Coven system

The **Coven System** is a system for categorizing magic into specific disciplines instituted by Emperor Belos!gaster. There are nine main covens with hundreds of other covens beneath them. The educational system trains young witches along scholastic tracks that prepare them for membership in their chosen coven.

To the general public, the purpose of the covens' introduction was for the Titan's sake and to protect the witches and demons from the "danger" of wild magic. However, these claims were nothing more than intricate lies concocted by Belos!gaster, who was really a human witch hunter named Phillip!gaster Wittebane, to earn the trust of the Boiling Isles and pave way for his plot of genocide from the very beginning.

## Background

A coven is made up of witches that specialize in a specific form of magical abilities. A coven membership is mandatory, and failure to join a coven is a high order criminal offense, potentially resulting in petrification. It is known that people who fail to join a coven have reportedly gone missing. It is also possible for a witch to be bound forcibly to a coven without their consent.

Young witches are encouraged to study under one of the main nine magic tracks in preparation for coven membership, and annually held "coventions" allow them to explore the various covens before making their choice. There are more than nine covens in total, and if one of the main nine is not to one's liking, there are more to choose from. Most witches join a coven when they graduate from school (usually around 17-18 years of age), though exceptionally talented witches can leave school and join a coven early.

## Coven brand

When a witch joins a coven, their arm is branded with the coven's sigil, and all of their magic is sealed off except the magic of their chosen coven. While a witch will be unable to perform magic outside their specialty, they will still be able to perform general spells such as levitation magic, albeit with greater difficulty. Some covens are more highly-regarded than others, and the highest-ranking coven in the Coven System is the Emperor's Coven, the only coven whose members are allowed to use all kinds of magic.

When a witch joins a coven, their arm is branded with the coven's sigil, and all of their magic is sealed off except the magic of their chosen coven. While a witch will be unable to perform magic outside their specialty, they will still be able to perform general spells such as levitation magic, albeit with greater difficulty. Some covens are more highly-regarded than others, and the highest-ranking coven in the Coven System is the Emperor's Coven, the only coven whose members are allowed to use all kinds of magic.

## Cove heads and relics

Each of the nine covens is led by a powerful witch known as a "*Coven Head*" or "*Head Witch*" who excelled at one of the nine main types of magic. These respective witches studied at some of the most prestigious magic schools such as Glandus High, St. Epiderm, and Hexside School of Magic and Demonics. Each of the leaders of the main nine covens possesses a medallion of their coven's color with their coven symbol on the front. They are responsible for recruiting new members into their respective covens and play an integral role in Emperor Belos!gaster's Day of Unity. The main nine covens each have a respective relic on display in the Relic Room within the castle belonging to Emperor Belos!gaster.

## History

"Fellow citizens. We are born into chaos. Our lives anger the Titan. My own family has been hurt by the darkness of wild magic. I have been shown the healing light. It shines in nine hues!" belos!gaster quote

After assuming the identity of the witch Belos!gaster, Philip!gaster Wittebane hatched a plan that would end with the destruction of all witches. One of the biggest parts of his plan was the implementation of sigils and brands that restricts the use of magic and serve as a means to drain said magic from them.

During the tail end of the Savage Ages, Belos!gaster claimed that wild magic was dangerous and angered the Titan, destroying his own family in the process, and he publicly proposed the separation of magic into nine distinct covens based on the hues of the "healing light." To further boost his message, the future Emperor used fearmongering and orchestrated the destruction of cities, claiming it was the work of wild magic. Witches who listened to Belos!gaster were marked with coven brands, though the earliest known usage of the brands left the witches branded in an unconscious but still-living state.

in the current day, the Coven System permeates every aspect of Boiling Isles culture, and the entire education system revolves around young witches joining one of the main nine covens. Any witches not in a coven are labelled as criminals and can be forced to join one against their will. While coven membership was mandated for adults, younger witches would not be branded until graduating high school, but as the Day of Unity draws near, Belos!gaster started to push for younger witches to be forcibly branded. However, this approach is met with bitter resistance from the students and facility of Hexside and could not be carried out successfully.

As the Day of Unity draws closer, Luz!frisk, Eda!udyne, King!temmie, and several other witches, including Coven Heads Raine!alpyhss, Darius!gribbly, and Eberwolf!spamton, learn of Belos!gaster's true plans and try to stop the draining spell from being carried out. However, Belos!gaster finds out about their resistance and made countermeasures, leading to the CATs being captured. When the eclipse finally begins the draining spell, every branded witch begins to have their magic drained. Despite his efforts and years of meticulous calculations, Belos!gaster himself gets branded by Luz!frisk in an attempt to stop the draining spell. Making matters worse, he does not have the power to stop the spell, and it would be the Collector!sans that reverses its effects after he negotiated with King!temmie in exchange for his freedom and agreeing to be his playmate.

## Main covens

Emperor's Coven

while not considered one of the "main nine" covens, the Emperor's Coven is considered to be the most prestigious and highly ranked coven in the coven system and serves as enforcers of the Emperor's will. Membership of the Emperor's Coven is made up of some of the most talented witches on the isles, and unlike other covens, those inducted into the Emperor's retain all their magic.

