The Witches Of The Moon
Lady Mother of Sky Clan: Morilla Shadowend
Lady Mother of Iron Clan: Lilith Hellfyr
Iron Sky and Wooden Sword
Harken ye unto my word
Scythe and cleaver, axe and knife
Waken all ye into life
Powers of the witches' Fate
Come ye as the charge is made
Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell
Send your aid unto the spell
Darkest night and blood-red moon
Harken to the witches' rune
- The chant of the witches
Hierarchy
In each of the three clans, the hierarchy is the same. Ranks are extremely important and those of inferior rank are expected to obey and respect those above them.
The ranks are simple:
Coven Witches: There are 13 witches in a coven, one of which is the head witch, the leader of that coven. There are 13 covens in each clan.
Head Witch: The head witch is in charge of her coven, and with the other twelve head witches in their clan, they report to the Heir Daughter. Each head witch has a First and a Second, two witches who are their first and second in command and their most important duty is to protect their head witch.
Heir Daughter: She is the heir to the Lady Mother of her clan. There is one for each of the three clans. She is also the head witch of her own coven, and the Heir Daughter's coven is usually the most experienced, most trusted, and most feared; the other covens in the clan must respect and obey them. The Heir Daughters earn their title firstly through heredity and secondly through power. The Heir Daughter must prove herself even if she is a blood descendant of the Lady Mother.
Lady Mother: She is in charge of one of the three clans, and there is one for each clan. They work together to rule all the witches. They do not need their own covens, for their clan is their coven. Each Lady Mother has and wears a distinctive crown:
Wood
Iron
Sky
The ranks are simple:
Coven Witches: There are 13 witches in a coven, one of which is the head witch, the leader of that coven. There are 13 covens in each clan.
Head Witch: The head witch is in charge of her coven, and with the other twelve head witches in their clan, they report to the Heir Daughter. Each head witch has a First and a Second, two witches who are their first and second in command and their most important duty is to protect their head witch.
Heir Daughter: She is the heir to the Lady Mother of her clan. There is one for each of the three clans. She is also the head witch of her own coven, and the Heir Daughter's coven is usually the most experienced, most trusted, and most feared; the other covens in the clan must respect and obey them. The Heir Daughters earn their title firstly through heredity and secondly through power. The Heir Daughter must prove herself even if she is a blood descendant of the Lady Mother.
Lady Mother: She is in charge of one of the three clans, and there is one for each clan. They work together to rule all the witches. They do not need their own covens, for their clan is their coven. Each Lady Mother has and wears a distinctive crown:
Wood
Iron
Sky
Rules
There are a set of rules that all the clans must follow.
The Lady Mother is the matron of each clan, and she must be obeyed and respected. All your elders and leaders must be obeyed and respected, and the punishment for not doing so is heinous.
It is against the rules for two witches to fight without provocation. If such provocation can be proved, only the provoker will be punished. If there is no evident or reasonable provocation, both/all witches involved in fight will be punished.
All witches must show and pay due respect to The Goddess, also known as The High Mother. If anyone disrespects her or anything related to worshipping her, their punishment will be severe, perhaps the most severe punishment possible.
If any witch should break any rules, the punishment is swift, harsh, and public. For example, if a witch unnecessarily starts a fight with a witch from another clan, she will have all the injuries induced on her that she caused on the other witch(es). While outsiders might see these punishments as extreme and harsh, the witches believe it is a fair system.
The Lady Mother is the matron of each clan, and she must be obeyed and respected. All your elders and leaders must be obeyed and respected, and the punishment for not doing so is heinous.
It is against the rules for two witches to fight without provocation. If such provocation can be proved, only the provoker will be punished. If there is no evident or reasonable provocation, both/all witches involved in fight will be punished.
All witches must show and pay due respect to The Goddess, also known as The High Mother. If anyone disrespects her or anything related to worshipping her, their punishment will be severe, perhaps the most severe punishment possible.
If any witch should break any rules, the punishment is swift, harsh, and public. For example, if a witch unnecessarily starts a fight with a witch from another clan, she will have all the injuries induced on her that she caused on the other witch(es). While outsiders might see these punishments as extreme and harsh, the witches believe it is a fair system.
Intent
Their main intention is to follow The High Mother and spread their influence over the continent of Epressa. Their main focus at the moment is keeping the Knights of Anatheum distracted, to keep their focus off the witches.
Wood Clan
In the uncharted regions where the three clans of witches reside, the bottom section bordering and encompassing the rivers is where the Wood Clan witches live. Their location makes travel easy when all clans are called to Crobhear Lake for the double lunar eclipse.They rarely leave their dense forests, and many a wandering stranger has gotten lost in their woods, never to be found or heard from again.
