Coven of Aldoris
A group of 13 demon worshiping witches. A twenty years ago the coven seized control of the Island of Aldoris in the Windy Sea. They killed or expelled all the island’s inhabitants and turned it into their personal estate. Varriya Eldonna Elna-Merkhana , the leader of the Coven has pronounced herself the Queen of Aldoris. They worship the Demon-Goddess Celyar and honor her with regular human sacrifices. The sacrifices are ritually drowned in a deep well housed in the Temple of Celyar which sits atop a high rocky pinnacle at the western end of the island. Rumor has it that the witches control a Kraken and other sea monsters that patrol the waters around the island. They maintain a force of twenty-six warriors with a black pearls implanted in their foreheads. The pearls are said to be magical control mechanisms that assure the fanatical loyalty of the warriors.
When abroad the witches wear flowing black robes and cloaks trimmed with intricate silver thread designs. They use silver embroidered masks that cover the lower halves off their faces concealing their identities as well as adding to their general aura of menace. It is said the witches all bear a strong family resemblance having curly black hair, pale skin and blue eyes. It is claimed by some that the witches are the survivors of the former ruling family of one of the western lands. According to some stories the women were lost at sea on the northern ocean and near death when Celyar reached out to them promising to save them if they worshiped her and sacrificed the families few remaining males to her. They accepted Celyar’s bargain and Celyar saved them. After five years of building their power and working as mercenaries in the lands around the Windy Sea they seized control of the island, killed many of the inhabitants and forced the remainder to build Celyar’s temple. Since they have made an alliance with the Pirate Lords of Rowes the Lords have allowed them to establish a second coven on Rowes. The Lords provide the witches with a steady flow of prisoners to sacrifice in exchange for their military support.
The witches have started a satellite coven on Coven of Rowes and have constructed another Temple of Celyar there. The Coven has plans to continue to expand its influence around the region. To do this the original Coven is training new witches to go out and form covens in other communities around the Windy Sea.
Structure
A coven led by the most powerful witch in the group. The Coven is served by a group of magically enslaved warriors known as the Black Pearl Warriors charged with protecting the coven and a group of slaves that perform more routine tasks.
Culture
All of the Witches are products of the Northron Corgerian Culture with a distinctly upper class bent which is visible in their speech, eating habits, music and manners. This is overlaid by their devotion to the goddess shown through regular prayer, the display of Ceylarite holy symbols and religious devotions.
Public Agenda
To advance the worship of Celyar.
Assets
The island of Aldoris including the Temple of Celyar, the Witch's Village village and the island's enslaved population.
History
A twenty years ago the Coven seized control of the Island of Aldoris in the Windy Sea. They killed or expelled all the island’s inhabitants and turned it into their personal estate. It is claimed by some that the witches are the survivors of the former ruling family of one of the western lands. According to some stories, the women were lost at sea on the northern ocean and near death when Celyar reached out to them promising to save them if they worshiped her and sacrificed the families few remaining males to her. They accepted Celyar’s bargain and Celyar saved them. After five years of building their power and working as mercenaries in the lands around the Windy Sea, they seized control of the island, killed many of the inhabitants and forced the remainder to build Celyar’s temple. Since they have made an alliance with the Pirate Lords of Rowes. The Lords have allowed them to establish a second coven on Rowes.
Demography and Population
The population of the Domain is small consisting of the Thirteen Witches, the 26 Black Pearl Warriors, three adult and a number of minor children and about sixty slaves.
Territories
The Island of Aldoris and its small neighboring islands.
Military
The Black Pearl Warriors.
Foreign Relations
The Domain of Aldoris maintains close relations with the Lords of Rowes and the Syrican Brotherhood. They from time to time reach arrangements with various lords and governments around the Windy Sea in exchange for money, supplies and slaves.
Agriculture & Industry
The Domain depends on slave labor to run its subsistence economy. The slaves maintain small herds of sheep and cattle. Limited crops are grown on the island and fish traps in Black Water Harbor and the islands small lake provide additional protein. The islands brings in massive additional wealth in the form payments for mercenary services for domains surrounding the Windy Sea.
Trade & Transport
All trade with the Domain is by necessity by Sea. Goods are generally delivered to Rowes where a small group of Rowan merchants then transport the goods to the island. This system is used to maintain the security of the island by keeping strangers away from the island.
Education
Most education on the island is conducted under the guidance of the Coven of Aldoris. However the Black Pearl Warriors have trained two of the male Children of the Coven members in the military arts.
Infrastructure
The island's main hub of economic activity is the Witch's Village which contains workshops and storage buildings. The islands also has a mill and well-tended fields on the eastern end of the island.
Ethics
1. Devotion requires blood sacrifice.
2. Enemies of the Goddess and her priestesses are always the first choice.
3. If enemies are not available anyone else will do.
4. The Goddess will torment or destroy a priestess that does not show proper devotion.
5. Celyar will communicate her will through the High Priestess, it is the duty, of others to follow the direction of the High Priestess.
Worship
Priestesses carry out daily rituals worshiping the Goddess. Every three months they will carry out a human sacrifice in which victim is bound with chains and ritually drowned with the remains typically being consumed by Celyar's creatures. Sometimes special rituals require additional sacrifices. If possible ritual worship takes place in a temple overlooking the sea with some sort of means of throwing sacrificial victims into the sea. A ship may also be used as a platform for worship.
Priesthood
Celyar's priesthood is entirely made up of women. They goddess offers them power in exchange for human sacrifice. As long as a priestess continues to serve the Celyar, she will help the priestess build her power including the ability to control various sea monsters that are influenced by Celyar..
Granted Divine Powers
Priestesses focus on two kinds of magic. The first type of magic is spells that will destroy the enemies of the Goddess. The second type is magic that controls. In additional to spell that control, Celyar will give her priestesses the gift of the Black Pearl. The Black Pearl is a magical object embedded in the forehead of an individual making them a slave of Celyar's priestesses.
Political Influence & Intrigue
The Cult of the Celyar had taken control of the Island of Aldoris and is looking for opportunities to further expand its power. As the members of the original coven had children they were able to form a second Coven using a couple of the senior priestesses and the teenage daughters of the original Coven members. This Coven is in place on the island of Rowes an provides magical support to the pirate lords of that city in exchange for them using their fleet to protect Aldoris. In the long term, the witches hope to form an army of Black Pearl Warriors and build up lots money to pay mercenaries to retake their lost homeland.
Type
Religious, Coven
Capital
Alternative Names
The Witches of Aldoris
Formation Type
Training Level
Elite
Veterancy Level
Veteran
Government System
Monarchy, Theocratic
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Traditional
Currency
None - They use the coins of other northern Kingdoms.
Major Imports
Typical imports include metal tools, weapons, wine and ale, and livestock.
Legislative Body
The Supreme and High Priestesses of Celyar
Judicial Body
The Coven of Aldoris
Subsidiary Organizations
Deities
Divines
Location
Official Languages
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Comments