Kate's American Horror Story/Salem

Salem Logo

*Salem* is the subtitle for the tenth installment of *Kate's American Horror Story*, a season which acts as the KAHS-canon predecessor to *American Horror Story's* third season, *Coven*.

## Plot

As tensions rose between the rumored witches of Salem Towne, Massachusetts and the village folk, the Salem Coven faced a dire decision: stay, and face inevitable persecution, or flee southwards? After sacrificing herself in the ritual of the Sacred Taking-gone-wrong, ailing Supreme Prudence Mather (Frances Conroy) is no more. With no clear candidate left for Supremacy, the Coven-led by Councillor Patience Whitlock (Courtney LaPlante)-scrambles to navigate the deadly witch trials and determine Mather's successor. Trouble doesn't only lie in the villagers of Salem, however. Penelope Parris (Lily Rabe), a witch who has long-since been banished from the Salem Coven returns to exact her revenge, and claim the title of Supreme for herself.

## Cast and Characters

### Main Characters

* Courtney LaPlante as Patience Whitlock, the de facto Coven leader and a powerful diviner.
* Lily Rabe as Penelope Parris, a frighteningly-adept witch intent on bending the Coven to her will.
* Zachary Quinto as Peter Hopkins, the charismatic Constable of Salem Towne and leader of the witch-hunters.
* Kathy Bates as Deliverance Snow, a matriarchal weaponsmith determined to prove her strength.
* Cody Fern as Arthur Van Wirt, an accident-prone warlock seeking refuge from the Salem clergy.
* Ian McShane as Andrew Parris, the minister of Salem, who isn't quite as godly as he appears.
* Lady Gaga as Ruth Whatcott, an exiled witch seeking redemption.
* Evan Peters as Benjamin Ledger, a nervous jailor harboring many secrets.
* Julia Schlaepfer as Deborah Scott, the daughter of a powerful witch who harbors no magical abilities herself.

### Featured and Supporting Characters

* Britt Lower as Alice Goode, a vagrant witch bearing extraordinary power.
* Grace Gummer as Verity Snow, the holy-rolling adoptee of Salem's weaponsmith.
* Taissa Farmiga as Winifred Snow, a pyrokinetic witch with a guilty conscience.
* Sierra McCormick as Lucille Montgomery, a femme-fatale with a killer secret.
* Noah Cyrus as Florence Barnes, who's made herself ill in an attempt to ignore her magical inclinations.
* Raven Scott as Oakley, the nervous keeper of the Witches' Hollow.

### Minor and Guest Characters

* Aaron Tveit as Ephraim Bailey, Salem Towne's most eligible bachelor.
* Emma Roberts as Anastasia Bailey, a reclusive former socialite living in her brother's shadow.

### Non-Player Characters

* Frances Conroy as Prudence Mather, former Supreme of the Salem Coven.
* Rebecca Wisocky as Blair Whitlock, one of the foremost Coven Councillors during the previous Supreme's reign.
* Joseph Fiennes as Oswald Whitlock, devoted husband, father, and non-magical Coven aide.

## World Info and Locations

* **The Church -** The center of Puritan Salem Towne, the church is where all town matters are conducted. Services are held daily before sundown and thrice on Sundays- a reduction following the building's conversion into the headquarters of the witch hunters. Likewise, the church serves as a court building wherein important trials are conducted. Its facade is large and wooden, and its interior is spacious enough to accommodate the town in its entirety. Rows of pews line the path to the altar, where the new Minister Parris stands to address his congregation.
* **The Hollow -** Hidden down an old well at the base of a Sycamore tree is 'The Hollow', a sanctuary for the witches of Salem. The Hollow's stone-brick expanse is covered in a thicket of greenery, controlled and maintained by the chlorokinetic Oakley. Divided into three sections, it contains a common area in which Coven meetings are conducted, a resting area and garden, and the quarters of the Supreme, which are currently occupied by Patience Whitlock. Decades prior, Supreme Prudence Mather and her councillors placed protective wards on the space, preventing witches from harming one another within its grounds.
* **The Whitlock Estate -** Home of Patience Whitlock and Arthur Van Wirt, the former Whitlock family home serves as a second, secretive meeting place for Coven members, in the event that business cannot be brought to the Hollow.
* **The Hopkins Estate -** Home of Constable Peter Hopkins, the spacious structure serves as an additional rendezvous point for the Witch Hunters of Salem, and is likewise where Deborah Scott serves as a spy for the Salem Coven.

### Witch-Hunters and Townsfolk

* Brazen Bull (Peter Hopkins)
* Flail (Benjamin Ledger)
* Judas' Cradle (Andrew Parris)
* Iron Maiden (Deliverance Snow)
* Scold's Bridle (Verity Snow)
* Thumbscrew (Ephraim Bailey)
* Batog (Anastasia Bailey)

### Witches

* Scaphism (Patience Whitlock)
* Heretic's Fork (Penelope Parris)
* Crucifix (Winifred Snow)
* Tarred and Feathered (Arthur Van Wirt)
* Screw (Alice Goode)
* Lingchi (Ruth Whatcott)
* Pear of Anguish (Lucille Montgomery)
* Pilliwinks (Florence Barnes)
* Tongue Tearer (Deborah Scott)
* The Wheel (Oakley)

### Unclaimed/Abandoned Role Titles

* Cleaver
* Jugum
* Pillory
* Strappado
* Lead Sprinkler

## Gallery

Season PosterSeason 10? Is it ten or nine? FUCKIntro
## References and Trivia

### References

* Original Salem Blog Post, initially shared in January of 2023.
* A visual aid to the cast list, in the form of a Character Connection Map.