Mention of faerie nobility often summons to mind imagery of elaborate banquets, courtly intrigue and elegantly dressed guests. Yet for every slight that sows the seeds of a feud between rival courts, there logically must exist forces to make good on the veiled threats exchanged between offender and offended. Bequeathed with knighthood and the deeds to their own realms within the ephemeral lands of the fae; many of the lower strata of nobles bear a heavy mantle of responsibility that comes with their status. They must put aside their comfortable lives, modest as they are compared to the standards of the highborn houses, in order to serve as the footsoldiers of those above their station.

Regardless of whether the cause is frivolous or just, cruel or noble, they must clash against one another and spill their blood in warfare against their kin. Sworn by binding oaths that prohibit them from the luxury of picking and choosing the engagements they feel align with their own beliefs. Such private battles between bickering courts may last but a single day before the sleight is dismissed as a joke, or drag out for more than 100 years as neither party proves willing to put aside their pride and make the apology their adversary requires. In the meantime, the cost in lives of knights out on the battlefield is seldom considered a factor.

Sir Murchadh's life of tumultuous romance and tragedy does not inure him against the bonds of duty. In order to maintain the rights to his titles and land, as well as his place within the Unseelie Court as a whole, he must answer the call of battle when summoned. The leopard seal Selkie emulating the deadly grace and hunting instinct of his shapeshifted form with his swordplay, while casting a chill across the arena of combat with spells of waves and ice fuelled by a frozen heart. Most invaluable of all though is his ability to numb and freeze the emotions of himself and those around him. To delay the need to grieve for fallen comrades or stave off the encroachment of despair in the face of odds that may seem impossible to overcome.

When the squabble between the highborns has resolved itself and the conflict comes to an end; Murchadh is quick to hurry back to the more liberating lifestyle of wandering in search of lasting love, meddling with mortals and upholding the reputation of the fae as capricious spirits of nature. But always he must keep his armour maintained and his sword ready. Knowing that at any moment he might be called away to wage reluctant conquest on behalf of a duchess who felt slighted she had not received an invitation to her nephew's birthday party. The knighthood he enjoys the perks of coming pre-packaged with a precarious obligation.

*****

I adore the fae folk. I adore Arthurian mythology and the imagery of questing knights. It was perhaps only a matter of time until I wanted to put them together!

Watching some of   Palavenmoons streaming and seeing firsthand their process of designing armor was absolutely a factor in the decision as well. ^^; With the notable exception of the sword, I wanted arms and armour that were fairly grounded in real-world designs, and I think Pally absolutely nailed it perfectly! Definitely feels closer to The Witcher video games than something like World of Warcraft to me, though I'd be interested in second opinions.