| Type | Village |
|---|---|
| Located in | Prythian |
| Head | High Lord Rhysand |
| Appears in | A Court of Mist and Fury (2016), A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017), A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018), A Court of Silver Flames (2021) |
Contents
Location
The Night Court is one of Prythian’s seven courts and one of its three Solar Courts. It occupies the northernmost region of the continent and holds the largest territory of any court. To the south, it borders the Day Court. Despite its name, the Night Court follows the natural cycle of day and night, though its nighttime skies are said to be unmatched in beauty.
The court is divided into two distinct sub-courts: the Court of Nightmares, centered in the subterranean Hewn City, and the secret Court of Dreams, located in the hidden city of Velaris. The Court of Nightmares is the side known to the outside world, while Velaris remained concealed for centuries under powerful wards until its existence was revealed during the events surrounding Hybern’s invasion. High Lord Rhysand and High Lady Feyre Archeron rule the Night Court and reside within the Court of Dreams.
Description
The Night Court is a vast and diverse territory shaped by dramatic geography and contrasting sub-courts. Much of the region is covered by towering mountains, deep valleys, and remote highland terrain that spans the northern edge of Prythian. Its skies are known for brilliant, star-filled nights. These night skies give the court its name and set it apart from the other Solar Courts.
Within this landscape lie two distinct centers of civilization. The Court of Nightmares is carved deep into the mountains. It is a dark stone metropolis defined by gothic architecture and subterranean halls. The city reflects a rigid hierarchy and a culture of cruelty. Velaris, the Court of Dreams, stands in sharp contrast. It is a hidden and thriving city along the Sidra River, filled with light, art, and open streets protected by ancient wards.
Across the Night Court’s territory stand other significant locations, including the flat-topped mountains that house the House of Wind, the Illyrian steppes and war camps, and the Illyrian Mountains where the Blood Rite and warrior training occur. The region’s terrain ranges from harsh, wind-cut peaks to quiet riverfront districts, creating one of the most varied and expansive environments in Prythian.
Relevance
When Prythian was divided into seven Courts, the Night Court became one of them. It was originally ruled from the Hewn City, a violent and treacherous stronghold. This changed when an ancient High Lord staged a coup, sealed the borders, eliminated the worst of its citizens, and built Velaris as a hidden sanctuary for trade, peace, and creativity. To preserve it, he placed powerful spells over the city, a protection later maintained by his descendants.
Following this era, the Court of Nightmares resurfaced as a dominant influence, and Morrigan’s family eventually held power until the title of High Lord passed to Rhysand’s father and later to Rhysand himself. Rhys appointed Amren as his Second, Morrigan as his Third, Cassian as Commander of the armies, and Azriel as spymaster, forming the Inner Circle.
When Amarantha rose to power, the Night Court suffered alongside the others. Rhysand lost much of his magic to her and was taken as her personal prisoner as punishment for his father’s role in killing Tamlin’s father, a key ally of Hybern. Most of the Court’s nobility either joined Amarantha and died, attempted to overthrow Rhysand and failed, or tolerated his rule in exchange for being left alone.
After Amarantha’s defeat in A Court of Thorns and Roses, the Night Court regained its freedom. In A Court of Mist and Fury, Feyre is brought to the Court when Rhysand senses her distress during her wedding and later when she is trapped in the Spring Court. He eventually brings her to Velaris and reveals its long-kept existence. Feyre learns the truth about the Court of Dreams while helping defend Velaris from the King of Hybern after the mortal queens expose the city.
As Feyre and Rhysand accept their mating bond, Feyre becomes High Lady of the Night Court. In A Court of Wings and Ruin, she returns from the Spring Court and joins Rhysand and the Inner Circle in coordinating Prythian’s alliances against Hybern. The Night Court helps assemble the High Lords, many of whom unite in the final effort to stop Hybern’s invasion.
Notable Locations
| Moonstone Palace | The Moonstone Palace is Rhysand’s private residence above the Court of Nightmares. Built entirely of moonstone and open to the elements, it contains open halls, curtains, a private library, and a war room carved into the mountain. |
|---|---|
| House of Wind | The House of Wind is carved into the largest red mountain overlooking Velaris. It contains bedrooms, a dining hall, the Valkyries’ training ring, and the vast underground library. It can be reached only by flying, winnowing to its balconies, or climbing the 10,000 stairs. |
| The Library | Located beneath the House of Wind, the library is a massive cavern filled with spiraling levels of books, reading areas, and priestesses who live and work there. A deep, dark pit at the bottom once housed Bryaxis. |
| Hewn City | The Hewn City—also called the Court of Nightmares—is a subterranean metropolis carved into the Night Court’s mountain. It is ruled by Keir under Rhysand’s authority and is known for its harsh culture and gothic, carved-stone architecture. |
| The Town House | The Town House is Rhysand’s residence in Velaris, featuring warm, wood-paneled rooms, a private garden, and a rooftop terrace. It serves as the Inner Circle’s main gathering and planning space during A Court of Mist and Fury and A Court of Wings and Ruin. |
| River House | The River House becomes the family residence of Rhysand and Feyre, overlooking the Sidra in Velaris. It contains sprawling living spaces, nurseries, and the formal war room used in later books. |
| Windhaven | Windhaven is an Illyrian war-camp built high in the Illyrian Mountains. It contains training rings, barracks, and scattered stone buildings, and serves as the central training ground for Illyrian warriors and Valkyries. |
| Illyria | Illyria is the northern region of the Night Court, defined by its mountains, steppes, and war-camps. It is home to the Illyrian warrior race and the site of the Blood Rite on Ramiel. |
| Velaris | Velaris, the City of Starlight, lies on the western side of the Night Court. Known for its safety, its artists’ quarter, and its hidden magical protections, it serves as the Night Court’s true heart and home of the Inner Circle. |
| House of Mist / The Cabin | The Cabin, also called the House of Mist, is a secluded, magically warded home deep in the Illyrian Mountains. It responds to magic, maintains itself, and serves as a retreat where Feyre paints the interior and later bonds with Rhysand. |
