The Coven
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
Yet mystery and manifestations
Arise from the same source.
This source is called darkness.
Darkness within darkness.
The gateway to all understanding.
- Lao-tzu, Tao Te Ching
The Coven is a Circle within the Handmaidens that consists of witches, druids, sorceresses and other female mystical professions that revere Lilith. This Circle draws upon its magical strength through various foci, reagents and rituals that tap into the Night Queen's power. Blood rituals, sex magicks, curses, alchemical potions, stone runes and words of power are just a few methods in which the women in the Coven ply their arcane trade.
Like the Lilim, the Coven believe that magick is but one sphere under the Dark Mother's influence. Unlike the Lilim however, the enchantresses in the Coven do not claim to possess a direct channel to the Goddess and rely on the above mentioned methods to invoke Her dark blessings. At times these different manners in which these two Circles of the Handmaidens work the Mother's will causes rifts amongst themselves and their interactions with one another can become strained. The Lilim believe that they are closest to Lilith via their undeviating connection to Her and can often be haughty about it. Those in the Coven, however, believe they themselves are superior due to the fact that they can serve the Dark Mother in a multitude of ways and are not stuck in just one set paradigm as they believe the Lilim to be in.
When facing common threats and enemies or undertaking tasks set forth by the Queen of Demons, the two Circles work exceedingly well together. When the two factions work their considerable power together in unison there is very little that can stand in their way. Both of the Circles often command the other two groups within the Handmaidens. Magick often has sway over the physical prowess of the Brood and the intangible seductions of the Lamiae.
As one can imagine, there are many different arcane magick workers within the Coven. Just about every conceivable method of weaving spells and crafting charms can be and have been incorporated by the sorceresses. The Coven is always on the search for new possibilities of bringing forth Lilith's might and as such are the most scholarly of all the Handmaidens. The Coven as a whole never snubs its nose at rumors or tales of new magicks. They see all such claims as possible tools to use for the betterment of the Handmaidens as a whole, until proven otherwise. Gargish spells, orcish shamanism, dwarvish runes and necromantic rites all have a place within the Coven. The magi within the Coven believe that they are to explore the worlds of supernatural creatures and study their legends and myths, for Lilith is their creator, and each holds a piece of the puzzle. The Coven's strength is in its diversity. One can never be sure what manner of spell caster or will worker one shall stumble across when facing a Handmaiden from the Coven.