Lady Brane Deigh has been described as beautiful, with amber skin, incredibly fine fair hair, and eyes which seem to shift from an almost trasnparent blue to a nearly luminous green. Brane Deigh was, according to offical records, born in 2011 to a Connaught family of little note; and married Liam O'Connor, the founder of Tir na nÓg in 2041. Liam spent two years securing his wife's political power before his dissapearence in 2043, supposedly to walk his final path. Lady Brane Deigh declared herself Rian ("Queen") of the Seelie Court, an independant non-legislative body in Tir na nÓg whose prime focus appears to be magical, elven and spiritual affairs. This declaration was not challenged by any Tir na nÓg authority, and Lady Brane Deigh has reigned since. Around 2051 Lady Brane Deigh was involved in a web of plots surrounding the shadowrunner Hart; whom she viewed as her
milessaratish and agent against the Hidden Circle, and the Catholic Order of Saint Sylvester. In 2056, Lady Deigh and the Seelie Court were approached by Aina for aid against the Horror Ysrthgrathe. Brane Deigh has apparently been (and possibly is still being) advised by Alachia, who has skewed Lady Deigh's view of others somewhat. Despite her position, Lady Deigh is very young and is far less magically potent than her peers. She makes for this in part by the large number of artifacts and cutting-edge technology the Seelie Court has available, as well as the number of other magicians who make up her court that she may call on. While apparently not powerful enough to use it on her own, Lady Deigh at least has access to or knowledge of the metamagical technique required to summon the Wild Hunt. It is also likely that she is skilled in the magic of illusions that enshrouds the Seelie Court; she possibly has some affinity or ability with the faerie creatures who are also at home in the Seelie Court. As holder of the
Arcana Lady Deigh wields great influence in Tir na nÓg, though this influence is more spiritual than political. It has also been said that, though fit to rule and not Alachia's creature, Lady Brane rules at the sufferance of the Elder elves. It has been claimed that Lady Brane Deigh is rich, but whether this is her own ealth, or that of the Seelie Court, is unclear.
The Seelie Court itself has been described a fragmented metaplane, holding no exact physical location and hidden at all times by spirits and illusion magic. Many, if not all of the court's members are elves; and many, if not all, of the Court's members are magicians (most of the Elven Paths). And most, if not all, of the Court's members are beatuiful (either naturally or through benefit of glamour) and steeped in plots, contests and pranks among their peers. Dwarves and various fairykind, such as leshy, munchkins and gruagach, also populate the Court.
The physical presence of the Seelie Court has been described as a verdant forest city, located on the isle of Hy Braesail (which supposedly rises out of the sea every seven years, but which has apparently been called up and maintained by the Seelie Court--it is possible this isle is actually an alchera of some sort, or indeed a fragment of a metaplane that can act as such).
Any or all of the following, accurate as of 2050, descriptions of the Seelie Court, may be illusions (or else no longer he case, the Court was to the SOuth and West of Dublin in 2050, it may have been moved to the isle of Hy Braesil later):
The Queen conducts her public business in the inner court, as opposed to the outer court where, presumably, all other members of the Seelie Court stay while they visit it. The arched great double doors to the inner court are orichalcum, and set in walls made of interwoven vines. After entry, a supplicant walks in darkness along an earthen path, and eventually it seems as if they walk in a night-time forest with stars overhead (no matter what the true time). The clearing is a lane of ancient rowan and hawthorne trees, which leads to a raised mound of packed earth. Here, there are three thrones, behind which lies a particualrly massive oak tree covered in mistletoe.
The first throne, nearest the edge, is masterfully carved with small, brightly colored carvings, symbols of life and energy that represent youth and make the throne seem larger than it is. The second throne, also carved by a amster, is set well back in shadows so that few details of its carvings may be glimpsed. The third throne, situated fully in the light, is comprised of bold reliefs accentuated by subtle painted to appear to actually stand out from the throne. Here sits the Rian of the Seelie Court.
This is only one of the clearings within the Seelie Court, which is half forest and half palace. Only one such clearing is used at a time; the rest of the forest remains darkened.
Meals are served in the Court's Great Hall.
The court has at least one modern helipad, cloaked in illusion, that brings in supplies and serves as transportation.
The Seelie Court makes good use of high technology, including a number of modern holding cells, but masks such technology with illusions to maintain their image. The more mundane service passageways of the Court are not cloaked in illusion.
In 2056, the Court, whether it had previously been there or not, was located on Hy-Braesail, which at the time was mainfest somewhere past the Aran Islands. In Hy-Breasial, Spring holds sway no matter the season in Tir na nÓg, and the isle is surrounded by a turquoise glow. Here, the Court is within a castle perched on top of a cliff. The faery are still present, including sprites. The great double doors to this castle are made of oak, two stories high, and banded in brass because the fae hate iron.
The Seelie Court numbers many magicians and powerful artifacts among it's ranks, as well as the support of at least one and possibly more Immortal Elves. It has shown that it can summon the Wild Hunt, call the faerykind on Earth(and other planes), raise Hy Braesail from the sea and erect a castle upon it, and is very skilled in illusion magics.
The Seelie Court makes great show of being opposed by the Unseelie Court, which plots the downfall of the Tir and is as ugly as the Seelie Court is beautiful. No hard confirmation of the existence of the Unseelie Court exists save persistent rumor.
Sources: The London Sourcebook, Tir na nOg, Paranormal Animals of Europe, novel: Choose Your Enemies Carefully, novel: Worlds Without End
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All that aside, the Seelie Court appears to be the modern incarnation of the Elven Court of Wyrm Wood. Unlike that Court, the current incarnation appears less concerned with political matters than magical ones, and the spiritual aspect of the court is lessened (though perhaps not for elves born in the Tir). This incarantion of the Court is well under the thumb of several immortal elves, with Alachia holding a prominent place there instructing Lady Brane Deigh (the fact that Alachia has not, apparently, made a bid to be Queen may be an example of the long memories and close scrutiny of the other immortals. They do not wish a repeat of Blood Wood.)
Alachia's instruction of Lady Brane Deigh appears to be incomplete, leaving out significant events (such as the Ritual of Thorns) and coloring the young elf's views of many subjects.