The Drowning Mountain Freehold

Basic Overview: Drowning Mountain is centered around a small town called Byshom, a few hours south of Portland, Oregon. Though many members live in the town itself or surrounding areas, the freehold itself rests in various parts of the nearby mountains and woods. The name stems from the fact that it almost always rains in this small area, and the freehold itself was established by the survivors of a legendary flood that supposedly drowned part of Arcadia itself.
Drowning Mountain isn’t well known amongst the West Coast, mostly because the freehold keeps to itself. Other Lost note that it seems to be a decent place to stop for a day or two, but the freehold tends to have frequent problems with Fae, madness, and stints of horrible weather. The members themselves are nice enough, though it’s also noted that they are also powerful and eccentric, at best.


The Mortal Realm: Byshom is a small town, the sort where everybody knows everybody else, and most families haven’t left for years, if they haven’t recently arrived from the busy cities of California. Though it’s modernizing with a new hospital and fast food chains, it still has plenty of Mom and Pop stores, old monuments for covered bridges and dead miners, and a detachment from the rest of the world. Most entertainment is found outdoors or in another town. Some folks drive in from the highway for a rest at the inn, and a train runs through daily, though not much else comes from outside of town that isn’t filtered through newspapers and TV. It’s a slow and easygoing town, where the people are mostly kind, and smart enough not to wander too far into the woods.


Surrounding Hedge: The surrounding hedge is made primarily of trees; thick fir trees with sharp, thorn-like needles. This fae forest is filled with moss, blackberry bushes, flickering movements, mushrooms, and dark shadows that the sunlight never fully breaks. Most of the hedgebeasts linger away from travelers, at least those who stay on the trods—dirt paths littered with dead pine needles and rocks, often resulting in dreamlike hikes.
The main exception to these landscapes, however, is the water. The rivers and lakes are far larger than they are in the real world, made of rushing water and occasional perils. Rainstorms are common, and often appear without warning, leaving rivers in their wake. Many hobgoblins boat down these waterways, though a few fiercer beasts lurk under the waves as well.
As the name of the Freehold suggests, there are also quite a few mountains nearby, which usually mark the fringes of the Freehold’s territory. However, Summer Court maintains a few mines hidden in one of the mountains, with tunnels leading all throughout the area. Winter Court has also made use of these tunnels, as can other beings, for the right price.
It’s quite easy to get lost in the Hedge, if one is not careful, however, some of the local Lost have made secret symbols to give directions, or have even created hideaways in caves and trees for those caught in a sudden storm.

Spring Court
Overview: Spring Court is the glue and mortar of the freehold. Their celebrations raise moral and remind everyone of what they’re fighting and striving for. They also tend to keep the other three courts in check, either through negotiations or underhanded manipulation. Though they tend to be flighty and overlooked, Spring Courtiers are surprisingly powerful, often becoming the last resorts that save the Freehold.

Location: On the outskirts of town rests the Dionysus Winery, still in business today and one of the local hotspots. This winery is run by Spring Court, and those who pass through the bottom most wine cellar can exit through a second staircase, which leads up to a clearing made of marble ruins and rampant grape vines, reminiscent of a Dionysian temple. Courtiers can be seen climbing atop the architecture for parties, or hiding in its shade for…more private activities. What appears to be a temple is mainly intact, with the throne replacing any statues of worship.

Leader: Until recently, Solveig Sforzando, with Taire as his advisor. No one knows why they disappeared, but in his absence, his daughter Eleanor has taken his place. Nemo is most likely to end up with the crown should anything happen to Eleanor, and currently functions as Eleanor’s advisor.

Members: Eleanor, Solveig (Missing), Jarrod, Nemo, Taire (Missing), Nulska, Rain, The Gray Earl, Chalcedony

Relations: Spring Court seems to get along well with everyone in the freehold, including those who don’t belong to the Seasonal Courts. Under Solveig’s rule, Spring and Autumn seemed to have slightly more of an alliance, while under Eleanor’s reign, Summer has taken Autumn’s place.

Other Notes: Most of Spring Court either works at or supports the court-owned club, the Edge of Glory, and a few other courtiers also assist in running the club.

Summer Court
Overview: Summer Courtiers are the warriors and guardians of the freehold, the first line of defense whenever chaos arises. They also look out for the freehold in non-combat situations, such as making sure everyone is safe and sane, looking out for new escapees, and occasionally bolstering the freehold’s funds with the earnings from their mines. This court isn’t as brash as many other Summer Courts, but if they have one fault, it’s that they have hero complexes and spread themselves a bit too thin.

Location: Only accessible through the Lacrene Mines, Summer Court rests deep inside one of the mountains. An ornate obsidian castle has been carved in the center, and the area itself is lit by lanterns and veins of magma. An opening to the mountain from the top exists, able to be opened and closed depending on the weather. While the outside of the castle is sharp, the inside is actually furnished quite nicely—though plenty of emergency weapons and armor are kept around as decorations, in case a siege occurs.

Leader: Natalia, with Devon as a close advisor.

Members: Natalia, Devon, Farris, Hobson, Morning Glory, Stromberg, Cricket, Aimi, Tavi

Relations: Summer looks out for the whole freehold, and as such maintains an aura of civility. Currently, Summer’s closest ally is Spring, which shares in its passion, if not it’s actions. Despite their similar goals and dwellings, Summer seems to be wary of Winter and the Mages. It also gets along, surprisingly enough, with Autumn Court.

