It is said in the myths and legends of Avalon that Faery exists betwixt and between worlds. It is everywhere and in one place, all at once. Other legends say that it moves from place to place, appearing in different lands as the seasons change, and it is at those times when mortals might stumble into that world, or be drawn in quite on purpose. Faery Rings abound in the forest, seemmingly innocent circles of mushrooms that might be nothing, or that might lead to a harrowing journey through a landscape that can be as fantastical as it can be terrifying. The World of Faery is Summer and Winter, Great Beauty and Terribly Ugliness, a land of Dreams and Nightmares, of Seduction and Loss, of Light and Darkness.
Seelie and Unseelie. Tir Nan Og. Under the Hill. Faery.
The Summer Court, the Shining Court, The Bringers of Beauty and Wishes, all of these are names for The Seelie Court of Faery. More than just The Sidhe comprise the Faery Court, though they are the Nobles and Most Powerful of all the Fae. Ruled by a King named Oisin, though there are stories that his name is Oberon or even Taranis, he has sat the Throne for untold millenia, and often resents relinquishing his rule to the Queen of Air and Darness, Titania, of the Winter Court. The Seelie Court are some of the more aristrocratic faeries, and are known as trooping, or heroic faeries. Hibernian folklore presents them as a huge host of light and benevolence riding on the night air. In truth, Fey are neither Good or Evil, but are forces of nature and would not grasp the concept of such polar morality, whether Seelie or Unseelie, they simply are.
The Winter Court, The Dark Court, sometimes referred to by the Seelie as the Lesser COurt, they are all just other names for The Unseelie Court. The Sidhe rule here as well, and are as ancient and powerful as their Seelie cousins, their Ruler is Queen Titania, sometimes known as Andais, but best known as the Queen of Air and Darkness. It is to her that the Rule of Faery passes come the changing of the seasons. The Unseelie Court welcomes all, in fact, due to an ancietn accord, they can refuse sanctuary to none, even to a member of the Seelie Fae. Under the Queen's command, a fact that rankles the Seelie King, is the Host. The Host, called the Sluagh by way of insult, comprise many kind of Fae most of them malicious and malevolent, and legends even claim that the spirits of sinners and the unsanctified dead ride with them when they are called. This is the Wild Hunt, the Dark Army of the Fae, meant to serve the Will of Faery as a whole, often winds up serving one soverign or the other. They claim their own sovereign from time to time, when one amongst their number rises and is powerful enough...usually a mixed Blood Sidhe who will claim Generalship of the Host. It is said that the Court travels on the night winds from where their unnerving cackles and howls can be heard. It is also said (untruly), that the Unseelie are too twisted to breed, so they enslave mortals whom they think would never be missed and carry them along to become one of them.
The Seelie Court and its counterpart, the Unseelie Court are often at war,and humans may get caught in the middle of such battles. They acquired the title "Court" because they were also meant to act as arbiters and judges in faery disputes, but time and power and arrogance changed the meaning. The passing of the power of sovereignty has happened since time began, and passes from Summer to Winter, and back, with very little notice to the outside world. When it does not, great wars are fought in Faery, internicine strife takes hold, and all the tools of politics are brought into play.
The Sidhe of either Court, are in fact, unspeakably beautiful, male or female, every last one. The color of their eyes and their hair vary from Court to Court...Golden Blonde for the Seelie, Black or even Blood Red for the Unseelie...and a spectrum in between. Their beauty is both terrible and wonderful, capable of stinging the heart, and bringing tears to ones eyes, of inspiring endless loyalty and love, or tireless hatred and pain.