Their reputation among the other two clans is that they are 'witches of the soul'. Their magic focuses heavily on matters of the soul, and its significance and bond with the woods they live in. They will trap any wanderers unlucky enough to find themselves lost in the woods above the spine, and sometimes tie their soul to a tree. As one walks through the forest, one could almost hear the voices of the poor souls trapped inside the trees.
Their current Lady Mother is Willow Farbranch. She is 56, but is still a good fighter. She is well-trained with nature and soul magic. Their current Heir Daughter is Briar White. She is Willow's niece and only descendant and heir.
Their reputation among the other two clans is that they are 'witches of the soul'. Their magic focuses heavily on matters of the soul, and its significance and bond with the woods they live in. They will trap any wanderers unlucky enough to find themselves lost in the woods above the spine, and sometimes tie their soul to a tree. As one walks through the forest, one could almost hear the voices of the poor souls trapped inside the trees.
Their current Lady Mother is Willow Farbranch. She is 56, but is still a good fighter. She is well-trained with nature and soul magic. Their current Heir Daughter is Briar White. She is Willow's niece and only descendant and heir.
Sky Clan
Northwest of the Wood Clan's territory lies the Sky Clan's lands. Their homes are on hills and in meadows and valleys, which is the more common topographical feature in this area. Their location also provides clear access to and vision of the skies, stars, and the two moons, where they direct most of their attention.
They are known for being the 'witches of the heart'. They have many temples worshipping the Goddess and tend to be softer-spoken, almost kind at times. Their magic focuses heavily on the divine, and they not only have innate magic abilities such as the ability to walk between shadows and fly on broomsticks, but they also draw power from worshipping The High Mother. They are more forgiving of wanderers, but usually none make it past the Wood Clan or over the Spine.
Their current Lady Mother is Morilla Shadowend. She is 71 but looks much younger, and while she is tall and thin and not well built for battle, she is still a force to be reckoned with. Their current Heir Daughter is Bridget Darkfield.
The Heir Daughter's coven has an old tradition of taking their surname to include Air or Dark, depending on the stronger affinity the Heir Daughter leans to.
They are known for being the 'witches of the heart'. They have many temples worshipping the Goddess and tend to be softer-spoken, almost kind at times. Their magic focuses heavily on the divine, and they not only have innate magic abilities such as the ability to walk between shadows and fly on broomsticks, but they also draw power from worshipping The High Mother. They are more forgiving of wanderers, but usually none make it past the Wood Clan or over the Spine.
Their current Lady Mother is Morilla Shadowend. She is 71 but looks much younger, and while she is tall and thin and not well built for battle, she is still a force to be reckoned with. Their current Heir Daughter is Bridget Darkfield.
The Heir Daughter's coven has an old tradition of taking their surname to include Air or Dark, depending on the stronger affinity the Heir Daughter leans to.
Iron Clan
At the very Northernmost edge of the witches' territory is the Iron Clan's lands. Their territory is unforgiving and harsh, and is drier and less green than the other clans' lands. The sun sets over the land with a burning red glow, stronger and somehow more violent in Iron Clan territory than in the other two clans' lands. Any wanderer that somehow manages to make it as far as the Iron Clan will most certainly not live to tell the tale, but their washed up body parts could.
They are the most violent clan of witches and are often called 'witches of the blood' (or blade; accounts differ). Their witches are trained to fight from a very young age and take an almost sadistic pleasure in killing. Their magic focuses more on blood magic- with a creature's blood, they have some level of control over it. They are most famous for using this to bond and control their familiars.
Their current Lady Mother is Lilith Hellfyr. She is 34 and is the youngest of the Lady Mothers; she inherited her role after challenging her mother for the position with a fight to the death. She emerged victorious, soaked in her mother's blood, and the Iron witches have loved her ever since. Their current Heir Daughter is TBD
They are the most violent clan of witches and are often called 'witches of the blood' (or blade; accounts differ). Their witches are trained to fight from a very young age and take an almost sadistic pleasure in killing. Their magic focuses more on blood magic- with a creature's blood, they have some level of control over it. They are most famous for using this to bond and control their familiars.
Their current Lady Mother is Lilith Hellfyr. She is 34 and is the youngest of the Lady Mothers; she inherited her role after challenging her mother for the position with a fight to the death. She emerged victorious, soaked in her mother's blood, and the Iron witches have loved her ever since. Their current Heir Daughter is TBD
Lore
The Witches Of The Moon are an ancient group, and have been around nearly since the formation of Arethil. According to their beliefs, The Goddess emerged from a massive cauldron (now lost to time), and with every step she took, the witches grew. From her skirts came the rest of the world, and because of this, the witches believe they are superior to other species/races/ethnicities. Then, the High Mother had 3 triplet daughters, giving them each different strengths and powers, and told them to work together. They were the founders of the three clans and each one of them birthed 13 daughters.