Other Notes: There is one exception to Summer Court’s kindness: True Fae loyalists. Any that are found are supposed to be executed on sight, especially if Devon’s the one doling out judgment. Summer Court also has a yearly ritual known as The Crusade, where the court does all they can to eliminate a certain enemy or group (a powerful hobgoblin, fetches, a tricky loyalist, etc.)

Autumn Court
Overview: Autumn is the court of Fear and Knowledge, and while the two go hand in hand in this court, it tends to lead a bit more toward fear. Not that these courtiers are outwardly creepy, no—the terror they spread is slow and subtle, until one of them snaps and unleashes all the horror they can muster. They are easily the most eccentric of the courts, but also possess most of the Freehold’s lore and knowledge, and are masters of contracts. They also have a few non-changeling contacts, and their unpredictable ways have saved more than a few lives.

Location: Run in the woods long enough, and it’s easy to get lost. Just don’t step into any rings of black mushrooms, for those who linger end up in the outskirts of Autumn Court. Mushrooms, usually of a poisonous variety, litter the forest floor, as lanky, rickety buildings reach skyward amongst the expanse of trees. It resembles an old western town with Victorian architecture. Those who end up in the court without meaning to are usually left along the edge of the road or deeper in the woods, though it’s not unheard of for the courtiers to have a bit of…”fun” with their visitors.

Leader: Falk Hines, with Galileo as his advisor.

Members: Falk, Chagas, Baghead, Dr. Nightshade, Galileo, Bianca; Luce and Haushinka are not technically members, but hang around here sometimes.

Relations: Autumn seems like more of a loner court, and this is generally the case. However, it has recently strengthened its bond with Winter, content to share information, members for specialized missions, and, rumor has it, captives and criminals. Autumn seems to enjoy rattling the metaphorical chains of Summer, though they remain allies. Spring goes back and forth between being an ally and being a nuisance, dependent on the day and leader. Everyone else seems to be curiosities that can occasionally be utilized for their knowledge, practicality, or a good scare.

Winter Court
Overview: It’s rare to see a Winter courtier, but they’re always up to something. Many of them gather and manipulate information, spying in both the Freehold and the town itself. Winter courtiers are silent guardians, making sure everything runs like clockwork without ever being noticed…but when shit hits the fan, they’re also the first to retreat in order to regain their resources, security, and secrecy.

       Location: At the middle school of Byshom, there is a manhole that leads to an underground bunker. When the right password is whispered, however, the guard at the gate opens the cover from the inside, leading into the labyrinth that is Winter Court.  The whole court is made up of carved ice, much like Summer Court’s mountains. However, there are far more secret passageways and hidden doors, less for defending an area from siege and more for losing enemies and hiding. The court is usually quiet, save for the echoes of Radio Free Fae, and an odd iron smell—almost like blood—that permeates the lower levels.

Leader: Nobody knows. Everyone in the court takes turns masquerading during public functions, and no one is allowed to clarify whether or not they are truly the leader. If anyone needs to speak to the Court Head, they do so in an isolated room, and the leader's voice comes in through a filtered pipe organ.

Members: Oskar, Mort, Aniyh, Ymeri, Marcel, Daric, Mahlaan.

Relations: If the Winter Court is allied with anyone, it is Autumn, with which information and other commodities are often traded. There’s a vague rivalry with Summer, though Winter is too subtle to express it often, and Spring is mostly ignored aside from rumors and the occasional party to unwind at. Non-Winter courtiers are not trusted inside unless either brought in with another Winter courtier, or if brought along with a Court Head.

Other Notes: Rumors abound of “The Refrigerator,” a hidden room where criminals are imprisoned, tortured, interrogated, killed, and devoured—and not necessarily in that order. It does not exist, of course. Of course.

The Original Freehold

"In the times before Byshom itself began, there was only one True Fae in these parts. Its name was Mountaintooth, for it and its realm were one and the same, and it was so gigantic that even its teeth were the size of the mountains around here. Back then, before we knew what Arcadia was, we thought that Mountaintooth was all there was. Knowing better now...well, let's not get into that.

All of us were molded by that mountain. We were its elements, its ecosystems, its sculptors. We were part of that mountain, for god knows how long. But then, she came. Who was she, you ask? She was the Waterborn, the Flood, our Savior. No one remembers her name, but we all know that she came up with a plan. We all came together and took back our lives. We made boats. We fought. And when the coast was clear, when the beast was finally bested, she used all of her power to get us out. She flooded the whole damn mountain and his twisted world, and we rode those rapids through the hedge and into the real world once more.

Byshom wasn't even much of a town yet. It was a mining community way up in the mountains--the REAL ones, mind you, not Mountaintooth. We helped set up the town itself, as well as our Court homes, down in the valley, following the leadership of those first court heads. Januel of Spring, who worked to keep the peace amongst our fledgeling society. Shirah of Summer, who fought off horrors both magical and mundane to protect us. Alaric of Autumn, who learned the secrets of our powers and how to turn our curses into blessings. And Endrede of Winter, who listened to the whispers around us to keep us safe. They loved us like their own family, and we them.

They disappeared around the turn of the century, you know. They ruled for a little over thirty years--it seems so long, yet when you think about it, they've been gone for almost twice as long now! Where did they go, you ask? Beats me. None of us know, really. One day, they were just...gone.

What was I saying? Oh, right. That's how we came to be called the Drowning Mountain Freehold, and how we got our roots. Hope that's enough for you, kid. Now if you excuse me, I've got to get back to pruning the Hedge around the ol' lake again. Everyone just lets it fall into disuse. No respect for the waters anymore, I tell you..."

--Transcript from interview with Rat-Trap Sal, circa. June 1962