Salem Sages

== Witches Organization ==
The Salem Sages history begins in 1692, in the Salem Village of Massachusetts. A
young Nul woman by the name Bridget Bishop found she could access Eden by crushing a local strain
of ergot and combining it with powdered crafting metal and angels death. The resulting powder could then be
insufflated accessing a dark, powerful channel of magick in Eden (Dredge Channel), which
eventually led to the infamous Salem Witch Trials.
The powder which eventually became known as Dredge has long term side-effects with
continued use. Because Nul are not compatible with Eden, use of dredge will eventually lead to
hallucinations, seizures, psychosis, tissue decay, black vomit and eventually death. Like any
drug it requires greater amounts each time to achieve a similar effect. It can only be used
consecutively for about 2-3 weeks before side effects begin to take their toll. By 7-8 weeks most
people are dead. The interesting thing about dredge is that it only works with females.
After discovering the powerful effects of dredge, Bishop began to share her discovery
with a select few among the community. A secret organization began to form in the village.
These women kept detailed notes and began dedicating their lives to the dredge, but they
needed to keep suspicion away from themselves. After seeing the side effects of dredge on
herself in the following months. Bridget Bishop decided to sacrifice herself to give the others
time to find a cure for the effects.
The infamous Salem Witch Trials began during the spring of 1692, after a group
of young girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, claimed to be possessed by the devil and
accused several local women of witchcraft. As a wave of hysteria spread throughout colonial
Massachusetts, a special court convened in Salem to hear the cases; the first convicted witch,
Bridget Bishop, was burned at the stake that June. Bishop had told her followers publicly accuse
her of witchcraft. When on trial she happily demonstrated the dark, smoky-like magick that
flowed from her fingertips. She then called out several innocent women of the community
claiming they were witches with her as well. The hysteria surrounding the village allowed the
witches to hide in plain sight, using the theatrics to their advantage.
Bishop was sentenced to death for witchcraft and satanic worship by burning at the
stake. As she was tied to the burning wood pole, the onlookers could see the smoky magick
swirling around her. After the execution was over, the body was still whole. Bridget was dead but
they had a burned corpse rather than ash. The following evening, they attempted to burn the
body again. It burned for hours so they had a guard watch the burning to make sure nothing
disturbed it. By morning when the guard awoke there was nothing but a pile of ash left. But was
the ash the body?
Bishops’ sacrifice was not in vain either. As the witches continued experimenting
throughout the following years, they made several important discoveries. The first-time dredge is
used; crafting metal can be manipulated in a similar fashion to the awakening. Every time
dredge is used for this purpose however the gift always appears in the shape of a wand.
Younger women (30 or younger) have an easier time adjusting to dredge than older women and
older women often cannot produce a wand at all.
Women that can produce a wand are named witches and are inducted into this secret
society and anyone that fails this portion of the ritual is usually mind-wiped or executed. The
wand allows minimal access to the channel of Eden without requiring the use of dredge. These
witches, however, can achieve “enlightenment” with the help of a Théos Vasiliás.
Phesdis, Lady of decay and ancient darkness recognized the plight of these women and
found a way to establish her influence on Earth and throughout Eden once again. Bishops’
corpse was recovered the night following her execution. Bishop would become the medium
between her matriarchy that is Phesdis and the witches. Bishop became the undead speaker for
the coven. Though she does not move or act, her word is the word of Phesdis and her word is
law.
Phesdis would show the witches a path to enlightenment but it would require a strong
stomach. One of the rituals notably associated with Phesdis is cannibalism. Cannibalism is one
of the strongest taboos of all, and that might be the very reason why it’s been considered one of
the most holy rituals around the world and far back into the depths of prehistory.
This ritual starts when Phesdis gives the witch (soon to be sage) a vasil artifact, more
specifically a spider made of white silk. The Unktomi (Lakota for spider) is a gentle creature that
will serve the witch once she is a sage. However, she must prove herself in the ritual. The
Unktomi is a completely white spider about the size of a grapefruit, visually they look like a giant
redback spider. The spider will attach itself on the back of the neck and insert its mandibles
between C5 and C6. When it does this it releases an enzyme into the body which will react
when the witch begins the cannibalistic portion. Attempts have been made to circumvent the
need to physically consume human flesh; i.e. pills, injections and other methods but nothing can
avoid physically eating. So as the witch consumes the meat it eventually becomes sweeter and
more savory. The witch will eventually begin to enjoy the feast but at that point they will fall back
and go into a coma-like state for 3 days and 3 nights.
The dark dream-like world where they must complete six unique trials each suited to
challenge the witch. This trial ends up killing more witches than the Black Sun (witch hunters)
because it is considered so difficult. However, once this is complete and the witch passes the 3
day trial they will become a sage. The Unktomi becomes an undying companion and serves
until the sages’ death. Along with the new companion they gain full access to the Dredge
Channel and can perform black magick. Black magick allows a Sage to take part in the
apothecary arts; the only known organization to produce potions.
The sage will need to continue eating human flesh at least once a month. Otherwise any
other food they eat will slowly begin to taste repulsive and the sage will throw up anything they
eat until they die. Because of this enlightenment process sages tend to live to be 150-160 years
old as well.
Category:Guild
Category:Illegal Guild