And so, the witches grew in population. There are no males in their societies, so when they travel outside of their realm, they mate as they see fit, mostly to give an heir. If they birth a son, the son is outcast or even killed, sometimes left at the father's doorstep. Daughters are tested and trained from a young age, building strength in their blood so their power only grows as they get older.
They have rigid rules and strict, definitive roles for everybody, no matter their role, making the three clans almost militaristic. But this does not mean that the rules can't or haven't been questioned. When they are questionned, however, it nearly always end in bloodshed. The witches support fighting (with a purpose) and will often use fighting as a way to come to a decision about something.
For most of their existence, the witches have kept to themselves, but they are not nearly as isolated as other groups or species. They are completely capable of entering neighboring villages and kingdoms and doing as they please, but they tend not to leave their homeland. They have had some tussles with the Knights of Anatheum, who reside below them, and since the only things separating the two peoples are some rivers, the witches and knights have fought over border lines, a random killing the witches committed, or monsters of darkness the witches sent forth just for kicks and giggles. The two have reached a sort of tense arrangement where if the knights let them be and ignore them for the most part, the witches won't kill any knights (without good reason).
Every three years, at the double lunar eclipse (an event the witches call The Mother's Revenge), all three clans gather around Crobhear Lake. They spend most of their time apart, so this is a time not only for them to harness The Mother's increased power on this night, but to reconvene and discuss future plans. This even has happened on every double lunar eclipse recorded by history, and it is believed that The Mother saw the world she had created and was disappointed in the people on Arethil and so charged her daughters (the witches) to cleanse the world. The red of the two moons signifies the blood that she wills for this night, and while in the past the witches have gone on killing sprees in the surrounding villages, their new arrangement with the knights has prevented them from killing (at least near where the knights were). On this night, they perform numerous dark magic and blood rituals, strengthening themselves and preparing to punish the world for disappointing The Mother. It is also a time for them to discuss politics.
And so, the witches grew in population. There are no males in their societies, so when they travel outside of their realm, they mate as they see fit, mostly to give an heir. If they birth a son, the son is outcast or even killed, sometimes left at the father's doorstep. Daughters are tested and trained from a young age, building strength in their blood so their power only grows as they get older.
They have rigid rules and strict, definitive roles for everybody, no matter their role, making the three clans almost militaristic. But this does not mean that the rules can't or haven't been questioned. When they are questionned, however, it nearly always end in bloodshed. The witches support fighting (with a purpose) and will often use fighting as a way to come to a decision about something.
For most of their existence, the witches have kept to themselves, but they are not nearly as isolated as other groups or species. They are completely capable of entering neighboring villages and kingdoms and doing as they please, but they tend not to leave their homeland. They have had some tussles with the Knights of Anatheum, who reside below them, and since the only things separating the two peoples are some rivers, the witches and knights have fought over border lines, a random killing the witches committed, or monsters of darkness the witches sent forth just for kicks and giggles. The two have reached a sort of tense arrangement where if the knights let them be and ignore them for the most part, the witches won't kill any knights (without good reason).
Every three years, at the double lunar eclipse (an event the witches call The Mother's Revenge), all three clans gather around Crobhear Lake. They spend most of their time apart, so this is a time not only for them to harness The Mother's increased power on this night, but to reconvene and discuss future plans. This even has happened on every double lunar eclipse recorded by history, and it is believed that The Mother saw the world she had created and was disappointed in the people on Arethil and so charged her daughters (the witches) to cleanse the world. The red of the two moons signifies the blood that she wills for this night, and while in the past the witches have gone on killing sprees in the surrounding villages, their new arrangement with the knights has prevented them from killing (at least near where the knights were). On this night, they perform numerous dark magic and blood rituals, strengthening themselves and preparing to punish the world for disappointing The Mother. It is also a time for them to discuss politics.
Members
PCs:
Wood Clan:
NPCs:
Wood Clan:
Wood Clan:
- Briar White, Heir Daughter
- Penny Mossriver, Briar's second
- Bridget Darkfield, Heir Daughter
- Lylian Darkfoot, Bridget's second
- Davina
NPCs:
Wood Clan:
- Willow Farbranch, Lady Mother
- Morilla Shadowend, Lady Mother
- Lilith Hellfyr, Lady Mother