Vuldonen (Overview)

*"You may comfort yourself in believing your past wrongs simply die once they are forgotten. We have no such illusions." -*Raven Black, Fae of the Mistbog Coven

## Introduction

The Vuldonen are the Bloodline of Sorcerers. They used to rule over all of northern europe until the Covenant destroyed their pagan tribes and forced them in a life in the shadows. Modern Vuldonen are mostly partisans and rebells, trying to destroy the enemies that occupy their homeland with hidden assaults and devastating spells.

## History

* **Birth of Morrigan-** The origins of the Vuldonen lie deep in the walachian mountains where the Grimvitch, a sisterhood of mortal witches, resided. It was the night in which the twins Morrigan and Kythereia where born that Balaur, first of all Striogoi, arrived at the Grimvitch camp. He blessed the twins, saying that he needed to stay with the Grimvitch to ensure both of them would fufill their promised destiny. Although most witches mistrusted Balaur, they accepted him in their ranks in exchange for his necromantic knowledge. The Strigoi closely overwatched and monitored the twins upbringing and when they came to age he invited them in a nearby cave. In its lightless depts Balaur revealed his true nature and offered them immortalty, withholding the price they would have to pay.
* **Morrigans Flight-** In the end both accepted and where drained of their blood in an instant, only to rise again as creatures of the night. Afterwards Balaur demanded that they would kill their mother, his greatest enemy in the sisterhood, to repay their debts. As they snuk into her bed chambers Morrigan was overcome with doubt and regret. She was unable to do the deed and chose to flee into the night after being cursed by her sister and progenitor. Although it seemed impossible Morrigan managed to escape and traveled alone under the guise of night.
* **First of the Vuldonen-** Morrigan left walachia after a long and bloody journey, arriving in the northern parts of europe. In these lands there where neither Strigoi nor romans, just pagan tribes and their feral masters. At the northern shores of scandinavia Morrigan found a tribe that was ruled by a small coven of witches known as the Vuldonen. They welcomed the young Strigoi and began to worship her like a goddess after witnessing her powers. Over time she began to turn one after another until all witches in the tribe joined her in unlife.
* **War against the Draugr-** As Morrigans Bloodline began to spread across the entire north, they faced a new foe. The Draugr, ancient Revenants, fought a desperate battle to preserve their tyrannical rule over scandinavia. Their main enemy where the Vargr, shapeshifting ghouls, and their war was older than the roman empire. In an unexpected turn of events the Vuldonen where caught in this ageless war and forced to fight against the Draugr. While the war was brutal and costly, they found great allies in the Vargr. Through their ability to manipulate mortals they quickly gained ground in the conflict and managed to grow their numbers after every tribe they successfully liberated. It was very common to ritualistically consume the captured Draugr after every victory. Because of that the Vuldonen gained many of aspects typically associated with Revenants, including their affinity to mist and the seasons. From the chilling Essence of the killed Draugr the Vuldonen managed to siphon their ability to controll frost, curses and diseases, quickly surpassing them in their ancient arts.
* **Rise of Britannia-** After the war against Draugr was won the Vargr offered them a token of their friendship for freeing their homelands. Since Morrigan seeked lands to call her own her Bloodline and many of the Vargrs strongest warriors embarked on a journey across the northern sea and landed on the british ilses. After a series of bloody conflicts the Vuldonen managed to establish themselves in the britannia and ireland; overtaking their noble houses and earldoms. Although the victors engaged in internal conflicts in the following centuries the Vuldonen managed to unite most of their lands. Ireland would be ruled by *Abhartach*, northern england by *Baobhan Sith* and southern england by *Ceridwen*. Morrigan had lost interest in ruling over mortals however, retreating to an island known as Avalon. She wove magical spells around the isle to protect it from the outside world and layed herself to rest, surrounded by her chosen daugthers. Over time the island became a sanctuary for the most powerful witches of the Bloodlines, seeking refuge and wisdom under the leaves of its wheeping willows.
* **War against the Cousombre-** While the Vuldonen strengthened their reign over Britannia the Cousombre, childer of Morrigans ancient twin, had seized western europe from ther cousins. After their *Shadow Court* had strengthend their influence across the noble houses the Cousombre desired to enact the curse their ancient progenitor had promised to long ago. Soon enough they manipulated the english nobility so that they would declare war on france, enciting the war between the bloodlines. What followed as the *hundread years war*, which was amidst the most brutal wars in both europes and Strigoi history. Due to the Vargrs help and their own sorcery the Vuldonen managed to gain the upper hand in the military conflict and conquer large parts of france. At this point the Cousombre employed their most dreaded strategy and began to turn the mortal men in the Vuldonen armies against them, sowing deceit and illusion among their ranks. The most devastating plan the Cousombre hatched was the revival of the inquisitorial orders and the fear of witchcraft. Both in western europe and the british ilses witchburnings resurged, often targeting Vuldonen. At the end of the 100 years war the Cousombre managed to turn the tide with a series of political intruiges that shattered the Vuldon reign over britannia. Soon enough their agents and hidden forces had arrived at their sacred homeland and began to turn their own nobility against them.
* **Burning of Avalon-**