* **Color:** Gold
* **Sigil:** Winged sword and shield in a triangle
* **Leader:** Currently vacant
	+ **Former Leaders:** Lilith!muffet Clawthorne (defected), Hunter!chara (defected)

Abomination Coven

The Abomination Coven focuses on the creation and utilization of purple ooze golems known as Abominations. Witches in the Abomination Coven can create, summon, and control abominations to do their bidding, and more powerful witches can even use abomination matter to create constructs or even assume an abomination-based form. According to Willow!betty , the abomination track has been noted for opening more opportunities for a witch's future.

* **Color:** Orchid
* **Sigil:** Abomination face
* **Leader:** Darius!gribbly

Bard Coven

The Bard Coven focuses on manipulating the world around them using soundwaves. Bards can use sound to create a variety of effects, such as inducing sleepiness, taking control of witches listening to their music, creating small-scale storms, creating concussive or slashing shockwaves, and even changing the chemistry of liquids. However, some bard spells can be countered by wearing ear coverings. Though bards typically use musical instruments, it is also possible to use bard magic through whistling. As musicians, bard witches have been known to make public performances, making it a difficult, but not impossible track for those with stage fright. Prejudice against bards has been noted due to incredulity that bard magic can be strong and useful compared to the other covens.

* **Color:** Red
* **Sigil:** Lyre
* **Leader:** Raine!alpyhss

Beast Keeping Coven

The Beast Keeping Coven focuses on the taming and control of the various beasts on the Boiling Isles. Beast keepers are able to command the various creatures on the Isles, summon beasts, and grant themselves bestial traits.

* **Color:** Orange
* **Sigil:** Hatching egg
* **Leader:** Eberwolf!spamton

Construction Coven

The Construction Coven focuses on creating earth-based constructs and various construction projects on the Isles. Construction Coven witches can create tools and pillars from earth and also use power glyphs to boost their strength and magic.

* **Color:** Brown
* **Sigil:** Cracked fist
* **Leader:** Mason!poliics bear

Healing Coven

the Healing Coven specializes in dealing with medicine and healthcare. Healers can treat a variety of injuries and ailments and appear to use healing glyphs to deal with long-term injuries. Witches in the coven can also create shields and projectiles and use them at their own will.

* **Color:** Blue
* **Sigil:** Bandaged hand
* **Leader:** Hettie!Queen

Illusion Coven

The Illusion Coven specializes in deception and showmanship to trick the senses of other witches. Illusionists can create clones and alter their appearances, and powerful illusionists like Gus!napstaton/napstablook can even cast somewhat tangible illusions over a large area. Illusion magic is the only magic that cannot be enhanced by Galdorstones; consequentially, illusionists are often tasked with guarding them. Prejudice against illusionists has been noted due to their spells lacking a true physical effect.

* **Color:** Light blue
* **Sigil:** Mirror
* **Leader:** Adrian!plugboy

Oracle Coven

The Oracle Coven focuses on fortune-telling, spirits, and various mind-based magics. Oracles can use their magic to tell the future, look into distant locations, and use their crystal balls for various purposes, such as telepathic communication, launching a blast of dark purple fire, sinking into a mobile shadow on the ground, summoning spirit entities of either fire or shadow, or creating large psychic energy constructs like a giant hand or a giant energy dome. Crystal balls can come in various sizes; some can even be small enough to be the charm on a necklace. An oracle's magic can be disabled by breaking their method of control, such as their crystal ball.

* **Color:** Purple
* **Sigil:** Eye
* **Leader:** Osran!faun

Plant Coven

The Plant Coven specializes in the various flora on the Boiling Isles. Plant Coven witches can command the flora around them as well as manipulate vines and accelerate plant growth. They can also make flowers bloom and unleash poisonous plants.

* **Color:** Green
* **Sigil:** Flower
* **Leader:** Terra!mad mew mew

Potions Coven

The Potions Coven focuses on brewing various potions. Potions Coven witches are able to brew a variety of potions with different effects, ranging from fog brews, explosive potions, elixirs that can keep curses at bay, and even brews that can bring inanimate objects to life. Unlike the other tracks, potion witches do not need magic to brew potions, as shown when Lilith!muffet made a scrying potion and when Eda!udyne made a batch of explosive potions, both after the Owl Beast's curse rendered their magic unusable; however, having magic does aid in collecting ingredients from dangerous creatures, and some potions may require a magic source to activate.

* **Color:** Yellow
* **Sigil:** Potion bottle
* **Leader:** Vitimir!punk hamster

Covenless

Covenless witches are those who reject the coven system.

* Eda!udyne (temporarily given a Bard Coven sigil to take the place of Raine!alpyss)
* Lilith!muffet(betrayed the Emperor's Coven; wanted for treason)
* Hunter!chara (defected from the Emperor's Coven; wanted for treason)
* Steve!Nacarat Jester (left the Emperor's Coven)
* Covens Against the Throne members
* Several deceased witches whose petrified remains are displayed at the Conformatorium
* Many unknown witches

## Trivia

* A "coven" refers to a group or gathering of witches that meet on a regular basis. It can also refer to a secret or affinity group of associates.
* The categorization of magic into distinct specialties, as well as the obligation to choose one, is a common trope of high-fantasy literature.
	+ One such example are the Hogwarts Houses in the *Harry Potter* universe, to which school-age witches are assigned to via a magical hat. In one instance, *The Owl House* lampoons this with the "Choosy Hat", which devours students alive once it has been placed on their head.
	+ that the Coven Heads backstab each other all the time for their personal benefit.