Witches & Warlocks

in: Orders, Cults & Groups

## The Marked

Unlike the other spheres of magic, where one spends their lifetime dedicated to learning and studying how to control themselves, the Marked are innately in control of their magic. Their namesake stems from a strange marking they receive at birth that signifies their ties to the innate sphere, passed on through a pact with a goddess, demons, or some other magical agreement. Most Marked create and join one of the numerous covens spread throughout the world. There are some who decide to forego any connection to a coven, despite the symbol of their birthmark. The Marked have gained an ill reputation throughout the world due to the actions of those belonging to the Coven of the Four Lords. The Marked are born with a birthmark in a shape unique to their family line. This can be a symbol of pride when surrounded by other witches, but it can also be a death sentence if discovered by the wrong individual with the right sort of vendetta. Although they are often sought for healing and medicines, Witch Hunters have sought heavy persecution and spread propaganda blaming disease, famine, poverty, and the death of children on curses wrought by the Marked, whether rightfully or wrongfully. It isn’t unusual for a Marked to hide their true nature, and their mark from outsiders. They often pass themselves off as healers, alchemists, and herbalists. While no official gender hierarchy exists between the Marked, local covens have been known to mirror the cultures around them.The Marked are mostly common among human bloodlines, but have been discovered among Elves as well. There are those who are not born Marked, but instead seek to become Marked themselves. Those who seek the power of the Marked must reach out through the veil in a dangerous ritual to contact a patron. Whatever hears their call, fair or foul, may awaken a newfound power within the initiate by cursing or blessing their bloodline. The effects are not immediate and ,indeed, do not strike every member of a bloodline, often skipping generations from grandparent to grandchild. Even those who lay in a dormant generation carry the curse within their soul. These marks are the symbol of their dreaded or benevolent patron… marking the skin of the witch and glowing in the presence of strong magic. As a result, most Marked hide their markings for fear of being found out.

The magic of the Marked is innate, burning in the blood of the marked and begging to be released. Those marked do not need to be attuned to the spheres or even study magic with a master or in a school due to their bloodline. They are keepers of ancient secrets known only to them. The secrets of the Marked offer unique variations of magical ability and those granted by dark and light patrons are much the same. As a result of this, Witch Hunters often make no difference between the Covens. However, those who follow the path of the Mother tend to be kept alive and their mark is used to detect other Marked. Their blood allows them to bind others in service to them as well as alter the state of curses, due to the innate nature and unique source of their magic. This is most widely known by vampires, for it is Marked blood and power that is needed to create a Ring of Dawn. This discovery was forced into existence by the Zotius vampires who threatened to expose the Coven of Marked in Nocturnum to the authorities. News of this newly magical item creation being possible with their blood quickly spread throughout the world. The covens saw it as knowledge one needs to know in case vampires threaten their coven for the information.

### Humans

The most common form of Marked are the Humans, having been known as the first to seek the power to become Marked with the most various bloodlines. Their acceptance amongst their own humans depends on their culture. In White Thorns they are accepted as healers and herbalists, in Nord and Caledonii culture they are often women and seen as the tribes Volva, for Centari and Simiku they are seen as the tribe's shamans, etc. Whereas places like Jazira and Nocturnum they are shunned and often hunted by citizens and Witch Hunters.

### Elves

Marked elves are found in all of the elven races. They are often shunned in their own societies since their abilities and power come from outside of the Elven Pantheon. They are viewed as born heretics who have turned against the gods. Alongside Witch Hunters, they are hunted by other elves and used for their blood; this is especially true for Dark Elves who find Marked slaves as status symbols. Oftentimes Marked Elves will attempt to hide by pretending to be another sphere user instead, but their marking often gives them away.

## Covens

Every marked is born into one of the three covens. Those who believed themselves to be covenless found themselves bound to the Coven of the Fey. These are the 3 main covens that all sub-covens are created following:

### *Coven of the Four Lords*

The Marked who join the Coven of the Four Lords are destined to walk down a dark path in life. They give into the death and destruction of their power even other Marked feel are best left alone. Having been born blessed (or cursed), their mark carries with it the power of demons and dark beings from beyond the vale. Vampires have been known to describe their blood as having an aftertaste of sulfur. They draw upon these powers for personal gain and their practices are forbidden across almost all areas of the world in fear of what they might do to the populace at large. Abandoning the common magics of the natural world in favor of the darker powers, these Marked often offer their souls in pacts to demons and dark gods. The favors they pull from this are of material nature. Wealth, knowledge, fame, power… they open themselves to the darkness to gain these things by wagering their very soul. Giving over their bodies or claiming souls in the demon’s name, Marked that bow to the Four Lords are the darkest of their kind.

### *Coven of the Mother*

Marked that join the Coven of the Mother walk on the path of life and healing. They work in the powers of the natural world and protection. These Marked use their abilities to benefit others and cast protection spells or charms to keep evil at bay. They are more accepted by the common folk, for the well being they bring to their community. Drawing upon the power of the Goddess they have dedicated themselves to, these Marked are in tune with nature far more than their counterparts. The Mother is known to be the Goddess Naruli. The Coven of the Mother is referred to as ‘pure’ by many who know of their existence, due to their dedication to aid and alignment with the earth itself. They strive to help others, but the nature of the bond to their cursed mark still draws witch hunters to seek them out, so these Marked often go by other names, such as Healers, Mystics, Shamans, Volva or the like.

### *Coven of the Other*

Naruli has long been known as the Mother of Witches. Though for some something has shifted in their marked. There are those who are not born into the Coven of the Mother or Coven of the Four Lords, but something else. These Marked do not feel the call to the Mother as their ancestors had before, but instead feel the call of something else. The long blessed touch of the mother feels dull to them, changed in a way. A strange taint flowing through the bond, but at the same time it is not the same type of taint as the Four Demon Lords. It is an otherworldly but strong magical presence they feel calling to them. Many of the elven Marked belong to this Order as they often never feel a connection to Naruli after becoming Marked, believing it to be their gods, or some other connection with their Ki.

## Power of The Cursed Mark

The power of the Cursed Mark is a sphere of magic all it's own.