## Culture

### Covens

The most common ranks in a Coven include:

* **Faun/Fae-** The youngest members of the Coven. Male-presenting members are known as *Faun*, Female-presenting members are known as *Fae*.
* **Banshee-** A powerful *Fae* that has mastered death-magic
* **Dullahan-** A powerful *Faun* that has mastered plague-magic
* **Dearg Due-** A powerful *Fae* or *Faun* that has mastered blood-magic

### Faith

* **Cailleach,** also known as the *Queen of Mists*, is the Vuldon creator diety and the godess of sorcery and weather controll. In the green months of the year she represents *nature, kindness* and *bright magic*; appearing as a young women that brings rain and fertility to the land while weaving protective bonds around her followers. In the grey months of the year she represents *death, starvation* and *dark magic*; appearing as a hag that brings storms and bitter frost while leeching the life out of any unprotected creature.
* **Fianna** is a diety associated with strength and conflict. In the green months of the year he represents *mercy, agility* and *cleverness*; appearing as a graceful hunter followed by a pack of foxes that protects the woodlands. In the grey months of the year she represents *cruelty, brutal dominance* and *fury*; appearing as a warrior queen clad in crow feathers and blood, hunting the survivors of the cold for sport and rejoicing in their suffering.
* **Awenfel** is a diety associated with blood and necromancy. In the green months of the year he represents *wisdom*, *hunger* and *blood magic*; depticted as a rune-clad man with the head of a crow, standing behind a brass caldron filled with blood. In the grey months of the year she represents *the umbral realm, the knowledge of the dead* and *spirit-magic;* appearing as a crone with silver hair and lips, clothed in a swarm of blackbirds.
* **Kaelaren** is a diety associated with mortality and the Vuldonens human roots. In the green months of the year she represents *love, empathy* and *charnal desire*; appearing as a women with a crown of golden horns, surrounded by two swans whose wings cover her bare body. In the grey months of the year he represents *hate, greed* and *forbidden desire*; appearing as a man with snake-eyes, surrounded by two cranes whose wings cover his bare body.

* **Hek-Morrai**- is a diety associated with the cycles of life and death, seen as the master of animals. In the green months of the year she represents *fertility*, *motherhood* and *benevolent animals*; appearing as an amalgamation of a young girl and a deer dressed in vines, reviving the woods with the sound of her hooves. In the grey months he represents *decay, sickness* and *vermin;* appearing as an old carrion lord surrounded by a swarm of fleshflies, maggots and graveworms that feast on the dead and sick.
* **Feal Quendar**- The Outer Gods, are older dieties only called upon to gain power. The Vuldonen view them as spirits from the world that came before theirs; although in truth they are various Liches worshipped under different names.

D

* **Ostara,** fest of revival and the spring equinox
* **Mabon,** the fest of death and the autumn equinox
* **Samheim,** all hallows eve
* **Demon Days,** notably Yule and Litha, or the winter and summer solstice, which drain the Vuldonen of their powers. They believe wrathful spirits and demons to be the cause of this temporary curse and will gather in their covens to protect themselves over the night.

### Turning

(...)

Turning a mortal is usually done in an extensive ritual that involves all members of a local Coven (although Vuldonen may also create progeny by themselves). They will bring the mortal to a local swamp or bog and collectivly drain them from their blood while invocing the name of their gods in ritual chants. Afterwards every Vuldon bites their tongue and offers their chosen progeny a bloody kiss before tossing them into the murky water. The water surface will be frozen and the Coven will spread around its shores while continuing their prayers. Should the newly turned Strigoi be strong enough to break through the ice sheet and burst out of the water they will be accepted as a Vuldon. Those reborn during Ostara will be aligned to the benevolent aspect of the gods and the melody of summer, those reborn during Mabon will be aligned with their malevolent side and the melody of winter.

## Lineages

* **Blood of Morgana**
* **Baba Yaga**
* (...)

## See also

* Opinions
* Vuldonen
* Vuldonen (Rules)