The Courts
When the fey came to the U.S., they were allowed to choose the land of their choice. They chose the Mounds of Cahokia, where old magic still remained, slumbering. Originally the magic had fought the fey, and then it had embraced them, accepting and recognising their rulers. The land belongs to fey, who have diplomatic immunity. In seperate areas of these vast mounds are several courts, the most notable of which are the Seelie Court and Unseelie Court. The demi-fey also have their own court, as do the goblins and the Slaugh (Nightfliers). The mounds of the Goblins, the Slaugh are closer to the Unseelie Court. There is one demi-fey mound close to each of the Sidhe courts.
The Mounds
The mounds of Cahokia are in the western part of the U.S. state of Illinois. On the edge of the fey lands there is a modern car park. Each Court has it's own mound. The mounds are aso called a Sithen. The Sidhe Sithens are a part of Faerie, as well as being it's own being. No one is quite sure what the Sithens are. Each Sithen rearranges itself and decorates itself on it's own choosing, as well as obeying the ruler of the Court. Each Sithen also has modern plumbing, an one telephone used to contact the humans.
The two Sithens are on opposite sides of the mounds of Cahokia. The land in between is a dangerous place to be and is protected from human eyes by magic. If any humans were to see what truly went on, then the fey would be exiled from the U.S. The spell used just wills a human to look away and forces their minds not to register what it is they see. It's a type of powerful glamour. In the middle of the land between the two Sithens is a hollow hill, with a field and a forest. All paths and roads towards each Sithen stop far away from the mounds, and the rest of way is covered with grass. The grass is even, showing no paricular route to the doorway of each Sithen.
The doors of each Sithen are hidden from human eyes and rotates on it's own or the ruler's schedule (no one is quite sure which). Only a Sidhe can use their magic to find the door and then pass their hand over the grassy bank to get the door to appear. When the door appears it is a light-filled opening that is always the correct size for the person/group that are waiting to enter. The sound of beautiful music can also be heard. The inside of the Sithen is made of a grey stone that is alien to the U.S. Deep inside the mounds there are meadows and orchards, and when the fey were in full power there used to be a moon and sun inside. The Sithens are always lit, although the source of the light is another of the Sithen's mysteries.
The Seelie Court
Seelie Sidhe are the definition of dreams and fairy-tales. They are the creatures of light, wishes, dreams, joy and magic. When humans think of Faeries it is the Seelie Court that they are thinking of. It is known as the 'Glittering Thong'. The Seelie Court considers itself higher than any of the other Courts, and is very formal, similar to an old English Court. However, the Seelie Court has the highest ideals of pure blood. They reject anyone with impure blood and are prejudice against anyone with any amount of Unseelie blood. They consider the Unseelie Court to be full of fey with deformities, but years of inbreeding has caused the pure Seelie to breed their own monsters. The Seelie Court is not as pure and shining as it wishes to believe. It's enemies consider the Seelie Court to be pretending that it is something it is not; pretending to be human rather than true fey. It is easier to be decietful in the Seelie Court due to their interest in illusion, the Unseelie Court is a lot more forward and blunt.The Seelie Court is ruled by it's King. Anyone who displeases the King is exiled from the Court. The Unseelie Court takes in anyone who is exiled from the Seelie Court, but many Seelie Sidhe believe that the darker court is a fate worse than exile from Faerie.
The King's Guard includes both male and female Sidhe, and protect him. The King's guard are the most skilled warriors in the Court and it is an honour to be invited into the Guard.
The Unseelie Court
The Unseeie Court is considered the lesser court, and is known as the darkling thong. They are the creatures of nightmares with their mixed genetics and interest in casual sex, dominance & submission, blood and torture. The Unseelie Court is ruled by fear, power and dominance, and is less formal than the Seelie Court. For thousands of years any unpure Seelie Sidhe have been left at the doors of the Unseelie Sithen by their mothers. This is one of the Unseelie Courts greatest strengths. In The Seelie Court disobeying the Queen, displeasing her or any other crime, will see you exiled from the Court. In the Unseelie Court your punishment depends on the Queen's mood. Exile is never used as a punishment, and the Queen prefers torture, (Queen's mercy)) humilation and execution. Of course, death never comes quickly. Within the Unseelie Sithen is the Abyss of Despair, a bottomless pit, and one of the worst punishments is to be sent into it, to fall for enternity. There is also the Hallway of Morality, the Queen's torture chambers, something that disgusts the Seelie Court.
The Queen's Guard, are all male. They are only permitted in the Queen's bed, for her pleasure, and are otherwise celibate. They currently have the geas lifted so that Princess Alize may attempt to give birth before her cousin Prince Cel. And thereby becoming heir to the throne