| “In mine age, sisters of a coven held thy hand and aided in traversing it. Helped thee brave the tides, helped thee learn the means to master them.” |
There are tides beneath the waking world.
Not of water, nor wind, nor stars, but Of memory. Of forgotten vows. Of dreams and Nightmares. they sink and resurface in a multitude of forms, altered and unaltered alike.
This sea is called the Nocturne, and for most it remains unseen - brushed only in restless sleep or half-remembered visions. Yet there were those, in ages past, who did not drift helplessly upon it. They gathered. They bound themselves together. They formed covens - for survival, and for dominion. For the Dreamsea does not yield easily to a lone mind.
.. A Return
Through one long night of winter, a rolling fog began to spill over Spiretown as the belltower struck twelve. It seeped from every alley and hollow as it passed through, until lanternlight grew thin and wavering, candles guttering as though starved of air. Shadows stretched far beyond their owners, bending and contorting upon the cobbles. Those caught inside the fog found the world twisting at its edges, as if the streets themselves were plunged into a fevered dream.
| "♫ ... I was here when the world learned to turn," "Kissed the sun as it started to burn." "The whispering at the reckoning said," "♫ The circle starts again." |
The melody came and went like a memory, etched at the edge of thought yet impossible to grasp. Verses rose and collapsed into humming and muttering, the meaning scraping against the mind rather than settling upon it.
One moment, the voice was a deep and resonant baritone; the next, a velvet-smooth contralto, both carrying the same refrain: something forgotten was returning. And so it persisted, the fog lingering through each toll until the 6th, until moon and star-light pried it loose and scattered it apart.
And for those who felt the invitation within were presented with a choice, to accept or to let it pass aside ...
Organization, Structure, Hierarchy
| The two organizational rings of the coven serve to guide its sisterhood. One denotes seniority and the other, the roles each of them serve. |
The First Ring
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the Matron is the leading figure of the coven and is always the most experienced, and most learned sister. They are responsible for the growth, guidance and continuation of their coven. In this Coven however, there is no true Matron yet. |
[] | the Elder Raven It is uncertain whether this is a position in the hierarchy of the coven, or a title bestown, However they remain presently the highest authority in the absence of the Matron and is the one that performed the first rite of calling. They serve as teacher, and as guide, and perhaps may help elevate one of the new initiates of the coven to the Seat of Matron in time. |
the NightSisters
these are members of the sisterhood that have mastered the arts of at least one of the Known Disciplines. As a result, they are the pillars and guides that help the sisterhood grow further.
Initiates / Sisters
are the newest members of the coven and no matter their prior capability, must learn of the Coven's Disciplines and prove a satisfactory level of competency in a chosen discipline before they are held as a true sister.
the Known Disciplines
Art Credit: Illumyn
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the Navigators Navigators are those who see the currents and the tides before anyone else might. Seen, felt and listened to. They must know where memories thin and where stories knot. They must mark the waypoints. |
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the Wardens Wardens do not drift. They must remain grounded, and hold the line. Where Navigators move with the current, Wardens help to resist its pull. They maintain tethers and fasten Anchors. They must know the art of curseweaving intimately. To wind and unwind knots within the dream sea. Wardens must understand that safety is not passive, it must be built, and held. |
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the Guardians Guardians protect the refuges, and their fellow sisters. The basic skill is the means to fight the spectres that lurk at every depth of the dreamsea. But spectres are not the only possible hostile things a coven may meet. When the dreamsea grows predatory, Guardians must step forward. They have to stabilize chaos, They must impose order and structure upon collapsing stories whether they be dreams, nightmares or memories. To that end they must learn to manifest their story as a shield and as a sword. They must learn when to be rigid and firm. They must learn when to envelop and embrace softly. (NOTE: This is the role that requires the least mage levels and/or harmony investment) |
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Joining the coven, |
Only those who seek to traverse the Dreamsea, uncover its secrets and its bounties, and reach for that distant horizon should seek a place in this Sisterhood.
'If you wake upon the stone of the Refuge, then you have been invited.'
An invitation alone does not grant a seat but without an invitation, you would scarcely find the chance to join.
To sit among the coven, one must be prepared to unburden the Spirit. Not a tale already told, nor a truth worn old by repetition - but a secret. Something held tightly. Something that presses against the ribs when thought of. A weight carried in silence. Refuse the rite and no seat will bear the weight of your burdened spirit.
OOC Info:
1. the Coven is a NPC-Guided faction to facilitate exploration and study of the place known as the nocturne. A place of dreams, memories and nightmares. And it is this place that cursesmiths draw their magic from. BUT it is not required of you to be a cursesmith or even a mage to join and learn to explore the nocturne. Being a mage, or a cursesmith, however would make taking certain actions easier.
2. the primary DM for the npc 'Elder' is @BmZuzu and @BmZuzu is also the primary DM for any plots, story arcs tied to the Coven. Secondary DMs are welcome, and any future changes to DMs will be made note of here.
3. Joining without an invitation is not possible at this time. (Present Date: 24/Feb/2026) However there will be plenty opportunity to get involved once our first set of initiates are settled and the coven grows in their capabilities.
4. Expect many events tied to the nocturne to potentially result in character maiming, often through way of curses. Death must always also be considered a possibility, but when it comes to this place, there are many many fates worse than death. I personally do not make use of death as a consequence.
5. Joining and leaving is always voluntary. However any ic impacts or consequences will always consider what our players want out of the story and what is reasonable in the overall story of an event-line and the server lore.
6. Leadership and Direction of the Coven is slated to develop through player efforts primarily.
Any further questions or concerns may be directed to me over discord. @BmZuzu on discord as well.
