Philadelphia is an old city, and the court system is extremely well-established as a result. Philly has always had Seasonal Courts, and at the present time has no room in its court system for alternate or other regional court systems. Might this change in the future? Anything's possible, but given the stubbornness of Philly's residents and their tendency to cling to 'how things have always been done,' it isn't exactly likely.
The Freehold itself has been in place since before William Penn, and as such is frequently called the Anglicized version of the original Lenape name for the place and the Freehold on it.
The original Lenape name was Sakimauchheen Ing, 'To Make a King Place', which Anglicizes to 'Shackamaxon'.
Some of the older, more traditional, or conversely youngest of the Freehold use the Lenape name.
A Stable Trod runs from the Lehigh Valley through Philadelphia and then southeast to Cape May. The northern leg of the trod has shared patrolling duties with the Lehigh Valley freehold, Old Steel, and Shackamaxon is responsible for patrolling the portion through the city and down to Cape May.
You may only start with one of the bottom 2 positions on each Court page -- the Page position or the one above it. All other Court positions must be gained IC.
"It's not that we don't have issues. We all have issues. It's how we respond to them, what we do with them, that matters." - Ari
Ari's the most accessible of all of the Crowns; Marjorie makes herself quite available to members of her Court, but isn't likely to just show up for a beer. They've only held the crown since 2018, since the death from old age of the woman who'd held it for fourty-five years, Lavender Ratcliff. As the youngest Crown in all respects, they're the most involved, for better or worse.
The Spring Court handles most of the diplomacy between Changelings and other supernatural societies; the long history of Philadelphia assures that the basics of 'what exists' and 'what they can do' aren't secrets. Everyone knows vampires exist, have affinity groups, and feed on blood; everyone knows werewolves exist, can shapeshift at will and talk to spirits, and have affinity groups. However, there are always conflicts of personality and needs between differing societies and their existential threats, and Spring spends a lot of time smoothing those over.
"It's just a scratch. On your feet, soldier." - Devon the Black
The Summer Court is responsible for the martial preparedness of the Freehold, as well as having primary responsibility for patrolling the Trods surrounding the Freehold. The main trod, which runs from the Lehigh Valley through Philadelphia and out to Cape May, takes up most of the Court's time. Devon focuses most of his time on high-level organization, depending on his lieutenants to handle day-to-day training and patrolling. The constant threat of Huntsmen is matched with far more subtle dangers from Hedge and mortal world alike.
"Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Everyone, if they're smart." - Buidhe, The Horned One
The Autumn Court works closely with Summer, patrolling the Hedge around Philadelphia, and the trod which connects Philadelphia to the Lehigh Valley as well as to Cape May, aka Down The Shore. The area between Philly and the Lehigh Valley is a joint patrol with the Old Steel Freehold of the Lehigh Valley.
Autumn's leadership is much more hands-off than Spring's, generally allowing the courtiers more free reign, but also requiring more responsibility of them; just because Buidhe isn't hovering over his courtiers doesn't mean he isn't paying attention.
"Sorrow is not weakness. Sorrow is a weapon. Who here has not been rendered speechless and motionless by anguish? Who has never known the air being sucked from your lungs by loss? Because we do not burn with the rage of our Summer kindred, we are often thought weak. Winter is not weak. Do not mistake us." - Marjorie the Shrouded
The Winter Court in Philadelphia has known periods of strength and years of deficit since the founding of Philadelphia, and that doesn't even count all of the losses that the Eagles have suffered over the last century. Marjorie was Crowned after the loss of the previous Crown, Michael Zloof, a Bright One who sacrificed himself to save a group of new escapees from the depredations of one of Le General's Huntsmen. Michael blinded the Huntsman long enough for the newly-found escapees to slip away into the Hedge. His loss rocked the court, as he had held the Crown for twenty-eight years prior to his sacrifice.
Since then, Marjorie has endeavored to rebuild the Court's structure.
"Are you Courtless, or are you a Privateer in disguise? We have no way of knowing. So pick a direction, and fucking swear already." - Devon The Black Courtless exist, but don't really have a space in Philadelphia's society, except as a temporary status. People either choose, or they get 'encouraged' to leave town.
