Fate's Harvest/Laws

Bylaws of Fate's Harvest

All Changelings sworn to the Freehold are expected to be conversant with the laws on this page. Waykeepers, on the other hand, are expected to have them all but memorized.

As a living document, the laws are not closed to revision.

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Consectatio Scientiae. Consectatio Prudentiae.

We gather together for the mutual benefit of our members and in defense of our allies, wielding the power of pooled talent and the safety of the cycle of the year against the threat of those who would cause us harm, and against those who keep human and fae captives.

Definitions of Terms Used in this Document:

"Freehold" is defined as the collective pledged membership, changeling and variations on human.

"Freehold territory" is defined as the mortal-world land bordered by Mount Salvation East, Mount Salvation West, Mount Mischance, and the cliff of Tamarack Falls.

"Local Hedge" is defined as the areas of the Hedge regularly patrolled and guarded by members of the Freehold. The Freehold claims no power over the Hedge, and no dominion.

"Cycle" is defined as the combined turning of the year and the celestial bodies, represented in the eight Courts of the Freehold.

"Period" is defined as one of the four divisions of the cycle. Two Courts represent each of the cycle's four periods: waxing, fullness, waning, absence. Dawn/Spring for waxing, Sun/Summer for fullness, Dusk/Autumn for waning, Moon/Winter for absence. A Crown is chosen for each period of the cycle.

"Crown" is defined both as the visual and metaphysical symbol of the Wyrd's recognition of power, and as the individual possessing the Wyrd-given crown of the year cycle.

"Monarch" is synonymous with 'Crown' as regards the individual possessing it. Former Crown-bearers are referred to as Monarchs until a new Monarch of their cycle is chosen.

"Council" is defined as the group of former transitional/seasonal Monarchs or their Courts' recognized representatives. These are currently numbered at: Dawn, Spring, Sun, Summer, Dusk, Autumn, Moon, Winter.

"Extended Council" is defined as the 'Council' core plus the leaders of each recognized Freehold subgroup. These are currently numbered at: Custodians, Greenies, Harvestmen, Watchers, Waykeepers.

"Year-laws" are defined as the permanent laws of the Freehold. These do not change with the seasons or transitional periods of the year. They may be ratified only by a majority vote of Crown and Council. The Crown holds veto powers.

"Seasonal laws" are defined as smaller laws of the Freehold created by and at the sole discretion of individual Crowns, and not extending beyond the period of that particular Monarch's rule. They may neither supersede nor conflict existing year-laws.

"Fae" are defined as those beings of immense power who took us, changed us, enslaved us, and whom we escaped. They are always referred to with a capital F, as there are fae beings who are not Fae, ourselves included. In most cases Fae is synonymous with Gentry, Kindly One(s), or Keeper(s), though there are records of Fae with neither Title nor Domain who are no longer, or have never been a Keeper of our kind.

"Loyalists" are defined as servants, Human, Hobgoblin or Changeling, still following the commands of the Gentry, most often to the detriment of free Changelings and Humans. They may be willing, unwilling, or entirely unknowing.

"Privateers" are defined as singularly mercenary beings working for their own benefit. They will sell anyone and anything to the highest bidder, regardless of whom that bidder is.

"Archive" is defined as the central archive and library of information in Fate's Harvest. It is protected and curated by the Custodian subgroup, and it is open to all members.

"Freehold Timeline" is defined as the single document, constantly updated by each Crown, which holds a date-marked record of: each Crown's name and Court; their Crowning; important events (may refer to additional documentation, which must be kept with the Timeline i.e. links to other pages); Year-laws proposed, including the name(s) of those who proposed them, and details of the proposition; Year-laws passed, with details; Seasonal Laws passed, with details; Seasonal Laws upheld from previous Monarchs.

Year Laws

Crown & Absence Thereof

Seasonal Laws

Validity

The declaration of Seasonal Laws must be added to the Freehold Timeline. They do not take effect until they have thereby been placed in the Freehold Archive where all may see them.

If a current Monarch prefers to hold over a law from a previous Crown, the continuance of the previous Period's law must be clearly written in the Timeline.

Creation & Duration

Only the Wyrd-acknowledged Monarch of the Freehold may create Seasonal Laws.

Once added to the archive, Seasonal Laws are in effect only during their creator's reign, unless subsequent Monarchs choose to reuse them.

Current Seasonal Laws

See the Timeline document for all Seasonal Laws currently in effect.