosen from the ranks of the Waykeepers.
- It is the Hands who serve as primary diplomats, sent to outside Freeholds as necessary, and otherwise assisting the Waylord within the Freehold's boundaries.
- Within the Wayhouse, beyond the respect afforded their position, their duties are fundamentally identical to any other Waykeeper: uphold hospitality, and keep the Freehold's eyes open and mouth closed.
- Waykeeper Influence Level: 4
Waykeeper
- Qty: Unlimited
- Duties: There may be any number of Waykeepers, and their influence over matters within the group varies. While to the rest of the world, there is no difference between their responsibilities and others', within the Wayhouse and its environs, those who choose to mentor new recruits are rewarded with the respect of their peers. It takes no small amount of work to ensure recruits are well trained for the tasks ahead.
- Waykeepers maintain "Hospitality's Hold" 24/7 over the Wayhouse. If a player is not present to do so, assume an NPC is, at the lowest level.
- While a Waykeeper is never sent outside the Freehold as a primary diplomat, all of them are expected to assist the Hands and Waylord as requested.
- In the rare case of a Fae-touched or ensorcelled/enchanted human devoting herself to the group, the need for Hospitality's Hold as a requirement for promotion is rescinded on their behalf, but they may also never be the primary host at the Wayhouse. In mechanical terms, while they may be the only player there, there will always be an NPC in the background holding up the Contract.
- Waykeeper Influence Level: Mentors: 3, Others: 2
Recruit
- Qty: Unlimited
- Duties: Recruits are the lowest rank of Waykeeper, and must be trained for a minimum of one season under the guidance of a mentor (or mentors). New Waykeepers are promoted during the Crowning ceremony, introduced to the Freehold and, officially, to their new responsibilities. Before a recruit may be promoted, s/he must have learned the Goblin Contract of Hospitality's Hold and gained experience in its use through at least a month's practice. This typically means being on duty at the Wayhouse as the official 'host' with one's mentor as a watcher, and may certainly be done "off screen," so to speak.
- Should a recruit pass early into full Waykeeper status, their official announcement should be performed at the next full Freehold event, rather than waiting out the season's turning.
- Waykeeper Influence Level: 1
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Members
Waylord/Waylady
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November - Dawn •••••
Lost Pantheon
Fairest Polychromatic/Snowskin/Gandharva
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Hands
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Nathania Winters - Winter Mantle •••••
Bishopric of Blackbirds
Elemental Manikin/Playmate
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Waykeepers
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Logan - Dawn Mantle ••••
Fairest Bright One/Gandharva/Shadowsoul
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Ava Ardent - Winter Mantle •••
None
Fairest Telluric
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Recruits
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Amber - Spring ••••
Order of the Hallowed Garden
Ogre Ifrit/Earthbones
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Kelsey - Autumn •••
Fairest Flamesiren/Poisonpetal
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Raymond - Summer •••••
Fairest Weisse Frau
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Louisa - Summer •••
Bishopric of Blackbirds
Ogre Troll/Thusser/Hoofstomer
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