THE HIGH COURTS
The four High Courts — Swords, Staves, Cups and Pentacles — were the first to Pact with Hell, and claim seniority of all other goblins. Since humankind took its first steps, they have been there to guide, to protect, to hunt and to harm, and traces of their presence appear in human folklore in a thousand guises.
SWORDS
Pact: Martial prowess
Geas: Never back down
Colours: Steel grey and blood red; sharp-edged, dull cloth, weathered metal. Â
Emblem: Sword
The Court of Swords dance wherever blood is spilled. Gods and monsters, they are the rasp of a notched blade, the copper-sharp scent of blood, the beautiful, terrible thing that moves in the shadows.
Check out the Court Pinterest for inspiration
STAVES
Pact: Craft and creation
Geas: Never stay still
Colours: Cream, beige, light grey, long lines, wooden staffs; wooden ornamentation
Emblem: Staff
The Court of Staves are never still, nor do they allow the world around them to be so. Creation drives them like a divine wind, and all human crafts owe their origin to this court — perhaps even humankind itself.
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CUPS
Pact: Healing
Geas: Heartbreak
Colours: Rose wine and stained glass, pewter and silver. Raw silks and gold adornment, long smooth lines, sculptural outlinesÂ
Emblem: Wine glass
The Court of Cups sparkle like light through coloured glass, lucent and reflective in equal measure. They are drawn to humankind in all its flawed glory, dancing like glittering moths in and out of a flame, caught in an eternal spiral of love and heartbreak.
Find more legends of the Court here.
Check out the Court Pinterest for inspiration
PENTACLES
Pact: Wealth
Geas: It's hard to let go
Colour: Purple and gold; circular motifs. Heavy velvets, draped cloaks, the weight of the years.Â
Symbol: Coin
The Court of Pentacles, draped in royal purple and adorned with golden coins, are the goblins of the treasure vault, the barrows beneath the grass, the seats of power. They hoard their treasures like jealous dragons, and what is theirs they keep.
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